Techrights

Links 10/12/2025: Ransomware (Windows TCO) Has Crippled Economies, Slop (Fake) "Videos Have Flooded Social (Control) Media"

Posted by Roy Schestowitz on Dec 10, 2025

GNOME bluefish

Contents

• LeftoversScienceCareer/EducationHardwareProprietaryPseudo-Open SourceOpenwashing SecurityCISAPrivacy/SurveillanceConfidentiality Defence/AggressionTransparency/Investigative ReportingEnvironmentEnergy/TransportationWildlife/NatureOverpopulation FinanceAstroTurf/Lobbying/PoliticsCensorship/Free SpeechFreedom of Information / Freedom of the PressCivil Rights/PolicingDigital Restrictions (DRM)Monopolies/MonopsoniesCopyrights

* ### Leftovers

Society for Scholarly Publishing ☛ SEO Still Matters: Building Blocks for the Future of Content Discoverability

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) isn’t new. It’s been a cornerstone of website strategy for decades, helping brands compete for visibility online. At its core, SEO is about improving how your content ranks on search engines so it appears among the top results. As the search and user behavior landscapes undergo dramatic evolutions, however, marketers and others are left to wonder what SEO (and all the other -EOs) means for publishers now and how we can ensure that our content is still discoverable in the internet of the future.

Mike Brock ☛ The Beautiful Release

Not because I evaded it—though it may have seemed that way—but because the answer requires more care than a comment thread allows. His question was sophisticated enough to deserve an essay. This is that essay.Vincent asked about humility. Specifically, he asked whether my framework distinguishes between expressive humility - acknowledging contradictions, showing vulnerability - and epistemic humility - treating one’s own framework as potentially, fundamentally mistaken.Then he pressed further: “Do you see any role for asymmetrical error? Can one framework simply be wrong - not a difference to be harmonized, not a tension to be held, but an actual mistake about reality?”This is a devastating question. And it deserves a direct answer.

Nic Chan ☛ The f*** off contact page

A “fuck off contact page” is what a company throws together when they actually don’t want anyone to contact them at all. They are usually found on the websites of million or billion dollar companies, likely Software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies that are trying to reduce the amount of money they spend on support by carefully hiding the real support channels behind login walls. These companies tend to offer multiple tiers of support, with enterprise customers having a customer success manager who they can call on this ancient device we call phones, whereas the lower-paying customers may have to wrangle various in-app ticket mechanisms. If you solve your own problem by reading the knowledge base, then this is a win for the company. They don’t want to hear from you, they want you to fuck off.

Web Performance Calendar ☛ The Inconvenient Truth: How Web Performance Case Studies Undermine Our Relationship with Business - Web Performance Calendar

Despite its critical importance to online business, web performance is still fighting for attention from key stakeholders. Abstract technical metrics are not enough; people want to see money and the actual influence on revenue.For this, we use data or case studies. But are we really as good at presenting numbers as we think we are?The goal of this guide is to show you what you must look for in every study to avoid being misled and to obtain truly valid data for persuading your clients.

Fernando Borretti ☛ I Wish People Were More Public

Probably not a popular thing to say today. The zeitgeisty thing to say is that we should all log off and live terrible cottagecore solarpunk lives raising chickens and being mindful. I wish people were more online and more public. I have rarely wished the opposite. Consider this post addressed to you, the reader.

Doc Searls ☛ Where Has All the Interest Gone?

Think about the word station. That’s where we got our audio and video before the Internet came along. Some of that audio and video was distributed by or though stations over networks that were closed and private: NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox. Both stations and networks were static and unmoving. The words “range” and “coverage” had meaning. Now they don’t. We are on the verge of ubiquitous connectivity that one can presume anywhere. (Just wait until every car comes with Starlink and you’ll have one you can keep in your backpack. The Starlink Mini is to the future what the iPod was to the iPhone.)In the digital world, media choices have gone from static to dynamic, and from few to endless. And our appetite for what we call content is served across buffet tables that stretch past horizons in all directions. That some of it is only available by subscription does not diminish the plain fact that all the rest of it is free for the gobbling.

Alexandra Wolfe ☛ Life After Death

I’m posting this one again after visiting and reading J’s post Sunday Sadness in which she talks about how we all cope differently with grief over the holidays. The thing is, do we ever really get over the loss of a loved one at any time of year?

Science

LabX Media Group ☛ The Gollum Effect: 44 Percent of Scientists Report Territorial Research Experiences

Valdez and his colleagues noticed that many researchers, especially those in supervisory roles, “felt like they owned or possessed certain topics or ideas, and they’re like, ‘This is my territory,’” Valdez said. “We weren’t even trying to put a name, then ‘my precious’ came out, and we were like, ‘That would be a good name: the Gollum effect.’”In a recent paper, published in One Earth, Valdez and his colleagues reported that of the researchers they surveyed, about 44 percent had experienced the Gollum effect.1 Among them, nearly 70 percent said that the experience somehow influenced their career trajectory, and about 20 percent admitted to behaving like Gollum themselves. These findings underline the alarming frequency and consequences of the Gollum effect.

SusamPal ☛ Triangle-Free Cayley Graph

In this note I elaborate the proof of a claim regarding Cayley graphs of symmetric groups with transpositions as generators that I found in the book Algebraic Graph Theory by Chris Godsil and Gordon Royle. This claim appears as commentary in Section 3.10 about Transpositions. Here I present it in the form of a theorem along with a complete proof.Theorem. If \( \mathcal{T} \) is a set of transpositions, then the Cayley graph \( X(\operatorname{Sym}(n), \mathcal{T}) \) has no triangles.

Career/Education

Chris Hannah ☛ When Adulthood Actually Arrives

I felt like this for quite some time, as I only became a father when I was 32 years old. It didn't happen when I graduated from university, bought a house, or as I worked my way up to being a senior software engineer.But as soon as my daughter was born, there was a realisation. She needed someone to look up to, to provide for her, to make sure she's healthy, and to give her support and guidance. She needed a real adult in her life, and I had to step up.

J B Crawford ☛ speed reading (the meaning of language)

A typical American college graduate can read at about 250 words per minute, at least if the material isn't too challenging. Some people, Wood contends, are "10x readers." They read so quickly, and with such good understanding, that they simply outpace the rest of us at every intellectual pursuit. What's more, Wood could make you one of those people. As she tells it, she spent two years, probably in the 1950s, tracking down fifty some examples of other exceptional readers. She published "Reading Skills" in 1958, a book evidently based on some of this research but more focused on remedial skills for grade students than executive achievement.

Hardware

[Old] David L Farquhar ☛ The death star that blew up IBM's hard drive business

IBM hard drives were great, until 75GXP model, and to a lesser degree, the 60 GXP model. IBM drives were fast. They were reliable. And despite carrying a premium name, their price was competitive. IBM used the drives in their own computers, but they also sold their drives to competitors, who eagerly used them. The rule of fast, reliable, cheap: pick 2 applies to technology as much as it applies to anything. So when IBM offered all three and it held up for multiple generations, the drives proved popular even with people who wouldn’t dream of buying one of IBM’s computers.

Proprietary

David L Farquhar ☛ Apple IIGS discontinued December 1992

The Apple IIGS was a 16-bit Apple II that was mostly backwards compatible with the older models. It had a WDC 65C816 microprocessor, a 16-bit version of the 6502, running at 2.8 MHz. It also had 256 KB or 1 MB of RAM expandable to 8 MB, resolution and color similar to the Amiga and Atari ST, and a 32-channel Ensoniq wavetable synthesis chip designed by Bob Yannes, designer of Commodore’s SID chip. Bundled with a mouse, it is the first computer from Apple with a color graphical user interface and the Apple Desktop Bus interface for keyboards, mice, and other input devices. It cost $999 without a monitor at launch, equivalent to $2,940 in 2025 dollars.

GreyCoder ☛ Substack: How to Start a Newsletter You Actually Own

Substack charges nothing upfront. They take 10% when subscribers pay for your content. Most creators price monthly subscriptions between $5-20. Some writers earn more than traditional media jobs, while others use it as supplemental income.

The Register UK ☛ Classic MacOS for non-Apple PowerPC kit rediscovered

The discovery of some hand-labelled CD-R media containing MacOS 7.6 and 8.0 for CHRP opens up some intriguing possibilities for fans of the pre-OS X MacOS releases on hardware that doesn't officially support it… And the possibilities are not just limited to the now very rare machines it was intended for, way back in 1997.

Cyble Inc ☛ Barts Health Data Breach Confirmed As Cl0p Attack

Barts Health NHS Trust has confirmed that the data breach at Barts Health was carried out by the Russian-speaking Cl0p ransomware group, which exploited a vulnerability in Oracle E-Business Suite. The Barts Health data breach involved the theft of files from one of the trust’s invoice databases, exposing information linked to payments for treatment and other services, some dating back several years.

The Register UK ☛ Rebuilding Visi On reveals how Apple defined the GUI era

Another year, another magisterial chunk of software history from Nina Kalinina: On recreating the lost SDK for a 42-year-old operating system: VisiCorp Visi On. Kalinina has deconstructed an early PC GUI that made so little splash that it makes OS/2 look like a big hit – and she's even come up with some tools for writing new apps for it.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) / LLM Slop / Plagiarism

Air Force Times ☛ US Air Force wants AI to power high-speed wargaming

The Air Force wants a cloud-based, AI-powered “digital sandbox” as a hub to generate and run wargames at speeds of up 10,000 times faster than real time, according to a recent request for information.

Techdirt ☛ Public AI, Built On Open Source, Is The Way Forward In The EU

Public AI systems are important for at least two reasons. First, their mission is to serve the public interest, rather than focusing on profit maximization. That’s obviously crucial at time when today’s AI giants are intent on making as much money as possible, presumably in the hope that they can do so before the AI bubble bursts.

Scoop News Group ☛ Organizations can now buy cyber insurance that covers deepfakes

Synthetic media, including AI-generated deepfake audio and video, has been increasingly leveraged by criminals, scammers and spies to deceive individuals and businesses.Sometimes they do so by imitating an employee’s CEO, urging them to transfer large sums of money or provide them access to work accounts. Other times this fake media is created by a competitor or bad actor to ruin the reputation of executives or their companies.

404 Media ☛ Instagram Is Generating Inaccurate SEO Bait for Your Posts

I’ve confirmed that Instagram is generating headlines in a similar style for other users without their knowledge. One cosplayer who wished to remain anonymous posted a video of herself showing off costumes in various locations. The same post appeared on Google with a headline about discovering real-life locations to do cosplaying in Seattle. This Instagram mentioned the city in a hashtag but did not write anything resembling that headline.Google told me that it is not generating the headlines, and that it’s pulling the text directly from Instagram. Meta acknowledged my request for comment but did not respond in time for publication. I’ll update this story if I hear back.

[Old] Forbes ☛ Yes, The Bots Really Are Taking Over The Internet

Bots now account for nearly half of all internet traffic globally, with so-called “bad bots” responsible for a third.The proportion of internet traffic generated by bots hit its highest level last year, up 2% on the year before, according to the 2024 Imperva Bad Bot Report. Traffic from human users fell to just 50.4%.

Futurism ☛ The AI Research Sector Is Being Destroyed by Something Incredibly Ironic

In an ironic twist of fate, beleaguered AI researchers are warning that the field is being choked by a deluge of shoddy academic papers written with large language models, making it harder than ever for high quality work to be discovered and stand out.Part of the problem is that AI research has surged in popularity. The more people who jump on the wagon, the more some are trying to speedrun an academic reputation by churning out dozens — and sometimes even hundreds — of papers a year, giving the entire pursuit a bad name.

The Guardian UK ☛ Artificial intelligence research has a slop problem, academics say: ‘It’s a mess’ | Artificial intelligence (AI) | The Guardian

Papers he has put out in the past two years cover subjects such as using AI to locate nomadic pastoralists in sub-Saharan Africa, to evaluate skin lesions and to translate Indonesian dialects. On his LinkedIn, he touts publishing “100+ top conference papers in the past year”, which have been “cited by OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, Stanford, MIT, Oxford and more”.Zhu’s papers are a “disaster”, said Hany Farid, a professor of computer science at Berkeley, in an interview. “I’m fairly convinced that the whole thing, top to bottom, is just vibe coding,” he said, referring to the practice of using AI to create software.

Futurism ☛ Video Shows Robot Attacking CEO

In any of these stunts, there will inevitably be claims of teleoperation — and the suspicion is warranted, given that many these companies try make their tech seem better than it is by presenting only pre-programmed moves or letting a human control the bot behind the scenes. In fact, EngineAI released its latest video to rebuff accusations that a promo featuring martial arts stunts was CGI. It also released behind the scenes footage of T800 apparently sparring with a human fighter.

The Register UK ☛ Google says Chrome's AI creates risks only more AI can fix

Allowing error-prone AI models to browse the web without human intervention is dangerous, because the software can ingest content – perhaps from a maliciously crafted web page – that instructs it to ignore safety guardrails. This is known as “indirect prompt injection.”

Cyble Inc ☛ AI Browsers ‘Too Risky For General Adoption,’ Gartner Warns

The 13-page document, by Gartner analysts Dennis Xu, Evgeny Mirolyubov and John Watts, cautions that AI browsers’ ability to autonomously navigate the web and conduct transactions “can bypass traditional controls and create new risks like sensitive data leakage, erroneous agentic transactions, and abuse of credentials.”

Social Control Media

FSFE ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Opening the cage: the FSFE flies away from X (Twitter)

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] Federal Prosecutors Say Afghan National Made Bomb Threat on TikTok Video in Texas

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-08 [Older] TikTok Videos Mislead On Epilepsy Care, Experts Say

CBC ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] TikTok says new 'wellness' features can help build healthy habits. Should we be using apps for that?

Paul Krugman ☛ America Has Become a Digital Narco-State

If this story strikes you as extreme and implausible, here’s what you should know: replace “heroin” with “social media,” and this is a description of actual events.Yesterday I wrote about how hostility to Europe is a central theme of the Trump administration’s recently released National Security Strategy. The main driver of that hostility appears to be MAGA fury at the nations of Europe for being excessively protective of civil liberties and insufficiently racist.

Robin Berjon ☛ Fascintern Media

The reality of the Fascintern isn't in doubt. Putin's hybrid warfare has been destabilising democratic information spheres for years (just ask the Georgians), Trump's recent National Security Strategy is openly pushing to end coordination between European democracies — our primary strength — while laying out a series of far right grievances, billionaires on multiple continents are fuelling anti-democratic sentiment because they have (correctly) understood that democracy is the only tool we have to put an end to the growing inequality they enjoy, and tech monopolies are busy supporting this whole endeavour.

Cory Dransfeldt ☛ Building my Myspace

Maybe we peaked with Myspace. Maybe I'm nostalgic.

CoryDoctorow ☛ Pluralistic: Elon Musk’s Blue Tick scam

Why would the carny do this? Because once this poor bastard took possession of the giant teddybear, he was obliged to conspicuously lug it around the CNE midway in the blazing, muggy August heat. All who saw him would think, "Hell if that dumbass can win a giant teddybear, I'm gonna go win one, too!" Charitably, you could call him a walking advertisement. More accurately, though, he was a Judas goat.Digital platforms have the ability to give out giant teddybears at scale. Because digital platforms have the flexibility that comes with running things on computers, platforms can pick out individual platform participants and make them King For the Day, showering them in riches that they will boast of, luring in other suckers who will lose everything: [...]

Ben Werdmuller ☛ The world needs social sovereignty

When X reduces the reach of a government entity as an act of retaliation for a regulatory action, it proves how unsuitable closed systems are for any kind of democratic communications. In contrast, open systems are democracy-preserving and resilient to the bad actions of a corporation (or an oligarch): the web itself can’t retaliate against someone (nor does it need to be fined), because it doesn’t have a single owner.

Rolling Stone ☛ Taylor Swift Social Media Influence Campaign Smeared Her as Nazi

What Swift’s defenders didn’t realize, however, was that they were pushing back against a false narrative that had been seeded and amplified by a small network of inauthentic social accounts. Worse, they were helping to disseminate those bad-faith allegations by earnestly engaging with them.That’s according to new research from GUDEA, a behavioral intelligence startup that tracks how such reputation-damaging claims emerge and go viral on the internet. In a white paper examining more than 24,000 posts and 18,000 accounts across 14 digital platforms between Oct. 4 (the day after The Life of a Showgirl came out) and Oct. 18, shared first with Rolling Stone, the firm concluded that just 3.77 percent of accounts drove 28 percent of the conversation around Swift and the album during that period. This cluster of evidently coordinated accounts pushed the most inflammatory Swift content, including conspiracy theories about her supposed Nazi allusions, callouts for her theoretical MAGA ties, and posts that framed her relationship with fiancé Travis Kelce as inherently conservative or “trad,” with all of this framed as leftist critique.

The Guardian UK ☛ ‘Don’t pander to the tech giants!’ How a youth movement for digital justice is spreading across Europe

McLaren, her sister and their friends reported the account to Snapchat dozens of times, but received no response. Then they discovered there were fisha accounts for different suburbs, towns and cities across France and beyond. Faced with the impunity of the social media platforms, and their lack of moderation, they launched the hashtag #StopFisha.

The Register UK ☛ X terminates European Commission ad account after €120M fine

In a later post, he noted that the EC had not run an ad since 2021 and that the exploit had since been patched. The Register asked the EC to comment, but has yet to receive a response.

New Yorker ☛ If You Quit Social Media, Will You Read More Books?

The plan worked, more or less. I finished a draft of the book on time. But the other imagined effects of a social-media detox never quite materialized, at least not in a noticeable way. I was especially hoping that I would start reading more books, because I have found that enviable prose prompts me to try to write my own, not necessarily out of a sense of inspiration but rather out of fear that if I don’t hurry up and start typing, I’ll fall behind. And yet, the chief effect, I found, was that I simply didn’t know what was happening in the world. That was nice enough, but all those books I had hoped to read never found their way into my hands.

Windows TCO / Windows Bot Nets

Security Week ☛ Ransomware Payments Surpassed $4.5 Billion: US Treasury

Ransomware payments reported to the US Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) surpassed $4.5 billion by the end of 2024, with the highest levels reached in 2023.FinCEN’s new Financial Trend Analysis report shows that more than $2.1 billion was paid to ransomware groups between 2022 and 2024, with $1.1 billion paid in 2023 alone.

Scoop News Group ☛ Is ransomware finally on the decline? Treasury data offers cautious hope

Dwindling ransomware payments from 2023 to 2024 is a positive sign, but it’s too early to celebrate the shift as an enduring decline. Payments previously jumped 77% year-over-year in 2023 and total ransomware payments during the three-year period ending in December 2024 topped $2.1 billion.

Pseudo-Open Source

Openwashing

Chad Whitacre ☛ Fizzy Should Be Fair Source

Fair Source is a movement parallel to Open Source that we started last year. Our intent is to resolve the conflict between community and corporate interests that has plagued Open Source since the beginning. We currently have a dozen companies on board.

Security

Krebs On Security ☛ Microsoft Patch Tuesday, December 2025 Edition

Microsoft today pushed updates to fix at least 56 security flaws in its Windows operating systems and supported software. This final Patch Tuesday of 2025 tackles one zero-day bug that is already being exploited, as well as two publicly disclosed vulnerabilities.

"When pro-Russia hacktivist groups target our infrastructure, the FBI will use all available tools to expose their activity and hold them accountable."

Today, the FBI and DOJ announced the extradition of Victoria Eduardovna Dubranova, who has been federally charged with participating in two Russia-backed criminal groups that conducted dozens of cyberattacks around the world, including attacks against U.S. critical infrastructure.

CISA

CISA ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] CISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog

CISA ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] CISA Releases Nine Industrial Control Systems Advisories

CISA ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] PRC State-Sponsored Actors Use BRICKSTORM Malware Across Public Sector and Information Technology Systems

CISA ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Mitsubishi Electric GX Works2

CISA ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] MAXHUB Pivot

CISA ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Johnson Controls OpenBlue Mobile Web Application for OpenBlue Workplace

CISA ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Johnson Controls iSTAR

CISA ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Sunbird DCIM dcTrack and Power IQ

CISA ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] SolisCloud Monitoring Platform

CISA ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Advantech iView

CISA ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] CISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog

CISA ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] CISA, Australia, and Partners Author Joint Guidance on Securely Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Operational Technology

CISA ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] CISA Adds Two Known Exploited Vulnerabilities to Catalog

CISA ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] CISA Releases Five Industrial Control Systems Advisories

CISA ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] Industrial Video & Control Longwatch

CISA ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] Iskra iHUB and iHUB Lite

Privacy/Surveillance

The Record ☛ Khashoggi widow files complaint in France alleging Saudi government infected devices with spyware

The widow of slain Saudi journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi has filed a legal complaint in a French court alleging that Saudi Arabia deployed spyware to snoop on her devices before her spouse was murdered.Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, a former flight attendant, says in the complaint filed Monday that she flew through France routinely at the time her phone data was being stolen, according to a copy of the complaint seen by Agence France-Presse.

Patrick Breyer ☛ Digital House Arrest – How the EU Wants to Disempower Families

The battle over “chat control” and the confidentiality of our communications has long since become the defining question regarding the relationship between the state and the citizen in the digital age. On December 4th, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Magnus Brunner (EPP) defended plans before the European Parliament that cut deeply into civil liberties. What is particularly bitter for conservative voters is that it is precisely the center-right-led governments in Berlin and Vienna that have helped secure a majority for this assault on privacy in Brussels. While the leader of the German CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Jens Spahn, assured the public in October that suspicionless scanning of chats was akin to “preemptively opening every letter to see if it contains something illegal”—and that neither he nor his party would support it—reality now looks quite different.

MWL ☛ TWP books not in Apple Books in the EU

Could I set up a burner or a Google Phone dropbox? Sure. But consider that my total income from Apple Books is so minuscule that I didn’t even put it on last year’s graph. How much work am I willing to do for $200 a year? Very little.

EFF ☛ 10 (Not So) Hidden Dangers of Age Verification

Age-verification laws may sound straightforward to some: protect young people online by making everyone prove their age. But in reality, these mandates force users into one of two flawed systems—mandatory ID checks or biometric scans—and both are deeply discriminatory. These proposals burden everyone’s right to speak and access information online, and structurally excludes the very people who rely on the internet most. In short, although these laws are often passed with the intention to protect children from harm, the reality is that these laws harm both adults and children.

OpenRightsGroup ☛ Digital ID: ORG warns of mission creep

“The claim that digital ID is needed to enforce immigration policy is simply false: migrants in the UK are already subjected to an extensive digital ID regime through the eVisa system, and their experiences should serve as a warning. Data errors, glitches and outages have repeatedly left people unable to prove their right to be in the UK—stripping individuals of dignity and basic rights.“No one should be exposed to a system this fragile. Instead of scaling up these harms and spending £1.8 billion on a population-wide surveillance scheme, the government should be fixing the problems we already have.”

404 Media ☛ 404 Media Is Making a Zine

404 Media is making a print zine about the surveillance tactics used by ICE, and the ways people are resisting this technology. It will be 16 pages and printed on a risograph printer by a printshop in Los Angeles. It contains both reworked versions of our best reporting on ICE and some new articles for the zine. It will be available at the beginning of January.

Confidentiality

Mark Dastmalchi-Round ☛ Stop Breaking TLS - markround.com

Rant ahead: I hate TLS “Inspection” software with a burning passion and I wish we collectively as an industry would just knock it the fuck off and stop pretending it’s some great security benefit. Every time I encounter it, in whatever form, it’s a gigantic headache that makes everyone’s life worse off and as far as I am concerned offers next to zero tangible benefits.For those blissfully unaware, this is a class of “security” software or appliance that is supposed to let organisations monitor all encrypted traffic. It does this by inserting itself in the middle of traffic, stripping the encryption off so it can inspect it and then re-signing it with its own certificate. If that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s a widely known class of attack - the Man In The Middle attack. Great stuff, we’re literally deploying the exact attack vector that TLS was designed to prevent, but slapping a “security” label on it.

Simon Willison ☛ 10 Years of Let's Encrypt

According to their stats the amount of Firefox traffic protected by HTTPS doubled from 39% at the start of 2016 to ~80% today. I think it's difficult to over-estimate the impact Let's Encrypt has had on the security of the web.

Ben Werdmuller ☛ 10 Years of Let's Encrypt Certificates

It’s hard to overstate how important this was. Obtaining and installing the security certificates needed to secure a website used to be fairly expensive and a really annoying process. The genius of Let’s Encrypt was to make it completely automatic — and, through that innovation, free. Tools like the EFF’s companion software certbot effectively make it one-click. In combination, the baseline work of securing a website is reduced to almost nothing, which has truly democratized the encrypted web.

Michael Lynch ☛ My First Impressions of MeshCore Off-Grid Messaging

“If we’re not within radio range of each other, we can route our messages through a mesh network of our neighbors’ radios. But don’t worry! The radios encrypt our messages end-to-end, so nobody else can read what we’re saying.” By this point, she’d left the room.My wife has many wonderful qualities, but, if I’m being honest, “enthusiasm for encrypted off-grid messaging” has never been one of them.The technology I was pitching to my wife was, of course, MeshCore.

Defence/Aggression

Cyble Inc ☛ Australian Social Media Ban Takes Effect Despite Concerns

Australia’s world-first social media ban for children under age 16 takes effect on December 10, leaving kids scrambling for alternatives and the Australian government with the daunting task of enforcing the ambitious ban.What is the Australian social media ban, who and what services does it cover, and what steps can affected children take? We’ll cover all that, plus the compliance and enforcement challenges facing both social media companies and the Australian government – and the move toward similar bans in other parts of the world.

Science Alert ☛ Australian Children Now Banned From Social Media. These Countries May Be Next.

Young Australians under 16 must now come to grips with the new reality of being unable to have an account on some social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.Only time will tell whether this bold, world-first experiment will succeed. Despite this, many countries are already considering following Australia's lead.

CS Monitor ☛ Australia banned social media for teens under 16. Will other countries follow?

Mr. Haidt calls the legislation “a game-changer.” Malaysia recently announced it will follow suit. Denmark is looking to restrict social platforms until age 15. Last month, the European parliament voted in favor of a nonbinding resolution for a minimum age for social media. Its president, Ursula von der Leyen, said she will monitor Australia’s experiment.

US News And World Report ☛ Australia Social Media Watchdog Sees Common Cause With US as Age Ban Begins

The ​comments show the regulator framing the Australian law as a step toward a common goal and shrugging off complaints by some of the ​world's biggest tech firms ⁠and senior U.S. lawmakers who have called the Australian law, with its corporate fines of up to A$49.5 million ($33 million), a threat to free speech.Ahead of Australia's law requiring social media platforms to block people under 16 taking effect on Wednesday, a U.S. congressional committee said it wants Inman Grant to testify, describing her as a foreign official challenging the First Amendment.

The Register UK ☛ Australia bans teens from social media – good luck with that

“The fact that teenagers occasionally find a way to have a drink doesn’t diminish the value of having a clear, national standard,” the PM added.Albanese also said the policy is “about helping parents push back against peer pressure. You don’t have to worry that by stopping your child using social media, you’re somehow making them the odd one out.” The PM has also mentioned teen suicides linked to social media, and said the law aims to prevent further such tragedies, so no parent has to experience the anguish of losing a child to online bullying.

International Business Times ☛ Why a TikTok Ban May Be Unenforceable in Britain and Beyond

Theo Bertram, the former general manager and vice president of public policy for TikTok in Europe, has issued a warning to policymakers: a ban is practically unenforceable.Bertram, who previously served as a special adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair and Prime Minister Gordon Brown, offers a unique perspective that bridges the gap between Silicon Valley technicalities and Whitehall maneouvering. Bertram argues that the drive to prohibit the Chinese-owned application is rooted more in 'geopolitics than anything else', forcing a collision between legislative intent and technical reality.

Inside Towers ☛ Copper Theft Causes “Catastrophic” Tower Damage, Knocks Two Stations Off Air

The November 21 theft destroyed transmission lines, an AM tuning unit, an iso-coupler, and both stations’ transmitters. A vehicle apparently pulled the elevated lines from the studio building using a rope or chain, causing what the filing calls “massive and total damage,” according to Radio World.

Marisa Kabas ☛ Conspiracy theorist election denier given FEMA’s second-most important role

It’s unclear why a conspiracy theorist with no emergency management experience or current role in the government was provided an opportunity to speak with the acting director of FEMA.In 2022, Phillips and Engelbrecht were jailed during a trial relating to their election fraud conspiracies after being found in contempt of court by a Texas judge. They’ve pushed myriad conspiracy theories, like the idea that a tiny election software company had connections to the Chinese Communist Party and “had given the Chinese government backdoor access to personal data about two million poll workers in the United States.”

Armin Ronacher ☛ Let’s Destroy The European Union!

Elon Musk is not happy with the EU fining his X platform and is currently on a tweet rampage complaining about it. Among other things, he wants the whole EU to be abolished. He sadly is hardly the first wealthy American to share their opinions on European politics lately. I’m not a fan of this outside attention but I believe it’s noteworthy and something to pay attention to. In particular because the idea of destroying and ripping apart the EU is not just popular in the US; it’s popular over here too. Something that greatly concerns me.

Baldur Bjarnason ☛ But, I worry, because I can see the cracks in the wall

There’s a short window of opportunity over the next few years where people in the US can turn this around. There’s still hope for change, but if they miss their opportunity, we’re likely going to be stuck with an authoritarian US for at least a decade or two, which is bad for everybody, inside and outside of the US.Seeing how the US administration has been continuously attacking its own infrastructure and institutions, there is now a very real third possibility that’s much harder to account for in your planning.

Hong Kong Free Press ☛ HK 'Patriots only' poll: 4 arrests over urging of blank ballots

Although casting a blank protest ballot or not voting is legal, encouraging others to do either is unlawful.

LRT ☛ Germany's in the crosshairs of Russian operations – and Moscow shows no hesitation to kill

A new joint assessment by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) aims to dispel any remaining scepticism among those who still fail to recognise the threat from Russia.The document, not yet public, is due to be presented at the Conference of Interior Ministers taking place in Bremen from December 3 to 5. The weekly newspaper Spiegel obtained a draft and outlined its main findings. The 30‑page analysis details cases of disinformation, espionage, sabotage, subversion and political influence operations in Germany.

US Navy Times ☛ Is carrier Wi-Fi distracting sailors? Jet mishap probe raises concerns

But buried in one of the reports is another concern: that the arrival of readily accessible Wi-Fi onboard ships is reducing crews’ commitment to professional excellence.The finding appears in the investigation into the loss of a Super Hornet on May 6 due to an arresting wire that broke as the aircraft was attempting to land — an incident attributed to poor maintenance and “eroding of standards” to the point of “abject failure.”

Vox ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] America has a new clash of civilizations — with European liberals

Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

Copenhagen Post ☛ 2025-12-08 [Older] 22-year-old Dane found dead at Ukraine front

NL Times ☛ 2025-12-08 [Older] Cabinet bows to Parliament, opens 700 million euros in extra Ukraine funding

CBC ☛ 2025-12-08 [Older] Ukraine's Zelenskyy meets with EU, NATO leaders after talks with U.S. on revised peace plan

Counter Punch ☛ 2025-12-08 [Older] An Oligarch’s Guide to Ending the Ukraine War

Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-12-08 [Older] Ukraine's Zelenskyy to meet European leaders in London

Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-12-08 [Older] Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy meets Starmer, Macron, Merz in UK

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-08 [Older] Polish Police Arrest Three Ukrainians Found With Hacking Equipment

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-08 [Older] Seven EU Leaders Urge Action on Ukraine Reparations Loan Proposal

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-08 [Older] European Leaders, Zelenskiy Hold Talks in London at 'Crucial' Time for Ukraine

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-08 [Older] Zelenskiy Says No Accord So Far on Eastern Ukraine in US Talks, Bloomberg News Reports

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-07 [Older] Italy's Meloni Pledges Emergency Aid to Ukraine in Call With Zelenskiy

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-07 [Older] US Envoy Says Ukraine Peace Deal Is Close but Moscow Says It Wants Radical Changes

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-07 [Older] Zelenskiy Says Ukraine's Peace Talks With US Constructive but Not Easy

Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-12-06 [Older] Ukraine: US flags 'constructive' peace talks in Miami

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-06 [Older] Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Temporarily Lost Power Overnight, IAEA Says

Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] Heavy fighting for Pokrovsk: Is Ukraine losing the city?

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] Chechen Leader Kadyrov Vows Response After Ukrainian Drone Hits Grozny, No Casualties

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] France's Macron: Unity Between Europe and U.S on Ukraine Is 'Essential'

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] Putin Arrest Warrant Will Stand Even if US-Led Peace Talks Agree Ukraine Amnesty, ICC Prosecutors Say

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] Sweden to Cut Development Aid to Five Countries, Divert Money to Ukraine

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] Witkoff, Ukraine's Umerov Meeting Again in Miami on Friday

Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Macron discusses Ukraine, trade with Xi in China

Spiegel ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Confidential Conference on Ukraine Peace: "We Must Not Leave Ukraine and Volodymyr Alone with These Guys"

The Age AU ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Australia news LIVE: Australia leaves fate of ISIS brides to US military; Labor announces first military support package for Ukraine in over a year

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] German, French Leaders Wary of US Push for Ukraine Peace, Spiegel Reports

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Seven More Children Returned to Families in Ukraine, Melania Mussolini Says

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Ukraine Stares Down the Barrel of Population Collapse

Copenhagen Post ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] Ukrainian corruption case won’t halt Løkke’s aid plans

The Age AU ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] ‘Ready right now’: Putin warns of war with Europe ahead of Ukraine talks

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] Analysis-Cheeto Mussolini's Ukraine Peace Effort Tests His Unconventional Diplomacy

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] Explainer-Why Is Fate of Donetsk Region a Sticking Point in Talks on Ending War in Ukraine?

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] Kremlin Says Putin Accepted Some US Proposals on Ukraine and Is Ready to Continue Talking

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] Ukraine's Parliament Approves 2026 Budget, Focuses on Defence

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] UN Chief Guterres: End to War in Ukraine Should Abide by International Law

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] Zelenskiy Says Ukrainian Negotiator Umerov to Hold Talks in Brussels

Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] Europeans don't have much say in US-run Ukraine peace talks

Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] Ukraine updates: US envoy Witkoff meeting Putin in Moscow

Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] Ukraine updates: US envoy Witkoff meets with Putin in Moscow

The Local DK ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] Denmark starts work on rocket fuel facility for Ukraine

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] Key Negotiators in the Talks to End the War in Ukraine

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] Explainer-What Might a Ukraine Peace Deal Look Like?

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] Italy to Postpone Decree on Military Aid to Ukraine, Sources Say

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] NATO Chief Dismisses Concerns About US Commitment to the Alliance Ahead of Ukraine Meeting

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] No Consensus Yet on Ukraine's NATO Membership, Rutte Says

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] Putin Threatens to 'Cut Ukraine off From the Sea' After Attacks on Tankers

Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-12-08 [Older] Russia and Iran's partnership more fragile than it looks

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-08 [Older] A Struggle to Survive in Ukraine's East, With Russia at the Gates

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-08 [Older] Russian Drone Strike on Ukraine's Sumy Injures at Least Seven, Governor Says

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-08 [Older] Russian Soldiers Jailed for Killing Pro-Kremlin US Volunteer in Ukraine

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-08 [Older] EU Leader Warns of US Interference in Europe's Affairs as Russia Praises Cheeto Mussolini's Security Vision

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-08 [Older] Turkey to Guarantee Flow of Russian Gas to Hungary, Orban Says

Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-12-07 [Older] Ukraine's Kremenchuk hit by Russian airstrikes — mayor

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-07 [Older] La Scala Gala Crowd Cheers Premiere of Shostakovich's 'Lady Macbeth' Once Censored by Stalin

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-07 [Older] As Sea Drones Force Russia to Retreat, Ukraine Examines Ways to Launch More Complex Attacks

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-07 [Older] Kremlin Says New US Security Strategy Accords Largely With Russia's View

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-07 [Older] Cheeto Mussolini Says Zelenskyy 'Isn't Ready' Yet to Accept US-Authored Proposal to End Russia-Ukraine War

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-07 [Older] Russian Troops Capture Two Villages in Ukraine, Defence Ministry Says

CBC ☛ 2025-12-06 [Older] Russia unleashes massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine amid diplomatic talks

Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-12-06 [Older] Ukraine hit by new Russian strikes on infrastructure

Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-12-06 [Older] Ukrainians say it's 'absurd' to abandon Donbas to Russia

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-06 [Older] Russian Drones, Missiles Hit Ukraine Power and Transport Sectors, Kyiv Says

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-06 [Older] Russia Unleashes Massive Drone and Missile Attack on Ukraine as Diplomatic Talks Continue

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-06 [Older] Ukraine Drones Hit Russia's Ryazan, Voronezh Regions, Governors Say

CPJ ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] Russia’s repression record

Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] Ukraine: Friedrich Merz travels to Brussels for talks on frozen Russian assets

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] Exclusive-EU, G7 Weigh Ban on Maritime Services for Russian Oil Exports, End to Price Cap

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] German Parliament Backs Controversial Military Service Law Amid Russian Threat

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] German President Visits WWII Bombing Site as Europe Seeks to Bolster United Front Against Russia

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] Kremlin Says Russia Is Encouraged by Talks With US, Ready to Engage Further

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] Polish Parliament Upholds Crypto Veto, Brushing Aside PM's Russia Warning

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] Russian Drone Strike Kills 12-Year-Old Boy in Ukraine as Peace Talks Kept Under Wraps

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] Ukraine Condemns Olympic Diver Lyskun's Switch to Russia

Copenhagen Post ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Russia: Ukrainian weapons factory in Denmark may lead to escalation

Jacobin Magazine ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Ukraine Faces an Imperial Carve-Up

CBC ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Ontario's Ring of Fire ads include footage of Australia, Sweden and Russia

CBC ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Putin says Russia will take Donbas by force if it's not ceded by Ukraine

Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Half of Europeans see high risk of war with Russia: poll

Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Putin, Modi hail friendly ties as Russian president visits India

Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Russia: Appeal rejected for journalists tied to Navalny

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Russia Restricts FaceTime, Its Latest Step in Controlling Online Communications

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] UK and Norway Will Mount Joint Naval Patrols to Protect Undersea Cables and Hunt Russian Submarines

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Berlin Deploys Fighter Jets to Poland After Russian Drone Incursions

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Main Findings From UK Novichok Report That Blames Russia

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] From Litvinenko to Skripals and Bulgarians: UK-Russian Tensions This Century

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Putin Arrives in New Delhi on a State Visit Aimed at Bolstering Russia-India Ties

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Putin Says There Are Points He Can't Agree to in the US Proposal to End Russia's War in Ukraine

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Putin Says Russia Will Take All of Ukraine's Donbas Region Militarily or Otherwise

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Putin Visits Delhi as Russia and India Seek to Increase and Diversify Trade

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Russia's Medvedev Says EU Seizure of Frozen Assets Could Be Tantamount to Justification for War

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Russia's Putin Arrives in India for Summit Talks With PM Modi

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Russia Warns Faroe Islands of Potential Retaliation Over Sanctions Related to Alleged Spy Ships

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Turkey Told Russia, Ukraine to Keep Energy Infrastructure Out of War, Minister Says

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Ukraine Says It Wants 'Real Peace, Not Appeasement' With Russia

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] UK Sanctions Russia’s GRU Spy Agency Over 2018 Nerve Agent Attack

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] UK Sets Out New Sanctions Against Russia After Novichok Report

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-04 [Older] Putin Authorised 2018 Novichok Poisoning of Ex-Russian Spy Skripal, UK Inquiry Says

Copenhagen Post ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] EU puts forward loan plan using frozen Russian assets

CBC ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] European ministers accuse Putin of feigning interest in peace talks

The Age AU ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] Australia targets Putin’s shadow fleet in bid to starve Russian war machine

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] The EU Lays Out a Plan to Fund Ukraine Using Frozen Russian Assets but Belgium Says It's Too Risky

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] An American Imprisoned in Russia Has His Sentence Extended on Charges of Beating His Guards

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] China, Russia Discuss Ukraine, Reach 'Consensus' on Japan During Chinese Minister's Visit

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] Exclusive Drone Footage Shows Devastated Ukrainian Town Almost Encircled by Russian Forces

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] Germany Deploys Arrow Air Defence to Counter Russian Missile Threat

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] Kremlin Aide Says Russia's Battlefield Gains Influenced Ukraine Talks With US

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] Russia Raises Jail Sentence of American Robert Gilman to 10 Years for Assault on Prison Staff

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] Turkey Discusses Black Sea Safety With NATO After Attacks on Russian Ships

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] Ukraine Hits Pipeline Sending Russian Oil to Hungary and Slovakia, Source Says

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] Russian Skiers and Snowboarders Allowed by CAS to Try to Qualify for Winter Olympics

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] Owner of Oil Tanker Damaged Near Senegal Says It Is Ceasing All Russian Operations

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] Poland Charges Man With Orchestrating Sabotage From Russia

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] Putin Warns Europe: if You Want War, Then Russia Will Defeat You

US News And World Report ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] Tajikistan Is in Talks With Russia About Helping Guard Its Afghan Border, Security Sources Say

Vox ☛ 2025-12-02 [Older] Can Marco Rubio end the war in Ukraine?

Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-12-01 [Older] Russian threats push Finland past EU budget deficit limit

Transparency/Investigative Reporting

Alabama Reflector ☛ Epstein co-conspirator grand jury records to be unsealed in New York under court order

Federal Judge Paul Engelmayer wrote in a 24-page order that unsealing the documents fell within the scope of a new law passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump. The law compels the U.S. Department of Justice to release nearly all investigative files in the government’s case against Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

LibreNews ☛ Is Linux market share going stonks or not stonks?

Every couple of years, I see multiple articles about Linux market share suddenly dropping or rising within a few months, reaching new all-time highs or all-time lows. This might raise the question: Is the Linux market share growing or shrinking overall?Well, it's difficult to say, because we don't have a good metric for it. However, we do have a few data sources, all of which could be taken into consideration.

Techdirt ☛ Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Was Ordered To Release Some Of His Emails With Elon Musk. Most Are Blacked Out.

The records, however, reveal little about the two men’s relationship or Musk’s influence over state government. In fact, all but about 200 of the pages are entirely blacked out.Of those that were readable, many were either already public or provided minimal information. They included old incorporation records for Musk’s rocket company SpaceX, a couple of agendas for the governor’s committee on aerospace and aviation, emails regarding a state grant awarded to SpaceX and an application from a then-Musk employee to sit on a state commission.

Environment

TwinCities Pioneer Press ☛ EPA eliminates mention of fossil fuels in website on warming’s causes. Scientists call it misleading

Sometime in the past few days or weeks, EPA altered some but not all of its climate change webpages, de-emphasizing and even deleting references to the burning of coal, oil and natural gas, which scientists say is the overwhelming cause of climate change. The website’s causes of climate page mentions changes in Earth’s orbit, solar activity, Earth’s reflectivity, volcanoes and natural carbon dioxide changes, but not the burning of fossil fuels. Seven scientists and three former EPA officials tell The Associated Press that this is misleading and harmful.

Smithsonian Magazine ☛ What's Killing These Oak Trees in the Midwest? Conservationists Believe Drifting Herbicides Are to Blame

Herbicide drift is internationally recognized as a problem for native species and closely tracked across Europe. Yet no government agency in Illinois or the surrounding states was measuring its impacts, even on the few patches of native forest left there, says Kim Erndt-Pitcher, an ecotoxicologist and director of ecological health for the Illinois-based nonprofit Prairie Rivers Network. “We met with agencies, and it was just really hard to convince folks that this is an issue,” Erndt-Pitcher adds. “No one was looking at the frequency of symptoms or the severity of symptoms or the distribution across the state.” So, Prairie Rivers Network started a monitoring program with a shoestring budget and a handful of volunteers. One of them was Kemper.

Food & Water Watch ☛ National Data Center Moratorium Now!

We, the undersigned organizations collectively representing millions of people in all 50 states, call on you to support a national moratorium on the approval and construction of new data centers.The rapid expansion of data centers across the United States, driven by the generative artificial intelligence (AI) and crypto boom, presents one of the biggest environmental and social threats of our generation. This expansion is rapidly increasing demand for energy, driving more fossil fuel pollution, straining water resources and raising electricity prices across the country. All this compounds the significant and concerning impacts AI is having on society, including lost jobs, social instability and economic concentration.

The Register UK ☛ Activist groups urge Congress to pause datacenter buildouts

Organizations endorsing the letter collectively represent millions of citizens across all 50 US states, the group claims. It urges members of Congress to suspend the construction of new facilities until adequate regulations are enacted to protect communities and the environment from the damage it claims is already being inflicted.

Advance Local Media LLC ☛ Louisiana is shrinking. Some tribes are fighting to protect what’s left of their communities

The delicate lattice of Louisiana’s coastline has been steadily retreating for generations. As it does, the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe and other Indigenous people are fighting to protect what’s left and to adapt to their changing environment. That includes a painstaking effort to build makeshift reefs that slow erosion and sturdier homes and buildings to better withstand storms.

Michigan News ☛ Tiny invasive crab causing big alarm for wildlife officials

Chinese mitten crabs are known to burrow into dikes, levees or stream banks which can increase erosion and damage flood control and water supply systems.Additionally, the medium-sized crabs, about 3-inches wide, prey on native species, consume fish eggs and compete for food, potentially impacting native fish and crayfish populations.

Jacobin Magazine ☛ The Poisoned Lives That US Bombs Leave Behind

Reporting from Fallujah, Jacobin documents how US-made weapons laced with toxic metals and depleted uranium have turned cities razed by war into biohazards. Soil, bodies, and whole generations are being poisoned in their wake.

Energy/Transportation

Vox ☛ Why we need so much lithium

Fueled by the global rise in electric vehicles and the proliferation of lithium-ion batteries in everything from laptops to phones to solar panels, lithium consumption has skyrocketed: globally, people now use nearly 28 times more lithium per capita than in the 1990s. After China, the US is the world’s second-largest consumer of lithium, yet it mines less than one percent of the global supply. And lithium isn’t just powering our devices, it’s powering a future in clean energy.

Common Dreams ☛ Court Rules Trump Administration’s Wind Ban is Illegal

A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled that the Trump administration’s ban on new wind projects is illegal, an important legal victory for the industry that has faced myriad attacks from this administration.The Interior Department issued the “wind ban” in response to the presidential memorandum issued on the first day of President Trump’s term. Today’s decision comes in response to cases filed by attorneys general from 17 states and the District of Columbia, and by the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, a trade group. NRDC and other environmental groups filed amicus briefs in the case.

Tedium ☛ Shipping Containers: Malcom McLean’s Complicated Gift To Free Trade

Today in Tedium: It’s not often discussed, but one form of transportation can inspire another. Think about it. Before Orville and Wilbur Wright decided to test the skies, they (and other early fight enthusiasts) spent years learning the trade of bicycle repair. Robert Fulton developed the first practical submarine—and the first steamboat. Carriage makers attempted (and, honestly, failed) to translate their skill set from horses to railroads. But no example perhaps nails down this dynamic more perfectly than that of the container ship. On the surface, putting predetermined containers on giant freight ships seems like an obvious idea, but let’s be honest—it wasn’t. But systematizing the way we shipped complex goods was one of the smartest things the modern freight industry ever did—and it was a guy who had nothing to do with ships that came up with it. Today’s Tedium ponders the interesting, unusual story of the truck driver who saw a vision for ships that nobody else did—and the problems that ultimately created. — Ernie @ Tedium

Bitdefender ☛ California man admits role in $263 million cryptocurrency theft that funded lavish lifestyle

Some members of SE Enterprise specialised in hacking databases to identify wealthy cryptocurrency investors. Others, known as "callers," would phone their intended victims while pretending to be security staff at cryptocurrency exchanges (such as Coinbase) or email providers (such as Google or Yahoo), tricking them into revealing their login details.

The Register UK ☛ Datacenters accused of hoarding grid capacity

The problem stems from how grids operate: Grid operators can't expand networks without lengthy regulatory approval, and capacity is allocated strictly on a first come first served basis. This prompts developers to reserve power for projects that may never be built, while datacenter operators apply for more than they need to accommodate future growth and planning uncertainty.

Wildlife/Nature

Science Alert ☛ Cats Meow More Than Twice as Much at Men, And We Can Only Guess Why

According to reporting from The New York Times, male owners got an average of 4.3 vocalizations (meows, purrs, or chirps) during the first 100 seconds of getting through the door, compared to an average of 1.8 vocalizations for female owners. That's a substantial difference – and it wasn't affected by the cat's age, sex, or breed.

Overpopulation

Renewable Energy World ☛ New plan for Colorado River is still murky as states pass by early deadline

A century-old compact governs use of the river based on flows that have dwindled during decades of overuse, drought and climate change. The river provides 27% of Utah’s water.“The question is, how do you divide a pie that’s significantly smaller than it has been, when everybody is used to getting that big piece of the pie?” said Gene Shawcroft, Utah’s Colorado River commissioner.

Finance

GeekWire ☛ Seattle tech job postings remain far below pre-pandemic levels [Ed: Home of Microsoft; At least Seattle has a large needle to pop this huge bubble]

Tech-related job postings remain stuck well below pre-pandemic levels in Seattle, according to a new hiring trends report from Indeed.The site uses a measure called the Indeed Job Postings Index, which treats Feb. 1, 2020 as the “normal” baseline of 100. Numbers below 100 mean fewer job postings than before the pandemic.In Seattle, the index for Software Development was 32 as of Nov. 27, 2025 — meaning postings are about two-thirds lower than the pre-COVID benchmark. Data & Analytics is even lower at 29.Those numbers haven’t moved much over the past two years. Software Development was 31 in late 2023 and Data & Analytics was 38, for example.

AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

FAIR ☛ With Turban or Hammer and Sickle, Cartoonists Tried to Make You Fear Mamdani

Indeed, cartoons and caricatures played an important if under-reported role in the   election campaign. They were, though, generally of a different—and worse—quality than those put out by Rama Duwaji, the mayor-elect’s wife.

APNIC ☛ Your elected leaders: Roopinder Singh Perhar, APNIC EC Secretary

The APNIC Elected Leaders series celebrates the journeys and contributions of individuals who have stepped up to serve in volunteer leadership roles, helping to advance Internet operations across the Asia Pacific region. Through their stories, we hope you’ll gain insight into what motivates them, feel more connected to our community, and be inspired to get involved and help shape the future of the Internet.

The Verge ☛ Google is powering a new US military AI platform | The Verge

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (who has dubbed himself Secretary of War, though the name has not been legally changed by Congress) promised that the platform “puts the worlds [sic] most powerful frontier AI models directly into the hands of every American warrior” and will “make our fighting force more lethal than ever before.” In a video, Hegseth says that “the future of American warfare is here, and it’s spelled A-I.”

Macworld ☛ Sorry, but Apple isn't going to miss all these execs who are leaving

After the unsurprising news that defacto former Apple executive John Giannandrea would infacto be leaving the company, we learned that Apple’s head of user interface design Alan Dye would also be leaving for greener pastures at Meta (the green is all cash).

Antipope ☛ Barnum's Law of CEOs

Another recent study found that 87% of executives are using AI on the job, compared with just 27% of employees: "AI adoption varies by seniority, with 87% of executives using it on the job, compared with 57% of managers and 27% of employees. It also finds that executives are 45% more likely to use the technology on the job than Gen Zers, the youngest members of today's workforce and the first generation to have grown up with the internet.

CoryDoctorow ☛ Pluralistic: Big Tech joins the race to build the world’s heaviest airplane

I have a weird fascination with early-stage Bill Gates, after his mother convinced a pal of hers – chairman of IBM's board of directors – to give her son the contract to provide the operating system for the new IBM PC. Gates and his pal Paul Allen tricked another programmer into selling them the rights to DOS, which they sold to IBM, setting Microsoft on the path to be one of the most profitable businesses in human history.

David L Farquhar ☛ VA Linux: The biggest dotcom IPO

But during the dotcom boom, Red Hat wasn’t the strongest performing Linux startup. VA Linux held that title, with its stock price surging 698% on December 9, 1999, the day of its IPO, setting a record for the time. Its share price shot up from $30 to $239 per share. It raised $132 million, nearly double what Microsoft raised in its IPO. And its market capitalization reached $9.5 billion, 12 times what Microsoft’s market cap was after its IPO.[...]Founded in November 1993 as VA Research, VA Linux sold professional workstations and servers with Linux pre-installed. At its peak, it held about 20 percent of the Linux hardware market. It started when the company’s founder, Larry Augustin, wanted a Sun workstation but couldn’t afford one, so he spent $2,000 building himself a 486-based PC and loaded Linux on it. Then he and his friend James Vera started selling computers on campus, Michael Dell-style.

David L Farquhar ☛ Atari's earnings miss in December 1982

Atari’s biggest year was 1982, when it earned $320 million on $2 billion in sales. But it ended on a very sour note. On December 8, 1982, its parent company, Warner Bros, announced it expected a dramatic slump in fourth quarter per-share earnings largely because of disappointing sales of Atari’s video game cartridges. The news of Atari’s earning miss sent Warner’s stock price reeling, losing $16.75 per share the day after the announcement.

Techdirt ☛ Weird King Trump Pretends He’ll Be Objective In Deciding If His Son In Law And Rich Friends Can Buy Warner Brothers

Despite the fact the Paramount hostile takeover bid features his own son in law, the Saudis, and a billionaire bestie who shares his authoritarian policies, Trump and right wing media outlets like the Wall Street Journal are desperately trying to pretend this is going to be a neutral process: [...]

Tech Central (South Africa) ☛ Paramount launches $108-billion counteroffer for Warner Bros

Netflix had emerged victorious on Friday from a weeks-long bidding war with Paramount and Comcast, securing a $72-billion equity deal for Warner Bros Discovery’s TV, film studios and streaming assets. But Paramount’s latest attempt means the jockeying for Warner Bros and its prized HBO and DC Comics assets will not come to a conclusion swiftly.

Kansas Reflector ☛ As noxious rhetoric spreads, Kansas Republican leaders whitewash intolerance within their ranks

The First Amendment still applies, of course. Anyone should feel free to believe anything they want as long as it does not involve physically harming or threatening others. Political parties have the same freedom. However, every one of us has the choice to coddle or confront. If members of your coalition hold offensive and destructive beliefs, you can make it clear they’re not welcome. Republicans can survive and thrive without white supremacists, homophobes and Groypers.If the Republican brand has truly been pickled beyond palatability, voters can make their own choice. Pick a fresh cucumber and start again.

[Repeat] EDRI ☛ Press Release: EU stands up to Big Tech with €120 million fine to X

The ruling comes at a pivotal moment for Europe’s tech governance. Geopolitical pressure, deregulation proposals, and aggressive corporate lobbying are testing the EU’s resolve to defend the rule of law in the digital sphere. This judgment must be the start of a broader wave of enforcement that finally compels platforms to take responsibility for the harm they inflict on people, communities, and democratic institutions.

Techdirt ☛ Elon’s Crying Censorship Over An EU Fine That Has Nothing To Do With Censorship

Both Daphne and I have criticized attempts by EU officials to abuse the DSA in pursuit of censorship. I directly called it out when former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton clearly went way over the line last year, a move that quickly led to Breton losing his job. I’ve been highly critical of the DSA for years, so if this were actually an abuse of the law for censorship, I’d be first in line to call it out and side with Elon (I’ve done it in other circumstances as well).But this is not that. This has nothing to do with “content moderation” or “censorship” in any way.And yet, Elon Musk is running around pretending it is a free speech issue, and his once-again friends in the Trump administration are bolstering that false claim.

Techdirt ☛ Paramount (With Jared Kushner And Saudi Help) Launches $108 Billion Hostile Takeover Bid For Warner Brothers

Even before the deal was finalized, Paramount and/or the Trump administration had begun seeding complaints in Republican-friendly media that the bidding process was unfair to Larry Ellison and CBS/Paramount, and that the Trump administration is concerned about the antitrust impact of a Netflix Warner Brothers combination.Now Paramount has announced that it’s trying to appeal directly to shareholders with a $108 billion hostile takeover bid: [...]

The Register UK ☛ Intel to explore making chips in India's first fab

Intel will explore manufacturing some chips in India’s first fab after forming an alliance with Indian mega-corp Tata.The two companies announced the alliance yesterday.

Semafor Inc ☛ Europe voices anger over US security strategy

But last week’s National Security Strategy has rankled the bloc: the European Council president warned Washington against “political interference,” while a former senior official labelled the American stance “absolute ignorance.” As one leading Brussels-based journalist put it, “the attack is overt, and the interference unapologetic.”

Misinformation/Disinformation/Propaganda

International Business Times ☛ 2025-12-03 [Older] YouTuber Kurt Caz Accused of Using AI to Depict Oxford Street as 'Dangerous' to Appeal to Far-Right

The Register UK ☛ UK calls on Europe to counter Russia's expanding info wars

The UK understands that Russia is behind some of the most robust online misinformation networks in operation, such as the Doppelgänger campaign. They are adept at flooding social media with deepfake material in the most widely spoken European languages, as well as disseminating fake documents, with the goal of advancing Russia's objectives.These campaigns persist, targeting democracies across the world. Just two months ago, officials spotted a Russian plot to undermine trust in Moldova's pro-European PAS party by publishing fake documents supporting unpopular policies.

Bruce Schneier ☛ AI vs. Human Drivers

Two competing arguments are making the rounds. The first is by a neurosurgeon in the New York Times. In an op-ed that honestly sounds like it was paid for by Waymo, the author calls driverless cars a “public health breakthrough”: [...]

The Tyee ☛ We Fight Disinformation Every Day. You Can Help

Instead, digital tycoons and demagogues “flood the zone” with BS for a reason.They want us confused and cowed.They want us slipped up on slop.As they pollute the media-sphere with trickery and falsehoods, they wield ever more powerful tools.

New York Times ☛ A.I. Videos Have Flooded Social Media. No One Was Ready.

In their comments, many reacted to the video as though it was real. Despite subtle red flags, hundreds vilified the woman as a criminal — some with explicit racism — while others attacked government assistance programs, just as a national debate was raging over President Trump’s planned cuts to the program.

The Independent UK ☛ Investigation reveals AI deepfake doctors spreading misinformation and endorsing supplements

British charity Full Fact has uncovered a series of social media accounts using AI-generated videos of health experts to promote health products, directing viewers to US supplements company Wellness Nest.Among those being impersonated was Professor David Taylor-Robinson, a children’s public health doctor from the University of Liverpool.

EWeek ☛ AI Deepfakes of Real Doctors Flood Social Media With Health Misinformation | eWEEK

The doctor will see you now. Alas, it’s not a real one. And the outcome is decidedly unhealthy.TikTok and other major social media platforms are hosting a wave of AI-generated deepfake videos in which the images and voices of real doctors are manipulated to promote supplements and spread health misinformation.

The Guardian UK ☛ AI deepfakes of real doctors spreading health misinformation on social media

TikTok and other social media platforms are hosting AI-generated deepfake videos of doctors whose words have been manipulated to help sell supplements and spread health misinformation.

Censorship/Free Speech

Counter Punch ☛ 2025-12-05 [Older] YouTube, aka the Biggest Platform on Earth, Has Deleted All My Albums

CBC ☛ 2025-12-07 [Older] ‘I don’t know who I can trust,’ says Quebec YouTuber harassed by Chinese government

American Library Association ☛ Supreme Court refuses to hear Little v. Llano County: ALA responds

The American Library Association (ALA) expressed disappointment and concern following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to allow a lower court ruling from the Fifth Circuit to stand. This decision will significantly restrict the freedom to read in public libraries across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. ALA President Sam Helmick said,"By declining to review the Fifth Circuit’s decision, the Supreme Court has empowered state and local governments to limit what materials people can access in their libraries. As a result, millions of library users now face a diminished right to read and explore information free from government interference. The ruling threatens to transform government libraries into centers for indoctrination instead of protecting them as hubs of open inquiry.

Techdirt ☛ Your Job Was Stopping CSAM? Trump Says No Visa For You!

This policy censors non-censors for not doing the thing that the White House and MAGA folks are actively doing every day. MAGA knows content moderation is necessary—they’re super eager to have it applied when it’s speech they don’t like. As we’ve recently discussed, they’ve suddenly been demanding social media companies stop foreign influence campaigns and remove anything mean about Charlie Kirk. At the same time, the White House itself is engaged in a twisted version of what it claims is fact checking and demanding that media orgs hire MAGA-friendly censors.

CPJ ☛ Hong Kong arrests commentator, summons international media over deadly fire

Foreign media including Agence France-Presse, the Financial Times, The New York Times, the Associated Press, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Journal were told there would be no tolerance for “trouble making,” according to those news organizations and media reports. The officials did not give specific examples of the supposedly problematic coverage or take questions, the reports said.

International Business Times ☛ OnlyFans Puts IRS in Awkward Spotlight Over Trump Tax Perk: Agents Decide Which Kinky Tips Stay Untouched​

The headache began with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that President Trump signed into law back in July. The big selling point was the 'no tax on tips' rule, meant to help service workers keep more of their cash. To clarify, the government listed nearly 70 jobs that make the cut, covering everything from traditional service roles to modern gig work.This list includes 'dancers' and 'digital content creators'—categories that ostensibly cover the millions of individuals monetising their content on platforms like OnlyFans. However, the legislation includes a significant caveat: any income derived from 'pornographic activity' is strictly excluded from the tax break. This exclusion has created a massive grey area, or 'jiggle room,' regarding where legitimate digital creation ends and pornography begins. Without clear definitions, the IRS is left to police the boundary.

Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

The Dissenter ☛ Report Calls Attention To Capitalism's Destruction Of The Press And Media System

RFERL ☛ Global Crackdown On Media Deepens, Watchdog Warns

In its annual round-up for 2025, RSF says that 67 reporters had been killed, 503 detained, 135 missing, and 20 held hostage as of December 1.As in previous years, Russia was considered one of the worst places for journalists, ranking only behind China in the number of reporters it has incarcerated, with 48 journalists in detention. Belarus and Iran also remain among the world’s top jailers, with 33 and 21 journalists imprisoned respectively, placing both inside RSF’s global top 10.

RTL ☛ Reporters Without Borders: RSF says Israel killed highest number of journalists again this year

In its annual report, the Paris-based media freedom group said the total number of journalists killed reached 67 globally this year, up from 66 killed in 2024.Israeli forces accounted for 43 percent of the total, making them “the worst enemy of journalists”, RSF said in its report, which documented deaths over 12 months from December 2024.

Press Gazette ☛ Forbes cuts dozens of contributing writers

Dozens of writers appear to have had their profiles on Forbes updated in the last week to say that they are “former contributors”.Forbes has since cited the need for a “financially sound” contributor model in an email to contributors, according to The New York Post.The contributing writers span various subjects, with no specific sections appearing to be targeted.

CPJ ☛ Algeria upholds 7-year sentence for French journalist, convicts 2 others

“By upholding a seven-year sentence against French journalist Christophe Gleizes for conducting an interview and issuing a three-year suspended sentence alongside a heavy fine against journalist Saad Bouakba while shutting down Vision TV, Algerian authorities are intensifying a deeply alarming crackdown on the press,” said CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah. “All journalists must be allowed to work freely without fear of imprisonment.”

Civil Rights/Policing

Techdirt ☛ How ICE’s Plan To Monitor Social Media Threatens Not Just Privacy, But Civic Participation

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has published a request for information for private-sector contractors to launch a round-the-clock social media monitoring program. The request states that private contractors will be paid to comb through “Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, VK, Flickr, Myspace, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Reddit, WhatsApp, YouTube, etc.,” turning public posts into enforcement leads that feed directly into ICE’s databases.The request for information reads like something out of a cyber thriller: dozens of analysts working in shifts, strict deadlines measured in minutes, a tiered system of prioritizing high-risk individuals, and the latest software keeping constant watch.

Robert Reich ☛ How Can Outrageous CEO Pay be Stopped?

In some cases, the disparity is so grotesque it defies belief. For example: [...]

Markup from Hell ☛ a11y freedom beaver

If you can use a native HTML element HTML or attribute with the semantics and behavior you require already built in, instead of re-purposing an element and adding an ARIA role, state or property to make it accessible, then do so.

Marcy Wheeler ☛ DOJ Withheld Proof They Knew Their Assault of LaMonica McIver Was "Bad" before They Charged Her

But the implication of this is clear.DOJ was never going to turn over these discussions — conducted on Signal — until Judge Semper ordered this supplemental briefing. They were sitting on evidence that shows that before DHS first started calling McIver’s actions an assault on May 10 (McIver had to ask to have these Tweets taken down, but the timeline is in her motion to do so), they had shared video noting that their own actions looked bad.Over and over this year, DHS has assaulted opponents of ICE and then charged them for it. And these Signal texts sure seem to support that they knowingly did the same thing with Congresswoman McIver.And then buried it in a discovery violation.

Lou Plummer ☛ That Time I Ended Up on an FBI Watchlist

Since the war didn't miraculously end, I kept on organizing, locally and nationally. In early 2006, I got a call one day from a reporter from NBC. He told me he was working on a story about government violations of the Patriot Act. He'd discovered that the FBI was maintaining records of antiwar activists past the legal time limit on such lists. Of course, my name was on the list that had been leaked to him. He wanted to know if I would comment on the record about the information. I gave him a sound bite about the evils of the Bush administration and the similarities to government actions against activists during the days of J. Edgar Hoover.

Court House News ☛ Black Google workers one step closer to $50 million settlement in discrimination lawsuit

Curley filed the lawsuit in March 2022 with attorneys from Stowell & Friedman, Ltd., Ben Crump Law and Sani Law. She was joined by two colleagues, Desiree Mayon and Ronika Lewis, who said they experienced similar treatment, were passed over for promotions, subjected to hostile work environments and denied the same opportunities as their white counterparts while performing the same work.According to the plaintiffs, the discrimination wasn’t limited to a few managers or one department. They claim it reflected companywide policies and practices affecting how Black employees were hired, leveled into job categories, compensated, evaluated and promoted.

Digital Restrictions (DRM)

The Register UK ☛ Porsche panic in Russia as cars mysteriously bricked

According to reports, local dealership chain Rolf traced the problem to a loss of satellite connectivity to their Vehicle Tracking Systems (VTS). This meant the systems thought a theft attempt was in progress, triggering the vehicle's engine immobilizer.Porsche HQ was unable to help or diagnose the nature of the problem. It's understood that systems like VTS are operated by local Porsche subsidiaries or dealer networks.

Arena Media Brands LLC ☛ All of Russia's Porsches Were Bricked By a Mysterious Satellite Outage - Autoblog

Imagine walking out to your car, pressing the start button, and getting absolutely nothing. No crank, no lights on the dash, nothing. That’s exactly what happened to hundreds of Porsche owners in Russia last week. The issue is with the Vehicle Tracking System, a satellite-based security system that’s supposed to protect against theft. Instead, it turned these Porsches into driveway ornaments.The issue was first reported at the end of November, with owners reporting identical symptoms of their cars refusing to start or shutting down soon after ignition. Russia’s largest dealership group, Rolf, confirmed that the problem stems from a complete loss of satellite connectivity to the VTS. When it loses its connection, it interprets the outage as a potential theft attempt and automatically activates the engine immobilizer.

Pete Brown ☛ All music streaming services are bad.

Some of these streaming services pays artists better than others, but none of them pays artists well. They would not have a business if they did that (and I don’t mean that as a defense of that business model).

Crucial Tracks ☛ Quitting Spotify, ethics, and pay per stream

Over the weekend, I stumbled upon the How to quit Spotify 🔗 post that was making the rounds, which shared a journey of figuring out which platform to move to... and they ended up with a service I recently tried and liked: Qobuz. I wish they had an API for the Crucial Tracks app and I did contact them to no avail so far...Beyond the technical details of moving services, the article mainly focused on the library experience and the amount the service pays per stream. Data I was already well familiar with, so I didn't pay too much attention. I was just glad that more people are taking the need to get off Spotify seriously.

Techdirt ☛ Netflix Makes Itself Less Useful, Removes Casting With No Explanation

I suspect the real reason is Netflix is trying to make it more difficult for users to share their Netflix streaming services on their mobile phones while at other peoples’ homes, in the hopes of forcing your friends and relatives to sign up for Netflix. A choice that may or may not be supported by any actual real-world data.This is the path of enshittification. It’s not good enough to offer a good product people like. The need for relentless quarterly growth means that inevitably companies find the easiest route is not to nurture useful and interesting new innovations, but to engage in a sort of cannibalization of the underlying brand. Endless price hikes; endless cut corners and feature erosion.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

Semafor Inc ☛ Sen. Mike Lee has ‘grave doubts’ about Netflix-WBD deal

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, thinks Netflix’s deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery will likely get derailed by federal antitrust cops, he told Burgess Everett.

Court House News ☛ Netflix hit with antitrust suit over plan to acquire Warner Bros.

But in a 56-page complaint filed in the Northern District of California Monday, plaintiff Michelle Fendelander says the merger could result in higher prices for customers and fewer high quality offerings.“If allowed to consummate, the Netflix-WBD merger will substantially decrease competition in the U.S. [subscription video on demand market], harming consumers in that market through increased prices, reduced service quality, and decreased output (including reduced consumer choice),” Fendelander, who is represented by Bathaee Dunne LLP, says in the complaint.

Copyrights

IP Kat ☛ 2025-12-08 [Older] [Guest post] Deepfakes: Can you “copyright” a person?

Torrent Freak ☛ EU Report Distills AI-Training Lessons from Napster Piracy Era: Don't Sue, License

An in-depth analysis on AI training and copyright, commissioned by the European Parliament, cautions against repeating the mistakes of the early 2000s when online piracy boomed. Instead of suing AI companies into oblivion or relying on "opt-out" mechanisms, the report sees "statutory licenses" as the optimal solution. This effectively authorizes the use of copyrighted works for AI training and should ultimately benefit creators and AI companies.

Silicon Angle ☛ EU will investigate Google over how it uses online content for AI training

“The Commission will investigate to what extent the generation of AI Overviews and AI Mode by Google is based on web publishers’ content without appropriate compensation for that, and without the possibility for publishers to refuse without losing access to Google Search,” the EU executive body said today. “Indeed, many publishers depend on Google Search for user traffic, and they do not want to risk losing access to it.”The second strand of the commission’s investigation also focuses on Google’s use of AI, examining whether the company has used YouTube content to train its generative AI models without adequately compensating creators or allowing them to opt out.

[Repeat] JURIST ☛ New York Times sues Perplexity AI over copyright infringement

The news organization claims Perplexity takes its content and uses it, sometimes verbatim, in its responses through search queries. “Perplexity has violated the protections that intellectual property law provides for The Times’s expressive, original journalism, which includes everything from news to opinion, culture to business, cooking to games, and shopping recommendations to sports,” The New York Times wrote in its lawsuit. “The Times brings this action to hold Perplexity responsible for its wrongdoing, joining a growing number of creators that have filed lawsuits against Perplexity for violating their rights.”

The Register UK ☛ Publishers say no to AI scrapers, block bots at server level

About 5.6 million websites presently have added OpenAI's GPTBot to the disallow list in their robots.txt file, up from about 3.3 million at the start of July 2025. That's an increase of almost 70 percent.