“A kick in the teeth” - 13% pay rise for the VC while jobs are on the line is inexcusable. Thank you to every student, staff member, and community ally who stood in solidarity with @bangorucu.bsky.social yesterday. We will keep fighting. ✊

Indeed. The uni will be viewed as one in 'managed decline'. Or perhaps 'mismanaged decline'.

University and College Union (UCU)@ucu.org.uk · last yr.

“Mass redundancies will trash the global reputation of UK universities” As @nickmegoran.bsky.social of writes, cuts aren’t just short-sighted they’re self-destructive. ✊ Join UCU and Fight back. www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/mass...

“Universities are in crisis and this inquiry couldn’t come soon enough.” @drjogrady.bsky.social After sustained pressure from UCU, The Education Committee has launched an inquiry into university finances. We’ll be submitting evidence. Full statement here: www.ucu.org.uk/article/1405...

Bangor university gives its vice chancellor a 13% pay rise then cuts dozens of jobs. Handing out massive pay rises while frontline staff face the sack is indefensible. @bangorucu.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Bangor university boss gets pay rise while staff jobs cut

A trade union says vice chancellor's pay rise could have saved multiple university staff jobs.

bbc.co.uk

Have a look at our new journal article in AI & Society - Move fast and break people? Ethics, companion apps, and the case of Character.ai. lnkd.in/ebhNBqNX We identify unresolved ethical issues in companion-based AI tech.

Also flagging the relevance of our edited book on tackling disinformation: www.routledge.com/Routledge-Ha...

Routledge Handbook of the Influence Industry

This Handbook provides the first comprehensive examination of the influence industry and how it operates worldwide across different domains. The rapid evolution of emerging technologies and data-drive...

routledge.com

Vian Bakir@vianbakir.bsky.social · last yr.

Just flagging the relevance of our open access book to the q. of how to address misinformation, disinformation and deepfakes link.springer.com/book/10.1007...

Just flagging the relevance of our open access book to the q. of how to address misinformation, disinformation and deepfakes link.springer.com/book/10.1007...

Optimising Emotions, Incubating Falsehoods

This book finds that the optimisation of emotions for commercial and political gain is a primary cause of false information online. This is an open access book.

link.springer.com

Vian Bakir@vianbakir.bsky.social · last yr.

Pleased to have delivered a Keynote 'Confronting the Threat: emerging trends & issues in the spread of misinformation & deepfakes’' to Westminster Media Forum conference on Priorities for Tackling Disinformation and Deepfakes in UK. 93 policymakers, regulators, third sector & tech industry present.

Pleased to have delivered a Keynote 'Confronting the Threat: emerging trends & issues in the spread of misinformation & deepfakes’' to Westminster Media Forum conference on Priorities for Tackling Disinformation and Deepfakes in UK. 93 policymakers, regulators, third sector & tech industry present.

Would you be in a relationship with an AI? 1/3 Brits have used an AI 'Companion', data from a survey by Andrew McStay & @vianbakir.bsky.social suggests. I wrote about it here, and asked @aishasobey.bsky.social why men are more likely to use AI companions than women... medium.com/p/a-third-of...

A third of Brits have tried an AI ‘companion’, survey data suggests

36 per cent of people in the UK have used an AI companion and a further 23 per cent are interested in trying one, suggests data released in…

medium.com

Watch highlights from the Westminster Hall debate on the 'Impact of university finances on jobs in Higher Education' 👇 It's clear that we need urgent action to #FundHENow youtu.be/LTBBp6IG0xU?...

Highlights from Westminster Hall debate, 'Impact of university finances on jobs in higher education'

YouTube video by UCU - University and College Union

youtu.be

‘We’re here today because the crisis in higher education is a crisis caused by government policy and the solution has to come from government’ @vthuppil.bsky.social from @bangoruniversity.bsky.social advocating for change at the UCU #StoptheCuts rally

🚨 BREAKING 🚨 🔴 Henry VIII powers in the Data Bill could threaten electoral integrity. 🔴 ORG's joint letter, signed by civil society groups and academics, warns that a government could change how Political Parties use the public’s data WITHOUT passing a new law. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Data protection bill leaves room for governmental abuse, campaigners warn

Ministerial revision of privacy rules could allow targeting of voters with political messaging, rights groups fear

theguardian.com

My first post after approx 1 year of social media digital detox (well worth it, my friends!)... I lead with a plug (no pun intended). Having read that the field of mis/disinformation lacks grounding in propaganda theory, I remind the world of this little piece: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

journals.sagepub.com