Alexios Mantzarlis
@mantzarlis.com
Tech, facts, and carbonara.
mantzarlis.com
mantzarlis.com
Pinned
Meta says Community Notes is bigger than fact-checking. That's not the whole story
Crowdsourced fact-checking on Instagram covered just 3% of false posts debunked by one fact-checking website
indicator.media
New on @indicator.media: Community Notes on Instagram covered just 3% of false posts debunked by the US bureau of AFP Fact Check.
This analysis comes one day after Meta announced it would expand the program to 16 new countries.
This analysis comes one day after Meta announced it would expand the program to 16 new countries.
Father files police report against son after he creates fake nude photos of a classmate using AI.
Pai registra BO contra filho após criação de nudes falsos de colega com IA
Adolescente, de 15 anos, teria contribuído na criação e no compartilhamento de imagens íntimas falsas com o rosto de uma colega da escola
www.metropoles.com
September 15, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Father files police report against son after he creates fake nude photos of a classmate using AI.
Reposted by Alexios Mantzarlis
If walking costs you $1, we all pay $0.01. If biking costs you $1, we all pay $0.08. If bussing costs you $1, we all pay $1.50. If driving costs you $1, we all pay $9.20. Via study that still underestimates climate cost.
This isn’t about choice. It’s about who pays for your choice.
#citymakingmath
This isn’t about choice. It’s about who pays for your choice.
#citymakingmath
September 12, 2026 at 4:29 AM
If walking costs you $1, we all pay $0.01. If biking costs you $1, we all pay $0.08. If bussing costs you $1, we all pay $1.50. If driving costs you $1, we all pay $9.20. Via study that still underestimates climate cost.
This isn’t about choice. It’s about who pays for your choice.
#citymakingmath
This isn’t about choice. It’s about who pays for your choice.
#citymakingmath
oh no, the US government actually asked decent questions about content moderation and online information quality (this re: the UK's green paper on boosting "trustworthy media providers" online)
uk.usembassy.gov/u-s-governme...
uk.usembassy.gov/u-s-governme...
September 10, 2026 at 2:21 PM
oh no, the US government actually asked decent questions about content moderation and online information quality (this re: the UK's green paper on boosting "trustworthy media providers" online)
uk.usembassy.gov/u-s-governme...
uk.usembassy.gov/u-s-governme...
New on @indicator.media: Community Notes on Instagram covered just 3% of false posts debunked by the US bureau of AFP Fact Check.
This analysis comes one day after Meta announced it would expand the program to 16 new countries.
This analysis comes one day after Meta announced it would expand the program to 16 new countries.
Meta says Community Notes is bigger than fact-checking. That's not the whole story
Crowdsourced fact-checking on Instagram covered just 3% of false posts debunked by one fact-checking website
indicator.media
September 10, 2026 at 12:32 PM
New on @indicator.media: Community Notes on Instagram covered just 3% of false posts debunked by the US bureau of AFP Fact Check.
This analysis comes one day after Meta announced it would expand the program to 16 new countries.
This analysis comes one day after Meta announced it would expand the program to 16 new countries.
Meta is expanding Community Notes to 16 Latin American countries, data still nowhere to be seen.*
*I've got a story coming out tomorrow about this, as chance will have it
*I've got a story coming out tomorrow about this, as chance will have it
Iniciamos los Tests de Notas de la Comunidad en Hispanoamérica | Acerca de Meta
En enero del 2025, lanzamos las Notas de la Comunidad en Estados Unidos: una forma colaborativa para que las personas que utilizan nuestras plataformas aporten información contextual a publicaciones e...
about.fb.com
September 9, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Meta is expanding Community Notes to 16 Latin American countries, data still nowhere to be seen.*
*I've got a story coming out tomorrow about this, as chance will have it
*I've got a story coming out tomorrow about this, as chance will have it
New on @indicator.media:
Simple text searches for repeat offenders could have caught ads for AI nudifiers on Meta and prevented them from being served to millions of Meta users this year.
Simple text searches for repeat offenders could have caught ads for AI nudifiers on Meta and prevented them from being served to millions of Meta users this year.
Meta ran at least 11,000 ads for AI nudifiers this year – many from easily detectable repeat offenders
Indicator’s latest audit reveals the company let a network of identifiable bad actors run thousands of ads for nonconsensual deepfake nudes
indicator.media
September 3, 2026 at 2:31 PM
New on @indicator.media:
Simple text searches for repeat offenders could have caught ads for AI nudifiers on Meta and prevented them from being served to millions of Meta users this year.
Simple text searches for repeat offenders could have caught ads for AI nudifiers on Meta and prevented them from being served to millions of Meta users this year.
Reposted by Alexios Mantzarlis
Amazing that this renewed interested in foreign disinfo is being driven by overhyped reports about Chinese interference in data center debates.
The X update mirrored OpenAI's report, which categorized the Chinese operation (Spamo) as Category One on the breakout scale. That's the lowest category.
The X update mirrored OpenAI's report, which categorized the Chinese operation (Spamo) as Category One on the breakout scale. That's the lowest category.
Once again: The Trumpian crusade against Trust & Safety was never about free speech.
It was always about making sure platform policies applied only to adversaries and never to those shouting "censorship" for facing consequences after denying election results or the existence of COVID-19.
It was always about making sure platform policies applied only to adversaries and never to those shouting "censorship" for facing consequences after denying election results or the existence of COVID-19.
Suddenly, Foreign Influence Research is Good Again
What X’s Chinese bot takedown tells us about the counter-disinformation infrastructure we dismantled
On Monday I wrote about Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers’ extraordinary effor...
www.reneediresta.com
September 2, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Amazing that this renewed interested in foreign disinfo is being driven by overhyped reports about Chinese interference in data center debates.
The X update mirrored OpenAI's report, which categorized the Chinese operation (Spamo) as Category One on the breakout scale. That's the lowest category.
The X update mirrored OpenAI's report, which categorized the Chinese operation (Spamo) as Category One on the breakout scale. That's the lowest category.
Once again: The Trumpian crusade against Trust & Safety was never about free speech.
It was always about making sure platform policies applied only to adversaries and never to those shouting "censorship" for facing consequences after denying election results or the existence of COVID-19.
It was always about making sure platform policies applied only to adversaries and never to those shouting "censorship" for facing consequences after denying election results or the existence of COVID-19.
Suddenly, Foreign Influence Research is Good Again
What X’s Chinese bot takedown tells us about the counter-disinformation infrastructure we dismantled
On Monday I wrote about Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers’ extraordinary effor...
www.reneediresta.com
September 2, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Once again: The Trumpian crusade against Trust & Safety was never about free speech.
It was always about making sure platform policies applied only to adversaries and never to those shouting "censorship" for facing consequences after denying election results or the existence of COVID-19.
It was always about making sure platform policies applied only to adversaries and never to those shouting "censorship" for facing consequences after denying election results or the existence of COVID-19.
on the one hand: bad
on the other hand: this is already a terrible show
on the other hand: this is already a terrible show
Cocomelon's Studio Tells Its Artists to Start Experimenting With AI
Moonbug Entertainment, which makes Cocomelon, Blippi, and other popular content for children, says it will begin using AI but will always have a 'human in the loop.'
www.404media.co
August 27, 2026 at 4:38 PM
on the one hand: bad
on the other hand: this is already a terrible show
on the other hand: this is already a terrible show
The important thing that isn't clear is whether this team rolls into the VP of Trust & Safety or into the VP of Public Policy. If it goes into T&S this is a reasonable move; much less so the latter.
Exclusive | Google Moves AI-Responsibility Team Out of DeepMind Lab in Latest Shake-Up
Researchers have raised concerns about the change’s effect on their independence and ability to detect threats from newest models.
www.wsj.com
August 27, 2026 at 9:27 AM
The important thing that isn't clear is whether this team rolls into the VP of Trust & Safety or into the VP of Public Policy. If it goes into T&S this is a reasonable move; much less so the latter.
it took me 90 minutes to get a terrible 90 second short video out there i have entirely new respect for youtubers
August 26, 2026 at 11:49 AM
it took me 90 minutes to get a terrible 90 second short video out there i have entirely new respect for youtubers
Today on Indicator: AI-generated fake employees got over 100 million views on Facebook and Instagram by pushing fake gift cards for ALDI, Costco, The Home Depot, Target, and more.
AI-generated Costco employees got over 100 million views on Facebook and Instagram
We tracked it back to a single scammy affiliate marketing operation
indicator.media
August 26, 2026 at 11:43 AM
Today on Indicator: AI-generated fake employees got over 100 million views on Facebook and Instagram by pushing fake gift cards for ALDI, Costco, The Home Depot, Target, and more.
Reposted by Alexios Mantzarlis
A consistent pitch by the makers of ai wearables is that they solve the problem of getting to know your child. www.businessinsider.com/parents-brea...
August 25, 2026 at 1:50 AM
A consistent pitch by the makers of ai wearables is that they solve the problem of getting to know your child. www.businessinsider.com/parents-brea...
Reposted by Alexios Mantzarlis
This is what the fake "free speech" advocates have built: an administration that harasses critics. Produce research showing the expensive National Guard deployments didn't lower crime? Get sued by Trump's lawyers www.nytimes.com/2026/08/21/u...
Trump Threatens Defamation Suit Over National Guard Report, Aiming to Intimidate a Critic
It was the latest example of President Trump’s bid to use the legal system against those who voice unflattering facts and opinions generally protected by the First Amendment.
www.nytimes.com
August 22, 2026 at 7:11 AM
This is what the fake "free speech" advocates have built: an administration that harasses critics. Produce research showing the expensive National Guard deployments didn't lower crime? Get sued by Trump's lawyers www.nytimes.com/2026/08/21/u...
Reposted by Alexios Mantzarlis
The Economist has published @dacemoglumit.bsky.social's response to their critical column and it is spiky
www.economist.com/letters/2026...
www.economist.com/letters/2026...
August 21, 2026 at 10:37 AM
The Economist has published @dacemoglumit.bsky.social's response to their critical column and it is spiky
www.economist.com/letters/2026...
www.economist.com/letters/2026...
Not quite, YouTube auto caption, not quite
August 20, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Not quite, YouTube auto caption, not quite
In this month's @indicator.media Show & Tell, we heard from Caitlin Ostroff and Neil Mehta, who investigated Polymarket's outrageously deceptive marketing campaign.
(ICYMI: Polymarket made a fake version of its own website, then paid creators to film themselves winning fake bets.)
(ICYMI: Polymarket made a fake version of its own website, then paid creators to film themselves winning fake bets.)
How WSJ reporters caught Polymarket faking its own site
YouTube video by Indicator
www.youtube.com
August 19, 2026 at 11:12 AM
In this month's @indicator.media Show & Tell, we heard from Caitlin Ostroff and Neil Mehta, who investigated Polymarket's outrageously deceptive marketing campaign.
(ICYMI: Polymarket made a fake version of its own website, then paid creators to film themselves winning fake bets.)
(ICYMI: Polymarket made a fake version of its own website, then paid creators to film themselves winning fake bets.)
Reposted by Alexios Mantzarlis
NEW: Meta ran ads for an AI-porn-generation tool that encouraged people to create nonconsensual nudes of politicians. @telliotter.bsky.social & @mattburgess1.bsky.social w/ the scoop www.wired.com/story/meta-r...
Meta Ran Ads for an App That Promised to Nudify Female Politicians
One advertisement featured a pornographic video with a deepfake closely resembling a prominent US politician. Apple removed the app from the App Store after an inquiry from WIRED.
www.wired.com
August 18, 2026 at 2:49 PM
NEW: Meta ran ads for an AI-porn-generation tool that encouraged people to create nonconsensual nudes of politicians. @telliotter.bsky.social & @mattburgess1.bsky.social w/ the scoop www.wired.com/story/meta-r...
Reposted by Alexios Mantzarlis
Is AI convincing seniors to stop taking their meds?
Worrying deep dive by Cody Sumter, who monitored a slopiverse of 150 medical advice YouTube channels for months as they put out daily videos of dangerous advice, with millions of views. cc @mantzarlis.com
codysumter.substack.com/p/this-is-me...
Worrying deep dive by Cody Sumter, who monitored a slopiverse of 150 medical advice YouTube channels for months as they put out daily videos of dangerous advice, with millions of views. cc @mantzarlis.com
codysumter.substack.com/p/this-is-me...
This is Medical Advice*
The AI slop doctors of YouTube, and the prompts instructing them to lie
codysumter.substack.com
August 17, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Is AI convincing seniors to stop taking their meds?
Worrying deep dive by Cody Sumter, who monitored a slopiverse of 150 medical advice YouTube channels for months as they put out daily videos of dangerous advice, with millions of views. cc @mantzarlis.com
codysumter.substack.com/p/this-is-me...
Worrying deep dive by Cody Sumter, who monitored a slopiverse of 150 medical advice YouTube channels for months as they put out daily videos of dangerous advice, with millions of views. cc @mantzarlis.com
codysumter.substack.com/p/this-is-me...
Detector tools built and made available by AI providers are mandatory -- but often missing, according to a new report we published today on @indicator.media.
We found detectors for 6/13 companies and fooled all but one.
We found detectors for 6/13 companies and fooled all but one.
AI generators are now required to offer detection tools. We tested them (and they need work)
We found detectors for six out of thirteen companies, and fooled all but one
indicator.media
August 12, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Detector tools built and made available by AI providers are mandatory -- but often missing, according to a new report we published today on @indicator.media.
We found detectors for 6/13 companies and fooled all but one.
We found detectors for 6/13 companies and fooled all but one.
Reposted by Alexios Mantzarlis
Trump's job approval in the Economist / YouGov poll is 9 points *lower* than it was in their January 16-19 2021 poll, post-sacking-of-the-Capitol
docs.cdn.yougov.com/4k61xul7y7/e...
docs.cdn.yougov.com/4k61xul7y7/e...
August 11, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Trump's job approval in the Economist / YouGov poll is 9 points *lower* than it was in their January 16-19 2021 poll, post-sacking-of-the-Capitol
docs.cdn.yougov.com/4k61xul7y7/e...
docs.cdn.yougov.com/4k61xul7y7/e...
Reposted by Alexios Mantzarlis
New – Norwegian FA to formally demand Infantino's resignation: www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Norway’s Klaveness tells Fifa president Infantino to resign: ‘There is no trust now’
‘There is no way back for him’ says the NFF president as Infantino battles for support around the world
www.theguardian.com
August 7, 2026 at 9:17 AM
New – Norwegian FA to formally demand Infantino's resignation: www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Reposted by Alexios Mantzarlis
Gianni Infantino held talks about rebranding the ill-fated European breakaway the ‘Fifa Super League’ in 2021. Full contents of the term sheet revealed, by @nickames82.bsky.social
Fifa Super League: Infantino discussed having governing body’s name on European breakaway
A document has shown how Fifa staff were involved in the European breakaway and that the global governing body was prepared to sideline member associations
www.theguardian.com
August 5, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Gianni Infantino held talks about rebranding the ill-fated European breakaway the ‘Fifa Super League’ in 2021. Full contents of the term sheet revealed, by @nickames82.bsky.social
Grokipedia be grifting
Grokipedia hasn’t been updated in 3 months. Edit requests land in a queue and stall “In Review”. The autonomous edit bot is not editing itself, either. We did an analysis of edits, page view counts, and more.
Auditability matters as agentic systems become reference infrastructure.
Auditability matters as agentic systems become reference infrastructure.
Grokipedia appears not to have updated any articles since April 24. @noupside.bsky.social and @rer.bsky.social explore why it matters that the encyclopedia hasn’t edited itself or processed edits from humans in more than 3 months. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/grok...
August 5, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Grokipedia be grifting