pluralistic-net

Georgia's Secretary of State plans to circumvent a new law banning QR code ballot tabulation by using optical character recognition software. Princeton computer scientist Andrew Appel warns this approach is insecure because it relies on the same hackable voting machines that print the ballots. Voting machines have long been flawed despite recent partisan defenses.

The article examines how Trump's policies have inadvertently accelerated global clean energy adoption and technology sovereignty. Examples include Pakistan's rapid solarization from US solar tariffs and countries abandoning US tech platforms after Trump weaponized them against foreign governments.

The article discusses "process knowledge" - the practical expertise workers develop through experience - arguing it's more valuable than intellectual property but often undervalued by management. Examples include a dishwasher's operational insights and a receptionist's workflow knowledge, showing how this collective expertise cannot be bought or controlled like IP.

Cindy Cohn's memoir "Privacy's Defender" chronicles her decades-long career at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, including her pivotal role in the Bernstein case that established code as protected speech. The book details her legal battles for digital rights, privacy protections, and human rights work from encryption fights to post-9/11 surveillance challenges.

Cory Doctorow announces 375 copies of his limited edition collage book "Canny Valley" are available through Creative Commons' 25th anniversary fundraiser. The book collects 80 digital collages made from Creative Commons and public domain sources, with an introduction by Bruce Sterling.

The author recalls a late-1990s brainstorming session at his startup Opencola where they conceived an "evil" idea to spam Google search results with AI-generated pages for profit. They rejected the scheme due to their love for the web, contrasting with later tech entrepreneurs who pursued similar destructive ideas out of callousness rather than genius.

The article argues that austerity policies following economic crises create conditions for fascism to thrive. Research shows that when public services decline, people lose trust in government and become more susceptible to far-right political movements.

Cory Doctorow discusses how creative work helps him manage chronic pain and anxiety by entering a "flow" state, while distinguishing between productive compartmentalization and problematic avoidance. He contrasts purposeful creative flow with passive "zombie flow" from social media scrolling, emphasizing the value of directed engagement over mindless distraction.

The article contrasts corporate personhood, which has eroded empathy and political processes, with the Rights of Nature movement that extends legal personhood to ecosystems. It argues that granting rights to AI chatbots would be more akin to harmful corporate personhood than beneficial environmental personhood, as chatbots are human constructs that could further degrade empathy.

The author argues that while AI doomers worry about future superintelligent AI, the real threat comes from existing artificial lifeforms: limited liability corporations. These entities already endanger humanity through surveillance, worker exploitation, and control over critical infrastructure.

Social media platforms are reducing connections with friends in favor of algorithmically selected content from strangers and AI. This makes platforms more interchangeable and easier to leave, despite friends being the main reason people stay. The shift prioritizes engagement-driven revenue over meaningful social connections.