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gigastacey

@gigastacey.bsky.social
3.7K followers 953 following 1.5K posts

Recovering tech journalist and IoT expert who now works on cybersecurity, IoT, and right to repair for Consumer Reports.

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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I've been working on this report for the most of the summer. It has been depressing to see how many Americans are encountering scams in all walks of life and how little power consumers have to fix the situation.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I need the Minions version of Can Can on a digital button that I can press whenever I feel sad.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
The baby rabbit is horrible but most of us would be fired in a heartbeat if we threatened to tase a coworker. Police departments are so corrupt.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Kind of an awesome gift idea for your PNW friends.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
We apparently all need to watch Black Mirror again.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I can't help seeing the latest Apple news and thinking about today's FTC decision to rescind its policy statement telling health apps and devices that handle sensitive health data (but aren't covered by HIPAA) that they need to disclose any breach of that data.
ftc.gov
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TWiT Tech Podcasts @twit.tv · 07/09/2026
New Podcast Episode: This Week in Tech: Yoloville Data Centers, Climate Change, and the True Cost of "Innovation" with @leolaporte.me, @gigastacey.bsky.social, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, Owen JJ Stone
twit.tv
This Week in Tech: Yoloville | TWiT.TV
When politicians, parents, and platforms collide, who protects kids from tech’s dark side? Dive into real stories of digital parenting, policy-making headaches, and the
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
I am so delighted I dumped my Echo. Instead of spending ad dollars on advertising a new book, a publisher just sends an update to Alexa. And you get nudged to buy it while puttering around your home. techcrunch.com/2026/09/01/a...
techcrunch.com
Amazon Alexa can now alert you when something new might tempt you to shop | TechCrunch
Amazon is adding a new Alexa-powered feature called “Update Me When” that can send personalized alerts about product launches, tours, books, shows, and other events that could trigger a purchase.
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T. Greg Doucette @gregdoucette.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Whytf would you connect your freezer to the internet?? signalandsilence.substack.com/p/i-think-so...
signalandsilence.substack.com
I Think the Military Commissary Freezers Were Hacked
The frozen pizza aisle has become the national security risk du jour
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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
This did not work out well.
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Consumer Reports @consumerreports.org · 27/08/2026
"Consumers deserve a marketplace where prices are based on competition — not on how much companies know about their personal information and buying habits." Phil Radford, president and CEO of Consumer Reports, breaks down surveillance pricing and why CR supports #AB2564 in San Francisco Chronicle:
sfchronicle.com
How companies are using AI ‘personalization’ to rip you off
OPINION: Companies are using your personal data, including your income, your location and your search history, to determine what price to charge you, Phil Radford writes.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Migraines are crushing because after taking an $800 pill, I'm able to lay quietly in the dark on a bed as opposed to vomiting for hours and laying on the floor of a bathroom. It's an improvement, but I feel like $800 would buy me more.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
After reading the stories of people who are scammed, it seems like your best chance for recovery and help is getting scammed during business hours.
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David Meyer @superglaze.eurosky.social · 26/08/2026
Worryingly, this shift is impacting visibility - companies are finding it more difficult to be sure they were attacked, because of the style of attack. Ransomware sucks, but at least you know when you’ve been hit.
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David Meyer @superglaze.eurosky.social · 26/08/2026
Very interesting research shows German businesses are increasingly being targeted by state intelligence-linked cyberattacks - and no surprise, Russia and China loom large www.bankinfosecurity.com/german-indus...
bankinfosecurity.com
German Industry Reports Escalating Nation-State Cyberattacks
German businesses are increasingly under attack from hackers with links to foreign intelligence services, according to a major new study from digital industry
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
In addition to wildfires, look what else climate change has wrought...
A photo of four differently colored iced beverages in Sonic cups with the headline below reading "Sonic launches "hotumn" drinks blending fall flavors with ice cold beverages."
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Karl Bode @karlbode.com · 25/08/2026
Basically Musk hijacked billions of taxpayer dollars that was supposed to go to affordable fiber optic broadband, and instead gave it to himself for slower, more congested satellite broadband he had ALREADY PLANNED TO DEPLOY anyway My June piece in The Verge, if you missed it:
theverge.com
Elon Musk and the plot to hijack America’s broadband
“We’re fed up … The BEAD program has failed us.”
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Y'all I loved these spy novels! And an endorsement from SA Crosby is not too shabby either! Blacktop Wasteland was a stellar heist book.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Last year's shirt!
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
New library summer reading T-shirt dropped! I'm not sure if it's better than last year's slogan; "Reading is shrimply awesome" , but "I need space to read" is certainly accurate. If you're in Kitsap and have read 100 hours this summer, the T-shirt could be yours.
A purple t-shirt with a cute anime style rabbit wearing a rabbit-shaped space helmet and moon boots sitting on a crescent moon reading a book. The moon has a ring around it like Saturn does and there are light purple stars. The shirt says I need space to read.
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Michael Whelan @michaelwhelan.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Admin 🧵 Chatbots and AI are not human and shouldn't be given human names or job titles, but the practice is widespread and 💯 deceptive. When I ask if the "support staff" I'm working with on copyright is human, "Daniel" doesn't answer a direct question because it is programmed to deceive users. 1/3
ORIGINAL EMAIL: 
Right of Publicity violations in AI generated images on Deviantart.com
I have a long list of AI generated images on your website that are violating the Right of Publicity for artist Michael Whelan, and I need to know how to report this to you since it doesn't fall under the usual DMCA reporting.

These images are described as "in the style of Michael Whelan" so there's a deliberate abuse happening here. For context, Michael's art was scraped and used to train AI without his permission and in violation of his intellectual property rights. He was interviewed for a New York Times feature story about it a few years ago.

I would appreciate your assistance navigating this issue. I am a legal representative of Michael Whelan's intellectual property rights.

DEVIANTART RESPONSE:

Hello,

If you believe that material posted to DeviantArt by one or more members infringing upon one or more copyrights owned by your client then a notice of copyright infringement should be filed with DeviantArt so that a review can be preformed and any appropriate and necessary actions can be taken.


Daniel :: Copyright & Etiquette Administration Project Manager :: Community OperationsME: There are 332 posts to report that violate Michael’s Right of Publicity—most are from the same account Polokoki—so it’s not practical to hit the button on each page to submit. Is there an easier way to make a mass submission on a CSV file? Or can I report the account?

DA: Notices of copyright infringement are allowed to contain lists of reasonable length. Separate and individual reporting is not necessary.


Daniel :: Copyright & Etiquette Administration Project Manager :: Community Operations

ME: Attached is a CSV that contains links to the 332 posts.

DA: Please include your list in a DMCA compliant notice of copyright infringement. If you need instructions on how to format such a notice please let us know and instructions will be provided.ME: (DMCA compliant language)

I am writing to notify you that use of “in the style of Michael Whelan” (and similar attributions including the artist’s name) to advertise AI generated images by users on your website is a violation of the artist’s “Right of Publicity”. You’ll find Michael’s statement on use of his name in prompts in the FAQ on our website: https://www.michaelwhelan.com/faq/#digital-art

URLs for the 332 pages that we catalogued on Deviantart.com that violate his right of publicity are included in the attached CSV file. Please remove all associated content. 

I’m an authorized representative of the artist and declare under the penalty of perjury that statements made here are true.

DA: Please be aware that right of publicity does not apply to art styles. The right of publicity protects a specific person's name, image, and likeness from unauthorized commercial use, but it does not extend to abstract concepts like an artist's technique or visual style.

If you believe that material posted to DeviantArt by one or more members is infringing upon one or more copyrights owned by your client then a DMCA compliant notice of copyright infringement should be filed with DeviantArt so that a review can be performed and any appropriate and necessary actions can be taken.DA: Please be aware that right of publicity does not apply to art styles. The right of publicity protects a specific person's name, image, and likeness from unauthorized commercial use, but it does not extend to abstract concepts like an artist's technique or visual style.

If you believe that material posted to DeviantArt by one or more members is infringing upon one or more copyrights owned by your client then a DMCA compliant notice of copyright infringement should be filed with DeviantArt so that a review can be performed and any appropriate and necessary actions can be taken.

ME: Daniel,

Are you a human being or an AI agent?

*Crickets for 1 week with no answer*
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Michael Weinberg @michaelweinberg.org · 24/08/2026
The new round of "Unlock 3D printers so you can use third party materials to print without violating copyright law" US Copyright Office petitions starts today: michaelweinberg.org/blog/2026/08... #Hashtag1201
michaelweinberg.org
Keep 3D Printers Unlocked (2026)
I put things here so they are on the internet
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Annalee Newitz @annaleen.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Kirkus calls it "very strange and strangely satisfying." Publishers Weekly says it is "as bizarre as it is meticulous." They're talking about my new novel, A WALL IS ALSO A ROAD. It's coming 10/6/26. Pre-order it: us.macmillan.com/books/978125... Plus: a teaser trailer! youtu.be/gHLnJQuyQQo?...
youtu.be
Teaser: "A Wall Is Also a Road," by Annalee Newitz, from Tor Books
YouTube video by Annalee Newitz
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TWiT Tech Podcasts @twit.tv · 22/08/2026
New Podcast Episode: TWiT+ Club Shows: Stacey's Book Club #23: Slow Gods Tech, Morality, and the Trolley Problem in Space with @mikahsargent.com, @gigastacey.bsky.social, @ozoneartfoundry.com This episode is exclusive to Club TWiT. Join at twit.tv/clubtwit
twit.tv
TWiT+ Club Shows: Stacey's Book Club #23: Slow Gods | TWiT.TV
Join Stacey Higginbotham, Mikah Sargent, Joe Esposito, and Club TWiT members as they explore Claire North’s 'Slow Gods' in an insightful, wide-ranging book club discussion
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Glenn Fleishman @glennf.com · 22/08/2026
I propose an extension of the term *enshittification*, coined by @doctorow.pluralistic.net, to cover features added to products we don’t want: *crapabilities*.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Hit me with your ideas for scary sci-fi novels. October is coming and it would be nice to have some sci-fi books that have a bit of a horror bent. Ghosts on spaceships? Creepy planets? I'm a huge fan of body horror and I feel like robots or biohacking could provide some fodder.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
This is happening in 40 minutes! Let's talk about books!!!!
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
As a country we are going to have to spend so much money fixing the crimes of the current administration. To help pay for it, we should garnish all the money that Trump and fam have made through blatant corruption. This does assume we elect folks who want to hold the current admin accountable.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
ewww
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Jen Taub @jentaub.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
“A single-payer universal health care system could cover every American, save more than 100,000 lives a year, and still cost $1 trillion less than the system it would replace, according to a new preprint study led by researchers at the Yale School of Public Health.” ysph.yale.edu/news-article...
ysph.yale.edu
Universal Health Coverage Could Save $1 Trillion and 114,000 Lives Every Year, Yale Study Projects
A single-payer universal health care system could cover every American, save more than 100,000 lives a year, and still cost $1 trillion less than the system it
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Hey @twit.tv peeps. This Friday is the sci-fi book club meeting at 2 pm PT. We're reading Slow Gods by Claire North, and I cannot wait to talk to everyone about it. There was nothing cozy about this one.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Reminds me of the library in Service Model by @aptshadow.bsky.social It's a hilarious and trenchant book.
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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 14/08/2026
Today on Volts: public EV charging isn't as fraught an experience as it was just a few years ago, but it's still not great. A new company - a collab among 8 major automakers - seeks to change that, with reliable, fast chargers accompanied by amenities. I talk with the CEO.
volts.wtf
Can public EV chargers be as reliable as gas stations?
A conversation with Seth Cutler of IONNA.
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pranama.bsky.social @pranama.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
@gigastacey.bsky.social
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
EV charging for long trips is predatory and frustrating. There should be a pre-disclosed fee based on kilowatt hours. Tap to pay. There should be no need for an app, subscriptions, or weird fees. And we need laws so companies can charge per kWh without becoming providers if that's the issue.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
for a junk drawer to legally qualify as a real junk drawer, what is the ONE absolute mandatory item it must include? Two or more types of tape. One should be painters or masking tape.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
I have not been a fan of Uber, especially after its hardcore tactics to sway elections, but I did use it in a pinch. After reading how they are defending themselves against sexual assault allegations, I will never use it again. And I encourage everyone to delete Uber. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/b...
nytimes.com
Uber’s Strategy for Fighting Sexual Assault Suits: ‘What Were You Wearing?’
The ride-hailing giant promised to handle legal claims “in a way that is best for the survivor.” Its lawyers are pursuing a far more aggressive strategy.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Hello my Seattle-area friends! I will be at City Hall for a rally in favor of Seattle's plan to ban surveillance pricing in grocery stores if anyone wants to sign up and/or come by. The rally is Friday at 8:45 at the lobby in City Hall. action.consumerreports.org/20260807rsvp...
action.consumerreports.org
Support a Seattle Surveillance Pricing Ban!
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Y'all! Weber is cutting the software tether associated with my beloved June oven on Sept. 22. After this point the oven will no longer have a backend server connection, so I will lose app functionality and will no longer get updates to the cooking programs. But Weber is handling this well.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
I unlocked a new level on my dog! I hope she likes it as much as we do.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
This is amazing research and real journalism.
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Adam Bonica @adambonica.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
I cross-referenced my database of candidates against credible voter fraud cases. GOP politicians are implicated at 50x–38,000x the general public's rate. Yet even if every American voted with the integrity of a GOP candidate, it still wouldn't come close to justifying making voting one iota harder.
Bar chart titled "Voter fraud among Republican politicians vastly exceeds the public's. That rate is still just 1 in 850." The chart shows that 0.118% of Republican politicians (17 out of 14,442 DIME candidates from 2016–2026) have been credibly implicated in voter fraud. This rate is represented by a tall red bar that dwarfs the microscopic rates for the general electorate, making the politicians' rate 50x to 38,000x higher than the documented rates for everyone else.
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paris martineau @paris.nyc · 18/07/2026
Given the lack of details provided by Taylor Farms thus far, Consumer Reports' food safety experts are advising folks in the 27 states implicated by the recall to discard ALL iceberg lettuce until we know more about where the parasite-linked products ended up www.consumerreports.org/health/food-...
A map of the 27 states impacted by the recall: AL, AR, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WI.
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J. Nathan Matias @natematias.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
“women in social science have long practiced and promoted principles now hailed as innovative, although their contributions are often left out of mainstream narratives”
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public health guy @publichealthguy1.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
matthew always brings the receipts
• A law called the "Food Traceability Rule," designed to make tracing contaminated food easier, was supposed to go into effect on January 20, 2026.
• Taylor Foods started paying Sidley Austin to lobby. on "regulation of food safety" in January of 2025.
• On March 20, 2025, FDA announced they were pushing back the implementation of the "Food Traceability Rule" by 30 months.
• On March 26, 2025, Taylor Fresh Foods Inc contributed $1,000,000 to MAGA Inc, a Trump-aligned super PAC.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
I knew they were misogynistic a-holes, but I had no idea of their actual crimes. The New Yorker article opened my eyes. It was also something that I wish I could unlearn. I know men like that are terrible, I didn't want to be hyper focused on how terrible. It was great journalism.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Useful and also enraging thread about how Taylor Farms is doing the bare minimum on its lettuce recall. Being cagey about your parasite-infected lettuce should have consequences.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Stop scrolling and post two characters who bring you happiness.
Aubrey Plaza as April Lydgate sitting on the edge of a fountain and hugging Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope from Parks and Rec.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
I accidentally taught my dog that the touch command means she finds my open palm and licks it instead of booping it with her nose. I now need to teach a new "boop"command because licking is not optimal.
A mini Aussie with white and Merle coloring walking toward the camera. She has blue eyes, an open mouth and looks interested. There is a ball in the foreground.
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gigastacey @gigastacey.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
If you'd like some escapist reading this week, I enjoyed Fonda Lee's Last Contract of Isako about a menopausal samurai /corporate baddie solving a mystery on a corporate-controlled ice planet. The corporate dystopia did not offer an escape nor did her accurate complaints about achy knees.
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