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It’s your source for curated news affecting democracy in the cyber arena with a focus on protecting democracy. That necessitates an opinionated Butlerian jihad against big tech as well as evangelizing for open-source and the Fediverse. Unfortunately, the same applies for corporate journalism and media. We also cover the cybersecurity world. You can’t be free without safety and privacy.<\/p>\n
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It comes out on Thursday and is updated through the end of day on Friday. Then we start over. So take your time in perusing it and check back in over the weekend.<\/p>\n
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FYI, my opinions will be in bold. And will often involve cursing. Because humans. Especially tech bros. And fascists.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Guardian writes:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Forget Hollywood depictions of gun-toting robots running wild in the streets \u2013 the reality of artificial intelligence is far more dangerous, warns the historian and author in an exclusive extract from his new book.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The division of the world into rival digital empires dovetails with the political vision of many leaders who believe that the world is a jungle, that the relative peace of recent decades has been an illusion, and that the only real choice is whether to play the part of predator or prey.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n These leaders should be reminded, however, that there is a new alpha predator in the jungle. If humanity doesn\u2019t find a way to cooperate and protect our shared interests, we will all be easy prey to AI.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Never summon a power you can\u2019t control\u2019: Yuval Noah Harari on how AI could threaten democracy and divide the world<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Next Web reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Independence Day: how Ukraine\u2019s tech sector is fueling the fight for freedom<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n CEPA reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tightening the Screw? \u2014 EU\u2019s New Sanctions on Russia<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Kyiv Independent reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ‘Would you blame Hungarians for Soviet invasion?’ – Von der Leyen criticizes those who ‘muddy the waters’ on Ukraine<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gizmondo reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n WhatsApp Shuts Down Iranian Hackers Targeting Trump and Biden Campaigns<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n DarkReading reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n South Korean APT Exploits 1-Click WPS Office Bug, Nabs Chinese Intel<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reuters reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Telegram messaging app CEO Durov arrested in France<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here are the official charges:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Link<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n NBC News reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Telegram CEO Pavel Durov charged by French prosecutors<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wired reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Signal Is More Than Encrypted Messaging. Under Meredith Whittaker, It\u2019s Out to Prove Surveillance Capitalism Wrong<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Guardian opines:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Arresting Telegram\u2019s Pavel Durov could be a smart move. Tech bosses care more about themselves than you<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n SpaceKaren should take a vacation to the French Riviera.<\/strong> \ud83d\ude08<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Being on camera is no longer sensible\u2019: persecuted Venezuelan journalists turn to AI<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wow. A legitimate use for generative AI.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Next Web reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Netherlands hits Uber with \u20ac290M fine for transfer of \u2018sensitive\u2019 driver data to US<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Awesome.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dublin rejects Google\u2019s new data centre plans over energy concerns<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Also cool.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Under pressure from Europe, Apple makes iOS browser options bit more reasonable<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n USA Today reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n DNC showed Harris campaign is dismissing the noise from Trump and pundits. It\u2019s working.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Philadelphia Enquirer reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In Chicago, Dems redefined what it means to be American, then claimed it<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n John Scalzi has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Political Thoughts, 8\/23\/24<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Salon reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Experts: Pro-Trump officials could face “severe” punishments if they refuse to certify election<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Speaking of c^nt state shenanigans, Ars Technica reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Missouri AG\u2019s legal war against Media Matters shot down by federal judge<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n GovTech reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Virginia University Interns Are Helping Secure Elections<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is a fantastic idea.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ars Technica reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n X\u2019s Grok will direct users to Vote.gov after bungling basic ballot question<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A shit product is forced not to be as shitty.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Silicon Republic reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n San Francisco says \u2018good riddance\u2019 as X prepares to leave<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Verge reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n California State Assembly passes sweeping AI safety bill<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n OpenAI and Anthropic will share their models with the US government<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n MIT Technology review reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kamala Harris should stand with tech workers, not their bosses<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A tool that lets users fight misinformation online<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lawfare Media reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Can We Count on the Supreme Court If Democracy Is at Stake?<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Obviously not. So if you are a U.S. citizen, vote! Democracy advocates have to win big if you ever want to vote again.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wired reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Israel Is Buying Google Ads to Discredit the UN\u2019s Top Gaza Aid Agency<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n DarkReading reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hackers Use Rare Stealth Techniques to Down Asian Military, Gov’t Orgs<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bleeping Computer reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chinese Volt Typhoon hackers exploited Versa zero-day to breach ISPs, MSPs<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n New Tickler malware used to backdoor US govt, defense orgs<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Russian APT29 hackers use iOS, Chrome exploits created by spyware vendors<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Iran’s Pioneer Kitten hits US networks via buggy Check Point, Palo Alto gear<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TPA reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n How Did a Vocal Trump Supporter End Up in CNN’s ‘Undecided Voter’ Panel?<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Kyiv Post reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Kremlin Sees Telegram as a Liability\u2019 \u2013 Ukraine at War Update for Aug. 28<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joan Westenberg explains:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Political Media Dumpster Fire: How We Got Here and Why It\u2019s Worse Than You Think<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Kyiv Independent reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Is Telegram, Ukraine\u2019s most popular messenger app, a Russian Trojan horse?<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ars Technica reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n EU investigating if Telegram played down user numbers to avoid regulation<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 404 Media reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n How Telegram’s Founder Pavel Durov Became a Culture War Martyr<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n CNN reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018My identity is stolen\u2019: Photos of European influencers used to push pro-Trump propaganda on fake X accounts<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TechDirt reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Press Struggles To Explain How The GOP Killed A Popular Broadband Discount Program, Driving Millions Of Poor Americans Off The Internet<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nature reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n AI generates covertly racist decisions about people based on their dialect<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Totally unsurprising.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Guardian reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n FBI informant\u2019s book predicts far-right violence: \u2018we should be afraid\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Creative Commons explores:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Questions for Consideration on AI & the Commons<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ars Technica reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n After cybersecurity lab wouldn\u2019t use AV software, US accuses Georgia Tech of fraud<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 404 Media reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here\u2019s the Pitch Deck for \u2018Active Listening\u2019 Ad Targeting<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cracked Labs reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Employees as Risks: a case study on intrusive surveillance and behavioral profiling for cybersecurity, insider risk detection and \u201ccompliance\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Krebs on Security reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n When Get-Out-The-Vote Efforts Look Like Phishing<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ian Carroll has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bypassing airport security via SQL injection<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is batshit crazy.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Fediverse Report has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Last Week in Fediverse \u2013 ep 81<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The New Stack shares:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A Developer\u2019s Guide to ActivityPub and the Fediverse<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ghost has an update:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We do this not because it’s easy<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n PieFed announces:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Private voting has been added to PieFed<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dhole Moments has a:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Federated Key Transparency Project Update<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ghost has an Activity Pub update:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I like the way you like it like that<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Engadget reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Threads is testing disappearing posts that expire after 24 hours<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TechCrunch reports;<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Threads deepens its ties to the open social web, aka the \u2018fediverse\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Arxiv has a paper:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Looking AT the Blue Skies of Bluesky<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bluesky announces:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n New Anti-Toxicity Features on Bluesky<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p><\/ul>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Welcome to this week’s \u201cDefending Democracy\u201d. It’s your source for curated news affecting democracy in the cyber arena with a focus on protecting democracy. That necessitates an opinionated Butlerian jihad against big tech as well as evangelizing for open-source and the Fediverse. Unfortunately, the same applies for corporate journalism and media. We also cover the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[69],"tags":[57,66,67,92,74,73,65,78,75,58,77,93,112,64,86,63,61,113,62],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=800"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":819,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800\/revisions\/819"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\nFeatured Item<\/h2>\n
\n\nThe response to Russia\u2019s War Crimes and other douchebaggery<\/h2>\n
\n\nThe Evil Empire Strikes Back<\/h2>\n
Pariah States<\/h3>\n
Big Media<\/h3>\n
Big Tech<\/h3>\n
Terrorists<\/h3>\n
\n\nCybersecurity\/Privacy<\/h2>\n
\n\nFediverse<\/h2>\n
Other Federated Social Media<\/h3>\n
\n\nCTAs (aka show us some free love)<\/h2>\n
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