November 2025 - nexa - server-nexa.polito.it

Sales of AI-enabled teddy bear suspended after it gave advice on BDSM sex and where to find knives
by Daniela Tafani Nov. 19, 2025

Nov. 19, 2025

Sales of AI-enabled teddy bear suspended after it gave advice on BDSM sex and where to find knives Sales of an artificial intelligence-enabled plush toy have been suspended after it was found that it engaged in conversation around sexually explicit topics and offered potentially dangerous advice. Larry Wang, CEO of Singapore-based FoloToy, told CNN that the company had withdrawn its “Kumma” bear, as well as the rest of its range of AI-enabled toys, after researchers at the US PIRG Education Fund raised concerns around inappropriate conversation topics, including discussion of sexual fetishes, such as spanking, and how to light a match. The company is now “conducting an internal safety audit,” Wang added. A stuffed teddy with a speaker inside, which was sold on the company’s website for $99, “Kumma” integrates OpenAI’s GPT-4o chatbot. “Kumma, our adorable bear, combines advanced artificial intelligence with friendly, interactive features, making it the perfect friend for both kids and adults,” the FoloToy website reads. “From lively conversations to educational storytelling, FoloToy adapts to your personality and needs, bringing warmth, fun, and a little extra curiosity to your day,” according to the website, which shows the teddy bear as sold out. The PIRG report, published on November 13, found that the bear had poor safeguards for inappropriate content. Related article Screenshot 2025-11-05 at 4.44.36 PM.png ‘You’re not rushing. You’re just ready:’ Parents say ChatGPT encouraged son to kill himself In one interaction with the researchers it suggested where to find knives in the home, and in others it was happy to discuss sexually explicit themes. “We were surprised to find how quickly Kumma would take a single sexual topic we introduced into the conversation and run with it, simultaneously escalating in graphic detail while introducing new sexual concepts of its own,” the report said. The researchers detailed how the bear later “discussed even more graphic sexual topics in detail, such as explaining different sex positions, giving step-by-step instructions on a common ‘knot for beginners’ for tying up a partner and describing roleplay dynamics involving teachers and students, and parents and children – scenarios it disturbingly brought up itself.” Related article Wall Street traders are gearing up for Nvidia's earnings. AI is about to face an enormous test. The market is already nervous While the researchers noted that children are unlikely to mention the word “kink” to their teddy bear or ask follow-up questions in the same way an adult would, “it was surprising to us that the toy was so willing to discuss these topics at length and continually introduce new, explicit concepts,” they wrote. In a separate statement published on November 14, PIRG also said OpenAI had told it that it had “suspended this developer for violating our policies.” CNN has contacted OpenAI for comment. “It’s great to see these companies taking action on problems we’ve identified. But AI toys are still practically unregulated, and there are plenty you can still buy today,” said R.J. Cross, co-author of the report. “Removing one problematic product from the market is a good step but far from a systemic fix,” she added. <https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/19/tech/folotoy-kumma-ai-bear-scli-intl>

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From Words to Worlds: Spatial Intelligence is AI’s Next Frontier
by don Luca Peyron Nov. 19, 2025

Nov. 19, 2025

Quando Fei Fei dice cose non sono mai banali, buona lettura dl https://drfeifei.substack.com/p/from-words-to-worlds-spatial-intelligence _________________________ don Luca Peyron Pastorale della Cultura tecno scientifica - Apostolato Digitale Arcidiocesi di Torino apostolatodigitale.it <https://www.apostolatodigitale.it/>

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On the Meta Antitrust monopoly ruling
by Anna Masera Nov. 19, 2025

Nov. 19, 2025

Yesterday a federal judge ruled that Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp did not create an illegal monopoly… https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/technology/meta-antitrust-monopoly-rulin… In the end, it was a simple experiment that undid the FTC’s case. To determine whether Meta held a monopoly, Meta hired an expert to pay people to stop using its products — and then to observe where they went to fill the time… https://www.platformer.news/ftc-loses-meta-case-analysis/ Inviato da iPhone

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CfP - Digital Politics 1-2/2026 "Digital Sovereignty" | Deadline: 30/11/2025
by Mauro SANTANIELLO Nov. 18, 2025

Nov. 18, 2025

Dear Colleagues, This is a reminder that the deadline to submit proposals for the Special Issue of *Rivista di Digital Politics *on *Digital Sovereignty* is approaching: 30 November. Please find the full call for papers below. Digital Politics (Rivista di Digital Politics, or RDP) is a peer-reviewed, open access scholarly journal published three times a year by Il Mulino. The journal publishes articles in both English and Italian, and adopts a truly interdisciplinary approach to questions about how digital technologies affect political processes, institutions, and actors. *Call for papers "Digital Sovereignty"* In an era of rapid technological change and geopolitical realignment, digital sovereignty has emerged as a crucial yet contested concept. Governments, corporations, international organizations and civil society actors are redefining their roles in managing data, digital infrastructures, and technological ecosystems. The internet, once viewed as a borderless and decentralized space, is now increasingly shaped by national regulations, strategic technological competition, as well as economic and security concerns. The pursuit of digital sovereignty is driven by multiple and sometimes conflicting motivations. On one hand, states seek greater control over digital infrastructures to ensure national security, protect citizens’ rights, and foster economic independence. On the other, global digital interdependence challenges unilateral regulatory efforts, raising concerns about internet fragmentation, economic protectionism, and transnational corporate power. Emerging policies—such as the European Union’s digital regulations, China’s cyber sovereignty model, and U.S. technology restrictions—exemplify these tensions and their global impact. Beyond state-centered approaches, digital sovereignty is also framed as a struggle for autonomy by grassroots movements, indigenous groups, and digital communities seeking to reclaim control over digital infrastructures and governance. Meanwhile, technology giants are asserting their own sovereignty, managing vast digital supply chains, establishing independent data ecosystems, and influencing global governance structures. As digital sovereignty gains prominence, critical questions arise: How can national digital policies balance security and openness? What are the implications of sovereignty-driven regulation for global internet governance? How do corporate and grassroots actors reshape sovereignty debates? What tensions emerge between digital sovereignty and democratic principles? What is the role of scholars and epistemic communities in framing discourses and practices of digital sovereignty? These issues highlight the urgent need for interdisciplinary research and dialogue. We invite submissions that explore digital sovereignty from multiple perspectives, including political science, law, economics, communication studies, and science and technology studies. The themed issue of Rivista di Digital Politics will serve as a platform for scholars and practitioners to engage in meaningful discussions about the shifting landscape of digital governance. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: - Theoretical and conceptual frameworks of digital sovereignty - Comparative analyses of national digital sovereignty policies - The economic dimensions of digital sovereignty: global integration vs. protectionism - Geopolitical strategies and digital sovereignty - Digital constitutionalism, new powers and the rule of law in cyberspace - Data localization, digital infrastructures, and national security - The impact of sovereignty on digital rights, privacy, and surveillance - Corporate digital sovereignty and transnational technology governance - The role of international organizations in shaping digital sovereignty - Standardization, interoperability, and competing technological ecosystems - Cybersecurity, weaponization, digital militarization, and strategic autonomy - Digital sovereignty in relation to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies - Internet fragmentation and the future of global connectivity The themed issue of Rivista di Digital Politics seeks to foster a dynamic and critical discussion on digital sovereignty’s evolving role in global governance. Scholars interested in participating are invited to submit an abstract of max. 800 words (including a bibliography) + an introductory note by the author(s) of no more than 100 words, *by 30/11/2025*. Abstracts should be sent to: redazione(a)digitalpolitics.it Those who have submitted abstracts will receive a response within two weeks. Final papers should be sent by 04/05/2026, and these should be between 6,000 and 8,000 words, including notes and bibliography. Articles can be written in English or Italian. Articles are peer-reviewed on a double-blind basis. We warmly invite scholars from diverse disciplines and methodological approaches to contribute. Please feel free to forward this call to colleagues and networks who might be interested. We look forward to receiving your submissions. Best wishes

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[computing agency rubata] Fwd: Reverse Engineering the Miele Diagnostic Interface
by Andrea Trentini Nov. 17, 2025

Nov. 17, 2025

Un altro, ormai ne arriva uno al giorno... <https://hackaday.com/2025/11/17/reverse-engineering-the-miele-diagnostic-in…> Anche qui sottolineo una frase: "leading to the firmware becoming unhappy and refusing to work." Che personifica e rende quasi "simpatico" (ma anche no) un fatto grave. Auto, computer, termostati, aspirapolvere, amplificatori audio... l'enshittification dilaga, unica arma rimasta: il reverse engineering. Che tristezza! -- Andrea Trentini ⠠⠵ - http://atrent.it - public key ID: 0xA7A91E3B - Dip.to di Informatica - Università degli Studi di Milano Cittadinanza Digitale e Tecnocivismo - https://www.ledizioni.it/prodotto/cittadinanza-digitale-tecnocivismo - https://edizionithemis.it/catalogo/digitale-e-societa/dal-tecnocivismo-alla… Sistemi Embedded - https://www.ledizioni.it/prodotto/a-carraturo-a-trentini-sistemi-embedded-t… [se vedete un allegato OpenPGP_0x72C15962A7A91E3B.asc e non riuscite ad aprirlo NON preoccupatevi, è la mia firma digitale, alcuni programmi di posta elettronica (outlook, gmail, ...) non sanno gestirla]

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Proiezione di In the belly of IA al CSOA Forte Prenestino - Roma
by graffio Nov. 17, 2025

Nov. 17, 2025

Care e cari nexiani, per quelli che si troveranno a Roma giovedì 20 novembre avrete l'occasione di vedere il film-doc "In the belly of IA" sugli operai del clic che allenano e moderano l'intelligenza artificial, per la regia di Henri Poulain di cui è co-autore Antonio Casilli. Il film sarà proiettato nel cinema del Centro Sociale Forte Prenestino. Qui le informazioni sulla proiezione: https://www.forteprenestino.net/attivita/cinema/3456-in-the-belly-of-ai Segnalo inoltre l'intervista ad Antonio Casilli sull'argomento nella puntata di domenica sera di Le Dita Nella Presa, trasmissione radiofonica di approfondimento sulla tecnologia in onda tutte le domeniche su Radio Onda Rossa: http://www.ondarossa.info/newstrasmissioni/dita-nella-presa/2025/11/nel-ven… buona giornata m -- Maurizio "Graffio" Pillole di informazione digitale - https://pillole.graffio.org/ "C.I.R.C.E. - https://circex.org" AvANa -https://avana.forteprenestino.net/

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Nuovo libro: "Digital Authoritarianism in the Making", The MIT Press
by Francesca Musiani Nov. 17, 2025

Nov. 17, 2025

Care colleghe, cari colleghi, Permettetemi di annunciare che "Digital Authoritarianism in the Making: Repression and Resistance on the Russian Internet", co-curato da Françoise Daucé, Benjamin Loveluck e la sottoscritta, è pubblicato da MIT Press. https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262553674/digital-authoritarianism-in-the-maki… Frutto di un programma di ricerca quinquennale, ResisTIC (2018-2022, finanziato dall'ANR, l'Agenzia Nazionale Francese per la Ricerca), si tratta di una traduzione rivista, aggiornata e ampliata di "Genèse d'un autoritarisme numérique" (2023, Presses des Mines). Siamo lieti di poter beneficiare del programma D2O (Direct to Open), finanziato dalle biblioteche partecipanti. La versione OA del libro è disponibile qui https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-edited-volume/6043/Digital-Authoritarianism… e ci auguriamo che raggiunga un vasto pubblico internazionale. Cordiali saluti Francesca -- Francesca Musiani, Ph.D. Directrice de recherche | Research Professor, CNRS <http://www.cnrs.fr> Directrice | Director, Centre Internet et Société <https://cis.cnrs.fr/> (UPR 2000 CNRS) Directrice adjointe | Deputy Director, GDR Internet, IA et Société <https://cis.cnrs.fr/presentation-gdr/> (GDR 2091 CNRS) I'm also associated with: i3-CSI <http://www.csi.ensmp.fr/>, MINES ParisTech | Internet Governance Lab <https://internetgovernancelab.org>, American University I co-lead projects: DIGISOV <https://digisov.org> | ClaimSov <https://cis.cnrs.fr/claimsov/> I'm an advisor for: ISOC France <https://www.isoc.fr> | ANSSI <https://www.ssi.gouv.fr/agence/rayonnement-scientifique/conseil-scientifiqu…> | IAMCR <https://iamcr.org/governance/int-council> I help co-editing Internet Policy Review <https://policyreview.info> I'm here on the Web (FR <https://cis.cnrs.fr/francesca-musiani/> | EN <https://cis.cnrs.fr/en/francesca_musiani/>), including my publications.

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etichette per contenuti generati da IA
by Andrea Bolioli Nov. 17, 2025

Nov. 17, 2025

Ciao a tutte/i alcuni dei temi di cui discutiamo in lista si collegano al tema dell'etichettatura obbligatoria dei contenuti generati da IA, che a me sembra in generale una buona idea, ma non sono un esperto in materia. Condivido 2 articoletti: https://www.wired.it/article/commissione-europea-codice-condotta-etichettat… https://www.agendadigitale.eu/cultura-digitale/contenuti-ai-senza-etichetta… E' la via che si sta adottando in Cina? Dal mio punto di vista è importante intervenire velocemente non tanto con una soluzione tecnica perfetta, che comunque non esiste (tecnicamente nel 2025 si possono rubare gioielli al Louvre, quindi si può fare tutto), ma con un'ampia iniziativa legale e sociale che evidenzi il tema a tutti, o almeno a molti. E' utile poter sapere se una cosa è fiction o documentario o comunque sapere che sono 2 cose diverse, e poter sapere chi sono gli autori di un contenuto. Questi temi si sono prestati e si prestano a complesse speculazioni semiotico filosofiche storiche; d'altra parte in molti pensiamo che sia utile fare qualcosa di socialmente utile velocemente. Grazie, Andrea

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126° Nexa Lunch Seminar e Incontro con Raffaele Sciortino | 26 novembre 2025
by Nexa - Media Nov. 17, 2025

Nov. 17, 2025

Gentilissime, gentilissimi, Vi invitiamo a partecipare a due incontri che si terranno nella giornata di mercoledì 26 novembre: * 126° Nexa Lunch Seminar, dal titolo “Il lato oscuro dei social network” Ospite: Serena Mazzini (Esperta di social media strategy) Dalle ore 13.00 alle ore 14.00 Maggiori dettagli: https://nexa.polito.it/lunch-126 * Incontro in presenza e da remoto. * STANZA VIRTUALE dell'incontro: https://didattica.polito.it/VClass/NexaEvent * * Seminario dal titolo “Stati Uniti e Cina allo scontro globale" Ospite: Raffaele Sciortino (Università degli Studi di Milano) Dalle ore 15.30 alle ore 17.00 Maggiori dettagli: https://nexa.polito.it/stati-uniti-e-cina-allo-scontro-globale/ * Incontro solo in presenza. SEDE FISICA: entrambi gli incontri si terranno presso il Centro Nexa su Internet e Società, Politecnico di Torino, Via Boggio 65/a, Torino (1° piano). Per accedere alla sala si raccomanda di suonare al citofono Portineria e di seguire le indicazioni segnalate lungo il percorso. QUI<https://nexa.polito.it/contatti> <https://nexa.polito.it/contatti> maggiori informazioni su come raggiungerci. Cordiali saluti, -- Valeria Bergantino Communication Manager Nexa Center for Internet & Society Politecnico di Torino – DAUIN Via Pier Carlo Boggio, 65/a – 10138 Torino web: https://nexa.polito.it mail: valeria.bergantino(a)polito.it<mailto:valeria.bergantino@polito.it> tel: 3473443585

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AI-generated poverty porn
by Andrea Rossi Nov. 17, 2025

Nov. 17, 2025

*Info Cooperazione* denuncia i rischi dell'uso di immagini sintetiche da parte di ONG e Organizzazioni Internazionali per le loro campagne di sensibilizzazione e raccolta fondi: --8<----------------------------inizio---------------------->8--- Stereotipi generati artificialmente, il rischio della pornografia della povertà 2.0 https://www.info-cooperazione.it/2025/11/stereotipi-generati-artificialment… --8<-----------------------------fine----------------------->8--- Sul contenuto dell'articolo concordo; a latere, noto uno stile vagamente /chatgptesco/ che si sta diffondendo inesorabile. Magari l'intero articolo è frutto di fatica umana, ed è evoluto da appunti su carta a testi digitati carattere per carattere, però mi sembra che la cifra del tempo si stampi evidente su ogni testo prodotto in questi anni. La lettura sta diventando sempre più efficiente - e terribilmente noiosa. -- Andrea Rossi

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