Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Leanne Veronica @leanneveronica.bsky.social · 7h

And a great photos too!

Leanne Veronica @leanneveronica.bsky.social · 20h

Victorian agronomist, Tony Rinaudo, has been awarded an international peace prize for a farming technique that has revolutionised farms in Niger.

Australian wins peace prize for farming idea feeding millions in Africa

A Victorian scientist whose farming technique has revolutionised agriculture in Niger is awarded an international peace prize.

www.abc.net.au

1 1

Leanne Veronica @leanneveronica.bsky.social · 22h

"Every age assumes the dislocations of its time are exceptional, but the present one seems particularly indifferent to earlier moments of technologically induced disequilibrium."

Jon Piccini @jonpiccini.bsky.social · 4d

The war against 'false news' is not 'new', but has been a concern of international organisations for over 100 years. The ever captivating Roland Burke launches a new Guardian column, Past/Present, sponsored by the @austhistassoc.bsky.social.

The fledgling UN tried to rein in mass-scale misinformation. The world turned its back and is now paying the price | Roland Burke

The ruinous result of the US approach to freedom of information and media has made anti-democratic contagion impossible to ignore

www.theguardian.com

12 13

Leanne Veronica @leanneveronica.bsky.social · 22h

By "real world" connections does the Government mean "in-person"?

If so, where is the investment to replace online support networks for young people living in regional Australia, for example?

What programs are in place to build "online resilience"?

2 2 7

Leanne Veronica @leanneveronica.bsky.social · 22h

The Minister states the purpose of the law is clear - "so young Australians have three more years to build real world connections and online resilience."

The legislation says the purpose of the law is "to reduce the risk of harm to age-restricted users from certain kinds of social media platforms."

CAMERON WILSON @cameronwilson.bsky.social · 1d

The Albanese Government is kicking off a national TV campaign to " prepare Australians for the Albanese Government’s world leading social media minimum age laws."

In addition, the eSafety Commissioner has flagged her office will be releasing more resources this week

2 3

Reposted by Leanne Veronica

Josh Taylor @joshtaylor.bsky.social · 1d

OpenAI has also been asked to assess whether Sora 2 should be included in the social media ban by eSafety.

Sora 2 isn't yet available in Australia.

1 5

Leanne Veronica @leanneveronica.bsky.social · 1d

Wholeheartedly agree.

Reposted by Leanne Veronica

Josh Taylor @joshtaylor.bsky.social · 1d

Here's what she told them fwiw www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Social media ban will create a ‘social gap’ for young people, youth advocate says

The Senate committee looking at the under 16s social media ban and other age checks coming online has heard from youth advocacy organisation Project Rockit on what the ban will mean for young people when they’re kicked off social media from 10 December.

Caitlin Blanch, a member of Project Rockit’s national youth collective and a young disabled person from Tamworth, NSW, said for her social media was a “pivotal way” to make connections with other people with living experience that she could relate to, to find health information, and share her story.

She said:

I think that it’s been pivotal for my friend groups in finding representation of queer people that’s not stereotypical of finding cultural content that is not stigmatised. It’s had an incredibly impactful role on connecting otherwise isolated communities to places that they would not have access to, and for young people in regional Australia who perhaps have that physical isolation.

When the ban comes into effect, she said it will change how young people interact with the world:

It creates a social gap, but it also sends a narrative that young people don’t have the power to articulate their own narratives, that they can’t be in control of their agency online, and that they are responsible for the harmful content that they’re exposed to. And I don’t think that’s fair. I think there should be greater emphasis on the corporations that are in control of the algorithms.

3 18 47

Reposted by Leanne Veronica

Josh Taylor @joshtaylor.bsky.social · 1d

Props to Project Rockit for bringing an actual young person, Caitlin Blanch, to speak to the committee given the policies are about them but mostly excludes them.

2 11 63

Leanne Veronica @leanneveronica.bsky.social · 1d

Their case is not helped by the fact that:

> the definition of age-restricted social media platform is deliberately broad and

> the Explanatory Memorandum to the Social Media Minimum Age Bill explicitly mentions YouTube. (As an e.g. of a platform where content can be viewed when logged out).

1

Reposted by Leanne Veronica

Josh Taylor @joshtaylor.bsky.social · 2d

As I wrote before the legislation even hit parliament www.theguardian.com/media/articl...

2 20 39

Leanne Veronica @leanneveronica.bsky.social · 1d

This righteousness from Henderson is hard to take.

Her party passed the legislation with the broad definition of "age-restricted social media platform".

If the Liberals wanted YouTube excluded, they should have amended the Bill last year.

Reposted by Leanne Veronica

Piper @yourfriendpiper.bsky.social · 3d

I love this piece and glad this part was noted: "The question of who wins or who loses in Triangle Posting Politics is divorced from material conditions, justice, or the common good."

sarah jeong @sarahjeong.bsky.social · 3d

I have a theory www.theverge.com/policy/79849...

American politics has devolved into shitposting and aura farming

The Frog is owning the president.

www.theverge.com

4 44 240

Leanne Veronica @leanneveronica.bsky.social · 3d

"Tokenism dosesn’t cut it. We’re at a defining moment. Act accordingly."

Daniel James @mrdtjames.bsky.social · 4d

How centrist politics is letting us down at time when democracy itself is under attack from the extremes. www.thespencerstreetend.com.au/p/in-the-mid...

In the Middle of Nowhere

How centrism lost its purpose and opened the door to the extremes.

www.thespencerstreetend.com.au

1 5

Leanne Veronica @leanneveronica.bsky.social · 3d

Awful news, Cathy. I'm so very sorry.

I can't imagine how deeply frustrating it must be to see anti-science policies wreak such havoc.

Leanne Veronica @leanneveronica.bsky.social · 4d

Having flicked through the judgment, the main issue seems to be he just refused to pay rates and the saga dragged on for well over a decade ...

1

Leanne Veronica @leanneveronica.bsky.social · 4d

Quite the saga ...

Port Augusta City Council Addresses Long Running Court Disputes

www.portaugusta.sa.gov.au

Leanne Veronica @leanneveronica.bsky.social · 4d

Not in this case ...

The judgment notes that:

early in 2015, Mr Robertson and Ms Jones complained of the erection of a signpost
for the road with the name “Mary MacKillop Road"

2 1

Leanne Veronica @leanneveronica.bsky.social · 4d

Wholeheartedly agree, very real risks to privacy and associated rights to freedom of speech & association by the use of this technology that can isolate & track characteristics at scale.

And as the community legal centre campaign highlights we know that surveillance does not impact us all equally.

3

Leanne Veronica @leanneveronica.bsky.social · 4d

That's awful. How frustrating that you can't enjoy your local park.

Leanne Veronica @leanneveronica.bsky.social · 4d

Another useful overview of digital policy in Australia #auslaw

Stilgherrian @stilgherrian.com · 4d

NEW NEWSLETTER: “The Weekly Cybers #88” buttondown.com/stilgherrian...

AN0M sting operation declared legal in Australia, Deloitte refunds $440,000 over AI fakery, cops may be given freedom to use abuse images to catch perps, SMS Sender ID Registry rollout starts, and much, much more.

#TwoFatLadies

The Weekly Cybers #88

AN0M sting operation declared legal in Australia, Deloitte refunds $440,000 over AI fakery, cops may be given freedom to use abuse images to catch perps, SMS Sender ID Registry rollout starts, and muc...

buttondown.com

1

Leanne Veronica @leanneveronica.bsky.social · 4d

Will be very interesting to see the reaction from under 16s when TikTok & others notify them that they are removing or deactivating their accounts (which eSafety said the platforms should do with "kindness, care and clear communication").

Reposted by Leanne Veronica

Josh Taylor @joshtaylor.bsky.social · 4d

"Politicising" an event for politicians. I see. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

The former rugby star was on Thursday night told he was no longer welcome at Australian Parliament Sports Club events, and accused of politicising the organisation. He has been removed from group chats discussing its events.

3 7 24

Leanne Veronica @leanneveronica.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you - that's what I thought but have been travelling, so wanted to check if there had been any developments.

1

Reposted by Leanne Veronica

Tama Leaver @tamaleaver.bsky.social · 4d

The full "Privacy Guidance on Part 4A (Social Media Minimum Age) of the Online Safety Act 2021" is here: www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/priv... #Privacy #Australia #SocialMediaBan [4/4]

Privacy Guidance on Part 4A (Social Media Minimum Age) of the Online Safety Act 2021

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

www.oaic.gov.au

4 4