Social Media

The Most Desired Anti-AI Gadget: A Cyberdeck

The Most Desired Anti-AI Gadget: A Cyberdeck

sparta

After the launch of a particular book, a group of enthusiasts started to experiment with their own electronic configurations to craft DIY devices, frequently for hacking or on-the-go coding. Conventionally, these gadgets, referred to as decks, were akin to sturdy laptops featuring a screen and keyboard, engineered to be practical and packed in a resilient briefcase for survival situations. A year ago, a niche YouTuber presented a video entitled “DIY Doomsday Cyberdeck EMAIL/TEXT without INTERNET,” utilizing the “prepper” hashtag.

Tan’s cyberdeck is distinctive for its aesthetic. Within a redesigned clamshell handbag is a Raspberry Pi computer equipped with a petite keyboard and display. It adheres to standard hardware, yet the deck’s feminine facade and intricate design defy conventional expectations. “I haven’t seen anyone create a hyper-femme version before,” she remarks, while appreciating the tactical designs of existing decks but desiring one that reflects her own style. “I have always been quite anti-minimalist,” she continues. “In my life, I crave color, and I want everything I possess to express that it represents me.”

To reduce reliance on the internet, Tan filled her mermaid cyberdeck with an array of files from her computer, such as songs, books, maps, Wikipedia entries, and cat pictures. When linked to a custom mouse, it can even operate Doom.

Tan also showcased a solar panel-equipped deck on TikTok. The majority of her TikTok viewers are female. “Many reacted with, ‘Oh, I didn’t realize you could create a computer like this. I thought it needed to be a gray box, like every other Mac or Dell or whatever,’” states Ling Lu, a product designer from New York City, who was motivated by Tan’s videos to develop her own unique gadget, the “cyberduck” audio journal, a bird-shaped recording device for personal use.

Elon Musk's XChat App Looks More Like Facebook's Messenger Than Signal

Elon Musk’s XChat App Looks More Like Facebook’s Messenger Than Signal

sparta

Elon Musk utilized Friday to share critiques of rivals after the debut of the XChat app, a standalone messaging service for X users. “Signal, WhatsApp, Telegram, and iMessage all have significant security issues,” stated a message Musk shared, asserting that “XChat is the sole secure, encrypted messaging application.” Encryption specialists I consulted voiced measured skepticism regarding XChat’s implementation and supported other platforms like Signal.

A primary worry concerning XChat is that users are required to link an existing X account for login. “I’m somewhat wary of that since more data points equate to more tracking,” remarks Maria Villegas Bravo from the Electronic Privacy Information Center. She perceives Musk’s earlier criticisms of other apps as self-serving.

When Musk initially presented XChat as an upgraded, encrypted version of X direct messages, security professionals raised concerns about the storage of users’ cryptographic keys on X’s servers. “Considering XChat’s track record of security flaws, I would hesitate to use it until it undergoes a comprehensive audit,” states Cooper Quintin from the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Musk aims for the discussion to zero in on which encrypted messaging app reigns supreme. However, after trying XChat, it feels more akin to Facebook’s Messenger. Rather than launching an elegant, new application, Musk revealed a straightforward extension of his social media platform that features encrypted messaging.

When the XChat team disclosed the app’s launch, the initial release date on Apple’s App Store was set for April 17 but was postponed several times before its surprise launch on April 24. The appropriate app did not consistently appear in searches, with a Russian-language app called “XChat App” briefly ascending Apple’s download rankings. “Scam app,” cautioned one user review.

Upon XChat’s eventual launch, access was initially restricted to the U.S., leaving U.K. users feeling disappointed. “UK should be live soon; had one issue,” wrote X’s head of product, Nikita Bier. Bier attributed the confusion early downloaders faced during the onboarding process to Apple.

After downloading XChat, I found it challenging to locate contacts to message. None of my top iMessage contacts possess X accounts, emphasizing XChat’s niche attraction. After revisiting my old DMs, I revived a few conversations. Following my messages, a pop-up confirmed, “This conversation is now end-to-end encrypted.” Despite this, no responses were received, just some emoji reactions.

Former CIA Agent Becomes Sensation in Pursuit of Trump Pardon

Former CIA Agent Becomes Sensation in Pursuit of Trump Pardon

sparta

A couple of weeks back, John Kiriakou got a call from his 16-year-old niece who said, “Uncle John, you’re blowing up on TikTok.” Kiriakou, a 61-year-old ex-CIA officer who was incarcerated in 2013 for disclosing classified information about the agency’s torture program in the Middle East, was unaware of what she meant. He doesn’t use TikTok and mainly relies on Facebook. Nevertheless, excerpts from a podcast Kiriakou recorded in January with Steven Bartlett, the host of the Diary of a CEO show that boasts over 15 million YouTube subscribers, were going viral without any input from him.

For almost two decades, Kiriakou has been pursuing a presidential pardon. From 1990 to 2004, he served as a CIA analyst and counterterrorism officer, leading a 2002 operation to capture Abu Zubaydah, a figure linked to al Qaeda’s training camps. The CIA subjected Zubaydah to waterboarding during his detention. Kiriakou later revealed the agency’s torture practices in a 2007 ABC News interview, after which he worked as a terrorism consultant. Five years later, the Justice Department indicted Kiriakou, who confessed to leaking the identity of a covert operative to the media, who was involved in CIA interrogations.

Even though Kiriakou completed his prison term by 2015, he is still seeking a presidential pardon to restore his reputation and recover years’ worth of pension contributions. “I served 20 years with pride at the federal level. My pension was $700,000,” Kiriakou explains. “Without that pension, I’ll have to work until the end of my days. It was unjust for them to take it from me, and I want it back. A pardon is the only way I can reclaim it.”

Lately, he has explored official avenues and engaged with President Donald Trump’s informal and pricey clemency market. Thus far, his efforts have not yielded results. Now, he’s adopted a different strategy, appearing on some of the same podcasts Trump frequented during the 2024 election cycle. Clips of his conversations with Tucker Carlson and Joe Rogan, among others, continue to circulate, and the internet is reveling in it.

When Kiriakou joined Bartlett for the January podcast, it was a profound discussion regarding his CIA experiences, whistleblowing, and his nearly two-year incarceration. However, the anecdotes Kiriakou shares, such as gathering intelligence in nations like Pakistan or discussing the CIA’s MKUltra program, have garnered millions of views in “brainrot”-style edits across platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels.

“Catch you in two scrolls,” one commenter quipped on a clip featuring Kiriakou, humorously noting the abundance of his videos on their For You page.

A user known as @_bamboclat has been credited by Know Your Meme for popularizing these edited clips of Kiriakou recounting remarkable stories from his time abroad. These excerpts have racked up around 50 million views on the account.

“I first learned about him through podcasts on TikTok. I believe the reason everyone is drawn to him is that he’s an excellent storyteller,” says @_bamboclat, who chose not to disclose his real name. “He’s been sharing these tales for 20 years. The sped-up, slowed-down meme format of him is quite popular with Gen Z and the TikTok demographic.”

This virality has transformed Kiriakou into a cultural icon. In light of his newfound popularity, the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) signed him on. Cameo—the platform where users order customized videos from famous individuals—enlisted Kiriakou last month. He has produced over 700 videos for fans, priced at approximately $150 each. In one Cameo video, Kiriakou was requested to promote a woman’s nail salon. The clip is now being utilized to advertise the salon on TikTok.

When the Internet Breaks Down, Reality Vanishes

When the Internet Breaks Down, Reality Vanishes

sparta

Alaqad asserts that the loss of on-the-ground journalists equates to a loss of vital truths, as mainstream media outlets dictate the storyline. “Voices that are silenced and censored prevent us from fully grasping events,” she remarks.

During crises, disrupted communication leads to a lack of accountability and overlooked injustices. “Injustice shouts,” Alaqad claims, “while justice must be even louder.”

Journalists encounter ongoing suppression. In December 2025, Reporters Without Borders highlighted the deaths of 67 journalists that year, with 43 percent occurring in Gaza at the hands of Israeli forces. Since October 7, 2023, RSF reports over 220 fatalities among journalists in Gaza, whereas the UN reports a figure exceeding 260.

Dagher points out that the media blackout is part of a comprehensive tactic that includes limited movement and communication. Israel refutes the claim of targeting journalists.

“Murders of journalists stifle the truth,” Alaqad states. This leads to several consequences—diminishing on-ground reports and portraying journalists as dangers. “Such a message discourages individuals from interacting with journalists,” she observes.

Her protective press gear signaled her as a target, causing her mother to worry about her safety. Initial warm greetings and hospitality shifted to caution upon witnessing the targeting of journalists, Alaqad reflects.

Operating in Gaza involved navigating unpredictable conditions. Plans seldom extended beyond daylight hours, and circumstances rapidly evolved. “Uncertainty is the sole certainty,” Alaqad notes.

She frequently discovered that those she interviewed were subsequently killed in airstrikes. Now residing in Beirut, she studies media at the American University, backed by the Shireen Abu Akleh scholarship, named in honor of a journalist who lost her life due to Israeli forces.

Her widespread social media presence unveiled the truth of Gaza, yet also put her life at risk. While digital reporting reaches a broad audience, its permanence remains unstable, as accounts and content can vanish in an instant.