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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. Since big media’s journalism wing is flailing and failing in its core duty to democracy, this is also a collection of alternative reporting on the eternal battle between autocracy and democracy. We also cover the cybersecurity world. You can’t be free without safety and privacy.<\/p>\n
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DD 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 We are going to be on holiday for a few weeks, so look for the next Defending Democracy in early October. You can still follow me on the Fediverse via the link under my photo below for limited curation of news items.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tech Policy writes:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n New technologies need simple metaphors to thrive, but simple metaphors aim to reduce complexity. Meanwhile, corporate boardrooms and founders believe in (or at least invest in) compelling myths and reward communications specialists for reinforcing these myths amongst consumers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Given their origins, these myths inevitably skew to the techno<\/em> side of techno-social equilibrium. They pollinate the social imagination with metaphors that lead to conclusions, and those conclusions shape a collective understanding. But if we want a socially oriented future for technology, we need myths that animate the social imagination of technology rather than overwrite it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Challenging The Myths of Generative AI<\/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 Ukrainian startup plans to defend companies from disinformation with AI<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Canadian Broadcasting reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meet the right-wing Canadian influencers accused of collaborating with an alleged Russian propaganda scheme<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n CNN reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Biden administration unveils new evidence of RT\u2019s key role in Russian intelligence operations globally<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dark Reading reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Malicious Actors Sow Discord With False Election Compromise Claims<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Kyiv Independent reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ‘De facto cyberwar’ \u2014 Poland says it uncovered ‘saboteurs’ working for Russia, Belarus<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Guardian reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Google\u2019s second antitrust suit brought by US begins, over online ads<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n X\u2019s AI chatbot spread voter misinformation \u2013 and election officials fought back<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Markup reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n How I\u2019m Trying to Use Generative AI as a Journalism Engineer \u2014 Ethically<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 404 Media reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n AI-Generated Deepfakes Pushed Taylor Swift to Endorse Kamala Harris<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Axios reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n New York Times tech workers union votes to authorize a strike<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Great. Maybe they can “accidently” crash the site before they join the picket line.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The European Commission has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Remarks by Executive Vice-President Vestager following the Court of Justice rulings on the Apple tax State aid and Google Shopping antitrust cases<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Congratulations, Europe.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ars Technica reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Europe\u2019s privacy watchdog probes Google over data used for AI training<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TechCrunch reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Irish Big Tech watchdog digs into platforms\u2019 content reporting mechanisms after DSA complaints<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Senate leaders ask FTC to investigate AI content summaries as anti-competitive<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n MIT Technology Review reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2024 Innovator of the Year: Shawn Shan builds tools to help artists fight back against exploitative AI<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Great stuff.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Feds pull plug on domains linked to import of Chinese gun conversion devices<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Australia\u2019s government spent the week boxing Big Tech<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 404 Media reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In Wake of Durov Arrest, Some Cybercriminals Ditch Telegram<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Verge reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Utah social media law requiring age verification blocked by judge<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nearly 40 states back surgeon general\u2019s social media warning labels<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Actors union and women\u2019s groups push Gavin Newsom to sign AI safety bill<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meta, Snap, and TikTok partner to stop the spread of suicide and self-harm content<\/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 And:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will California flip the AI industry on its head?<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Kyiv Independent reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n US foreign agent rules can’t keep pace with Russian propaganda<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n NPR reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ‘The Bibi Files.’ Benjamin Netanyahu fails to block documentary from screening<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The MIT Technology Review reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Why a ruling against the Internet Archive threatens the future of America\u2019s libraries<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kremlin-linked COLDRIVER crooks take pro-democracy NGOs for phishy ride<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Russia’s top-secret military unit reportedly plots undersea cable ‘sabotage’<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tech reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kremlin\u2019s VPN Crackdown to Cost Estimated $646 Million<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dark Reading reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Microsoft VS Code Undermined in Asian Spy Attack<\/a><\/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 The mainstream press is failing America \u2013 and people are understandably upset<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018If journalism is going up in smoke, I might as well get high off the fumes\u2019: confessions of a chatbot helper<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mary Trump writes on corporate media:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Translating the Crazy<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n On a similar note, The Editorial Board reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The press corps is Trump\u2019s assisted living program<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Popular Information reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Major outlets change standards for hacked emails, protect Trump<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Nation reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Right-Wing Influencers Cashing Checks From Russia<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Philidelphia Inquirer opines:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trump\u2019s real Project 2025 was written for him in Moscow by Vladimir Putin\u2019s men<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n MSNBC reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Elon Musk\u2019s X is a poison. We don\u2019t need to keep taking it.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joan Westenberg writes:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Substack\u2019s Ticking Time Bomb<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Another reason to get off\/boycott Substack. If its being a Nazi bar wasn’t enough for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nieman Lab reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Big tech is painting itself as journalism\u2019s savior. We should tread carefully.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joan Westenberg writes:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lies, Damn Lies and Chatbots<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Guardian reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meta\u2019s AI is scraping users\u2019 photos and posts. Europeans can opt out, but Australians cannot<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tech Policy reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n With X Blocked in Brazil, Musk Doubles Down on Attacks Against Brazil\u2019s Democracy Using Classic Tactics of Manipulation<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Dual Decays of Enshittification<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ars Technica reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHAIL HOLY TERROR\u201d: Two US citizens charged for running online \u201cTerrorgram Collective\u201d<\/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 Fortune reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n How IT services provider Kyndryl is making cybersecurity training more fun<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n GovTech reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n As AI Gains Ground, Security Leaders Need to Embrace Saying Yes<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ZDNet reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n One million US Kaspersky customers to be migrated to this lesser-known alternative<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cambodian senator sanctioned by US over alleged forced labor cyber-scam camps<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Security Intelligence reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n What can businesses learn from the rise of cyber espionage?<\/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 Fediverse Report has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Elena Rossini<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n My Fediverse summer & the top 3 lessons I learned<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mastodon has an update:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trunk & Tidbits, August 2024<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fediverse Discovery Providers<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TechCrunch reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mastodon tackles the problem of \u2018reply guys\u2019 with its latest feature<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Threads makes it easier to evangelize the open social web with a new direct link feature<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jerry writes:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Learning to use Friendica was a worthwhile struggle<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We Distribute reviews:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bandwagon is Emissary\u2019s Bandcamp Alternative<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sounds awesome.<\/strong> \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n sub.club Emerges to Offer Paid Fediverse Subscriptions<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bridgy Fed has an update:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n another Bridgy Fed status update<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Aendra shares:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thoughts on the \ud83d\udcf0 News Feed<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TechCrunch reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bluesky catches up to X with native support for video<\/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. Since big media’s journalism wing is flailing and failing in its core duty […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":528,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[69],"tags":[57,66,67,92,74,73,65,78,75,58,128,59,86,63,61,62],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/845"}],"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=845"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/845\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":874,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/845\/revisions\/874"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/528"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=845"}],"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
Last Week in Fediverse \u2013 ep 83<\/a><\/p>\nOther Federated Social Media<\/h3>\n
\n\nCTAs (aka show us some free love)<\/h2>\n
\n