iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Paper Skygest Team @paper-feed.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

**Please repost** If you're enjoying Paper Skygest -- our personalized feed of academic content on Bluesky -- we'd appreciate you reposting this! We’ve found that the most effective way for us to reach new users and communities is through users sharing it with their network

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Mai Van Tran @vmtran.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

“Further support for the Min Aung Hlaing-led administration is unlikely to benefit these Asean states and might even facilitate humanitarian consequences that go against these countries’ values.” www.scmp.com/week-asia/po... Appreciate the opportunity to contribute!

scmp.com

UN atrocity report adds friction to Myanmar junta’s push for legitimacy

The report says abuses escalated around the time Myanmar was conducting junta-led elections that saw Min Aung Hlaing elected as president.

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Authoritarian Political Systems Group @apsgworkshop.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Are you an early career scholar? Do you want to be part of the next season of our workshop series and get feedback from experts in the field? Apply by May 31 here: forms.gle/5SSuuybK3739... For more information visit: apsg.work/seminar-rules/

forms.gle

Apply to Present Your Work!

Complete the form to be considered for the Authoritarian Political Systems Group Fall 2026 Season. Read the Seminar Rules before applying.

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Mai Van Tran @vmtran.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Looking forward to sharing some preliminary reflections on conducting digital authoritarianism research in Southeast Asia at #ISA2026! It's very nice to be back in Columbus after AAS 2025 😁

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Anita Gohdes @argohdes.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

If you are an advanced PhD student or PostDoc working on AI and global politics/tech/authoritarianism come spend 1-6 months in Berlin this year with @scripts-berlin.eu! We have some funding for you and will help w/ visa and other moving issues. Info here: www.scripts-berlin.eu/about-us/job...

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Marcus Bösch @boesch.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

Political protest slop has become the new “Shrimp Jesus”: first religion, now politics. In the vibocracy, emotions are exploited to make a living under capitalist realism. files.maldita.es/maldita/uplo...

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Hunter Marston @hmarston.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

Delighted to see my article on the #Myanmar military junta's foreign relations since the 2021 military coup is now available for download with Asian Politics & Policy. Massive thanks to @markscogan.bsky.social for the invitation to join this special issue: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

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Authoritarian Political Systems Group @apsgworkshop.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Our Call for Papers for the Spring 2026 is now open! Submit your proposal by November 9th using this link: forms.gle/SvZv98ke4QUT... For more information visit: apsg.work/cfp/

forms.gle

Apply to Present Your Work!

Complete the form to be considered for the Authoritarian Political Systems Group Spring 2026 Season. Read the Seminar Rules before applying.

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Mai Van Tran @vmtran.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Come be my colleague! I’ve just started at NIU but really enjoy being part of this supportive community. The Department of Philosophy and Center for Southeast Asian Studies invite applications for a joint tenure-track position in Buddhist Studies. employment.niu.edu/postings/86698

employment.niu.edu

Assistant Professor, Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Professor in Buddhist Studies

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Professor in Buddhist Studies will be an active researcher who teaches undergraduate and graduate courses for the Department of Philosophy and the Center for Sout...

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Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

After a sweeping social media ban, Nepal saw its bloodiest unrest in decades. What has happened in Nepal is a warning to other democracies to tread carefully with efforts to contain online expression, writes Samik Kharel.

bit.ly

Lessons from Nepal on the High Cost of Controlling Online Expression | TechPolicy.Press

The Nepalese government attempted to control the information ecosystem and lost control of the state itself, writes Samik Kharel.

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Mai Van Tran @vmtran.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

This resonates well beyond media & communication studies

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Myanmar Internet Project @myanmarip.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

TikTok in Myanmar isn’t just entertainment. It’s a frontline in the information war — exploited by the military & nationalists to spread propaganda, incite violence, and profit from harmful content. #Myanmar #TikTok #DigitalRights Full report: www.myanmarinternet.info/post/weaponi...

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Jed @jedediyah.com · 09/08/2025

Teaching Data Science? Frame the course in the context of data pipelines! This gives structure to the big picture, allows for a natural scaffolding, and supports a critical look at common pitfalls along the pipeline.

Data Modeling Process

Environment

→
Data
→
Preprocess
→
Explore
→
Model
→
Communicate
→

A framework for critical analysis
Data
• Harmful data collection, lack of consent, insecure / lack of privacy, historical, representational, or measurement bias, ...

Preprocess
• Labor exploitation, labeling by non-experts, incorrect labeling, trauma experienced by labelers, ...

Explore
• Feature selection bias, bias in interpretation of data visualization, data manipulation, feature hacking, ...

Model
• Bias in model choice, model-amplified bias, environmental impact, learning bias, evaluation bias, peripheral modeling, ...

Communicate
• Biased model interpretation, ignoring variance, rejecting model, deploying harmful products, deployment bias, ...

Meta
• "Pernicious feedback loops", runaway homogeneity, susceptability to adversarial attack, lack of oversight or auditing, ...

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Dr Shona Loong @shonaloong.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

8/ We hope this piece resonates and highlights ongoing efforts to shift knowledge politics in Myanmar, as part of longer struggles over centre-periphery relations. Read it here: 👉 teacirclemyanmar.com/education/pr... #Myanmar #WhatsHappeninginMyanmar

teacirclemyanmar.com

Producing knowledge in/of/for Myanmar’s borderlands - Tea Circle

The authors reflect on the politics of producing borderland knowledge in Myanmar after the coup.

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Mai Van Tran @vmtran.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

As part of a @techpolicypress.bsky.social series, I reflect on lessons in resisting Big Tech power from the Global South, based on comparative research of Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia. Your weekend read: www.techpolicy.press/lessons-from...

techpolicy.press

Lessons from Resisting Big Tech Power in Southeast Asia | TechPolicy.Press

It is more important than ever for Western donors to champion the inclusion of digital rights in their development aid agendas, writes Mai Van Tran.

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Mai Van Tran @vmtran.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

Grateful for the opportunity to share our research on Big Tech-mediated authoritarianism in Southeast Asia and connect with regional experts at the Indo-Pacific Roundtable 2025! www.brussels-school.be/output/news/...

brussels-school.be

CD2I Researcher Mai Van Tran contributes to discussion on Big Tech-mediated authoritarianism at the Indo-Pacific Roundtable 2025

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Mai Van Tran @vmtran.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

📣 New open-access publication As authoritarian actors have increasingly turned to Big Tech platforms to repress dissidents, pro-democracy activism has experienced notable changes. Our latest research examines an under-analysed yet important phenomenon of pro-democracy platform advocacy 🧵1/6

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Mai Van Tran @vmtran.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Now you can directly download our guides via our Telegram chatbot! Check it out: t.me/DigidefBot 🤳 I also shared more about what motivated this project here: www.brussels-school.be/output/news/...

t.me

digidef.info

This chatbot suggests solutions for digital harassment problems. Contact us: mai.van.tran@vub.be

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Mai Van Tran @vmtran.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

📣 DIGITAL DEFENCE RESOURCES As part of the EU-funded “Pro-democracy platform advocacy" project, our resources suggest solutions for specific harassment problems, based on our academic research. The resources are available in English, Burmese, Khmer and Thai. Check them out: www.digidef.info 1/2

digidef.info

DIGITAL DEFENCE RESOURCES

Explore solutions for digital harassment issues, based on academic research of Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia.

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Mai Van Tran @vmtran.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Join me next Wednesday (7 May), where I'll share my team's latest research on how major digital platforms’ negligence and incompetence in algorithmic content governance as well as their performative accountability might facilitate authoritarian repression. www.lse.ac.uk/seac/events/...

Join me next Wednesday (7 May) online or at LSE's Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre, where I'll share my team's latest research on how major digital platforms’ negligence and incompetence in algorithmic content governance as well as their performative accountability to vulnerable users in small markets might facilitate authoritarian repression.

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Authoritarian Political Systems Group @apsgworkshop.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

The Call for Papers for our Fall 2025 Workshop series is now OPEN! Polisky Dictatorsky To apply complete this form by May 31st: forms.gle/SvZv98ke4QUT... You can find more information here on the CfP: apsg.work/cfp/

forms.gle

Apply to Present Your Work!

Complete the form to be considered for the Authoritarian Political Systems Group Fall 2025 Season. Read the Seminar Rules before applying.

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Mai Van Tran @vmtran.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Want to specialise in EU digital policy? 💻📊 The Brussels School of Governance (VUB) offers a Data and Digitalisation track in its Advanced Master on European Governance (EuroMaster) – an evening programme for students and professionals. Explore AI, data governance and digital markets in the EU:

brussels-school.be

EuroMaster Specialisation Track: Data and Digitalisation

The Data and Digitalisation Specialisation Track offers students the opportunity to explore the EU governance of digital transformation, data protection, and platform regulation.

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Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) @knightgtown.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

🚨 NEW REPORT – Better Feeds: Algorithms That Put People First 🚨 As policymakers around the globe grapple with addressing concerns about algorithms, KGI’s new report offers guidance on improving the design of algorithmic systems that shape billions of users’ digital lives. bit.ly/3QzxVzq

bit.ly

Better Feeds: Algorithms That Put People First – Knight-Georgetown Institute

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Mai Van Tran @vmtran.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Join us on March 26 in this #DRAPACSeries at @engagemedia.org as we discuss the research on pro-democracy platform advocacy, exploring the extent to which such advocacy might affect Big Tech’s practices and curb platform-mediated repression in the Global South. engagemedia.org/events/drapa...

engagemedia.org

DRAPAC Series: Pro-democracy Platform Advocacy: Resisting Big Tech-mediated Authoritarianism in Southeast Asia – EngageMedia

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Mai Van Tran @vmtran.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Such eventful few days at #RightsCon where I got to present, (re)connect with and learn from global digital rights experts! 1/2

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Mai Van Tran @vmtran.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

Among other pressing issues re: tech-facilitated GBV, a panelist emphasized how access to entertainment should be considered a right! especially for people facing violence on a frequent basis #RightsCon2025

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Mai Van Tran @vmtran.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

Strong start to #RightsCon 2025 in Taipei: The panel on "Platform accountability in crisis?" raises concerns on growing collab between Big Tech & authoritarian leaders in many parts of the Global South & North and highlights the need to look into potential responses... 1/2

eff.org

DSA Human Rights Alliance

The DSA HR AllianceThe European Union’s regulations and policy-making decisions on technology and the internet have unique influence across the globe. But with great influence comes great responsibili...

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Mai Van Tran @vmtran.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Job post: EFEO Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025-2026 Research projects must focus on the humanities and social sciences, in connection with the civilizations of Indianized or Sinicized Asian countries. www.efeo.fr/base.php?cod...

efeo.fr

EFEO - Research services - EFEO postdoctoral contract 2025

TO BE CONFIRMED

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Nathalie Van Raemdonck @nathalievanraemdonck.com · 12/02/2025

Our paper on social norm affordances is out in Social Media + Society! @ikepicone.bsky.social @imuses.bsky.social & I analysed how the technological affordances of Instagram and Twitter shape the social norm dynamics of climate change publics. Proud of this one! journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

screenshot of the title of the paper: Affordances-in-Practice: How Social Norm Dynamics in Climate Change Publics Are Shaped on Instagram and Twitter

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Rebekah Tromble @rebekahtromble.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Are you talking to colleagues impacted by executive branch targeting? Here’s a thread 🧵 w/ simple tips about how to show support—what to say that is likely to help, rather than make things worse. (The tips are simple, but I try to explain the rationale behind them. So please follow to the end.) 1/

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Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

This week’s Stargate announcement is another indication that AI companies are set to build massive new infrastructure across the US. Tech Policy Press fellow Eryk Salvaggio (@eryk.bsky.social) asks, are we again poised to value technological infrastructure over our shared social infrastructure?

techpolicy.press

The Ugliest Thing San Francisco Ever Built: Lessons for AI Infrastructure | TechPolicy.Press

Eryk Salvaggio asks, are we again poised to value technological infrastructure over our shared social infrastructure?

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Brussels School of Governance @bsog.be · 23/01/2025

📢 Join our online policy panel on 7 February! Digital infrastructures and platforms: Sovereignty in an age of information disorder 🌍 📅 7 Feb 2025 | 🕒 15:00–16:00 (CET) |📍 Online 🔗 Register here: ow.ly/Zo5K50UL4PT #BSoG #DigitalPolicy #Sovereignty #EURegulations #PlatformGovernance

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Mai Van Tran @vmtran.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Interested in Big Tech governance? Our ProPA team is pleased to share a pre-print on "Pro-democracy platform advocacy: Resisting Big Tech-mediated authoritarianism in Southeast Asia." We look forward to the open peer review process and any further discussions! doi.org/10.12688/ope...

doi.org

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IRGAC @irgac-rls.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

"Why do people fight for their servitude as if it were their salvation?" See our new #CfA for 6 #Postdoc Fellowships of 33 months at University of Potsdam and become part of IRGAC! We're looking for research on why and how people support authoritarian politics: irgac.org/calls/call-f...

irgac.org

Call for Applications: Authoritarian Neoliberalism & Reactionary Populism: The Authoritarian Appeal

Call for Applications for 6 postdoctoral fellowships at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Potsdam, with a duration of 33 months (until December 31, 2027). Funding st...

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Hertie School @hertieschool.bsky.social · 15/12/2023

How is digital technology used in conflict situations? Why should we not give up hope on digital technology? We talked to Professor and cyber security expert Anita Gohdes @argohdes.bsky.social about her recently published book "Repression in the Digital Age". bit.ly/46Zbeub

bit.ly

Three questions with Anita Gohdes about technology and repression

The Professor of International and Cyber Security talks about her new book Repression in the Digital Age in an interview.

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