David Wells

Global security consultant; Former head of research & analysis at UN CTED: Ex UK/Aus intelligence: Interested in terrorism, technology & Springsteen

[GNET @GNET_research]

Despite widespread warnings, terrorists’ adoption of Generative AI has so far been largely ad hoc and experimental. @DavidWellsCT contrasts TVE use with serious/organised crime & outlines what could shape future adoption.

https://t.co/HdkHQn9GTc

[Nick Lowles @lowles_nick]

We were told Labour is listening, but anyone on the doors in Runcorn would have heard voters complain about winter fuel allowance, cost of living and general Govt incompetence. But rather than address these issues it engages in race to bottom with Reform
https://t.co/d3JZPQhuvu

[David Wells @DavidWellsCT]

@Hendoj4 The system relies on Briggs absolutely monstering it in the ruck, which he can't do against most of the comp. Weird we've consistently ignored high end midfield talent

[Owen Jones @owenjonesjourno]

Imagine Russia executed 15 Red Cross medics and first responders, burying them in a mass grave.

Imagine it lied about this grave war crime. Imagine footage then proved this.

Would the BBC frame that as 'Russia admits mistakes over medic killings in Ukraine'?

No it would not.

[Ed Newton-Rex @ednewtonrex]

You love to see it

https://t.co/dKVgjmJaxg

[Charles Lister @Charles_Lister]

Sanctions, sanctions, sanctions.

I can't understate the centrality of this issue, as #Syria celebrates freedom & yearns to recover. External restrictions make no sense, burn trust & risk triggering serious unrest & eventually, a new chapter of conflict.

[Variety @Variety]

Nicolas Cage says "protect yourselves from AI."

“There is another world that is also disturbing me, and it’s happening right now around all of us — the new AI world. I am a big believer in not letting robots dream for us. Robots cannot reflect the human condition for us. That is a dead end if an actor lets one AI robot manipulate his or her performance even a little bit, an inch will eventually become a mile and all integrity, purity and truth of art will be replaced by financial interests only. We can’t let that happen. The job of all art in my view, film performance included, is to hold a mirror to the external and internal stories of the human condition through the very human thoughtful and emotional process of recreation. A robot can’t do that. If we let robots do that, it will lack all heart and eventually lose edge and turn to mush. There will be no human response to life as we know it. It will be life as robots tell us to know it. I say, protect yourselves from AI interfering with your authentic and honest expressions.”

Read more here: https://t.co/se18GZu66y

[Ed Newton-Rex @ednewtonrex]

Detecting cancer earlier is a sensible thing for the UK government to use AI for. And it doesn’t involve stealing the work of the country’s creators to build it.

The problem we face is that AI companies intentionally muddy the waters, and try to convince govt that upending copyright law is necessary if you want this kind of AI model.

It isn’t.

[Charles Lister @Charles_Lister]

While some guards have been cut off, an even bigger effect is that U.S.-funded entities responsible for managing the camps & some detention facilities in NE #Syria have been 100% cut off from funding — they’ve stopped work completely since last week.

[David Wells @DavidWellsCT]

Wrote for @LowyInstitute on Meta's moderation changes, X as a lowest common denominator & whether regulators will stand up to Trump-aligned tech oligarchs allowing hate & extremism to flourish on their platforms

[The Lowy Institute @LowyInstitute]

A Big Tech race to the bottom is bad news for everyone | David Wells https://t.co/5kzugvYAXu

[Ed Newton-Rex @ednewtonrex]

One of the most infuriating things about governments changing copyright law to appease AI companies is that everyone is citing other countries' laws as a reason to change their own.

The UK government wants to let AI companies train on ©️ work to compete primarily with the US, which it perceives as more friendly to AI companies. But OpenAI, a US company, is *also* lobbying the US government for the right to train on ©️ work.

If both these countries would just stand up for creators, the global conversation would be set, and AI + creativity would evolve into a symbiotic relationship. Instead, there is a race to upend copyright, citing fear that other countries will do so.

All of this is avoidable if any government would just stand up and defend creators.

https://t.co/YEeOfgGPly

[Charles Lister @Charles_Lister]

This is the wrong call by @DavidLammy. He cites working "in the #UK's security interests," but [illegally] stripping citizenship & abandoning citizens abroad abrogates the fundamental principles of liberal nation states.

That's narrative gold-dust for #ISIS.

[Middle East Institute @MiddleEastInst]

MEI publishes hundreds of original articles every year. In this crowded, news-driven environment, not every piece gets the attention it deserves. Read 10 publications from the past year that are worth another share: https://t.co/9NLl8UyUUU

[International Centre for Counter-Terrorism @ICCT_TheHague]

Check out ICCT's new #podcast series!

In episode 1, Tim Watson and @DavidWellsCT introduce #AI's role in #nationalsecurity, & explore AI’s impact, challenges and opportunities in Europe and beyond.

Listen to Episode 1 here ➡️ https://t.co/jKmTQbFCTW

[Haaretz.com @haaretzcom]

"When you enter Gaza, you are God": Inside the minds of IDF soldiers who commit war crimes / Prof. Yoel Elizur
https://t.co/6E6MSe51av

[David Wells @DavidWellsCT]

@FPL_TomHadley Have Semenyo & ESR and 1FT - no other major issues so was planning to start ESR & bench Semenyo, but worried that price changes mean I'll lose value. Worth looking at Enzo or Amad or hold for this GW and roll?

[Ed Newton-Rex @ednewtonrex]

I encourage everyone to watch the inimitable @richardosman speaking this week about generative AI's theft of copyrighted works, and what the UK government should do about it:

"Things are being stolen."

"In a very basic way, these people are not disruptors, they're thieves."

"People push things as far as they possibly can until someone tells them to stop."

Requiring creators to opt out of generative AI training "is like asking a newsagent to sign a thing that says, 'Oh by the way, I do need you to pay for those Mars Bars'."

"It feels insanely simple. We have copyright in this country, and it is respected by people, and we now have a new industry which is not respecting it and which is stealing people's work."

https://t.co/mLHDhQAzPL

[Ed Newton-Rex @ednewtonrex]

Today, the UK government announced a proposal to change copyright law - for the benefit of AI companies - that would cause huge, irreversible harm to creators.

More info below, but most importantly here's what you can do (wherever you live):

1. Email your MP. If you're in the UK, here's a template letter you can copy - https://t.co/c3pfbTndak - and you can find your local MP's details here - https://t.co/bPTOeVK6xt.

2. If you're a creator, email your representatives. Your publisher, record label, union - whoever represents you. Here's a second template letter you can copy - https://t.co/zEcP6tvuH5. You need to know your representatives are representing your views.

3. Respond to the consultation. You can do so by emailing [email protected]. If possible, write your own response, and go into all the detail you can. Feel free to use info / data I've prepared here - https://t.co/hbQE9f0Mm2.

4. Share these template letters with anyone you know. The more people get involved, the more the government will get the message that a broad copyright exception is the wrong path to be pursuing.

--

And here's a summary of the government's proposal, and why I think it's so problematic:

- Broad new copyright exception for commercial generative AI training. AI companies will be able to train on British copyrighted work without a licence, even if the AI model is designed to compete with the creators whose work is trained on. This would make the UK one of the most punitive jurisdictions for creators in the world.
- Rights holders can 'reserve their rights', i.e. opt out. But opt-outs don't work (you can't successfully opt out downstream copies of your work), most creators miss the chance to opt-out, doing so is a huge admin burden, etc. AI companies should be getting opt-in consent - it's unfair to shift the burden to creators.
- AI companies must offer some level of transparency over their training data. This would be good if presented on its own, but it's much less helpful if you're packaging it up with a broad copyright exception that lets AI companies train on most of the UK's creative output with impunity.

The consultation on these proposals lasts for 10 weeks. Anyone who cares about this issue should do whatever they can to make their views known to government now - there will only be one chance.

[International Centre for Counter-Terrorism @ICCT_TheHague]

Check out ICCT's new #podcast series!

In episode 1, Tim Watson and @DavidWellsCT introduce #AI's role in #nationalsecurity, & explore AI’s impact, challenges and opportunities in Europe and beyond.

Listen to Episode 1 here ➡️ https://t.co/dz3wH4GspT

[Josie Ensor @Josiensor]

The last act of a vengeful regime. Mazen, you were too good for this world