Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (Dec 2019)

Good day to you all!

We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed by looking at the next UK general election or at the endless denial about explainable algorithms.

To quote Buckminster Fuller "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete."

You are seeing aspects of this happening with the 2019 turner prize cooperatively shared between 4 artists - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-50651827

Meet the real Mr Robot
https://darknetdiaries.com/episode/49/
Ian thinks: Listening to Elliot, you can't help but be quietly impressed with where his curiosity takes him. Which came first Mr Robot or Elliot?

Lancaster University's Gogglebox of the future
https://www.fictionware.org/gogglebox/
Ian thinks: Lancaster University's take of the living room of the future is quite something. Really getting into the meat of the smart home data ethics conversation in a fun, accessible but critical way. Look out for their next research

A more generous world?
https://teamhuman.fm/episodes/ep-142-yancey-strickler-a-more-generous-world/
Ian thinks: Heard Yancey talk a few times, wasn't convinced but he making the right noises about values. However still not convinced about http://bentoism.org/

Mozilla explains the possibilities of facial recognition
https://stealingurfeelin.gs/ | https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/campaigns/snapchat-stop-stealing-our-feelings/
Ian thinks: In a similar vein to "do not track", Mozilla expose the effects of facial recognition which the big corps hide in their EULA's. One reason why I've never willingly used snap chat ever.

Are we all to blame for the state we are in?
https://medium.com/team-human/was-humanity-simply-not-ready-for-the-internet-968ff564653c
Ian thinks: I quite like rushkoff's post-rationalisation, but more importantly his call for us to be adults and make things right.

Roar for the public-interest technologists to unite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpmgfpt_RU0
Ian thinks: Technologies for the public benefit against asymmetrical power systems that lead to the weaponisation of technologies against vulnerable communities.

What obligation do social media platforms have to the greater good?
https://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_what_obligation_do_social_media_platforms_have_to_the_greater_good
Ian thinks: If we are talking about the mainstream ones, then its got to be a big fat zero. How many state their principles and actually back it up with yearly accountability and transparent reports?

Password patterns
https://info.graphics/stories/heatscore-password-patterns
Ian thinks: Our passwords say so much about ourselves and its time we stopped using them when possible. Its high time for the alternatives

Where the human race needs to be
https://eand.co/the-great-leap-the-human-race-needs-to-make-this-century-c59e72a3e79f
Ian thinks: Umair's thoughts about turning money back into life is spot on, as he points at the problems in the metrics we have regarded highly for so long.

Ian Forrester
Find the original here - https://cubicgarden.com/2019/12/05/public-service-internet-monthly-newsletter-dec-2019/