Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (Dec 2025)

Traffic jam of cabs in New York shot from the back with red lights from the cabs
Cars everywhere: (cc-by-nd) https://www.flickr.com/photos/strolicfurlan/24747443097/

We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed seeing the questionable AI courtcase in the UK, Zuck running an illegal school and big tech refusing to talk about election influencing in the Netherlands.

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 with Android supporting airdrop, The Eurosky sovereign bluesky project now has open code and Dr Ruha Benjamin’s unlearn speech from Mozfest 2025.


The future of addiction

Ian thinks: I found this conversation spot on, as it touches on many things I find really interesting right now and links them up. From the problems of mass social media to weaponized addiction being generated on mass. Addiction is always a contentious point but regardless, it all points to a future where our revealed preferences are indulged without friction for profit and control..

Why we need a war on cars

Ian thinks: I don’t drive a car, and this episode is full of interesting points including the one about superman, electric cars effect on space and the city and the social impact on loneliness.

The characteristics of a AI bubble

Ian thinks: If you are in the tech field or even looking in, its clear everybody is talking about the AI bubble but this podcast from Wired again, really breaks down the characteristic of a bubble.

Keep Android open

Ian thinks: Great site, seems Google might have listened to the pressure in recent days. What they mean by an alternative is a big question however.

Reasons for divorce: AI relationship

Ian thinks: We all new this was coming. You message first thing in the morning, last thing at night, you message on the toilet! That relationship seems so innocent but engaging. Now there is legal challenges a foot, which could make that relationship grounds for a divorce.

Digital legacy and death tech overview

Ian thinks: This video from Wired magazine, starts off with the usual cryogenic nonsense  but then grief bots and AI avatars suddenly become a lot more real. I especially like the shout out to get a will and manage your digital legacy. This is something I am working on with a project called Machine readable wishes.

NSA’s mobile phone guide

Ian thinks: The NSA’s mobile guide is interesting reading, there are nuggets of information such as restart your phone weekly and have a case which block room audio. Paranoid or just good advice?

Bots are the future of social media?

Ian thinks: I recently gave a talk about AI to a health insurances. I talked a lot about loneliness and bots. Although I didn’t include it, this detailed video forecasts the logical end of social being the dead internet theory but far far worst.

What does 47,000 conversations with ChatGPT tell us?

Ian thinks: Remember when OpenAPI was sharing chatGPT conversations? Well analysis of the conversations by the Gerrit De Vynck tells us exactly how puppy like and integrated it is with peoples lives. Counter to what the AI companies have been saying, this is worry-some to hear and read.


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Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (Nov 2025)

This is wearable maximalism but subtract two smartwatches and smart glasses, and this could be you in three years.
From the Verge

We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed seeing the deliberate thoughtfulness of Tilly NorwoodDeloitte’s AI report to the Australia government and Windows 10 end of life is a e-waste disaster?

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 with Sir Tim’s thought on the future of AIrenewable overtaking coal as the worlds source of electric and digital sovereignty grows bigger in Europe.


The future of cities: Humans are the problem?

Ian thinks: Recently I attended the Society 5.0 conference and attended a workshop on how the internet is changing architecture and physical public spaces. At the same time by chance McNeil and Marx talk through the same tensions.

AI slop, rage bait, whats next?

Ian thinks: This discussion between Taylor and Drew is very revealing, how prolific Ai slop really is. Its a detailed discussion and with lots of in-depth commentary on the process of how its made and why.

Lets talk about the AI bubble

Ian thinks: Everyone is talking about the AI bubble but this video breaks down what a bubble looks like and with a critical eye how money is being passed around. How this works and are we really looking at the collapse of the last decades?

Deep insight into Europe’s digital mindset

Ian thinks: During the PublicSpaces conference earlier this year, there was a great keynote talk in Dutch but a big part of the talk was around European culture and Startup culture clash. The German Digital-Mittelstand is a strong example of the long-term view of the European landscape.

Bluesky federation isn’t ready?

Ian thinks: Bluesky has been talking about federation for a long while but its clear over this high profile this conflict with Blacksky.
Futher conflict is around the corner with the Trump administration’s arrival on Bluesky.

Smart glasses, or work for Ai?

Ian thinks: The emphasis on smart glasses recently has raised a ton of red flags. It feels like there is so little learned from the past including Google glass. Gilliard and Paris break down what I have been thinking how little has been learned. On a more casual note.

Enshittification and so much more from Cory

Ian thinks: Cory has been on the circuit talking about his new book Enshittification. I have heard a few interviews but one of the best is certainly the one with Rushkoff where they talk about so much more. Second best is this one on Vox’s grey area.

The Intentional Collapse

Ian thinks: Talking of Douglas Rushkoff, he’s monologue on a potential intentional international collapse due the Ai bubble, greed, quality and so much is a sobering reminder of what’s at stake. But also the small steps we can do to make a difference.

Straight out of America a man called Mark Bray

Ian thinks: You may have come across this story about Mark Bray and his radical works casing him and his family to be put on a watch list of radicals. It’s a story in a worrisome trend of researchers joining such lists along side journalists and activists.

Amazon’s outage says more than you can imagine

Amazon goes down and so many of the services we rely on daily and there are many thoughts about that? However there is so much more to this story than first imagined. This video explains how deep this all potentially runs.


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Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (May 2024)

Undersea internet cablesWe live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed while understanding the risks of wearable technologyDiscord public messages sold for profit and seeing the Investigatory Powers Bill approved.

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 with America finally getting a online privacy billBitwarden and Proton giving away passkey support to all users including the non-paying ones. Finally Fairphone shows up the consumer tech industry with new levels of sustainability.


The long con of the XZ backdoor

Ian thinks: This video really explains whats known about the XZ backdoor and the Microsoft employee who saved so many in the industry from a unthinkable backdoor. The social engineering side is also fascinating and chilling.

Encryption in the age of surveillance

Ian thinks: This lightening talk is a harsh reminder of the current state of encryption law in the UK. Whittaker’s talk is aimed at the EU, which are facing similar legal objections around encryption and privacy,

Fast fashion under the limelight

Ian thinks: Not tech as such but related as I was looking at larger effects of social media on our collective conscious.

Enshitification explained in a way we can all understand

Ian thinks: When a very popular youtuber covers a issue such as enshitification, you know its hit the mainstream (plus it was word of the year last year). This is perfect to share with many other people.

Who looks after those undersea cables?

Ian think: The Verge’s piece about the importance and health of those super important internet cables is a good read and reminder of how important the physical cables are to so many.

Are we at Peak AI and can you say AI bubble?

Ian thinks: Zittrain’s recent podcasts looking at AI is worth your time. Although he use the metric of revenue & profit most of the time, there is parts across both podcasts asking about the public benefit. There is also a clear question about the problem of booms and bubbles.

Why men shouldn’t control AI?

Ian thinks: Although a very clicky headline, there are some really good points raised about the fragile egos of some men and the clear pointers to the lack of imagination and cooperation in a patriarchy. Read with a open mind.

Fediverse gets new Threads

Ian thinks: In the latest dot social podcast, Mike Cue is joined by Meta employees to talk about joining the fediverse. Techcrunch have a good cover of the conversation, Regardless of Meta, its clear the fediverse isn’t something which can be ignored.

23andMe? A welcomed update

Ian thinks: I have always been concerned about DNA testing, especially in the tech space. In this update the Freakonomics play an existing interview and update it with the very public downfall. I can’t help but think public health was ignored from the start.

You may know Transhumanism as another name?

Ian thinks: To understand Transhumanism is to understand the almost unwritten motivation of so much of the tech billionaires. Recently renamed techno-optimism, longtermism and even effective altruism, it crops up so much. Where better to listen to a critical view of it than on tech won’t save us?


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