Notices by funnymonkey (funnymonkey@freeradical.zone)

Microsoft killing it with their pivot to security.

Just killing it.

And to be clear, the "it" they are killing is security.

https://www.404media.co/microsoft-hacked-to-deliver-malware-to-claude-and-gemini-users/

Indulge my dream: maybe all the tech companies that acquired wealth by abusing our privacy will fall under the combined weight of their greed and hubris when they overspend on AI and the bubble bursts.

I know - it's unlikely.

But it would be sublime.

We would rather kill the internet with privacy invading identity verification rather than plug the enormous privacy and security (and national security) hole caused by data brokers and adtech,

https://www.wired.com/story/the-pentagon-knew-enemies-could-track-troops-phones-for-years-now-they-are/

Regulate data brokers out of business.

The people killing our privacy and security should have to do honest work for a living, just like the rest of us.

Republicans need to say it publicly, on camera, in front of a mic, or STFU.

Public silence is a continuation of their ongoing cowardice and subservience.

I don't care what a self-serving winbag like Ted Cruz says happened behind closed doors.

Public statements or STFU.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/ted-cruz-senators-screaming-todd-blanche-trump-anti-weaponization-fund-rcna346599

This post is awesome, and I predict aftermarket shops offering to remove car surveillance to spring up in the next few years.

It shouldn't be necessary, but it is.

https://arkadiyt.com/2026/05/13/removing-the-modem-and-gps-from-my-rav4/

@PogoWasRight This one is a mess.

I can only imagine what could come out via the private messages, both between students and ::shudder:: between teachers and admins.

As always, @PogoWasRight has a good rundown of the data breach -- in this case, the Instructure breach.

Edit: forgot to add the link! https://databreaches.net/2026/05/03/instructure-discloses-second-data-breach-in-less-than-a-year/

Keeping communities safe by creeping on kids.

While this story is about Flock, it is equally true for all of the other "we watch you always because we care" tech that is sold as "safety" but is better understood as state sanctioned creeping.

And remember: for every story like this that breaks, there are hundreds to thousands of adults who see cameras creeping on kids and think it's fine.

https://www.404media.co/city-learns-flock-accessed-cameras-in-childrens-gymnastics-room-as-a-sales-pitch-demo-renews-contract-anyway/

@tchambers

Tickling rats for a living is the best resume ever.

Remember:

The Palantir manifesto (and Thiel's Antichrist babble) is what they say *publicly*.

Think about what the private conversations sound like.

@milesizdead The parallels between privacy protections -- which always devolve to blame the user rather than hold the companies accountable -- are so striking.

I'd love to see us get this right.

You can't have bixonomania without AI.

Literally.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01100-y

Yup. Instead of blaming people on the receiving end of bad services, why not -- hear me out here -- demand better services?

https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-should-stand-up-to-big-tech-instead-of-imposing-social-media-bans-estonia-says/

Whoa. This story is wild.

Hacker accessed Epstein files on FBI servers in 2023. Hacker appeared to not know they had compromised the FBI, was disgusted at the presence of CSAM in the data, and threatened to turn them over to the FBI, not realizing they were talking to the FBI.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/foreign-hacker-2023-compromised-epstein-files-held-by-fbi-source-documents-show-2026-03-11/

So - an edtech surveillance vendor is doing something that looks a lot like human subject research on kids.

https://www.edweek.org/technology/real-time-data-shows-exactly-how-students-use-ai-on-school-technology/2026/03

If you are a parent in a district that uses Securly, ask to see those data sharing agreements.

@dalias

This.

It's SOOOOO easy to blame the people at the receiving end of broken systems of power and control.

When people refuse to acknowledge that there are many situations with no good options, and a small number of less bad options, we get destructive absolutism that hurts people.

See also: voting in the US

@alexmu @fesshole

My thoughts and reactions to AI Snake Oil (and thoughts and reactions on how AI fits into the broader context of aggressively hyped tech) is available here:

https://snaikoil.com

This was a personal project, and it was useful for me to clarify my thoughts, and I'm sharing it out in the hope that someone else finds it useful as well!

And if you think I've missed something, let me know!

10/10

Age assurance is generally a really bad idea, and this version of it turbocharges the stupidity and the harm.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/colorado-lawmakers-push-for-age-verification-at-the-operating-system-level

This is so incredibly fucked up.

Can we do Universal Basic Income already?

Can we implement Medicare For All?

Income inequality is literally sucking us dry.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/americans-sell-plasma-inflation-middle-class-expenses-economy-rcna258390

Peter Thiel wants your face.

Discord is here to help him get it.

https://www.pcgamer.com/software/platforms/oh-good-discords-age-verification-rollout-has-ties-to-palantir-co-founder-and-panopticon-architect-peter-thiel/