Gareth Cooper
@strangecolours.bsky.social
Earth, Technoethics, Mental Health, Urban Communities • 🇪🇺🇺🇦 • GCU (eccentric)
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
Did you know that from tomorrow, Qualtrics is offering synthetic panels (AI-generated participants)?
Follow me down a rabbit hole I'm calling "doing science is tough and I'm so busy, can't we just make up participants?"
Follow me down a rabbit hole I'm calling "doing science is tough and I'm so busy, can't we just make up participants?"
December 16, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Did you know that from tomorrow, Qualtrics is offering synthetic panels (AI-generated participants)?
Follow me down a rabbit hole I'm calling "doing science is tough and I'm so busy, can't we just make up participants?"
Follow me down a rabbit hole I'm calling "doing science is tough and I'm so busy, can't we just make up participants?"
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
I've been reporting on the criminal justice system for over a decade and have lived in an authoritarian country overseas, but I've never seen anything like the police presence in ICE-occupied Memphis. Here's my dispatch: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
I'm a veteran criminal justice reporter. I've never seen anything like ICE-occupied Memphis.
“It’s about as sad as you can possibly imagine."
www.motherjones.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:40 PM
I've been reporting on the criminal justice system for over a decade and have lived in an authoritarian country overseas, but I've never seen anything like the police presence in ICE-occupied Memphis. Here's my dispatch: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
In January, CSO Suzi Watford announced that WaPo would become “an A.I.-fueled platform for news” that delivers “vital news, ideas and insights for all Americans where, how and when they want it.”
Readers may notice that this means fuck-all besides signaling that "do AI" is the overriding goal.
Readers may notice that this means fuck-all besides signaling that "do AI" is the overriding goal.
According to a WaPo spokesperson, “This is how products get built and developed in the digital age: ideation, research, design and prototyping, development, and then Beta.”
Washington Post Says It Will Continue AI-Generating Error Filled Podcasts as Its Own Editors Groan in Embarrassment
The Washington Post said it will continue deploying its error riddled, AI-generated podcasts, because "this is how products get built."
futurism.com
December 16, 2025 at 10:20 PM
In January, CSO Suzi Watford announced that WaPo would become “an A.I.-fueled platform for news” that delivers “vital news, ideas and insights for all Americans where, how and when they want it.”
Readers may notice that this means fuck-all besides signaling that "do AI" is the overriding goal.
Readers may notice that this means fuck-all besides signaling that "do AI" is the overriding goal.
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
Netflix made a bold promise that streaming would be cheaper and better than what existed before. It broke that promise to cash in on its audience.
If it captures Warner Discovery, it would not just remake a major studio, but continue degrading culture by further commercializing it.
If it captures Warner Discovery, it would not just remake a major studio, but continue degrading culture by further commercializing it.
Netflix can’t be allowed to buy Warner Discovery
It would be the next step in the degradation of culture to serve commercial ends
disconnect.blog
December 16, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Netflix made a bold promise that streaming would be cheaper and better than what existed before. It broke that promise to cash in on its audience.
If it captures Warner Discovery, it would not just remake a major studio, but continue degrading culture by further commercializing it.
If it captures Warner Discovery, it would not just remake a major studio, but continue degrading culture by further commercializing it.
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
Matt Frei, "Why does Trump want to sue the BBC?"
Brian Stelter, "He wants to be seen as battling the press.. In this case it also about Jan 6th"
"Trump has tried to rewrite the history of Jan 6th, he's tried to memory-hole his involvement with the riot"
Brian Stelter, "He wants to be seen as battling the press.. In this case it also about Jan 6th"
"Trump has tried to rewrite the history of Jan 6th, he's tried to memory-hole his involvement with the riot"
December 16, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Matt Frei, "Why does Trump want to sue the BBC?"
Brian Stelter, "He wants to be seen as battling the press.. In this case it also about Jan 6th"
"Trump has tried to rewrite the history of Jan 6th, he's tried to memory-hole his involvement with the riot"
Brian Stelter, "He wants to be seen as battling the press.. In this case it also about Jan 6th"
"Trump has tried to rewrite the history of Jan 6th, he's tried to memory-hole his involvement with the riot"
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
Another thing fucking me up about this piece is that they don't talk about like… this facial rec system's accuracy, its disparate impacts, the harm this setup does to the social fabric of the city, the fact that seemingly all the proponents they talked to were white… i mean i could go on.
Live cameras are tracking faces in New Orleans. Who should control them?
A private non-profit operates over 200 cameras with live facial recognition in New Orleans. The system raises questions about privacy, legal authority and who should control surveillance technology.
www.npr.org
December 16, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Another thing fucking me up about this piece is that they don't talk about like… this facial rec system's accuracy, its disparate impacts, the harm this setup does to the social fabric of the city, the fact that seemingly all the proponents they talked to were white… i mean i could go on.
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
The BBC is not just any other institution. It's a core part of this country's identity. It's ours to criticise, ours to get cross with, ours to love and ours to the end.
By attacking it Trump may actually be doing us all a favour as we are obliged to remember that.
www.politico.eu/article/brit...
By attacking it Trump may actually be doing us all a favour as we are obliged to remember that.
www.politico.eu/article/brit...
British government backs the BBC as Trump sues it for billions
Stephen Kinnock said the public service broadcaster is “right to stick by their guns.”
www.politico.eu
December 16, 2025 at 4:18 PM
The BBC is not just any other institution. It's a core part of this country's identity. It's ours to criticise, ours to get cross with, ours to love and ours to the end.
By attacking it Trump may actually be doing us all a favour as we are obliged to remember that.
www.politico.eu/article/brit...
By attacking it Trump may actually be doing us all a favour as we are obliged to remember that.
www.politico.eu/article/brit...
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
Part-subscription is *by its very nature* exclusionary. Those with least will get least. Who will decide what is behind a paywall+how much the subscription will be? What about the cost of running a subscription service+promoting it? #BBC must be universal or it will be like any other service.
December 16, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Part-subscription is *by its very nature* exclusionary. Those with least will get least. Who will decide what is behind a paywall+how much the subscription will be? What about the cost of running a subscription service+promoting it? #BBC must be universal or it will be like any other service.
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
A Labour Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, is promoting idea of advertising on the #BBC and/or a part subscription model for its future funding.
I despair.
How can the BBC's *unique* *precious* blend of universality, independence, freedom from commercial pressure and trust be maintained in this way?
I despair.
How can the BBC's *unique* *precious* blend of universality, independence, freedom from commercial pressure and trust be maintained in this way?
Britain’s Story: The Next Chapter - BBC Royal Charter Review, Green Paper and public consultation
www.gov.uk
December 16, 2025 at 3:26 PM
A Labour Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, is promoting idea of advertising on the #BBC and/or a part subscription model for its future funding.
I despair.
How can the BBC's *unique* *precious* blend of universality, independence, freedom from commercial pressure and trust be maintained in this way?
I despair.
How can the BBC's *unique* *precious* blend of universality, independence, freedom from commercial pressure and trust be maintained in this way?
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
Research(er) question: has any research been done on the dynamics/motivations/decision making around police asking (or not) for people to provide their self-defined ethnicity in the context of stop and search in particular, but otherwise other uses of police powers? Thank you.
December 16, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Research(er) question: has any research been done on the dynamics/motivations/decision making around police asking (or not) for people to provide their self-defined ethnicity in the context of stop and search in particular, but otherwise other uses of police powers? Thank you.
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
It should also look at how the forthcoming Elections Bill can be strengthened by annual spending limits and disclosure, an upper limit on donations, and a stronger criminal offence for donations via third parties.
Urgent review into foreign financial interference in UK politics
An independent review, led by Philip Rycroft, into foreign financial interference in UK politics has been commissioned by the government.
www.gov.uk
December 16, 2025 at 3:53 PM
It should also look at how the forthcoming Elections Bill can be strengthened by annual spending limits and disclosure, an upper limit on donations, and a stronger criminal offence for donations via third parties.
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
👏 Welcome news that there will be an independent review into foreign interference in our politics.
👇 Here's Spotlight’s statement on what it should cover:
👇 Here's Spotlight’s statement on what it should cover:
Statement: Spotlight urges foreign interference review not to ignore broader risks - Spotlight on Corruption
It is highly welcome that the government has launched an independent review into foreign interference in our politics. We have long called for an inquiry
www.spotlightcorruption.org
December 16, 2025 at 3:53 PM
👏 Welcome news that there will be an independent review into foreign interference in our politics.
👇 Here's Spotlight’s statement on what it should cover:
👇 Here's Spotlight’s statement on what it should cover:
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
“See, our unaccountable thing is actually more accountable. Let me tell you how…”
December 16, 2025 at 3:46 PM
“See, our unaccountable thing is actually more accountable. Let me tell you how…”
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
Wrong question.
Live cameras are tracking faces in New Orleans. Who should control them?
A private non-profit operates over 200 cameras with live facial recognition in New Orleans. The system raises questions about privacy, legal authority and who should control surveillance technology.
www.wbaa.org
December 16, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Wrong question.
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
UK spying laws could result in overreach and real harm, says review
UK spying laws could result in overreach and real harm, says review
Jonathan Hall KC warns of people being wrongly investigated and of impact on journalists and thinktanks
Espionage offences in the UK’s new National Security Act are so broadly defined that they “will result in cases of real harm” with people wrongly investigated, according to the first review of state threats legislation.
Jonathan Hall KC, an independent reviewer appointed by the home secretary, said the 2023 law had to be monitored against “misuse and overreach” because it could extend into politics, journalism, protest and other day-to-day activity. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 12:22 PM
UK spying laws could result in overreach and real harm, says review
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
"Residents complained that they had little faith police reports would remain confidential, while officers told me that reluctance to testify made achieving convictions harder"
Reporter Ed Siddons' time investigating in the British Virgin Islands: www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Reporter Ed Siddons' time investigating in the British Virgin Islands: www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Small islands, big problems: my time in the BVI
In a place where everyone knows everyone, politics is shaped by social networks – and demands from London fall on deaf ears
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
December 16, 2025 at 12:23 PM
"Residents complained that they had little faith police reports would remain confidential, while officers told me that reluctance to testify made achieving convictions harder"
Reporter Ed Siddons' time investigating in the British Virgin Islands: www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Reporter Ed Siddons' time investigating in the British Virgin Islands: www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
e.g. I remember being given a list of synonymous sentence openers like “furthermore, moreover, what is more, in addition” and taught to alternate between them; and “not only … but, not merely … but, not just … but” is something you’re taught as syntax.
December 16, 2025 at 10:49 AM
e.g. I remember being given a list of synonymous sentence openers like “furthermore, moreover, what is more, in addition” and taught to alternate between them; and “not only … but, not merely … but, not just … but” is something you’re taught as syntax.
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
YES! So many structures and words that have been classed as AI giveaways are what speakers of English as a second language have been taught and encouraged to do.
I try to avoid linking to Substacks but this essay is FASCINATING
I'm Kenyan. I Don't Write Like ChatGPT. ChatGPT Writes Like Me.
I'm calm. I'm calm. I promise.
marcusolang.substack.com
December 16, 2025 at 10:44 AM
YES! So many structures and words that have been classed as AI giveaways are what speakers of English as a second language have been taught and encouraged to do.
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
They claim its purpose is to pull the US out of international policing but really the plan is to make room for America’s enemies to expand their influence and limit the number of people within the DoD who could throw a wrench in trump’s lawless whims.
December 16, 2025 at 12:40 AM
They claim its purpose is to pull the US out of international policing but really the plan is to make room for America’s enemies to expand their influence and limit the number of people within the DoD who could throw a wrench in trump’s lawless whims.
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
The new head of MI6 said technologies could create “peril” as weapons, drones and robots inflicted devastation on the battlefield, and some algorithms could “become as powerful as states”.
New MI6 chief: Tech bosses are becoming as powerful as nations
Blaise Metreweli, in her first public speech as head of the intelligence agency, says the world is being remade by technology that was once the stuff of fiction
www.thetimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 10:15 PM
The new head of MI6 said technologies could create “peril” as weapons, drones and robots inflicted devastation on the battlefield, and some algorithms could “become as powerful as states”.
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
LLMs.
They promote suicide and murder, undermine a century of educational practice, drive deskilling, harm the environment, and benefit foreign adversaries spreading disinformation.
But the federal government wants to prohibit states from regulating them.
You'd think they were guns.
They promote suicide and murder, undermine a century of educational practice, drive deskilling, harm the environment, and benefit foreign adversaries spreading disinformation.
But the federal government wants to prohibit states from regulating them.
You'd think they were guns.
Murder-suicide case shows OpenAI selectively hides data after users die
OpenAI accused of hiding full ChatGPT logs in murder-suicide case.
arstechnica.com
December 16, 2025 at 12:36 AM
LLMs.
They promote suicide and murder, undermine a century of educational practice, drive deskilling, harm the environment, and benefit foreign adversaries spreading disinformation.
But the federal government wants to prohibit states from regulating them.
You'd think they were guns.
They promote suicide and murder, undermine a century of educational practice, drive deskilling, harm the environment, and benefit foreign adversaries spreading disinformation.
But the federal government wants to prohibit states from regulating them.
You'd think they were guns.
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
america does not like drinking piss. but what if drinking piss is the way to restart the cycle of making more piss to drink.
America, you have spoken loud and clear: You do not like AI. But what if AI is the way to restart the world’s idea machine?
We’re running out of good ideas. AI might be how we find new ones.
What if the best use of AI is restarting the world’s idea machine?
www.vox.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:34 PM
america does not like drinking piss. but what if drinking piss is the way to restart the cycle of making more piss to drink.
Reposted by Gareth Cooper
wait a minute how are the "your body has gone soft from not eating the raw meats of your ancestors" guys also the "the computer should summarize the big scary email for your inadequate brain" guys
December 15, 2025 at 7:32 PM
wait a minute how are the "your body has gone soft from not eating the raw meats of your ancestors" guys also the "the computer should summarize the big scary email for your inadequate brain" guys