Sign in

Serge Egelman

@v0max.bsky.social
1.9K followers 923 following 1.1K posts

Scientist. Dir. of Usable Security & Privacy at the International Computer Science Institute (icsi.berkeley.edu). Founder, AppCensus (appcensus.io). All opinions are those of his employer(s), and not his own. www.guanotronic.com/~serge

PostsRepliesMedia
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 14h
It’s pretty weird how many resources the “party of life” regularly expends to try and kill people, right?
061
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
AI all the way down…
110
Reposted by Serge Egelman
Cyrus Farivar @cfarivar.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Grand / MacArthur, Oakland
1155
Reposted by Serge Egelman
Carolyn E Holmes @carolyneholmes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Seems like some of you are just now learning that TItle IX offices are on survivors' side in the same way that your HR rep is on your side in an employment dispute.
112321
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Just wait until they finally post the rest of the trial exhibits!
040
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
It’s probably a good reminder that Robert Morris was convicted of a felony under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act for authoring a worm that broke into other systems.
0148
Reposted by Serge Egelman
Ken Schwencke @schwanksta.com · 26/09/2026
Do you or someone you know use DraftKings or FanDuel? You can help @propublica.org continue to report on these apps by sharing your data with us. In some states, you can request it. But we also built a browser extension to help download your own data! projects.propublica.org/sports-betti...
projects.propublica.org
Help ProPublica Report on Sports Betting by Sending Us Your App Data
If you’ve bet on sports with FanDuel or DraftKings, you can help ProPublica understand how these apps respond to their users’ betting behavior. Use our browser extension to download your betting histo...
517187
Reposted by Serge Egelman
Katie Martin @katie0martin.ft.com · 25/09/2026
I have blamed The agents That hacked Your website And which You probably Reasonably thought I controlled Forgive me I am rich And unaccustomed To taking responsibility
5776142098
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
WE WON!! apnews.com/article/face... So Meta is apparently liable for between $43M and $220B...
apnews.com
New Mexico jury finds Facebook liable for deceiving users about privacy protections
A New Mexico jury has found Facebook liable of deceiving users about privacy protections on the social media platform.
22513
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Jury apparently has a verdict in NM!
000
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Most ad blockers don’t actually block the Meta Pixel or Google Analytics, and they certainly don’t block server-to-server transmissions (e.g., Meta’s Conversions API). Rather than blaming the victim for not using tools that won’t help them, the AP should blame the real culprit, lack of enforcement.
1102
Reposted by Serge Egelman
Electronic Frontier Foundation @eff.org · 24/09/2026
Online sports betting company DraftKings is using AI to target losing gamblers. This is yet another example of how online behavioral advertising hurts real people.
eff.org
DraftKings Is Using AI to Supercharge the Harms of Online Behavioral Advertising
Online sports betting company DraftKings is using AI to target customers who are most likely to place losing bets and respond to gambling promotions. This kind of targeting is a form of online behavio...
311755
Reposted by Serge Egelman
Jeffrey Vagle @jvagle.me · 24/09/2026
I propose a moratorium on news stories describing AI* tools as “going rogue” as if they have intent and moral agency. Instead, let’s describe the events in terms of the companies’ negligence.
04815
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
100% this! That said, the BBC put out an excellent documentary on all of this (including the rise of the neocons), “The Power of Nightmares”: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pow...
en.wikipedia.org
The Power of Nightmares - Wikipedia
033
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Really hope there’s a plan to get it back…
010
Reposted by Serge Egelman
Matt Burgess (WIRED) @mattburgess1.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
SF City Attorney's office says Meta's response is "astonishing"
Statement from SF City Attorney's Office: 

“We find Meta’s response astonishing. Meta appears less concerned about whether they’re guilty of exploiting children than whether San Francisco should say anything about it. Meta has bigger problems to solve here than determining our jurisdiction.


"To be clear, San Francisco consumers can access the unlawful ads through Meta online spaces. In that way, Meta is serving California consumers, including San Franciscans, with advertisements that contain unlawful, sexually explicit material.
 

"The San Francisco City Attorney is empowered under state law to act in the name of the People of the State of California to address unfair, unlawful, and fraudulent business practices across the State. Our letter to Meta simply asks that the company stop violating the law.”
12471194
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
“Nearly a decade after the Cambridge Analytica scandal, New Mexico alone is taking Facebook to trial” …and I am here for it! (Literally) apnews.com/article/face...
apnews.com
021
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
“While walking across a university parking lot, I found myself stepping out of the way of electric scooters and e-bikes multiple times. In a matter of minutes, I nearly collided with riders on three separate occasions.” Maybe pay attention and try not walking in the bike lane?
000
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
So, I have thoughts on these services. We did a study last year where we surveyed people found on data broker lists. IRB originally wanted us to offer participants a subscription to a removal service, like DeleteMe… 1/
110
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Jeff Bridges goes bowling.
000
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
It would be hilarious if they did this while citing the fact that the US government used Comey's Instagram post of sea shells as evidence of a violent threat.
227531
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
…but not New Mexico, where I’m off to in a week to testify in their case against Meta stemming from Cambridge Analytica! The trial kicks off Sept. 8th.
0156
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Make a band bigger: Gigadeth
030
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
The brewing closet is finally complete! I just set up an old Raspberry Pi to stream stats from my Tilt hydrometers to a tiny OLED display. Next step: setting up Grafana to make a cool dashboard.
Closet filled with brewing equipment. There’s a tiny computer with tiny display zip tied to a shelf.Closeup of Raspberry Pi and tiny OLED showing temperature and gravity readings.
020
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Honestly, the craziest thing about this is that they expected people to read all that text.
6331
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
“Next time you’re in R’lyeh, be sure to order the burrito!”
130
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
This is pretty similar to how adtech companies argue in court that they only track devices and not individuals.
032
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Well it’s not wrong… Impressed that it even made it overly verbose, definitely got my card!
Spotted a new "privacy-first" browser that requires you to paste your entire soul into a text box to enable "secure mode." It's the 2026 equivalent of locking the front door while leaving the windows wide open for the data brokers. At least the adtech folks can finally stop pretending that a hash is…
120
Reposted by Serge Egelman
Sheera Frenkel @sheeraf.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Journalism Job Alert: there are three jobs open on the NYT tech team in San Francisco. We are hiring for reporters to cover Anthropic, xAI, and a general AI business reporter. Message me if these interest you and you want to apply! job-boards.greenhouse.io/thenewyorkti...
job-boards.greenhouse.io
Business Correspondent, Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies
San Francisco, CA
02524
Reposted by Serge Egelman
Dhruv Mehrotra @dmehro.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
NEW: I spent months trying to understand why a cop who spoke out against Flock faced five internal affairs investigations and was pushed out of his job—only to find himself at the center of an unlikely political fight uniting parts of the American right and left. www.wired.com/story/the-co...
wired.com
The Cop Who Took On Flock
After Noel Pichardo called out his city's embrace of Flock surveillance cameras, he was subjected to five internal affairs investigations in less than two years.
6408123
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
This is very prescient given that major tech companies—that know better—are actively telling courts that device identifiers and hashed email addresses are anonymous data in order to avoid accountability under various privacy laws. See, e.g., yjolt.org/sites/defaul...
yjolt.org
041
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
There’s a good Bukowski* quote that I often think of: “The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.” *It’s apparently paraphrasing a similar Bertrand Russell quote.
121
Reposted by Serge Egelman
Norman @noaasm.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
The Germany’s Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information is pleading for cookie banners to be replaced with a new solution allowing internet users to set their preferences once in one place and then have all websites adapt accordingly www.euractiv.com/news/german-...
euractiv.com
German privacy watchdog urges EU to scrap cookie banners | Euractiv
EU capitals have opposed the Commission’s proposal to scrap the much-maligned mechanism
1103
Reposted by Serge Egelman
Joseph Jerome @joejerome.com · 21/07/2026
Hey! @v0max.bsky.social repping Meta at #PETS2026!
021
Reposted by Serge Egelman
Revan @revan.eurosky.social · 20/07/2026
“The stadium roars. Shakira's hips defy the indifferent void, a hypnotic pendulum against chaos. Confetti falls like ash from a dying star. I think of the jaguar, watching from the jungle, uncomprehending, and I envy it. This is ecstasy. This is despair. This is halftime.”
8521100
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Chaser:
Senator Mike Gabbard and Carol Gabbard released this statement:

"Our oldest son Bhakti has had mental issues in the past but has been doing well for the last 10 years. Several days ago, he started acting erratically, as a result of smoking pot. His wife kicked him out of the house, so he’s been sleeping on the streets. He gave away his car to a homeless person; lost his ID and phone and has no money. He’s renamed himself, Batarti, and also Jim Morrison Jr., as he’s having delusions of being a rock star.

"This afternoon, a family member took him to Queen’s Hospital ER to have a psychological evaluation. Bhakti told the doctor they would find cocaine, ice and pot in his blood tests. And this evening, he was admitted for a 72-hour hold at Queen's, while they continue to monitor him and decide next steps."

Mike and Carol's children also includes Tulsi Gabbard, who served as the director of national intelligence for the Trump administration.
140
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
My man looks like a community theater Lex Luther.
020
Reposted by Serge Egelman
Emily (spooky) @emilyrose.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
It’s worth noting that Taco Bell identified the source before the FDA did, and promptly pulled it from their stores. The FDA didn’t even name the source until Taylor Farms outed themselves, and hasn’t issued a recall. Basically, Taco Bell is now a more reliable authority than the FDA.
10186977368
Reposted by Serge Egelman
Ben Allen @evodynamics.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Congrats we just made it impossible to come here for a PhD www.bostonglobe.com/2026/07/16/m...
bostonglobe.com
Trump administration limits student visas to four years, changing longstanding policy - The Boston Globe
The new rule, which also restricts the international students’ ability to transfer schools or change majors without approval in their first year, will go into effect in mid-September.
12939561522
Reposted by Serge Egelman
Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
I'm never going to get over the fact that the president of the United States paid a woman more than $5 million after a jury found him liable for raping her. And he's still president. And people still support him. Never. Get. Over. It.
478174354912
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Sam Pool-Triangle
000
Reposted by Serge Egelman
jenna ruddock @ruddock.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
if acquiring data like home addresses, birth dates, and the political affiliation of millions of U.S. voters is an urgent national security risk, boy do I have some bad news about data brokers
08423
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
I just noticed that the IAB OpenRTB spec categorizes "astrology" under "science." www.iab.com/wp-content/u... I guess that's fitting from an organization that has its own unique definitions for terms like "consent" and "choice"...
IAB15 Science
IAB15-1 Astrology
IAB15-2 Biology
IAB15-3 Chemistry
IAB15-4 Geology
IAB15-5 Paranormal Phenomena
IAB15-6 Physics
IAB15-7 Space/Astronomy
IAB15-8 Geography
IAB15-9 Botany
IAB15-10 Weather
001
Reposted by Serge Egelman
Dallas Card @dallascard.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Text as Data has been a wonderful, long-running, non-archival workshop for empirical research at the intersection of AI and social science (especially work involving text). After a few years off, it will be happening again this year as a one-day event in early October!
2268
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
A River Runs Through It
020
Reposted by Serge Egelman
California Privacy Protection Agency @calprivacy.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
CA college students: CalPrivacy is hiring a paid Outreach Intern! Support outreach campaigns & help connect with communities across California. Apply by July 24: secure10.saashr.com/ta/6158859.c...
024
Reposted by Serge Egelman
Jess Piper @piperformissouri.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Maybe they should just practice locking the door and turning off the lights and remaining silent while hiding under their desks…or is that just appropriate for kindergartners? 
19045721290
Serge Egelman @v0max.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Le jour de gloire est arrivé!
100
Reposted by Serge Egelman
Pat Walshe - Privacy Matters 🇮🇪🇬🇧🇪🇺 @privacymatters.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
🤣🇳🇴🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Photo of a dead fir tree in a Green field.. with the text “This year's Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree gift has just been selected by the people of Norway”
071