With the election nearing, foreign entities are spreading fake news online. Here’s how to stay sharp and protect yourself from propaganda.
Your boss('s robot) is watching
Companies using tech to keep an eye on employees is nothing new. But the spyware that tallies productivity and ensures you’re logged in on time is so last decade. We’re living in an AI world, folks.
Let’s look at what might be taking a close look at you or someone you know who’s working remotely.
It all started back in the good ol’ days …
… when we were sitting on our couches, baking bread and hoarding toilet paper. Employee surveillance software exploded when millions of workers went home during the 2020 COVID lockdown. Employers wanted ways to check if their employees worked their hours, did their jobs and generally toed the line.
Three years later, life has returned to normal. But many people are pushing back, saying they are working at home and loving no commute.
There’s a big push on why employers need software to track workers’ work. They say this kind of surveillance is invasive and a sign of petty micromanaging, judging everything from time on work chat apps to their computer keystrokes.
But 85% of leaders report remote work makes them worry employees are slacking or snacking on the job. Spoiler: Many are, and that’s life. I can tell you that I’m not one of that 85% of leaders. My team busts their butts every single day. I don’t need to track anyone.
What AI will track
AI’s marketing propaganda promises surveillance can lower stress and help employees feel better. That’s a lofty goal. So what’s out there? Here’s a short list.
- Listening to customer service reps to detect stress in tones of voice and remind them to take a break. That’s nice. Imagine, though, you get too many notifications.
- Let’s say you’re in a meeting. AI is analyzing your facial expressions to see if you’re paying attention (you’re probably not) or getting stressed asking for a pay raise (you probably are). All this tracking goes right into your employee file.
- How’d you like to wear wrist sensors on the job to track your heart rate, perspiration and movements throughout the day? When I worked at IBM, my manager told me I went to the bathroom too many times a day, as tracked by my badge that opened the door. I went three times which she said was “excessive.” And that wasn’t anything close to AI.
- New AI sensors can assess your mood through recognition technology and automatically adjust your office, such as lowering the temperature and dimming the lights. Maybe you’re just hungover? I mean, even working on an elevator has its ups and downs.
Remember, while AI is having a kumbaya moment with your feelings, it’s also tracking what you are doing. This brings up a ton of HR and legal issues. What happens with all this data? Who has access to it? Where does it go? No good answers to any of these questions yet.
Is this such a good idea?
Hackers built a tool to let you text Russian citizens about the war
Shortly after the invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin started to tighten his government’s grip on information. Not only blocking what average Russians can say but also preventing sources from broadcasting about the invasion to Russian audiences.
1,000-plus
Fake news sites tied to China that were just blocked by Google. The Glassbridge network was trying to pass off communist propaganda as “journalism.” One firm ran over 600 sites. The real question: Why did it take Google this long to spot and remove them?
How the BBC is getting real news into Russia is fascinating
In most parts of the world, you can turn on any news network to get a glimpse of the devastation from Russia’s continued invasion of neighboring Ukraine. If you live in Russia, that’s not the case.
Russian citizens get their information only from state-run news outlets, which paints a very different picture from what’s actually happening. Vladimir Putin is hiding details of his military’s brutality in Ukraine from his people. Tap or click here to spot fake Russian social media accounts and posts.
How to spot fake Russian social media accounts and posts
As the Russia-Ukraine War escalates, cable news ratings have skyrocketed. But look at what they’re showing you: Social media posts and online influencers.
There’s no question the Ukraine invasion is a social media war — the world’s first. Many TV interviews are with Ukrainians who are garnering large social media followings. TikTok is filled with video clips of after-bombing scenes and bomb shelters. They are shot on smartphones by citizens and shared directly with the world, bypassing traditional media outlets.
Ukraine invasion: Are these 5 rumors true or false?
In times of crisis, you can expect to see misinformation circulating. Now that Russia invaded Ukraine, social media is flooded with misleading news, like doctored images and inaccurate reports. Tap or click here for six clever ways to spot fake news stories and scams.
Ever used TikTok? File a claim for your part of a $92M class-action settlement
There is no doubt that the video-sharing app TikTok has exploded in popularity recently. During the height of the pandemic, the app ranked as the third fastest-growing brand — only trailing Zoom and Peacock. Tap or click here for smart digital life hacks you won’t find on TikTok.
Twitter rolls out new feature you'll love - then takes it back
Twitter is one of the leading social media platforms on the web — and the online home of some of the biggest celebrities and public figures. But in terms of features, it hasn’t changed much since it originally debuted.