In The Loop, February 2024

9 minutes read | First published: February 15, 2024
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OUR LATEST NEWS 🚀

🌟 MEET THE JURY BEHIND THE SELECTION OF THE COLLABORATIVE AND INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REGIONAL HUBS

Just a few months back, a panel of six renowned media professionals selected Investigate Europe, Journalists in Need Network, and the Rise Project România as the regional hubs for the Collaborative and Investigative Journalism Initiative (CIJI). CIJI is a network committed to upholding ethical standards, offering training, and fostering collaboration across Europe's journalism landscape. Get ready to be inspired by the work of Alina Radu, Jakub Patočka, Oleg Khomenok, Marija Ristic, Marius Dragomir & Rita Ruduša — the minds behind the selection More info here.

💡 CREATIVE FORMATS TO SHARE YOUR INVESTIGATION FINDINGS

Wondering how journalists and investigators can jazz up their storytelling formats? Slam poetry, puppet theatre, comics, video games and even circus are some formats journalists and investigators are experimenting with to share the results of their investigations, reach a wider public and create and impact. Dive into Ricardo Ginés' article "Find Your Way: Unleashing Creativity in Investigative Reporting" for more. Read article

BE MY VALENTINE! CLICK HERE TO ACCEPT THE CONDITIONS ❤️

❤️📱 THE DATING BROKERS PROJECT: UNVEILING THE NETWORK OF COMPANIES CAPITALISING ON DATING PROFILE INFORMATION

In May 2017, Tactical Tech and artist Joana Moll purchased 1 million online dating profiles for 136€ from USDate. This supposedly US-based company trades in dating profiles from all over the globe. The profiles included nearly 5 million pictures, usernames, email addresses, nationality, gender, age, and detailed personal information like sexual orientation, interests, profession, physical characteristics, and personality traits. Purchasing this data exposed a vast network of companies that are capitalising on this information without the conscious consent of the users.Visit the project
💌 Do you want to know more? Visit "The Dating Brokers: An Autopsy of Online Love", an extensive report on the origin of the profiles and the vast network of companies that are capitalising on them. Explore

👃😍 SMELL DATING: BRINGING DATING BACK INTO THE SENSORY WORLD

Tired of swiping endlessly on dating apps with no luck? Say goodbye to meaningless messaging with Smell Dating. This service matches singles based on their scent compatibility. Sniff potential matches' T-shirts and see if their smell sparks your interest. If algorithms can help you find your soulmate, why not scent? Check out this project showcased in The Glass Room. Take a look and explore here. or Visit the project

❤️‍🔥 WHO'S THE THIRD WHEEL IN YOUR DATING LIFE?, A GUIDE

Tinder, Grindr, Happn, OkCupid, Match, eHarmony... there are so many dating services out there. This Data Detox Kit article will introduce you to the third wheel in your dating life and give tips on sharing less and keeping your information safe.Explore this Data Detox Kit guide

💕❓ ARTICLE DATA AND DATING: WHO ELSE WANTS YOUR LOVE?

The data you give away when using dating apps might seem like a small price to pay for the possibility of meeting someone new. But are you aware of what's happening in the background? The systems by which data is collected, analysed, sold, traded and reused might be more complicated than you think. Get insights into how the dating information is treated by the apps you use. Read article

OPEN CALLS 📢

🔊 WE SEEK A TRAINING OF TRAINERS EXPERT

Do you have experience mentoring trainers? As part of the Collaborative and Investigative Journalism Initiative CIJI, Tactical Tech seeks a facilitator of Training of Trainers (ToT) to deliver workshops that enhance the training and facilitation skills of journalists & media professionals. The facilitator will collaborate with our team to improve the existing training curriculum, identify and address our audience’s ToT needs, facilitate ToT workshops and evaluate the results. Apply by March 3 here.

🧠 THE 2024 COLLABORATIVE JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIP IS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS!

Are you passionate about collaborative journalism and eager to enhance your skills? Then this opportunity is for you. Apply for and receive an advanced collaborative journalism course, online training curriculum, mentorship, network opportunities and a cross-border grant opportunity. By the end of the fellowship, participants will have a deep understanding of collaborative journalism principles, hands-on experience in collaborative project development, and a network of fellow journalists and industry professionals to support their future endeavours in the field. Apply by March 4 here.

💯 OPEN CALL! HOST YOUR OWN THE GLASS ROOM MISINFORMATION EDITION EXHIBITION

You host the exhibition, "The Glass Room Misinformation Edition," at your cultural space, library, or school. Your community visits this interactive exhibit to learn about misinformation: what it is, why it’s shared, and how it spreads. They leave with a deeper understanding of why it's important to critically reflect on how the technologies they use influence their opinions and decisions. This could be you! Host a Glass Room Community Edition in your space! Would you like to host the exhibition in Albanian, Bosnian, Georgian, Khmer, Nepali, Turkish, Ukrainian, or Vietnamese? We can support you with your printing costs! Contact us at events@tacticaltech.org

⚡ SEEK INITIATIVE IS LOOKING FOR A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Seek Initiative is actively seeking a visionary and dynamic leader to fill the role of Executive Director. Seek is dedicated to democratizing the pursuit of truth, empowering community leaders, activists, citizen journalists, and NGOs to instigate change through grassroots investigations in the public interest. As a founding partner, Tactical Tech has collaborated closely with the organization, assisting in the development of its open-source citizen investigation curriculum. The Seek Initiative is a non-profit organization and will soon be headquartered in Publix, Berlin. Learn more about this opportunity

EVENTS THAT EMPOWER YOU ✨

✨ THE GLASS ROOM MISINFORMATION EDITION AT THE COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA. UNTIL DECEMBER 15, 2023

This exhibition explores Misinformation, why it is shared, how it spreads and how we, individual users, participate in the process through our many clicks, likes and shares. Find out more.

SUMMIT 🤩 BBK TECH FOR HUMANITY SUMMIT IN BILBAO, SPAIN. MARCH 11 TO 13, 2024

With technology's unforeseen consequences becoming more apparent and over 2 billion people lacking internet access worldwide, we must harness technology for social good while addressing its potential harms. The BBK Tech for Humanity Summit, powered by Ashoka, will unite tech innovators from Spanish, Basque, and global ecosystems to explore current and future solutions. Changemakers will collaborate, connect, and shape the future of tech for humanity. The event will feature Tactical Tech's Glass Room exhibition posters and Data Detox Kit. Learn more and join the live stream

EXHIBITION 🖼️ THE GLASS ROOM MISINFORMATION EDITION AT BURG GIEBICHENSTEIN UNIVERSITY OF ART AND DESIGN IN HALLE, GERMANY. MARCH 18 - 19, 2024

The exhibition will be accompanied by a workshop about misinformation. Learn more

FESTIVAL 🌟 THE EXPOSING THE INVISIBLE TEAM AT OFFDEM

Our Exposing the Invisible project team participated in OFFDEM, a festival in Brussels on Feb 3-4, 2024, focusing on collective practices and free technology production. We collaborated with technologists, activists, journalists, and artists in sessions investigating water issues. We plan to continue this collaboration in a working group post-festival. Learn more

MEET OUR PARTNERS WORLDWIDE 💫

🌟 CENTER FOR MEDIA RESEARCH NEPAL: BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF EDUCATORS TO DEVELOP MEDIA & INFORMATION LITERACY INITIATIVES

Introducing CMR-Nepal, a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching policy-making and media development through research aimed at informing Nepal’s policymakers and media stakeholders. In collaboration with Tactical Tech, CMR Nepal launched the #MILinitiative program, which focuses on promoting Media & Information Literacy (MIL) among youth. The initiative successfully trained 51 teachers from 51 schools across eight districts in 6 provinces of Nepal. These educators conducted workshops reaching over 1,760 students and distributed 2,700 copies of a handbook containing digital literacy tips. CMR-Nepal is committed to continuing this vital work, empowering Nepalese youth to navigate the complex internet and information landscape.Learn more and connect with them on Facebook

WHAT WE ARE READING 🔍

  • [💻 ONLINE COURSE] Advocating & Campaigning Against Internet Shutdowns. Shutdown Academy by Advocacy Assembly. Learn about the impact of internet shutdowns, campaign strategies & tactics. Available in different languages. Explore here.
  • [📮 NEWSLETTER] The Checklist brings misinformation news from around the world. Every month they focus on developments impacting the quality of online information. Sign up.
  • [📮 NEWSLETTER] DisinfoDocket curates the latest research and media reporting on influence operations and delivers it to your inbox 3 times a week. Subscribe.
  • [💾 DATABASE] The Directory of European Journalism Networks. A searchable database of journalism networks, collectives, hubs, and groups from Europe connecting reporters focused on collaborative and cross-border journalism. By Free Press Unlimited as part of the European Excellence Exchange in Journalism (E3J).More info.
  • [📝 ESSAY]‘They thought they were doing good but it made people worse’: why mental health apps are under scrutiny. By David Cox for the Guardian. Go to source.
  • [🔍 REPORT] Generating Democracy: AI and the coming revolution in political communications. By Alice Dawson and James Ball for DEMOS. Go to source.
  • [🎤 PODCAST] How to Read Leaked Datasets Like a Journalist. By Vice. Go to source.
  • [📰 ARTICLE] Can AI Be Better at Art History Than Us? -> Artificial Intelligence may efficiently sort images but loses out to a humanistic approach. By Nageen Shaikh for Hyperallergic. Go to source.
  • [🔍 REPORT] Covering your webcam won’t be sufficient to prevent hackers from watching you. By Deanna Ritchie for readwrite. Go to source.
  • [📰 ARTICLE] Intelligence doesn’t make you immune to conspiracy theories – it’s more about thinking style. By Darel Cookson for The Conversation. Go to source.
  • [📰 ARTICLE] Study Suggests We Should Worry About Political Microtargeting Powered by Generative AI. By Darel Cookson for The Conversation. Tim Bernard for Tech Policy Press.Go to source.

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