Online wellness content: 3 ways to tell evidence-based health information from pseudoscience

Michelle Cohen, Queen’s University, Ontario “I drink borax!” proclaims the smiling TikToker. Holding up a box of the laundry additive, she rhymes off a list of its supposed health benefits: “Balances testosterone and estrogen. It’s a powerhouse anti-inflammatory…. It’s amazing for arthritis, osteoporosis…. And obviously it’s great for your gut health.” Videos like these prompted… Continue reading Online wellness content: 3 ways to tell evidence-based health information from pseudoscience

Is TikTok’s parent company an agent of the Chinese state? In China Inc., it’s a little more complicated

Shaomin Li, Old Dominion University Does the Chinese government have officials inside TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, pulling the strings? And does the storing of data from the popular social media app outside of China protect Americans? These questions appear to dominate the current thinking in the U.S. over whether to ban TikTok if its owner,… Continue reading Is TikTok’s parent company an agent of the Chinese state? In China Inc., it’s a little more complicated

Does TikTok pose a security threat to Canadians?

Robert Diab, Thompson Rivers University Concerns about the threats TikTok poses to privacy and liberty were raised again, as a bill to divest TikTok of its Chinese ownership or ban it gathered steam in the United States Congress. And Canada’s federal government revealed that it began investigating months ago whether foreign control of the app… Continue reading Does TikTok pose a security threat to Canadians?

Is it ethical to watch AI pornography?

Chantal Gautier, University of Westminster If you’re in your 20s and 30s, you probably watch pornography. Millennials and gen Z are watching more pornography than any other age group and are also more likely than any other demographic to experiment with AI pornography. As technology advances, AI-generated tools and techniques are becoming increasingly sophisticated and… Continue reading Is it ethical to watch AI pornography?

How news organisations decide whether a photo is ‘too edited’

Andrew Pearsall, University of South Wales In the era of artificial intelligence and accessible photo editing, you can’t believe everything you see online. One exception, of course, is (usually) if it’s published by a reputable news source. The foundation of photojournalism lies in its ability to present reality in an authentic and unaltered manner. Digital… Continue reading How news organisations decide whether a photo is ‘too edited’

Ghostbots: AI versions of deceased loved ones could be a serious threat to mental health

Nigel Mulligan, Dublin City University We all experience loss and grief. Imagine, though, that you don’t need to say goodbye to your loved ones. That you can recreate them virtually so you can have conversations and find out how they’re feeling. For Kim Kardashian’s fortieth birthday, her then husband, Kanye West, gifted her with a… Continue reading Ghostbots: AI versions of deceased loved ones could be a serious threat to mental health

Teens on social media need both protection and privacy – AI could help get the balance right

Afsaneh Razi, Drexel University Meta announced on Jan. 9, 2024, that it will protect teen users by blocking them from viewing content on Instagram and Facebook that the company deems to be harmful, including content related to suicide and eating disorders. The move comes as federal and state governments have increased pressure on social media… Continue reading Teens on social media need both protection and privacy – AI could help get the balance right

80% of Australians think AI risk is a global priority. The government needs to step up

Michael Noetel, The University of Queensland; Alexander Saeri, The University of Queensland, and Jess Graham, The University of Queensland A new nationally representative survey has revealed Australians are deeply concerned about the risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI). They want the government to take stronger action to ensure its safe development and use. We conducted… Continue reading 80% of Australians think AI risk is a global priority. The government needs to step up

Are private conversations truly private? A cybersecurity expert explains how end-to-end encryption protects you

Robin Chataut, Quinnipiac University Imagine opening your front door wide and inviting the world to listen in on your most private conversations. Unthinkable, right? Yet, in the digital realm, people inadvertently leave doors ajar, potentially allowing hackers, tech companies, service providers and security agencies to peek into their private communications. Much depends on the applications… Continue reading Are private conversations truly private? A cybersecurity expert explains how end-to-end encryption protects you

70% of Australians don’t feel in control of their data as companies hide behind meaningless privacy terms

Katharine Kemp, UNSW Sydney Australian consumers don’t understand how companies – including data brokers – track, target and profile them. This is revealed in new research on consumer understanding of privacy terms, released by the non-profit Consumer Policy Research Centre and UNSW Sydney today. Our report also reveals 70% of Australians feel they have little… Continue reading 70% of Australians don’t feel in control of their data as companies hide behind meaningless privacy terms