Michael Zimmer
@michaelzimmer.bsky.social
Privacy & data ethics scholar. Professor in Computer Science and Director of @MUDataEthics.bsky.social at Marquette University. I also curate @ZuckerbergFiles.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Zimmer
the AEB mandate was voluntarily adopted by the entire US auto industry because it has an unambiguous and independently validated impact on safety... eliminating it is the stupidest automotive safety proposal I have heard in my entire life
Exclusive: Republicans plan to challenge vehicle-safety mandates, such as automatic emergency braking and alarms that remind drivers a child is in the back seat.
Senate Committee to Challenge Auto-Safety Mandates That Hurt ‘Affordability’
Republicans are questioning the value of some features, such as automatic braking and rear-seat reminders.
on.wsj.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:00 PM
the AEB mandate was voluntarily adopted by the entire US auto industry because it has an unambiguous and independently validated impact on safety... eliminating it is the stupidest automotive safety proposal I have heard in my entire life
Reposted by Michael Zimmer
Is Santa Real? Many users feel they're getting presents from him. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something.
November 26, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Is Santa Real? Many users feel they're getting presents from him. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something.
I don't believe this for a minute.
The change almost doubles the workforce that the company said it will employ in the area.
Foxconn pledges 1,300 more jobs in Racine County
The change almost doubles the workforce that the company said it will employ in the area.
bit.ly
November 26, 2025 at 12:24 AM
I don't believe this for a minute.
Reposted by Michael Zimmer
Is this cheese grater conscious? Many users feel they're talking to a real person. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something.
November 25, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Is this cheese grater conscious? Many users feel they're talking to a real person. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something.
Reposted by Michael Zimmer
"Nothing is riding on this except the First Amendment of the Constitution, freedom of the press, and quite possibly, the future of the country." -- Ben Bradlee as portrayed by Jason Robards, "All the President's Men."
53 years later...
53 years later...
November 25, 2025 at 5:51 PM
"Nothing is riding on this except the First Amendment of the Constitution, freedom of the press, and quite possibly, the future of the country." -- Ben Bradlee as portrayed by Jason Robards, "All the President's Men."
53 years later...
53 years later...
Reposted by Michael Zimmer
NEW: ICE has torn up its $180M cap on a proposed immigrant-tracking program and is now guaranteeing private surveillance firms at least $7.5M each, with potential payouts reaching $281M per vendor. The change signals a shift from “pilot” to full-scale outsourcing of street-level investigative work.
ICE Offers Up to $280 Million to Immigrant-Tracking ‘Bounty Hunter’ Firms
Immigration and Customs Enforcement lifted a $180 million cap on a proposed immigrant-tracking program while guaranteeing multimillion-dollar payouts for private surveillance firms.
www.wired.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:00 PM
NEW: ICE has torn up its $180M cap on a proposed immigrant-tracking program and is now guaranteeing private surveillance firms at least $7.5M each, with potential payouts reaching $281M per vendor. The change signals a shift from “pilot” to full-scale outsourcing of street-level investigative work.
Reposted by Michael Zimmer
this is a twofer. they're going to demand auto execs explain why their cars are so expensive, without saying "tariffs" - so they'll blame things like child alerts, in order to continue risking some of the more horrific deaths that can be experienced
Exclusive: Republicans plan to challenge vehicle-safety mandates, such as automatic emergency braking and alarms that remind drivers a child is in the back seat.
Senate Committee to Challenge Auto-Safety Mandates That Hurt ‘Affordability’
Republicans are questioning the value of some features, such as automatic braking and rear-seat reminders.
on.wsj.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:21 PM
this is a twofer. they're going to demand auto execs explain why their cars are so expensive, without saying "tariffs" - so they'll blame things like child alerts, in order to continue risking some of the more horrific deaths that can be experienced
As every socio-technical scholar has been shouting for years....
"Cutting-edge research shows language is not the same as intelligence. The entire AI bubble is built on ignoring it."
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
"Cutting-edge research shows language is not the same as intelligence. The entire AI bubble is built on ignoring it."
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Is language the same as intelligence? The AI industry desperately needs it to be
The AI boom is based on a fundamental mistake.
www.theverge.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:11 PM
As every socio-technical scholar has been shouting for years....
"Cutting-edge research shows language is not the same as intelligence. The entire AI bubble is built on ignoring it."
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
"Cutting-edge research shows language is not the same as intelligence. The entire AI bubble is built on ignoring it."
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Cool that @vitak.bsky.social's and my work on pandemic-fueled workplace surveillance was included in this Register article on the continued rise of bossware.
www.theregister.com/2025/11/23/b...
www.theregister.com/2025/11/23/b...
Bossware rises as employers keep closer tabs on remote staff
: A lot of companies are turning to employee monitoring tools to make sure workers aren't slacking off
www.theregister.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Cool that @vitak.bsky.social's and my work on pandemic-fueled workplace surveillance was included in this Register article on the continued rise of bossware.
www.theregister.com/2025/11/23/b...
www.theregister.com/2025/11/23/b...
Reposted by Michael Zimmer
Meta had a 17-strike policy for sex trafficking, former safety leader claims
Meta had a 17-strike policy for sex trafficking, former safety leader claims
Meta is in more hot water.
buff.ly
November 24, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Meta had a 17-strike policy for sex trafficking, former safety leader claims
Reposted by Michael Zimmer
Once upon a time you might’ve found me mustering a utilitarian defense of Facebook’s research ethics, but 10 years later it’s obvious they have no interest in critical research, user safety, or innovating on social networking if it gets in the way of using metaverse or AI to serve more ads.
Meta halted internal research that purportedly showed (young) people who stopped using Facebook became less depressed and anxious, according to an unredacted legal filing released on Friday. www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/m...
Meta halted internal research suggesting social media harm, court filing alleges
Meta is alleged to have halted internal research suggesting social media harm, according to court documents.
www.cnbc.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Once upon a time you might’ve found me mustering a utilitarian defense of Facebook’s research ethics, but 10 years later it’s obvious they have no interest in critical research, user safety, or innovating on social networking if it gets in the way of using metaverse or AI to serve more ads.
I totally forgot about Slashdot.
November 22, 2025 at 4:45 AM
I totally forgot about Slashdot.
This is wild.
November 21, 2025 at 9:24 PM
This is wild.
Reposted by Michael Zimmer
Cheers to the person who leaked the initial changes www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
In reversal, Coast Guard again classifies swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The new order came hours after The Post reported the service would instead classify such symbols as “potentially divisive” under guidelines set for release next month.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Cheers to the person who leaked the initial changes www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Over the past couple of months I've have multiple major projects get published, and multiple long-term projects get rejected.
a man in a black sweater is holding a blue lightsaber in his hand .
ALT: a man in a black sweater is holding a blue lightsaber in his hand .
media.tenor.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Over the past couple of months I've have multiple major projects get published, and multiple long-term projects get rejected.
Reposted by Michael Zimmer
Grok has been reprogrammed to say Musk is better than everyone at everything, including blowjobs, piss drinking, playing quarterback, conquering Europe, etc.
Elon Musk Could 'Drink Piss Better Than Any Human in History,' Grok Says
Grok has been reprogrammed to say Musk is better than everyone at everything, including blowjobs, piss drinking, playing quarterback, conquering Europe, etc.
www.404media.co
November 20, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Grok has been reprogrammed to say Musk is better than everyone at everything, including blowjobs, piss drinking, playing quarterback, conquering Europe, etc.
Reposted by Michael Zimmer
The President of the United States just called for Democratic members of Congress to be executed. "HANG THEM", he posted.
If you're a person of influence in this country and you haven't picked a side, maybe now would be the time to pick a fucking side.
If you're a person of influence in this country and you haven't picked a side, maybe now would be the time to pick a fucking side.
November 20, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The President of the United States just called for Democratic members of Congress to be executed. "HANG THEM", he posted.
If you're a person of influence in this country and you haven't picked a side, maybe now would be the time to pick a fucking side.
If you're a person of influence in this country and you haven't picked a side, maybe now would be the time to pick a fucking side.
Just got a review request email with this compensation model. Peer-review crisis solved!
November 20, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Just got a review request email with this compensation model. Peer-review crisis solved!
Reposted by Michael Zimmer
What if we made the panopticon aesthetically pleasing.
Can surveillance tech ever be beautiful?
Swift Creatives' Carsten Eriksen on turning eyesores into art.
www.creativebloq.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:31 PM
What if we made the panopticon aesthetically pleasing.
Really exicted to finally see our paper in print: “Web scraping for research: Legal, ethical, institutional, and scientific considerations”
A great interdisciplinary effort with @m-dot-brown.bsky.social, @orangechair.org, Gabe Maldoff, @solmg.bsky.social, @zevesanderson.com
doi.org/10.1177/2053...
A great interdisciplinary effort with @m-dot-brown.bsky.social, @orangechair.org, Gabe Maldoff, @solmg.bsky.social, @zevesanderson.com
doi.org/10.1177/2053...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
doi.org
November 20, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Really exicted to finally see our paper in print: “Web scraping for research: Legal, ethical, institutional, and scientific considerations”
A great interdisciplinary effort with @m-dot-brown.bsky.social, @orangechair.org, Gabe Maldoff, @solmg.bsky.social, @zevesanderson.com
doi.org/10.1177/2053...
A great interdisciplinary effort with @m-dot-brown.bsky.social, @orangechair.org, Gabe Maldoff, @solmg.bsky.social, @zevesanderson.com
doi.org/10.1177/2053...
Reposted by Michael Zimmer
NEW: Sean Duffy frequently calls safety his “top priority” as transportation secretary. But I spent months wading through regulatory notices and found something far different: that USDOT has been delaying, weakening and killing dozens of safety rules, many opposed by the transportation industry.🧵
November 20, 2025 at 12:36 PM
NEW: Sean Duffy frequently calls safety his “top priority” as transportation secretary. But I spent months wading through regulatory notices and found something far different: that USDOT has been delaying, weakening and killing dozens of safety rules, many opposed by the transportation industry.🧵
Reposted by Michael Zimmer
I have been feeling depressed and discouraged that this man has the power and influence he does at my school and in my profession
And I am a tenured professor at Harvard! How much more protected can I be?
Imagine how STUDENTS feel. Junior faculty. This quote nails it
And I am a tenured professor at Harvard! How much more protected can I be?
Imagine how STUDENTS feel. Junior faculty. This quote nails it
November 19, 2025 at 6:27 PM
I have been feeling depressed and discouraged that this man has the power and influence he does at my school and in my profession
And I am a tenured professor at Harvard! How much more protected can I be?
Imagine how STUDENTS feel. Junior faculty. This quote nails it
And I am a tenured professor at Harvard! How much more protected can I be?
Imagine how STUDENTS feel. Junior faculty. This quote nails it
I think it's time to update "Internet Research Ethics for the Social Age" @kakinder.bsky.social
www.peterlang.com/document/105...
www.peterlang.com/document/105...
Peter Lang Verlag - Internet Research Ethics for the Social Age
The continuous evolution of internet and related social media technologies and platforms have opened up vast new means for communication, socialization,...
www.peterlang.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:42 AM
I think it's time to update "Internet Research Ethics for the Social Age" @kakinder.bsky.social
www.peterlang.com/document/105...
www.peterlang.com/document/105...
Reposted by Michael Zimmer
To make matters worse, not one other person stood up for her. Not one.
#jenniferjacobs #quietpiggy #epsteinfiles #trumplies #trumpisstillapedo
#jenniferjacobs #quietpiggy #epsteinfiles #trumplies #trumpisstillapedo
November 19, 2025 at 1:14 AM
To make matters worse, not one other person stood up for her. Not one.
#jenniferjacobs #quietpiggy #epsteinfiles #trumplies #trumpisstillapedo
#jenniferjacobs #quietpiggy #epsteinfiles #trumplies #trumpisstillapedo
I'm old enough to remember when the internet was a distributed network.
Cloudflare outages aren’t a matter of if — but when
Cloudflare outages aren’t a matter of if — but when
Another day, another outage.
buff.ly
November 19, 2025 at 12:30 AM
I'm old enough to remember when the internet was a distributed network.