Roy L. Austin, Jr.
@raustinjr.bsky.social
Civil Rights and Technology Attorney and Advocate - “Unless one is reading critically, one is not reading at all” - Harry Edwards
A piece worth reading on the spread of misinformation. This is a provable fact and we need AI that corrects mistakes as quickly and broadly as it makes them. open.substack.com/pub/dandiamo...
A man collapsed in the Oval Office. The internet got the story wrong.
A case study in how bad information can spread — and how hard it is to correct it.
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:51 PM
A piece worth reading on the spread of misinformation. This is a provable fact and we need AI that corrects mistakes as quickly and broadly as it makes them. open.substack.com/pub/dandiamo...
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
Facial recognition errors can have life-altering consequences. In @techpolicypress.bsky.social, CDT’s @jakelaperruque.bsky.social warns that ICE’s new approach — treating AI matches as definitive IDs — violates currently-understood DHS policy and endangers civil liberties.
ICE’s Reckless Reliance on Facial Recognition Puts Us All In Danger | TechPolicy.Press
Jake Laperruque raises the alarm on ICE’s reckless use of facial recognition and its risks for wrongful detainment.
www.techpolicy.press
November 6, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Facial recognition errors can have life-altering consequences. In @techpolicypress.bsky.social, CDT’s @jakelaperruque.bsky.social warns that ICE’s new approach — treating AI matches as definitive IDs — violates currently-understood DHS policy and endangers civil liberties.
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
Trump taking a victory lap because Walmart made their Thanksgiving meal smaller and crappier (and hence cheaper) is such a perfect encapsulation of his hucksterism
November 6, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Trump taking a victory lap because Walmart made their Thanksgiving meal smaller and crappier (and hence cheaper) is such a perfect encapsulation of his hucksterism
@samgregory.bsky.social has written a fantastic piece on the risks of deep fakes and what can be done about them. As he correctly points out: "When any piece of evidence can be credibly dismissed as synthetic and any fabrication defended as real, we lose the ability to establish shared truth."
"How we choose to act now will determine whether our shared basis for reality — what we see and hear — remains trustworthy."
Generative video's threat to visual truth and what we can do about it, and why concerted action matters now, in @transformernews.ai
www.transformernews.ai/p/sora-is-he...
Generative video's threat to visual truth and what we can do about it, and why concerted action matters now, in @transformernews.ai
www.transformernews.ai/p/sora-is-he...
Sora Is Here. The window to save visual truth is closing
Opinion: Sam Gregory argues that generative video is undermining the notion of a shared reality, and that we need to act before it’s lost forever
www.transformernews.ai
November 6, 2025 at 11:07 AM
@samgregory.bsky.social has written a fantastic piece on the risks of deep fakes and what can be done about them. As he correctly points out: "When any piece of evidence can be credibly dismissed as synthetic and any fabrication defended as real, we lose the ability to establish shared truth."
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
Defense begins, “This case, ladies and gentlemen, is about a sandwich. A sandwich that according to Agent Lairmore somehow both exploded on his chest in a spray of mustard and onions but also landed intact on the ground still in its Subway wrapper.”
November 5, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Defense begins, “This case, ladies and gentlemen, is about a sandwich. A sandwich that according to Agent Lairmore somehow both exploded on his chest in a spray of mustard and onions but also landed intact on the ground still in its Subway wrapper.”
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
A damn daycare. This is sick. What are we doing?
November 5, 2025 at 6:30 PM
A damn daycare. This is sick. What are we doing?
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
speaks volumes that Trump's response to tonight's resounding defeat is to demand Republicans redouble efforts to rig elections
November 5, 2025 at 4:01 AM
speaks volumes that Trump's response to tonight's resounding defeat is to demand Republicans redouble efforts to rig elections
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
So much big news in local elections.
BREAKING: Democrat Johnny DuPree has flipped a Republican-held Mississippi Senate district in a special election.
DuPree was previously the mayor of Hattiesburg.
His win imperils the Mississippi Senate GOP's narrow supermajority.
www.mississippifreepress.org/democrat-joh...
DuPree was previously the mayor of Hattiesburg.
His win imperils the Mississippi Senate GOP's narrow supermajority.
www.mississippifreepress.org/democrat-joh...
Democrat Johnny DuPree Flips Republican-Held Mississippi Senate District in Forrest County
Johnny DuPree, a Democrat who served as the mayor of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, for 16 years, has flipped a Republican-held Mississippi Senate seat.
www.mississippifreepress.org
November 5, 2025 at 3:32 AM
So much big news in local elections.
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
JUST IN: Judge Currie orders DOJ to submit a more compete transcript of the Comey grand jury proceedings, noting that the transcript she was provided — of the lone witness — does not include Lindsey Halligan's remarks or presentation.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 4, 2025 at 4:44 PM
JUST IN: Judge Currie orders DOJ to submit a more compete transcript of the Comey grand jury proceedings, noting that the transcript she was provided — of the lone witness — does not include Lindsey Halligan's remarks or presentation.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Administration officials were taking bets on how long the shut down would last. Taking bets on the government operating and people's livelihoods is incredibly callous, even for this Administration . . . apple.news/AP_0pYhf1Sfi...
The White House thought the shutdown would be quick. Now they’re frustrated. — POLITICO
White House officials, at the start of the shutdown, were certain the Trump administration was better positioned to battle the left during a funding lapse.
apple.news
November 2, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Administration officials were taking bets on how long the shut down would last. Taking bets on the government operating and people's livelihoods is incredibly callous, even for this Administration . . . apple.news/AP_0pYhf1Sfi...
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
Let me be very clear. It is not enough that RFK Jr. was forced to admit today that no causal relationship between Tylenol and autism has been shown.
We know that while disinformation spreads like wildfire on social media, corrections most often die on the vine.
We know that while disinformation spreads like wildfire on social media, corrections most often die on the vine.
October 29, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Let me be very clear. It is not enough that RFK Jr. was forced to admit today that no causal relationship between Tylenol and autism has been shown.
We know that while disinformation spreads like wildfire on social media, corrections most often die on the vine.
We know that while disinformation spreads like wildfire on social media, corrections most often die on the vine.
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
I know it’s too much to expect them to know their history, but if the American Revolution had a motto, it definitely would not have been “immigrants go home.”
It would have been “get your fucking soldiers out of our cities.”
It would have been “get your fucking soldiers out of our cities.”
October 28, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I know it’s too much to expect them to know their history, but if the American Revolution had a motto, it definitely would not have been “immigrants go home.”
It would have been “get your fucking soldiers out of our cities.”
It would have been “get your fucking soldiers out of our cities.”
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
It's not about what this country can or can’t afford. It’s about priorities. [Cartoon by Jesse Duquette]
October 27, 2025 at 5:01 PM
It's not about what this country can or can’t afford. It’s about priorities. [Cartoon by Jesse Duquette]
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
The federal government now pays lots of masked agents to stand in parking lots & aggressively discriminate against shoppers on the basis of skin color.
October 27, 2025 at 11:48 AM
The federal government now pays lots of masked agents to stand in parking lots & aggressively discriminate against shoppers on the basis of skin color.
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
Those $376 Million Obama renovations people like Jesse Watters are using to defend Trump?
One problem — They were approved by Congress after a BUSH administration report said they were necessary: www.snopes.com/news/2025/10...
One problem — They were approved by Congress after a BUSH administration report said they were necessary: www.snopes.com/news/2025/10...
October 24, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Those $376 Million Obama renovations people like Jesse Watters are using to defend Trump?
One problem — They were approved by Congress after a BUSH administration report said they were necessary: www.snopes.com/news/2025/10...
One problem — They were approved by Congress after a BUSH administration report said they were necessary: www.snopes.com/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
EXCLUSIVE: One Saturday afternoon in October, my phone lit up with a notification.
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
October 20, 2025 at 10:09 PM
EXCLUSIVE: One Saturday afternoon in October, my phone lit up with a notification.
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
I'm grateful to @60minutes.bsky.social featuring our study published @justsecurity.org.
Link to the study (on the 'presumption of regularity'): www.justsecurity.org/120547/presu...
Link to the study (on the 'presumption of regularity'): www.justsecurity.org/120547/presu...
October 20, 2025 at 12:09 AM
I'm grateful to @60minutes.bsky.social featuring our study published @justsecurity.org.
Link to the study (on the 'presumption of regularity'): www.justsecurity.org/120547/presu...
Link to the study (on the 'presumption of regularity'): www.justsecurity.org/120547/presu...
This should be getting considerable more attention than it is receiving - www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat
Thousands of private messages reveal young GOP leaders joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape.
www.politico.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:11 AM
This should be getting considerable more attention than it is receiving - www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
As I've noted, central to Stephen Miller's propaganda is the claim that the Chicago complex targeted by ICE was "filled" with Tren de Aragua "terrorists."
Now @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social reports that the number of TdA members netted in that raid is down to *one.*
newrepublic.com/article/2016...
Now @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social reports that the number of TdA members netted in that raid is down to *one.*
newrepublic.com/article/2016...
October 14, 2025 at 10:18 PM
As I've noted, central to Stephen Miller's propaganda is the claim that the Chicago complex targeted by ICE was "filled" with Tren de Aragua "terrorists."
Now @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social reports that the number of TdA members netted in that raid is down to *one.*
newrepublic.com/article/2016...
Now @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social reports that the number of TdA members netted in that raid is down to *one.*
newrepublic.com/article/2016...
Great to see the work of the Howard Law AI Initiative mentioned in this article - apnews.com/article/arti...
Foundations want to curb AI developers' influence with $500 million aimed at centering human needs
Ten philanthropic foundations are committing $500 million across the next five years to place human interests at the forefront of artificial intelligence's rapid integration into daily life.
apnews.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Great to see the work of the Howard Law AI Initiative mentioned in this article - apnews.com/article/arti...
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
NEWS: RM Jamie Raskin’s statement on Trump’s DOJ filing criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey:
RELEASE: Ranking Member Raskin’s Statement on Trump’s DOJ Filing Criminal Charges Against Former FBI Director James Comey
Washington, D.C. (September 25, 2025)—Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, issued the following statement in response to reports that the Trump Administration has obtained an indictment against former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey. This move comes after Trump forced the resignation of Erik Siebert, the Republican, Trump-appointed former Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who concluded there was no basis to bring criminal charges against Mr. Comey:
democrats-judiciary.house.gov
September 26, 2025 at 12:45 AM
NEWS: RM Jamie Raskin’s statement on Trump’s DOJ filing criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey:
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.
Let’s be clear about what happened to Jimmy Kimmel
Trump’s most brazen attack on free speech yet.
www.yahoo.com
September 18, 2025 at 2:10 PM
After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
Not hard to imagine, really. Charlie Kirk literally called Floyd a “scumbag” and blamed his death on taking fentanyl.
Fox News' Marc Thiessen, without a hint of irony: "Imagine if – we didn’t see this on the right, but imagine if after the George Floyd killing, people had gone on in saying he was a POS and that I’m glad he's dead... do you think anybody would have employed them ever again?!"
September 15, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Not hard to imagine, really. Charlie Kirk literally called Floyd a “scumbag” and blamed his death on taking fentanyl.
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
WASH POST: “Trump has ordered the removal of signs and exhibits related to slavery at multiple national parks… including a historic photograph of a formerly enslaved man showing scars on his back.” www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
September 15, 2025 at 11:58 PM
WASH POST: “Trump has ordered the removal of signs and exhibits related to slavery at multiple national parks… including a historic photograph of a formerly enslaved man showing scars on his back.” www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Reposted by Roy L. Austin, Jr.
Spencer Cox: "Our nation is broken. We had political assassinations recently in Minnesota. We had an attempted assassination on the gov of Pennsylvania. And we had an attempted assassination on a president. Nothing I say can unite us as a country. Nothing I can say right now can fix what is broken"
September 10, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Spencer Cox: "Our nation is broken. We had political assassinations recently in Minnesota. We had an attempted assassination on the gov of Pennsylvania. And we had an attempted assassination on a president. Nothing I say can unite us as a country. Nothing I can say right now can fix what is broken"