Advocacy

UpScrolled, a social networking platform that gained popularity after TikTok's ownership change in the U.S., is facing significant challenges with content moderation. With over 2.5 million users in January and more than 4 million downloads by June 2025, the platform is struggling to control hate speech and racial slurs that have proliferated in usernames, hashtags, and content. Reports from users and investigations by TechCrunch revealed that slurs and hate speech, including antisemitic content, were rampant, with offending accounts remaining active even after being reported. UpScrolled’s attempts to address the issue include expanding its moderation team and upgrading technology, but the effectiveness of these measures remains uncertain. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has also noted the rise of extremist content on the platform, highlighting a broader concern about the implications of rapid user growth on social media platforms' ability to enforce community standards. The situation raises critical questions about the challenges faced by social networks in managing harmful content, particularly during periods of rapid expansion, as seen with UpScrolled and other platforms like Bluesky. This scenario underscores the need for effective moderation strategies and the inherent risks associated with AI systems in social media that can inadvertently allow harmful behaviors to flourish.

In a troubling incident, Google provided U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with extensive personal data about Amandla Thomas-Johnson, a British student and journalist. This data transfer occurred in response to an administrative subpoena that lacked judicial approval. The information handed over included usernames, physical addresses, IP addresses, and financial details associated with Thomas-Johnson's Google account. The subpoena, part of a broader trend where federal agencies target individuals critical of government policies, raises serious concerns about privacy violations and the misuse of administrative subpoenas which allow government entities to request personal data without judicial oversight. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has called for tech companies, including Google, to resist such subpoenas and protect user privacy. Thomas-Johnson's experience highlights the risks faced by individuals whose online activities may attract government scrutiny, underscoring the potential for surveillance and repression in the digital age. This incident exemplifies how the intersection of government power and corporate data practices can compromise individual freedoms, particularly for those involved in activism or dissent.

India's recent amendments to its IT Rules require social media platforms to enhance their policing of deepfakes and other AI-generated impersonations. These changes impose stringent compliance deadlines, demanding that platforms act on takedown requests within three hours and respond to urgent user complaints within two hours. The new regulations aim to provide a formal framework for managing synthetic content, mandating labeling and traceability of such materials. The implications are significant, particularly for major tech companies like Meta and YouTube, which must adapt quickly to these new requirements in one of the world's largest internet markets. While the intent is to combat harmful content—like deceptive impersonations and non-consensual imagery—the reliance on automated systems raises concerns about censorship and the erosion of free speech, as platforms may resort to over-removal due to compressed timelines. Stakeholders, including digital rights groups, warn that these rules could undermine due process and leave little room for human oversight in content moderation. This situation highlights the challenge of balancing regulation with the protection of individual freedoms in the digital landscape, emphasizing the non-neutral nature of AI in societal implications.

New York state lawmakers have introduced a bill to impose a three-year moratorium on new data centers, citing concerns over their impact on local communities and electricity costs. The bill reflects growing bipartisan apprehension about the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure driven by tech companies, which could lead to increased energy bills for residents. Notable critics, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, have voiced their concerns about the detrimental effects of data centers on both the environment and youth. Over 230 environmental organizations have also signed an open letter advocating for a national moratorium. Proponents of the bill, including state Senator Liz Krueger and assemblymember Anna Kelles, argue that New York is underprepared for the influx of massive data centers and need time to develop appropriate regulations. The situation highlights the broader implications of AI deployment, particularly regarding economic and environmental sustainability, as local governments grapple with the balance between technological advancement and community welfare.

The burgeoning demand for data centers in the United States is significantly driving the growth of gas-fired power projects, as highlighted by recent research from Global Energy Monitor. Over the past two years, the number of gas projects linked to data centers has surged nearly 25 times, indicating a dramatic increase in energy consumption. This rise in demand is associated with the energy needs of data centers, which is now equivalent to the energy consumption of tens of millions of U.S. households. As data centers continue to proliferate, the implications for environmental sustainability and energy policy become increasingly concerning, as reliance on natural gas could hinder efforts towards cleaner energy solutions and exacerbate greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, this trend raises questions about long-term energy strategies and the potential environmental impacts of increased gas production and consumption. The shift towards gas-powered energy sources for these facilities highlights the interconnectedness of technology deployment and energy consumption, prompting a reevaluation of how society prioritizes energy sources in the age of AI and big data.