Amanda Florian 小爱
@Amanda_Florian
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journalist by day. singer by night. ☕️ reporting on tech, China, & more. bylines: @CNN @NYTimes @WashingtonPost @WIRED @Forbes @MorningBrew
NYC | Shanghai | Puerto Rico
Joined March 2012
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Pinned Tweet
OK, tried grasshoppers and cicadas in Kaifeng and, now, two scorpions in Beijing. Would you do it? 🙋🙋
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Hi, I'm a tech reporter that covers China, cybersecurity, & new media. Hundreds of people are sharing this photo of Xi Jinping & Vladimir Putin as they meet at the Kremlin. The two did meet, but it's highly likely this photo was generated by an AI program. Here's why: 🧵
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Some are probably wondering, why go through all of this trouble to verify? AI is incredible, but it can clearly be used in manipulative & harmful ways. I believe proper disclosure is needed if you're sharing these kinds of photos. Even if it's a joke or meme—disclose that (!!)
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extra extra—landed my first story in the NYT!!!! 🩷
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I then ran the image through an AI image detector created by Hugging Face, a French tech company that provides tools for machine learning and software development. According to their image detector, the photo is indeed artificial.
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All of this to say, you can't trust everything you see on the internet.
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First of all, the genuine images and videos coming out of Moscow show the men in a different room with a different set of chairs. But that's too easy, right? Let's see what AI has to say.
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Xi's hair has some irregular noise and blurriness, which is usually a good indication that an image is GAN-generated. If you look carefully, you'll also see the slightly hooded ear on Xi and some irregular bumps on Putin's ear.
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I ran the photo through a few reverse-search sites, where I saw a minimum of 239 instances of the photo on sites and social platforms with origins in Hong Kong, Poland, and Ukraine.
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Of course, I ran another human-generated photo through their system as the control, and the detector passed.
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That didn't help much because it told me lots of people were re-posting the photo, but it didn't reveal any sort of source image that the person or machine could have used to create the photo.
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@sineadbovell
me!! and sometimes I put my email in the recipient section so that it saves as a proper draft 😂
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This adorable kid walked up to me after Bernie Sanders' rally. Wanted a handshake from Bernie, but got a hug instead
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Russia invaded Ukraine. Then Spotify users bombarded the music scene with violent, pro-war messages. My latest investigative piece for
@USATODAY
.
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People gathering to protest Pres. Trump's executive order on immigration. Protestors shouting, "No ban, no wall. Rights for all."
#MuslimBan
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today's my first day as a contract reporter for
@MorningBrew
's IT Brew section!! hmu with pitches, scoops, and warm wishes. I'm covering all things IT—so think cybersec, hackers, data breaches, gen AI, and more. ☕️ amanda(dot)florian(at)morningbrew(dot)com
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🚨 In other news.... excited to announce a new job at Forbes! For the next 5 months, I'll be working on a lineup for the first ever 30 Under 30 list for Puerto Rico!! ❤️🇵🇷 So blessed and thankful to God for this opportunity.
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Here’s how a stock image—that looked like me—made its way to Chinese marketplaces. With each repost and edit, I grew more convinced that it was me.
My latest for
@WIRED
, with insight from
@neil_sahota
,
@HowardHYu
, Rijul Gupta, Horace Lam & other experts.
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@ivancedric_a
it's a Puerto Rican thing too!! I call all of my cousins' kids my nieces/nephews
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looking for a graphic designer to make cover art for my radio show/podcast coming soon to Ximalaya & Spotify~ DMs open. drop your recs below 👇
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"What's the 'Umbrella Movement?'"
OK, here's a (super) quick history lesson: The Umbrella Movement was a civil disobedience movement that lasted for 79 consecutive days. Protesters used umbrellas to shield themselves from pepper spray, tear gas, etc. ...
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I'm looking to chat with people who used apps like Duolingo and/or wordsearch puzzle apps to help alleviate brain fog symtpoms associated w/ COVID. DMs open.
#sourcerequest
#journorequest
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really thankful to the dating app users who trusted me with this important story. my piece for Elle, w/ insight from experts
@OlgaNYC1211
,
@EtoBuziashvili
, & more.
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@KekePalmer
fr!! every time I open the app, I have to quickly press the save button so I can find that post again after it refreshes. 😂
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So, you're telling me a journalist created and shared 56 fake, AI-generated images for clout & then asked for money to support their work?
All this time, we thought we'd be fighting disinformation from bad actors, and now we're the ones creating it. Highly problematic.
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@weischoice
we still stan u, waiting for your newsletter is like waiting for a package on amazon 🥰
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this is horrifying and only shows the need for more regulation and global guidelines when it comes to deepfakes & AI
This is just a new way to sexually harass women. It’s taking away your bodily autonomy and forcing you into nonconsensual sexual material, which can then be used to humiliate and discriminate against you. Not to mention the psychological effects
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the kim possible to journalist pipeline is alive and well, folks.
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For Morning Brew/IT Brew, I'm looking to chat with AI investors to better understand what they look for in an AI startup. amanda(dot)florian(at)morningbrew(dot)com.
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(editors, I have a scoop and am looking for a tech editor to commission the piece)
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For Vox, I spent the past seven months diving into celebrity hacks affecting thousands of Meta users. Please give it a read.
@voxdotcom
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@DrewPavlou
see this thread for more:
Hi, I'm a tech reporter that covers China, cybersecurity, & new media. Hundreds of people are sharing this photo of Xi Jinping & Vladimir Putin as they meet at the Kremlin. The two did meet, but it's highly likely this photo was generated by an AI program. Here's why: 🧵
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any mobile app developers in my Twitter timeline? please DM me w/ a quick bio if you'd like to collab on a future passion project 👀✨
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For Morning Brew/IT Brew, I'm looking to chat w/ a few experts on AI, Taiwan, and domains/hosting sites for two upcoming stories. DMs open. amanda(dot)florian(at)morningbrew(dot)com.
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still thinking about the time a guy immediately unmatched me after finding out I was a journalist. lol what are you hiding? 😂😂
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I addressed the ethics of deepfakes and AI use in this feature for WIRED, where I discovered my likeness had been plastered all over Chinese marketplaces
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people can hate on public relations reps all they want, but IMO they are some of the most resilient & dependable people I know
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back in the U.S. after a fruitful & productive press trip to Morocco with the Foreign Press Association 🇺🇲🇲🇦
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For the Washington Post, I'm looking to chat with 1-2 experts who can provide insight on tech & accessibility.
DMs are open, or you can reach me at hello(at)amandaflorian(dot)com. ty!
#sourcerequest
#journorequests
#prrequest
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For Morning Brew, I'm looking to chat with a few experts for a story on tech & accessibility for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. DMs open. Will provide more details once we connect.
#sourcerequest
#journorequest
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#journorequest
I'm looking for pitches from people 30 and under who have unique hobbies or interesting stories that could be told in a couple short-form documentaries.
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I think there's a big opportunity here for
@MorningBrew
with this slight name change. yeah, we all love coffee with our news—but morning dew? winner. I want a newsletter that reminds me of fresh rain, tranquility, & eucalyptus🌸
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hey Twitter!💡 I'm looking for candidates for Forbes' 30 under 30 North America list in the energy category (electricity, oil, gas, etc.). also really interested in those at the intersection of energy + tech. send recs: aflorian(at)forbes(dot)com. DMs open.
#journorequest
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@versharma
@TeenVogue
Hi Versha! 👋 I'm a freelance journalist available for on-call duties during the holidays + work in the new year. I've produced content for ELLE, CNN, Insider, Vice World News, and others. I just sent you a DM with more info. xx
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my sister asked the Starbucks barista to write fiancée & this is what we got 😂💍lollll
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Under the Taliban’s regime, music is sinful and a crime. But for many in Afghanistan, especially musicians and K-pop enthusiasts, it’s an escape. It’s a secret symbol of peace.
New from me and Abdul Wahab Siddiqi for
@newlinesmag
:
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Curious to know what users on Chinese TikTok think of Putin? I've got the story for
@ForeignPolicy
.
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happy sunday. excited to share this vibrant piece with y'all this a.m.! 🌻
@NBCLatino
@NBCNews
"When I'm speaking Chinese, I'm more calm. When I'm speaking English, I'm probably a bit more open, and when I speak Spanish, I'm very 'wow.'"
In China, more young people are learning Spanish and embracing Latino culture
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Outer me: smile, wave, and walk like an elegant princess
Inner me: take a selfie with Doug the Pug
#shortyaward
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Thank you for sharing your insight for this scoop on Spotify:
@mishazelinsky
,
@OlgaNYC1211
,
@etbrooking
!
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who else grew up reading The Royal Diaries & Girls of Many Lands?💁
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For IT Brew, I'm looking to chat with a business-minded expert who can talk about why/how companies & startups pivot to cybersec
amanda(dot)florian(at)morningbrew(dot)com
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I'm back with another story for
@DiscoverMag
! These COVID-19 patients started using
@duolingo
to help with their sluggish thinking — and neuroscience can explain why that makes sense.
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wait, can we make this happen?? 😂
@duolingo
Language learning is hard... so we made it soft.
It's time to turn your bathroom into a classroom with our latest innovation: Duolingo Roll – toilet paper (yes, toilet paper) that teaches you phrases in new languages! 🧻
#DuolingoRoll
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#BREAKING
: Family says Otto Warmbier, Ohio native held in North Korea, died at 2:20 p.m. today.
#OttoWarmbier
(via
@WCPO
)
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Ukraine is being invaded. Women are being raped. Children killed. Hospitals bombed. And yet, this person thinks Ukrainians should instead focus on the "One China" policy.
Ukraine has no respect for China's sovereignty at all, their stance even worse than the US
The 2 flags circled, are of the province of Taiwan and the Hong Kong rioter's flag
A Thread🧵about the war in Ukraine from the Chinese perspective
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Interesting that most of the comments here imply that Douyin and TikTok are the same app. They are not, and Hank is right. Douyin (抖音) is the Chinese, original version of TikTok that Bytedance rolled out in 2016. TikTok came a year later. 🧵
Tiktok is banned in China, which makes this whole conversation almost otherworldly.
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ready for the National Press Club 4th Estate Award Gala tonight ❤️✨
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hi twitter! I'm looking to relocate to the NY or DC area in coming months, and I'd love leads for all types of work related to the following: 🧵
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#LickMyFace
challenge? As long as it's for a good cause! Plus, Chocolate really loves PB (and me). //
@TeaLeoni
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@CloeyCallahan
I always send a link to anyone that makes the final cut of a story! I feel like it's a simple way to show appreciation, and it only takes a few mins. Plus, it's a good way to keep in touch w/ sources you know you'll reach out to again for future stories
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it's that time of the year! I'm rounding up a few of my favorite feature stories that I worked on in 2022. grab a cup of coffee & read along xx ☕️
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Alpaca influencers on Douyin say the app is erroneously classifying their pets as “protected animals,” and cutting off their ability to livestream.
My latest for
@restofworld
. Thanks for chatting,
@wongmjane
. S/O to
@lmatsakis
for the edits. ✨
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China’s zero-COVID policies are stirring xenophobia. For foreigners living in China, disease stigma and mistrust have become commonplace over the last two years.
My analysis for
@ForeignPolicy
👇 (with insight from
@SariArhoHavren
and
@AzizSulayman
)
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grab coffee with me, & check out my latest feature for
@MorningBrew
. let me know what you think below! 👇
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friendly reminder that I'm open to unique scoops & story ideas on the cybersec industry, hackers, breaches, AI, data & analytics, and more🍨
amanda(dot)florian(at)morning brew(dot)com
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incredible evening covering the BIGO LIVE Awards in Singapore, which celebrates livestreamers from around the globe~✨
#BIGOLIVE
#BigoLiveAwards
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Made a pit stop at Elizabeth Seton High School to chat with high schoolers about digital photography, journalism, and the art of storytelling. 🙌
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yesterday I found out my grandpa has a file on his laptop where he keeps articles I write among other things I send him, and if that isn't love idk what is 😭❤️
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hackers, spammers, and other bad actors will happily buy an ad if it means more clicks, more downloads, & more re-directs. $8 to show up on everyone's For You page? boom. easy win for them.
Starting April 15th, only verified accounts will be eligible to be in For You recommendations.
The is the only realistic way to address advanced AI bot swarms taking over. It is otherwise a hopeless losing battle.
Voting in polls will require verification for same reason.
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#DEVELOPING
: Spotify is currently down, causing users to be signed out of their accounts. The Spotify Status account tweeted they are working on resolving the issue.
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@katiecouric
Instagram appears to be down for many of us--over 70,000 outage reports as of 10:25 a.m.
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ICYMI: I recently worked on a piece for
@theinformation
about lip-dubbing platforms like HeyGen, Verbalate, LipDub and more. Let's test out some of these platforms to see how they compare 🎥👄
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hi
@Disney
! I have a small but v important request. I dressed up as Elsa yesterday for my niece's bday party (freelance journalists wear MANY hats!! when I'm not freelancing, I'm singing/teaching voice lessons/working on films/etc.)
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What an invaluable week! Grateful to
@nytimes
&
@ACOSalliance
for the chance to participate in this year's Adversarial Reporting Training w/ such brilliant storytellers by my side.
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quick detour in the airport this morning and spotted one of my articles in print! 👀✨
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New from me ahead of today's congressional hearing on TikTok. If the US bans TikTok, WeChat might be next.
via
@WIRED
Featuring insights from
@DakotaInDC
, Adam Marrè, & more.
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#BREAKING
: The U.S. Commerce Department will issue an order today that will bar people in the United States from downloading WeChat & TikTok starting on September 20, Reuters reports.
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ICYMI: I broke this story for Foreign Policy on Chinese TikTok users and their undying support for Putin. I scrolled through hundreds upon hundreds of comments, music video montages, & other pro-Putin videos on Douyin (China's separate and original version of TikTok) 🧵
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Live forecast: Donald Trump has a 73 percent chance of winning North Carolina, as of 9:33 p.m. ET via
@nytimes
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🇺🇸 It’s a bad day when anyone gets hacked. But it’s an even worse day when it’s a federal agency of the United States of America.
🕵️♀️ Here's what you can do to keep your X account safe from hackers—featuring insight from
@RachelTobac
@MorningBrew
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yesterday, I emailed a reputable news org, pitching them two video stories I could produce related to the war in Ukraine, & they replied with:
"please unsubscribe me from this list."
I just... I have no words.
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After India turned the lights out on TikTok, the ban inspired copycats and led to a coup for Meta—foreshadowing what could happen in the U.S. I dived into this and more for
@theinformation
.
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It's 2023, and AI lip-syncing apps have arrived. For
@theinformation
, I explored new AI platforms that give video creators the ability to communicate in a foreign language within minutes.
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Earlier this month, I broke this story for USA TODAY on violent, pro-war, and pro-Taliban content that can easily be found on Spotify. Has anything changed?
Russia invaded Ukraine. Then Spotify users bombarded the music scene with violent, pro-war messages. My latest investigative piece for
@USATODAY
.
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For Morning Brew/ IT Brew, I'm looking to chat with an expert on Taiwan and the semiconductor industry. DMs open or email me: amanda(dot)florian(at)morningbrew(dot)com .
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