Concern about privacy is good, but not when it’s Sinophobic posturing. Yes, what TikTok is doing is worrying and problematic, but Bode makes an important point here: If they aren’t willing to fix the broader infrastructure, stances like Rubio’s just come down to trying to score cheap political points.

I’ve seen a number of headlines about how a post-Dobbs world changes the game for online privacy, but this is the first one that I sat down to read. School surveillance software is scary enough without this possibility, so let’s not make it worse. I can’t believe that this software gives schools any benefits that outweigh the heavy cost to students’ privacy.

I went to high school post Columbine, so we could only use mesh or clear backpacks and were required to wear IDs at all times. Even at the time, that felt like security theater. Schools can’t solve this problem with decisions like these–we need to decide as a society to rethink our relationship with guns.

I’ve also been thinking recently about small but important influences on my career, so it was a real treat to read Punya’s thoughts here.

I’m glad I got out of the Kindle game before they did on-screen ads. This feels dystopian.

Very interesting look at Anglocentrism in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Really enjoyed this coverage of Josh’s work! I haven’t ever done Bayesian work, so it surprised me how closely the ideas in the article resembled thoughts I’ve been having about positivism and other research paradigms.

Worrying ideas here—American democracy feels more and more tenuous.

A terrifying teminder that content moderation can easily overreach.

Fitting that I’m reading this the day after booking Acela tickets. Fits with what I’ve said in the past: Northeast Corridor is great, but lets bring trains elsewhere too.

I had no idea about this history, and I think it’s fun!

Gun violence can’t be solved with educational technology—and make no mistake, all of this is edtech.

Good writing here. Vague Sinophobia drives a lot of media and political concerns, and I appreciate Bode’s challenging of that here.

‘I just know in my heart’ is terrible and terrifying reasoning for posing this level of a threat to democracy.

Good example here of how content moderation can absolutely overreach. Arguments that platforms shouldn’t moderate are nonsense, but I appreciate Masnick’s emphasis on the need to be very careful about how we moderate.

Yet another example of why I’m wary of smart devices.

I get that some of this is bluster and posturing, but that doesn’t make it any less worrying. This is the same state GOP that leaned into Gab a year or two ago.

I have never understood the panic about burkinis. It’s one of many examples where French laïcité goes further than appropriate and desirable secularism.

Good for the court, though the narrow majority is disappointing.

This is more worrying to me—and more damning for the GOP—than anything that happened on January 6th.

Pence deserves credit for the steps he took on January 6th, but I agree that he has responsibilities to do more right now.

All of this is worrying, but not as worrying as the possibility that it won’t make a difference in the minds of people who should be outraged.

Really appreciated George’s post here. Looking forward to trying these out in future slide decks.

Well this is terrifying.

I mean, there’s still plenty to be worried about when it comes to targeted advertising and smart TVs, but this is a good reminder to take a step back.