LAION-5B is a dataset of URLs, not images. Conflating a list of URLs with an "open-source dataset of images" is an intentional part of how LAION and many other datasets (eg exposing.ai/megaface) exploit "open source" vibes and the Creative Commons license scheme.

1 ⭐ Review Tour Ljubljana "This is a 16 minute tour of Ljubljana where you get to see and hear ONLY negative reviews. The things people complain about!!! Elsewhere is better!!! Roadworks!!! The weather?!! Too many tourists!! EXACTLY!!! People are so stupid!!!!!"

When Generative AI tries to give you the middle finger

Adobe Firefly GenAI won’t let users generate image of person giving the “middle finger” but it does allow the “center finger”

I am impressed with this level of honesty, good job BVG #GDPR

The presentation of this piece is striking; the findings horrifying.

This bike lock is/was available for sale on campus via Columbia's Public Safety department under their "Crime Prevention Discount Bike, Locker and Laptop Lock Program". See their flier with a discount here: publicsafety.columbia.edu/sites/default/…

This is basically like the kind of propaganda they would show on Egyptian TV as Mubarak's regime was crumbling...

just got doxxed to within 15 miles by a vision model, from only a single photo of some random trees. the implications for privacy are terrifying. i had no idea we would get here so soon. holy shit

Regarding Israel shutting down Al Jazeera, some history on US attacks on Al Jazeera: The US bombed its offices in Afghanistan in 2001 and Sami al-Hajj, an Al Jazeera cameraman, was kidnapped and sent to Guantanamo Prison for 6 years. In 2003, the NY Stock Exchange banned Al

however unintentional, this really is a perfect encapsulation of the current moment in tech — an industry so high on its own fumes that it can no longer come up with reasons. “with our obscene and senseless hubris on full display, ‘just imagine’ the wanton flattening of culture.”

NEW: Our analysis of reported data identifies at least 80 separate attacks by Israel on aid in Gaza since January. The frequency and widespread nature of these attacks suggests that Israel is systematically targeting aid.

honeypot for faces

Julian Assange has finally been freed. Until yesterday, there was a strong possibility he would have died in prison and this deal no doubt will anger some very powerful people. He shouldn’t have had to plead to any charges but nonetheless his liberation is a moment to celebrate.

NEW @forensicarchi/Forensis: SHARK ISLAND, our investigation of the concentration camp at the heart of the 20th century's first genocide, the site of the murder of thousands of Nama & Ovaherero people by the German colonial army. Watch the film here: forensic-architecture.org/investigation/…

Thank you congresswoman Tlaib for persistently bringing Palestinian experience and universal truths to the ears and eye of US public and politicians.

I'm leaving The Intercept and starting Drop Site. dropsitenews.com/p/im-leaving-t…

Death by Raspberry Pi reuters.com/technology/art…

Identifying weapons is a skill that comes with high risk. Misidentification can add to false narratives, and in clearance efforts, even death. Bellingcat Tech Writing Fellow @Andro_Mathewson provides guidance on verifying explosive ordnance. bellingcat.com/resources/how-…