Emile Dirks
@emiledirks.bsky.social
Senior Research Associate at The Citizen Lab. Researching policing & authoritarianism in China and beyond.
Reposted by Emile Dirks
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 12:49 PM
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Reposted by Emile Dirks
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Reposted by Emile Dirks
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
November 18, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
Reposted by Emile Dirks
Excited for the launch of @drdavidtobin.bsky.social’s International Network for Critical China Studies (INCCS)! Now more than ever there’s a need for rigorous, reflective, critically-informed research on China. INCCS’s mission to avoid clunky, knee-jerk commentary is refreshing & desperately needed
Policymakers and the media need rigorous research by independently minded scholars to make sense of Chinese politics and society.
INCCS will tackle the big and difficult questions about "China's rise".
INCCS will tackle the big and difficult questions about "China's rise".
The International Network for Critical China Studies (INCCS) has launched, bringing together researchers from around the world to share critical, policy-relevant work on China’s politics, society and global impact.
Discover more about the network here:
🔗 sites.google.com/sheffield.ac...
Discover more about the network here:
🔗 sites.google.com/sheffield.ac...
November 18, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Excited for the launch of @drdavidtobin.bsky.social’s International Network for Critical China Studies (INCCS)! Now more than ever there’s a need for rigorous, reflective, critically-informed research on China. INCCS’s mission to avoid clunky, knee-jerk commentary is refreshing & desperately needed
Reposted by Emile Dirks
worth applying to politics as well. when you're criticizing an action people take "taking the better action next time" is only one of the alternatives people will consider, and worth remembering that "not bothering at all" is another.
October 26, 2025 at 12:55 PM
worth applying to politics as well. when you're criticizing an action people take "taking the better action next time" is only one of the alternatives people will consider, and worth remembering that "not bothering at all" is another.
Reposted by Emile Dirks
I legitimately think this article misses the mark, because Canadians are not avoiding travel out of some principled boycott of the USA over tariffs.
Canadians who are avoiding the USA are seeing images of masked government thugs kidnapping people and teargassing children.
Canadians who are avoiding the USA are seeing images of masked government thugs kidnapping people and teargassing children.
November 13, 2025 at 3:16 PM
I legitimately think this article misses the mark, because Canadians are not avoiding travel out of some principled boycott of the USA over tariffs.
Canadians who are avoiding the USA are seeing images of masked government thugs kidnapping people and teargassing children.
Canadians who are avoiding the USA are seeing images of masked government thugs kidnapping people and teargassing children.
Reposted by Emile Dirks
In a 2005 interview, the actor said that in his twenties, he was carrying the load of "everyone's masterpieces." He worked closely with directors including Akira Kurosawa and Masaki Kobayashi. n.pr/4o3J8Xm
Tatsuya Nakadai, an icon of Japanese cinema, has died at 92
In a 2005 interview, the actor said that in his twenties, he was carrying the load of "everyone's masterpieces." He worked closely with directors including Akira Kurosawa and Masaki Kobayashi.
n.pr
November 13, 2025 at 1:06 AM
In a 2005 interview, the actor said that in his twenties, he was carrying the load of "everyone's masterpieces." He worked closely with directors including Akira Kurosawa and Masaki Kobayashi. n.pr/4o3J8Xm
Reposted by Emile Dirks
RIP legendary Japanese actor Tatsuya Nakadai. Star of Kurosawa's Kagemusha, Ran, many other classics. He was 92. news.yahoo.co.jp/pickup/6558551
俳優・仲代達矢さん死去 92歳 - Yahoo!ニュース
映画「人間の条件」や黒沢明監督の「影武者」などに主演し、主宰する「無名塾」で後進を育てた俳優で文化勲章受章者の仲代達矢（なかだい・たつや、本名元久＝もとひさ）さんが死去したことが11日、分かった。9
news.yahoo.co.jp
November 11, 2025 at 2:30 AM
RIP legendary Japanese actor Tatsuya Nakadai. Star of Kurosawa's Kagemusha, Ran, many other classics. He was 92. news.yahoo.co.jp/pickup/6558551
Reposted by Emile Dirks
Two things can be true: this signals impunity for TNR and that's bad and makes people less safe, and the existing levers of accountability punish on low-level folks instead of getting to the source of the problem
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump pardons former New York cop convicted of helping Beijing harass Chinese expatriate
Michael McMahon was sentenced to 18 months in prison for what a judge called ‘a campaign of transnational repression’
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Two things can be true: this signals impunity for TNR and that's bad and makes people less safe, and the existing levers of accountability punish on low-level folks instead of getting to the source of the problem
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Love poetry, human rights, & kitties? Check out Sharon Hom's Substack: substack.com/@talkingcat88
Sharon (fmr exec dir of Human Rights in China) is a brilliant mind & a wonderful soul. I've learned so much from her over the years.
Come for the poetry, stay for the updates about her cats!
Sharon (fmr exec dir of Human Rights in China) is a brilliant mind & a wonderful soul. I've learned so much from her over the years.
Come for the poetry, stay for the updates about her cats!
Sharon Hom | Substack
Hong Konger by birth, New Yorker for most of my life. “Old, but not obsolete” Retired law prof & HRts activist. Talks w/cats.
substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Love poetry, human rights, & kitties? Check out Sharon Hom's Substack: substack.com/@talkingcat88
Sharon (fmr exec dir of Human Rights in China) is a brilliant mind & a wonderful soul. I've learned so much from her over the years.
Come for the poetry, stay for the updates about her cats!
Sharon (fmr exec dir of Human Rights in China) is a brilliant mind & a wonderful soul. I've learned so much from her over the years.
Come for the poetry, stay for the updates about her cats!
Reposted by Emile Dirks
Researchers at the Citizen Lab and director @rondeibert.bsky.social sign open letter to the Canadian Minister of AI and Minister of Industry rejecting the “National Sprint” on AI strategy.
Read it here: bccla.org/policy-submi...
Read it here: bccla.org/policy-submi...
OPEN LETTER to the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation from civil society organizations and individuals opposing "National Sprint" consultation on AI strategy - BC Civil Liberti...
The Honourable Mélanie JolyMinister of IndustryHouse of CommonsOttawa, OntarioK1A 0A6 The Honourable Evan SolomonMinister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital InnovationHouse of CommonsOttawa, Ontar...
bccla.org
November 5, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Researchers at the Citizen Lab and director @rondeibert.bsky.social sign open letter to the Canadian Minister of AI and Minister of Industry rejecting the “National Sprint” on AI strategy.
Read it here: bccla.org/policy-submi...
Read it here: bccla.org/policy-submi...
Reposted by Emile Dirks
There's something very telling about Brown's actions--we suddenly have an influx of China experts who want to get in on Taiwan since it's a sexy topic, but disregard the existing Taiwan experts, and want to bury those existing experts because they are competition
In case you missed it, Kerry Brown wrote a book that plagiarized Shelley Rigger’s classic book title.
I, along with others who were asked to review Kerry’s manuscript, said verbatim to change the title.
In the most tacky and unprofessional fashion, he stole her title anyway.
I, along with others who were asked to review Kerry’s manuscript, said verbatim to change the title.
In the most tacky and unprofessional fashion, he stole her title anyway.
November 5, 2025 at 6:25 PM
There's something very telling about Brown's actions--we suddenly have an influx of China experts who want to get in on Taiwan since it's a sexy topic, but disregard the existing Taiwan experts, and want to bury those existing experts because they are competition
Reposted by Emile Dirks
So many harms have already emerged from reckless and oppressive uses of AI, with such wide-ranging & far-reaching consequences, to so many groups of people, that it seems almost impossible to document them all. But we tried, in this open letter to Minister Solomon: bccla.org/policy-submi... (1/x)
OPEN LETTER to the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation from civil society organizations and individuals opposing "National Sprint" consultation on AI strategy - BC Civil Liberti...
The Honourable Mélanie JolyMinister of IndustryHouse of CommonsOttawa, OntarioK1A 0A6 The Honourable Evan SolomonMinister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital InnovationHouse of CommonsOttawa, Ontar...
bccla.org
November 5, 2025 at 5:25 PM
So many harms have already emerged from reckless and oppressive uses of AI, with such wide-ranging & far-reaching consequences, to so many groups of people, that it seems almost impossible to document them all. But we tried, in this open letter to Minister Solomon: bccla.org/policy-submi... (1/x)
Reposted by Emile Dirks
PEN Canada joins 43 organizations and 123 individuals in open letter opposing “National Sprint” consultation on AI strategy, which proposed a mere thirty-day window on short notice.
pencanada.ca/news/open-le...
pencanada.ca/news/open-le...
Open Letter to the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation from civil society organizations and individuals opposing “National Sprint” consultation on AI strategy - PEN Canada
pencanada.ca
November 4, 2025 at 3:44 PM
PEN Canada joins 43 organizations and 123 individuals in open letter opposing “National Sprint” consultation on AI strategy, which proposed a mere thirty-day window on short notice.
pencanada.ca/news/open-le...
pencanada.ca/news/open-le...
Reposted by Emile Dirks
Please take this for what it is. Rhetoric to delegitimize the political opposition as an existential threat to create the conditions for the Ruling Party to deny the opposition the ability to take control of Congress pursuant to genuine election outcomes in 2026.
Emmer: "Pro-terrorist, Marxist radicals are now the left's mainstream."
November 5, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Please take this for what it is. Rhetoric to delegitimize the political opposition as an existential threat to create the conditions for the Ruling Party to deny the opposition the ability to take control of Congress pursuant to genuine election outcomes in 2026.
Reposted by Emile Dirks
Canada budget update: A $2.7bn cut to international assistance over 5 years, or about 10-12% of the budget. Particularly focusing on global health, which is worrying because it's a core Canadian priority
Not sure we need a resurgence of polio on top of everything, but what do I know
Not sure we need a resurgence of polio on top of everything, but what do I know
What I'm looking for in the Canadian federal budget: Development
- Canada's budget for international stuff is complex. There's the International Assistance Envelope, OECD-measured ODA, plus stuff that falls under Canada's own Act. Plus provincial spending. They all overlap
- Canada's budget for international stuff is complex. There's the International Assistance Envelope, OECD-measured ODA, plus stuff that falls under Canada's own Act. Plus provincial spending. They all overlap
November 4, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Canada budget update: A $2.7bn cut to international assistance over 5 years, or about 10-12% of the budget. Particularly focusing on global health, which is worrying because it's a core Canadian priority
Not sure we need a resurgence of polio on top of everything, but what do I know
Not sure we need a resurgence of polio on top of everything, but what do I know
Reposted by Emile Dirks
What I'm looking for in the Canadian federal budget: Development
- Canada's budget for international stuff is complex. There's the International Assistance Envelope, OECD-measured ODA, plus stuff that falls under Canada's own Act. Plus provincial spending. They all overlap
- Canada's budget for international stuff is complex. There's the International Assistance Envelope, OECD-measured ODA, plus stuff that falls under Canada's own Act. Plus provincial spending. They all overlap
November 4, 2025 at 6:24 PM
What I'm looking for in the Canadian federal budget: Development
- Canada's budget for international stuff is complex. There's the International Assistance Envelope, OECD-measured ODA, plus stuff that falls under Canada's own Act. Plus provincial spending. They all overlap
- Canada's budget for international stuff is complex. There's the International Assistance Envelope, OECD-measured ODA, plus stuff that falls under Canada's own Act. Plus provincial spending. They all overlap
Reposted by Emile Dirks
Amid many a silly “free speech” panic, here is a genuinely chilling case …
Sheffield Hallam professor accuses the institution of negotiating “directly with a foreign intelligence service to trade my academic freedom for access to the Chinese student market”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Sheffield Hallam professor accuses the institution of negotiating “directly with a foreign intelligence service to trade my academic freedom for access to the Chinese student market”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show
Sheffield Hallam University apologises to Professor Laura Murphy for restricting her academic freedom.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Amid many a silly “free speech” panic, here is a genuinely chilling case …
Sheffield Hallam professor accuses the institution of negotiating “directly with a foreign intelligence service to trade my academic freedom for access to the Chinese student market”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Sheffield Hallam professor accuses the institution of negotiating “directly with a foreign intelligence service to trade my academic freedom for access to the Chinese student market”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Along with 160+ civil society orgs & individuals, I signed this open letter that raises serious concerns about the Canadian government's proposed AI strategy. With all of the harms associated with AI-based technologies, greater public consultation is needed.
bccla.org/policy-submi...
bccla.org/policy-submi...
OPEN LETTER to the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation from civil society organizations and individuals opposing "National Sprint" consultation on AI strategy - BC Civil Liberti...
The Honourable Mélanie JolyMinister of IndustryHouse of CommonsOttawa, OntarioK1A 0A6 The Honourable Evan SolomonMinister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital InnovationHouse of CommonsOttawa, Ontar...
bccla.org
November 3, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Along with 160+ civil society orgs & individuals, I signed this open letter that raises serious concerns about the Canadian government's proposed AI strategy. With all of the harms associated with AI-based technologies, greater public consultation is needed.
bccla.org/policy-submi...
bccla.org/policy-submi...
This sounds like the Chinese model of drug detention, which combines compulsory treatment, social isolation, and forced labour. The fact that authoritarians in the US & China increasingly resemble one another no longer surprises me.
Under Trump, the draconian future of homelessness policy is coming into focus: mass internment. Utah is building a 16-acre site to detain up to 1,300 homeless people inside locked "accountability centers." This is profoundly alarming.
Vital reporting from @ellenbarry.bsky.social and Jason DeParle:
Vital reporting from @ellenbarry.bsky.social and Jason DeParle:
In Utah, Trump’s Vision for Homelessness Begins to Take Shape
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:16 AM
This sounds like the Chinese model of drug detention, which combines compulsory treatment, social isolation, and forced labour. The fact that authoritarians in the US & China increasingly resemble one another no longer surprises me.
Reposted by Emile Dirks
NEW: Trump has announced that the US will admit the lowest level of refugees ever at 7,500 in FY 2026. The US will only be admitting as refugees White people from South Africa and "victims of illegal or unjust discrimination," which leaked memos suggest means far-right Europeans.
October 30, 2025 at 5:11 PM
NEW: Trump has announced that the US will admit the lowest level of refugees ever at 7,500 in FY 2026. The US will only be admitting as refugees White people from South Africa and "victims of illegal or unjust discrimination," which leaked memos suggest means far-right Europeans.
Reposted by Emile Dirks
Ford just put every renter in Ontario into an even more precarious position. This is a clear and present danger to the 1.7 million renters in Ontario.
In particular, they want leases to no longer necessarily remain in effect indefinitely, so that landlords have more options for creating tenant turnover.
Current situation in left-hand column, proposal on the right:
Current situation in left-hand column, proposal on the right:
October 23, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Ford just put every renter in Ontario into an even more precarious position. This is a clear and present danger to the 1.7 million renters in Ontario.
Reposted by Emile Dirks
Trump has functionally killed America's international broadcasting apparatus.
Russia and China are making up the difference.
if we still care about democracy and liberalism abroad, countries like Canada need to step up. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Russia and China are making up the difference.
if we still care about democracy and liberalism abroad, countries like Canada need to step up. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Justin Ling: Canada needs to make its voice heard around the world. Here’s one clear way to do that.
To create stronger connections internationally, Canada can’t rely on the United States. We need to use our own soft diplomacy tools
www.thestar.com
October 18, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Trump has functionally killed America's international broadcasting apparatus.
Russia and China are making up the difference.
if we still care about democracy and liberalism abroad, countries like Canada need to step up. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Russia and China are making up the difference.
if we still care about democracy and liberalism abroad, countries like Canada need to step up. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Reposted by Emile Dirks
Good lord, this is beyond the worst thing I could have imagined. If you'd told me "Trump will seek to have refugee eligibility explicitly limited to AfD voters, white South African farmers and organized racists -- " even I would have thought it hyperbole.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...
Trump Considers Overhaul of Refugee System That Would Favor White People
www.nytimes.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Good lord, this is beyond the worst thing I could have imagined. If you'd told me "Trump will seek to have refugee eligibility explicitly limited to AfD voters, white South African farmers and organized racists -- " even I would have thought it hyperbole.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...