Peace talks, AI surveillance & more

Last Saturday, a peace deal in the US and Israel’s war on Iran began to emerge. It would extend a cease-fire by 60 days. President Donald Trump also hoped to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Its closure is a direct result of the US and Israel starting this war and has led to skyrocketing gas prices. Trump said Saturday that the deal had been “largely negotiated.”

On Monday, Trump was “mandatorily requesting that all Countries immediately sign the Abraham Accords,” a set of treaties that would normalize relations with Israel. Also on Monday, the US struck Iran. The US called them “self-defense strikes,” while Iran’s foreign ministry said the US broke the cease-fire agreement. On Wednesday, Iran fired drones at a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

As of Thursday morning, US officials had told Axios that negotiators had reached a 60-day memorandum of understanding. They say the MOU would extend the ceasefire, allow “unrestricted” shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and include a commitment from Iran to not pursue a nuclear weapon. Further negotiations would cover sanctions relief from the US and disposing of Iran’s uranium.

Bipartisan criticism of surveillance company Flock Safety is growing. The company uses AI to track license plates on cars for speeding enforcement, but law enforcement can also use data the cameras collect for other kinds of enforcement, prompting concerns around the country of mass surveillance.

Cities like Bandera, Texas have moved to end their contracts with Flock. Police elsewhere have used Flock cameras to track their partners and ex-partners or allegedly stalk people they wanted to have a relationship with.

This also goes beyond local law enforcement. 404 Media has reported on ICE using Flock’s network and the FBI wanting to use it for warrantless surveillance.

This brings us to this week’s media literacy tip from our friends at MediaWise! For more AI literacy tips, check out alt+Ignite to elevate your understanding.

After retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward went on Fox News May 19, conspiracy theories that he wore a mask of his own face while he was on TV spread online. The theories largely stem from the shadows on Harward’s neck.

But contrary to what you may have seen online, someone’s neck looking weird on camera is not proof of a CIA mask. It also does not address the pretty reasonable assertion that getting on TV wearing a mask of yourself would be a bananas thing to do.

So, why does this guy’s neck look so weird? A Fox News spokesperson told Snopes that the shadow on Harward’s neck stemmed from lighting issues. And it’s always a good idea to not default toward taking Fox News at their word, but that does sound more reasonable than a guy going on TV wearing a mask of himself.

Dave recreated this in his own studio by arranging one light above him at a 45 degree angle and another below him at a 45 degree angle. That, combined with compression issues on the footage of this demonstration, left him with a pretty mask-looking neck.

Officials in Trump’s Treasury Department have pushed staff to print Trump’s face on a $250 bill. But those staffers told The Washington Post that they were worried about breaking federal law saying only dead people can appear on bills. The artist who designed the bill that the administration is trying to get printed also told The Post that he talked to Trump about it.

Putting living people on currency has been a longstanding tradition to avoid the appearance of a monarchy. It’s also been illegal since 1866, when a Treasury Department official put his own photo on banknotes and Congress got so annoyed by this that they passed a law about it. Since then, some living people have appeared on commemorative coins but not on anything actually meant to be used as money.

The head of the bureau that would be tasked with making this bill tried explaining these complications to administration officials. Then, she was reassigned to another role.

A recent study of men in high-risk jobs, reviewed by mental health education group SOS Signs of Suicide and LNI partner Harry’s found that these men say their jobs make them feel invisible.

The study found that commercial fishing “remains one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States.” One man in the mining industry said his job takes away from family time, and another who worked in construction said many colleagues were in denial over their substance abuse.

The study’s recommendations include more time off and flexible work schedules, new equipment and verbal appreciation of their work.

For suicide prevention resources, call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org