Paul Bouchaud
@paulbouchaud.com
(they/them) Researcher in Algorithmic Auditing, Social Simulation & Evidenced-Based Policymaking | paulbouchaud.com | working with aiforensics.org
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
Europe is rapidly rolling out age-verification — in the name of “child safety.” 🚷 But is it actually working?
Our first audit found AgeGO’s selfie feature streamed biometric data straight to Amazon. 🪪
Our new report examines AgeVerif: What we found raises serious concerns.
👇
Our first audit found AgeGO’s selfie feature streamed biometric data straight to Amazon. 🪪
Our new report examines AgeVerif: What we found raises serious concerns.
👇
October 28, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Europe is rapidly rolling out age-verification — in the name of “child safety.” 🚷 But is it actually working?
Our first audit found AgeGO’s selfie feature streamed biometric data straight to Amazon. 🪪
Our new report examines AgeVerif: What we found raises serious concerns.
👇
Our first audit found AgeGO’s selfie feature streamed biometric data straight to Amazon. 🪪
Our new report examines AgeVerif: What we found raises serious concerns.
👇
Last week, 5 major porn sites rolled out “age verification” in France to comply with regulators.
3 of them — xvideos, xnxx, tnaflix — use AgeGO.
AgeGO:
• Collects the exact video URL before consent
• Sends webcam streams directly to Amazon
• Forces users to give an email via an unskippable step
3 of them — xvideos, xnxx, tnaflix — use AgeGO.
AgeGO:
• Collects the exact video URL before consent
• Sends webcam streams directly to Amazon
• Forces users to give an email via an unskippable step
September 2, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Last week, 5 major porn sites rolled out “age verification” in France to comply with regulators.
3 of them — xvideos, xnxx, tnaflix — use AgeGO.
AgeGO:
• Collects the exact video URL before consent
• Sends webcam streams directly to Amazon
• Forces users to give an email via an unskippable step
3 of them — xvideos, xnxx, tnaflix — use AgeGO.
AgeGO:
• Collects the exact video URL before consent
• Sends webcam streams directly to Amazon
• Forces users to give an email via an unskippable step
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
They are trying to erase trans people and doing it in the open....
The Trump administration directs 40 states, five territories and Washington, D.C. to remove references to transgender people from their sex education programs or risk losing federal funding.
States must ax transgender references from sex ed or risk losing funds, Trump admin says
The mandate comes just days after the Trump administration terminated funding for a sex education program in California.
nbcnews.to
August 27, 2025 at 8:01 AM
They are trying to erase trans people and doing it in the open....
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
I don't even have the words ....
July 31, 2025 at 8:52 AM
I don't even have the words ....
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
En 2024 et 2025, une agence pro-Orbán a mené une campagne numérique occulte en faveur du Rassemblement national.
Des dizaines de contenus ont été diffusés sur X sur la base d’un ciblage politique (ce qui est interdit), selon des données de l’ONG @aiforensics.org partagées avec @mediapart.fr. 👇
Des dizaines de contenus ont été diffusés sur X sur la base d’un ciblage politique (ce qui est interdit), selon des données de l’ONG @aiforensics.org partagées avec @mediapart.fr. 👇
Une agence pro-Orbán a mené une campagne numérique occulte pour le RN en France
Des contenus ont été diffusés sur le réseau social X en ciblant les internautes sur la base de critères politiques, ce qui est interdit par les réglementations françaises et européennes.
www.mediapart.fr
July 3, 2025 at 5:46 PM
En 2024 et 2025, une agence pro-Orbán a mené une campagne numérique occulte en faveur du Rassemblement national.
Des dizaines de contenus ont été diffusés sur X sur la base d’un ciblage politique (ce qui est interdit), selon des données de l’ONG @aiforensics.org partagées avec @mediapart.fr. 👇
Des dizaines de contenus ont été diffusés sur X sur la base d’un ciblage politique (ce qui est interdit), selon des données de l’ONG @aiforensics.org partagées avec @mediapart.fr. 👇
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
#BudapestPride
Tout notre soutien aux participants de la #Pride interdite de Budapest ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤍
"Another Hungary is Possible" de Laika (artiste hongrois)
2025
Tout notre soutien aux participants de la #Pride interdite de Budapest ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤍
"Another Hungary is Possible" de Laika (artiste hongrois)
2025
June 28, 2025 at 1:28 PM
#BudapestPride
Tout notre soutien aux participants de la #Pride interdite de Budapest ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤍
"Another Hungary is Possible" de Laika (artiste hongrois)
2025
Tout notre soutien aux participants de la #Pride interdite de Budapest ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤍
"Another Hungary is Possible" de Laika (artiste hongrois)
2025
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
New paper hot off the press www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We analysed over 40,000 computer vision papers from CVPR (the longest standing CV conf) & associated patents tracing pathways from research to application. We found that 90% of papers & 86% of downstream patents power surveillance
1/
We analysed over 40,000 computer vision papers from CVPR (the longest standing CV conf) & associated patents tracing pathways from research to application. We found that 90% of papers & 86% of downstream patents power surveillance
1/
Computer-vision research powers surveillance technology - Nature
An analysis of research papers and citing patents indicates the extensive ties between computer-vision research and surveillance.
www.nature.com
June 25, 2025 at 5:29 PM
New paper hot off the press www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We analysed over 40,000 computer vision papers from CVPR (the longest standing CV conf) & associated patents tracing pathways from research to application. We found that 90% of papers & 86% of downstream patents power surveillance
1/
We analysed over 40,000 computer vision papers from CVPR (the longest standing CV conf) & associated patents tracing pathways from research to application. We found that 90% of papers & 86% of downstream patents power surveillance
1/
Wanna check if you've been targeted by ads based on sensitive data? Just drop your X portability archive to find out haveibeentargeted.online
June 19, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Wanna check if you've been targeted by ads based on sensitive data? Just drop your X portability archive to find out haveibeentargeted.online
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
@paulbouchaud.com uncovered some bizarre targeting options on #X that let advertisers do pretty much whatever they want. Want to exclude #LGBT users or target only #Christians? Apparently, it’s possible and done.
Have you been targeted like this?
👉 aiforensics.org/work/sensiti...
Have you been targeted like this?
👉 aiforensics.org/work/sensiti...
Have I been Targeted?
Have I Been Targeted? is a tool built by AI Forensics that lets you see whether you have been targeted based on your sensitive characteristics on X
haveibeentargeted.online
June 18, 2025 at 12:26 PM
@paulbouchaud.com uncovered some bizarre targeting options on #X that let advertisers do pretty much whatever they want. Want to exclude #LGBT users or target only #Christians? Apparently, it’s possible and done.
Have you been targeted like this?
👉 aiforensics.org/work/sensiti...
Have you been targeted like this?
👉 aiforensics.org/work/sensiti...
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
...he says to Signal's president
June 17, 2025 at 3:15 PM
...he says to Signal's president
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
X fiche vos opinions politiques, religion, orientation sexuelle, données de santé, origines... Le niveau de laisser faire juste ahurissant. Il est temps de réagir !
X a permis à des annonceurs de cibler leurs publicités en fonction de critères politiques, une pratique interdite
La méthode, proscrite en Europe, sauf à de rares exceptions, par le règlement général sur la protection des données personnelles, reste utilisée, voire encouragée, sur le réseau social d’Elon Musk, ré...
www.lemonde.fr
June 18, 2025 at 7:57 AM
X fiche vos opinions politiques, religion, orientation sexuelle, données de santé, origines... Le niveau de laisser faire juste ahurissant. Il est temps de réagir !
How X enables major brands to target your most sensitive personal data - from health conditions to political beliefs - check out our new report! aiforensics.org/work/sensiti...
June 18, 2025 at 7:14 AM
How X enables major brands to target your most sensitive personal data - from health conditions to political beliefs - check out our new report! aiforensics.org/work/sensiti...
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
X a permis à des annonceurs de cibler leurs publicités en fonction de critères politiques, une pratique interdite
X a permis à des annonceurs de cibler leurs publicités en fonction de critères politiques, une pratique interdite
La méthode, proscrite en Europe, sauf rares exceptions, par le règlement général sur la protection des données personnelles, reste utilisée, voire encouragée, sur le réseau social d’Elon Musk, révèle une étude de l’ONG AI Forensics.
www.lemonde.fr
June 18, 2025 at 4:58 AM
X a permis à des annonceurs de cibler leurs publicités en fonction de critères politiques, une pratique interdite
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
Pratique pour Total qui a financé une campagne de pub invisible aux écolos. Ou encore McDo qui fait sa promo tout en évitant soigneusement les syndicats.
www.lemonde.fr/pixels/artic...
www.lemonde.fr/pixels/artic...
X a permis à des annonceurs de cibler leurs publicités en fonction de critères politiques, une pratique interdite
La méthode, proscrite en Europe, sauf rares exceptions, par le règlement général sur la protection des données personnelles, reste utilisée, voire encouragée, sur le réseau social d’Elon Musk, révèle ...
www.lemonde.fr
June 18, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Pratique pour Total qui a financé une campagne de pub invisible aux écolos. Ou encore McDo qui fait sa promo tout en évitant soigneusement les syndicats.
www.lemonde.fr/pixels/artic...
www.lemonde.fr/pixels/artic...
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
Sorry everyone, but these are the rules*
*That cis people made up
*That cis people made up
June 7, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Sorry everyone, but these are the rules*
*That cis people made up
*That cis people made up
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
J’ai déposé une plainte contre Facebook auprès de l’Arcom hier, pour manquement à ses obligations liées au Digital Services Act (DSA). La raison : une modération aux abonnés absents, impliquant un potentiel risque systémique.
May 20, 2025 at 8:31 AM
J’ai déposé une plainte contre Facebook auprès de l’Arcom hier, pour manquement à ses obligations liées au Digital Services Act (DSA). La raison : une modération aux abonnés absents, impliquant un potentiel risque systémique.
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
"“The alleged underenforcement of Meta’s monitoring policies cannot give rise to liability,” the co wrote last year in a motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging negligence in removing crypto scams, adding it “does not owe a duty to users” to address fraud on its platforms.
www.wsj.com/tech/meta-fr...
www.wsj.com/tech/meta-fr...
Meta Battles an ‘Epidemic of Scams’ as Criminals Flood Instagram and Facebook
Fake puppies and phony offers of mouthwatering bargains are often seeded by overseas crime networks; employees say company is reluctant to impede its advertising juggernaut
www.wsj.com
May 18, 2025 at 5:48 PM
"“The alleged underenforcement of Meta’s monitoring policies cannot give rise to liability,” the co wrote last year in a motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging negligence in removing crypto scams, adding it “does not owe a duty to users” to address fraud on its platforms.
www.wsj.com/tech/meta-fr...
www.wsj.com/tech/meta-fr...
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
NEW: A secretive surveillance company is building "AI persona" bots for cops intended to gather evidence on people. Personas include "college protesters," "radicalized" divorced moms, children. We have docs that shows how it works and what cops can do with it:
www.404media.co/this-college...
www.404media.co/this-college...
This ‘College Protester’ Isn’t Real. It’s an AI-Powered Undercover Bot for Cops
Massive Blue is helping cops deploy AI-powered social media bots to talk to people they suspect are anything from violent sex criminals all the way to vaguely defined “protesters.”
www.404media.co
April 17, 2025 at 1:43 PM
NEW: A secretive surveillance company is building "AI persona" bots for cops intended to gather evidence on people. Personas include "college protesters," "radicalized" divorced moms, children. We have docs that shows how it works and what cops can do with it:
www.404media.co/this-college...
www.404media.co/this-college...
"This is a highly adversarial space, we are investing a lot in our detection systems..." Meanwhile, our latest report at @aiforensics.org found Meta reviewed, approved, and displayed fake medicine advertisements over 292 million times to EU users since the DSA took effect.
April 14, 2025 at 9:24 AM
"This is a highly adversarial space, we are investing a lot in our detection systems..." Meanwhile, our latest report at @aiforensics.org found Meta reviewed, approved, and displayed fake medicine advertisements over 292 million times to EU users since the DSA took effect.
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
Case closed! 🤩💥🚀. In settling my case, Meta has agreed to stop processing my personal data for direct marketing purposes. In non-legalese, that means I will no longer be shown surveillance-ads on Facebook. www.thetimes.com/article/ae70...
One mother’s win over Meta will change social media for everyone
Britons will be able to opt out of targeted advertising after Tanya O’Carroll’s David-and-Goliath battle with Meta
www.thetimes.com
March 22, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Case closed! 🤩💥🚀. In settling my case, Meta has agreed to stop processing my personal data for direct marketing purposes. In non-legalese, that means I will no longer be shown surveillance-ads on Facebook. www.thetimes.com/article/ae70...
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
Ah si.
L’info du jour c’est ça : les travaux de Paul Bouchaud montrent que Meta ne modère pas les publicités politiques (d’où les nombreuses pub de Doppelganger qui sont restées sur Facebook pendant des mois).
Mais par contre ça, ils ont modéré…
Ccl : le modèle économique de Meta c’est caca.
L’info du jour c’est ça : les travaux de Paul Bouchaud montrent que Meta ne modère pas les publicités politiques (d’où les nombreuses pub de Doppelganger qui sont restées sur Facebook pendant des mois).
Mais par contre ça, ils ont modéré…
Ccl : le modèle économique de Meta c’est caca.
January 24, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Ah si.
L’info du jour c’est ça : les travaux de Paul Bouchaud montrent que Meta ne modère pas les publicités politiques (d’où les nombreuses pub de Doppelganger qui sont restées sur Facebook pendant des mois).
Mais par contre ça, ils ont modéré…
Ccl : le modèle économique de Meta c’est caca.
L’info du jour c’est ça : les travaux de Paul Bouchaud montrent que Meta ne modère pas les publicités politiques (d’où les nombreuses pub de Doppelganger qui sont restées sur Facebook pendant des mois).
Mais par contre ça, ils ont modéré…
Ccl : le modèle économique de Meta c’est caca.
By cross-referencing thousands of Doppelgänger advertisements and leaked assets, we document with @checkfirst.network and Reset.Tech the sustained access of the "Social Design Agency" to Meta's advertising ecosystem, despite being under US and EU sanctions. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/17/b...
Russian Disinformation Campaigns Eluded Meta’s Efforts to Block Them
A new report details how a covert influence operation linked to the Kremlin continued to place ads on Facebook despite U.S. and E.U. prohibitions on doing business with the organization.
www.nytimes.com
January 17, 2025 at 5:52 PM
By cross-referencing thousands of Doppelgänger advertisements and leaked assets, we document with @checkfirst.network and Reset.Tech the sustained access of the "Social Design Agency" to Meta's advertising ecosystem, despite being under US and EU sanctions. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/17/b...
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
Despite international sanctions, #Meta is accepting payments from Russian propagandists. Our latest report with @aiforensics.org & Reset underscore how Meta has failed to moderate over 8,000 political ads from the Kremlin-linked Social Design Agency (SDA). #SDALeak
Influence by Design: How Meta Accepted Russian Propaganda Payments Despite Sanctions - CheckFirst
Check First, in partnership with Reset.tech and AI Forensics, unveils the extent to which Kremlin-linked entity SDA have exploited Meta platforms to disseminate propaganda.
checkfirst.network
January 17, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Despite international sanctions, #Meta is accepting payments from Russian propagandists. Our latest report with @aiforensics.org & Reset underscore how Meta has failed to moderate over 8,000 political ads from the Kremlin-linked Social Design Agency (SDA). #SDALeak
Reposted by Paul Bouchaud
Well there you have it. In his Rogan Interview Zuck argues that the “billions of EU fines” against US companies “basically amount to tariffs”, and “you’d expect the USG to defend its companies” abroad moving forward. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k1e...
Joe Rogan Experience #2255 - Mark Zuckerberg
YouTube video by PowerfulJRE
www.youtube.com
January 10, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Well there you have it. In his Rogan Interview Zuck argues that the “billions of EU fines” against US companies “basically amount to tariffs”, and “you’d expect the USG to defend its companies” abroad moving forward. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k1e...
Instagram zealously removes non-cis-male nipples, yet Meta profits from thousands of porn-filled ads on their platforms. In our last report, we documented Meta's double standards in content moderation. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Analysis | Sexually explicit Facebook ads raise eyebrows in Europe
Researchers found thousands of graphic ads that violate Meta’s policies. EU regulators say they’re taking note.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 9, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Instagram zealously removes non-cis-male nipples, yet Meta profits from thousands of porn-filled ads on their platforms. In our last report, we documented Meta's double standards in content moderation. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...