The Fight Against Fake News Starts at the Local Library

Seattle librarian develops class to help the public combat misinformation.



This guy is a warrior in the fight against fake news.

Di Zhang, an adult services librarian at Seattle's Central Library, helped developed a new curriculum, "Fake News Survival Guide: Resources and Tips for Staying Informed." The free class, offered twice every three months in a library computer lab, promotes media literacy and helps participants -- mostly adult seniors -- navigate the ridiculous amount of misinformation on the internet.

Sounds like the perfect class for your uncle who is still forwarding you those insane Obama-is-a-Muslim emails.

More here: Fake News? A Seattle Librarian Offers a Class to Help Separate Truth from Fiction

Call Rep. Judy Chu: stand with the many, not the few

Cross-posted from 18 Million Rising


One of our greatest victories is under attack.

Last month, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) used their legal regulatory power to pass rules to ensure the internet is fair, open, equal, and accessible for all. After a long fight where over four million people--maybe even you!--submitted comments to the FCC, Chairman Wheeler decided to stand on the right side of history and regulate the internet so service providers can’t decide what you can post, read, and watch online. For Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, an open internet means a fair chance to be heard and the opportunity to thrive.

Now, Republican-controlled Congress is trying to do the dirty work for the big telecoms after they lost at the FCC. On March 25, a key hearing will be happening in the House Judiciary Committee. It’s important that our allies in Congress on Team Internet stand firm in support of the FCC’s Title II rules. Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) is on the Judiciary Committee and is the Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, which makes her a leading voice for our communities in Congress. We’re calling on her to stand firm as a champion for the internet and for our communities.

Sign 18 Million Rising's petition here.

FCC: We demand an open internet!

Cross-posted from 18 Million Rising



Right now, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is on the verge of deciding whether or not to protect an open and free internet -- and time is running out to let the federal agency know what we think about their impending decision.

At its core, having an open internet (often referred to as Net Neutrality) means that no information on the internet is privileged over other information, which means that a homemade video made by a teen speaking out about bullying streams just as fast as a summer blockbuster on Netflix, or that conversations criticizing powerful public figures aren’t subject to interference. Ending Net Neutrality safeguards means internet service providers would have the power to censor what we view, post, and share on the internet.

Why should AAPIs care about this? Because Net Neutrality, access to digital literacy, and broadband are about civil rights.

Online sex predators caught in the act by virtual "child"

Computer-generated "Sweetie" created to lure web cam sex tourists.



This is really unsettling... Meet Sweetie, a 10-year-old girl from the Philippines who tracked down and identified 1,000 pedophiles. Except she isn't real -- she's a computer-generated avatar used as bait to lure online sex predators who target children: Meet 'Sweetie,' a virtual girl created to target child predators.

"Sweetie" was created by the Dutch children's rights organization Terre des Hommes as part of a campaign to end "web cam sex tourism," where men go online to pay children from developing countries to perform sex acts on camera. According to the charity, 20,000 men contacted Sweetie within the first 10 weeks. Watch this video about the investigation:

Nicole Wong officially joins White House as deputy chief technology officer

Almost overlooked this significant bit of news... Last week, the White House officially announced that Twitter executive Nicole Wong has joined the Obama administration as its new deputy U.S. chief technology officer: Twitter's Nicole Wong joins White House as deputy chief technology officer.

Wong, who has been Twitter's legal director since last year, will work as adviser on issues of internet privacy and technology for the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy. News of her appointment broke weeks ago, but this makes it official. She will basically be responsible for helping the White House make up the rules of the internets.