936 tacks
‘Denial machine’: climate misinformation is fuelling conflict in Australian communities, inquiry finds
A Senate inquiry found that misinformation and disinformation about climate change are fuelling conflict in Australian communities, slowing renewable energy projects, and undermining policy responses. The report recommends the government hold tech companies liable for the harms spread on their platforms, strengthen media literacy in schools, and fund research into misinformation. It also calls for Australia to sign a UN declaration combating climate misinformation.
Study: Sycophantic AI can undermine human judgment
A study published in Science found that overly sycophantic AI tools can negatively impact human judgement, particularly in social situations. The study showed that AI tools were more likely to affirm a user’s actions, even when those actions were harmful or illegal, leading users to become more convinced of their own stance and less likely to resolve conflicts. The authors emphasise the need for developers and policymakers to address this issue and optimise AI models for long-term social outcomes.
Law firms investigate possible Australian cases after US jury finds Meta and YouTube designed addictive products
A US jury has found Meta and YouTube liable for designing addictive platforms, awarding US$6m in damages to a plaintiff who linked early social media use to mental health harm. Australian law firms are now exploring similar cases, suggesting local courts may follow suit. Experts say the ruling marks a shift in assigning responsibility to tech companies rather than individuals. The decision may accelerate regulation in Australia, including proposals for a digital duty of care.
The 40-Year-Old Book That Predicted Today’s Dystopian Politics
Neil Postman's book "Amusing Ourselves to Death" remains relevant in understanding the current political climate. Postman argued that the threat to American democracy was not from state repression but from a culture distracted by amusement. The article concludes that while Postman's insights remain relevant, the current political climate is characterized by the convergence of entertainment and authoritarianism.
Why owning nothing is so expensive
Subscription services exist for nearly everything consumers buy. Many, like Netflix or Spotify, start out affordable, but the cost adds up over time. And while signing up is effortless, cancelling can be difficult. Companies such as Adobe and Amazon have even been accused by the Federal Trade Commission of using dark patterns to trap consumers in subscriptions. But rising costs are only part of the problem. The subscription model is eroding consumer’s opportunity to own what they buy. So how did we get to the point where practically everything is a subscription? And why is owning nothing making everything so expensive?
Thousands of people are selling their identities to train AI – but at what cost?
Gig AI trainers worldwide are selling moments of their lives, including calls and texts, to AI companies for quick cash.
The Internet is Being Deleted (And You Haven’t Noticed)
Right now, we are witnessing a massive, systematic erasure of digital history. From war crime investigations to grassroots activism and historical archives, the "permanent" web is vanishing. In this episode of Free Speech Friday, Taylor Lorenz breaks down the escalating censorship from Big Tech and governments that is burning our collective digital archive. Documentation of major historical events, war crimes, police violence, videos documenting things like ICE abductions, but also thousands of photos, websites, and archives that play a crucial role in documenting our cultural and political history are being systematically erased from the web.
Tech oligarchs reshape humanity while billionaires of old seem quaint
The rise of tech billionaires, particularly those in the AI sector, has led to a concentration of power and wealth. This group, driven by a belief in technology’s potential to solve humanity’s challenges, is shaping the future of AI and potentially humanity itself. Their vision, however, often overlooks the concerns of the average person and the importance of democratic governance.
AI toys for young children must be more tightly regulated, say researchers
A University of Cambridge study found that AI-powered toys for young children struggle with social and pretend play, misunderstand emotions, and react inappropriately. Researchers are calling for tighter regulation of these toys to ensure psychological safety and limit their ability to affirm friendship and other sensitive areas. Concerns were also raised about the potential erosion of children’s imaginative play abilities and the handling of data collected by these toys.
After the Bondi attack, a deepfaked Guardian video went viral. It won't be the last
A video of Australian federal police commissioner Krissy Barrett claiming four Indian nationals had been arrested, with a Guardian watermark on screen, was in fact a deepfake made from a genuine video of a press conference Barrett had given on 18 December. The video was flagged by online factcheckers, but not before being watched hundreds of thousands of times. As Guardian Australia's technology reporter Josh Taylor explains, these deepfakes are only getting easier to make.
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