[Libs-Or] Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions Intellectual Freedom Newsletter – December 2023

[Jennifer Keyser]

 Greetings Oregon Library Community,

Please find below the December edition of Multnomah County Library's
Intellectual Freedom Newsletter. A PDF version of the newsletter is
attached.

Thanks for reading and all your work around intellectual freedom.

Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions
Intellectual Freedom Newsletter – December 2023

------------------------------

Intellectual Freedom News
A deep dive into what libraries offer and why they matter: Why We Need
Public Libraries Now More than Ever
<https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2023/11/12/public-libraries-boston/>
(Boston Magazine, 41 min). See also, libraries as critical to rural
infrastructure
<https://www.stalbertgazette.com/local-news/libraries-should-be-treated-as-critical-infrastructure-in-rural-communities-advocates-say-7797224>
(St. Albert Gazette, 5 min). The Death Panel podcast looks at libraries as
the commons and a place of political contestation: Taking Back the Library
<https://soundcloud.com/deathpanel/taking-back-the-library-w-mariame-kaba-melissa-gira-grant-110923>
(SoundCloud, 1 hour 50 minutes, includes transcript). Interfaith Alliance
created a Book Bans Primer
<https://interfaithalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Book-Bans-Primer.pdf>
to support people of diverse faiths in fighting book bans. (access, equity)

Several lawsuits have emerged around state legislation and school boards
limiting access to  library materials. Florida makes the argument that school
libraries have the right to remove LGBTQ books
<https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/12/04/school-libraries-lgbtq-florida-book-ban-government-speech/71801138007/>
(USA Today, 11 min). This interactive article from Washington Post on
the personal
impact of book challenges and legislation in Florida
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/12/21/florida-school-book-bans-escambia-county/>
(20 min). (censorship, first amendment, legislation)

Other legal action taking place around the country: A lawsuit addressing
the book rating legislation
<https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/29/texas-hb-900-book-rating-lawsuit-appeal/>
is happening in Texas (Texas Tribune, 5 min). Read the defenses against the
use of ratings: Amicus Briefs on Texas Book Rating Law
<https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/93787-numerous-organizations-urge-appeals-court-to-block-texas-book-rating-law.html>
(Publishers Weekly, 9 min). In Iowa a LGBTQ+ rights group sues the state
<https://apnews.com/article/book-ban-iowa-lawsuit-lgbtq-162e4e7c135bd2c08820f4c52c386bdf>
for banning school library books, gender identity discussion (AP News, 4
min). Related, Random House, a teachers union and several best-selling
authors are taking legal action
<https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2023/11/30/penguin-random-house-teachers-union-authors-john-green-jodi-picoult-sue-iowa-over-school-book-bans/71753283007/>
against the Iowa law (Des Moines Register, 11 min). In Arkansas there
is a federal
suit challenging Arkansas’ library obscenity law set for trial in October
2024
<https://arkansasadvocate.com/2023/12/01/federal-suit-challenging-arkansas-library-obscenity-law-set-for-trial-in-october-2024/>.
Some states are considering withholding funding
<https://www.npr.org/2023/12/14/1219428691/librarians-will-be-watching-when-illinois-anti-book-ban-law-goes-into-effect>
as an anti-book ban tactic (NPR, 3 min). On the federal level, legislation
is being proposed to prevent book bans: Fight Book Bans Act
<https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4342895-florida-democrat-frost-proposes-bill-to-curb-book-bans/>
and Books Save Lives Act
<https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4360522-pressley-introduces-legislation-to-fight-book-bans/>
(The Hill). censorship, first amendment, legislation)

NPR reports on the proposal for book ratings: In the battle over books, who
gets to decide what's age-appropriate at libraries?
<https://www.npr.org/2023/11/28/1214523941/library-books-bans-age-appropriate-movie-ratings>
(12 min). An author makes the case for more transparency and credits in
publishing
<https://www.theatlantic.com/books/archive/2023/12/big-fiction-dan-sinykin-publishing/676389/>
(Atlantic, 15 min). An opinion piece examines the faults and values of
Goodreads: Let's Rescue Book Lovers From This Online Hellscape
<https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/24/opinion/goodreads-books-reviews.html>
(New York Times, 7 min)  (access, equity, censorship)

The Conversation highlights the proliferation of health misinformation on
social media
<https://theconversation.com/health-misinformation-is-rampant-on-social-media-heres-what-it-does-why-it-spreads-and-what-people-can-do-about-it-217059>,
explaining what it does, why it spreads and what people can do about it (8
min). See also,  a social psychologist explains the tactics
<https://theconversation.com/disinformation-is-rampant-on-social-media-a-social-psychologist-explains-the-tactics-used-against-you-216598>
of misinformation (The Conversation, 8 min). A new study finds that online
search results can increase belief in misinformation
<https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03665-4> (Nature, 6 min). (
disinformation)

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation lays out the
challenges with creating safe access for kids online: Lacking a Federal
Standard, States Try and Fail to Solve Problems Faced by Kids Online
<https://itif.org/publications/2023/11/17/lacking-a-federal-standard-states-try-and-fail-to-solve-problems-faced-by-kids-online/>
(6 min). Tech Policy Press outlines the underlying issues with KOSA: Will
Congress Resolve Tensions Over the Kids Online Safety Act in 2024?
<https://www.techpolicy.press/will-congress-resolve-tensions-over-the-kids-online-safety-act-in-2024/>
(5 min). (access, privacy)

The Federal Trade Commission issued an alert on scammers using QR codes
<https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/12/scammers-hide-harmful-links-qr-codes-steal-your-information>
(2 min). The Verge provides more context and more tips: QR codes can be
phishing scams in disguise
<https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/10/23995954/qr-code-scam-ftc-warning-phishing>
(2 min). (digital literacy)

A good reminder to not reuse passwords: Data Breach at 23andMe Affects 6.9
Million Profiles
<https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/04/us/23andme-hack-data.html> (New York
Times, 3 min). Also, your car might be watching you to keep you safe − at
the expense of your privacy
<https://theconversation.com/your-car-might-be-watching-you-to-keep-you-safe-at-the-expense-of-your-privacy-213213>
(The Conversation, 5 min). FYI: Study Reveals: Threads is the most Invasive
apps, shares 86% of your data with others
<https://themoneymongers.com/most-invasive-apps/> (The Money Mongers). On a
positive note, Google Maps is rolling out new protections for location data
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/12/14/google-maps-location-history/>
(The Washington Post, 4 min). See also: Fast Company highlights recent
privacy changes
<https://www.fastcompany.com/90997582/digital-privacy-had-some-big-wins-in-2023-thanks-to-apple-google-and-meta>
from big tech companies (Fast Company, 4 min). (privacy)

Finally, Mickey Mouse will be free of copyright restrictions, sorta: Mickey
Mouse enters public domain
<https://apnews.com/article/mickey-mouse-public-domain-disney-minnie-tigger-1dbfa3982a172334503bc8cf87302b6f>
(AP News, 7 min). Discover other works entering the public domain: What
Will Enter the Public Domain in 2024?
<https://publicdomainreview.org/features/entering-the-public-domain/2024/>
-an interactive piece (Public Domain Review),  Public Domain Day 2024
<https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2024/> (Duke Law School, 31
min) and Public Domain Day 2024 is Coming: Here's What to Know
<https://copyrightlately.com/public-domain-day-2024/> (Copyright Lately, 20
min). (copyright)

AI Corner
ChatGPT and its AI chatbot cousins ruled 2023: 4 essential reads that
puncture the hype
<https://theconversation.com/chatgpt-and-its-ai-chatbot-cousins-ruled-2023-4-essential-reads-that-puncture-the-hype-220035>
(The Conversation, 6 min). The Washington Post reports on Google’s new AI
tool ‘Gemini’
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/12/06/google-gemini-chatgpt-alternatives/>,
while highlighting the other AI offerings by big tech companies (10 min).

In a move to protect journalism and new sources, The New York Times sues
OpenAI and Microsoft for using its stories to train chatbots
<https://apnews.com/article/nyt-new-york-times-openai-microsoft-6ea53a8ad3efa06ee4643b697df0ba57>
(AP News, 6 min). (copyright)

More concerns around AI: AI generated images are biased, showing the world
through stereotypes
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2023/ai-generated-images-bias-racism-sexism-stereotypes/>,
(Washington Post, 12 min),  Personal Information Exploit With OpenAI’s
ChatGPT Model Raises Privacy Concerns
<https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/12/22/technology/openai-chatgpt-privacy-exploit.html>
(The
New York Times, 8 min) and The creepy AI-driven surveillance that may be
infiltrating workplaces
<https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-surveillance-detects-emotion-at-work-gets-you-fired-2023-11>
(Business Insider, 13 min). This Washington Post opinion piece muses over
the flaws of AI:  Honestly, I love when AI hallucinates
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/12/27/artificial-intelligence-hallucinations/>
(10 min). (disinformation, privacy, digital literacy)

Lastly, here are some different perspectives on AI: A Design company muses
over the potential of AI as it intersects with play and education
<https://modemworks.com/research/my-first-ai/> (12 min) and a more
philosophical take on how people relate and use technology: An Ecological
Technology with James Bridle
<https://emergencemagazine.org/interview/an-ecological-technology/>
(Emergence Magazine, audio with transcript, 56 min). A critical look
at the creative
limitations and impact on culture of AI
<https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/arts/design/artists-artificial-intelligence.html>
(New York Times, 8 min).

Additional Resources

ALA Intellectual Freedom Blog: https://www.oif.ala.org A blog dedicated to
intellectual freedom issues, and includes the Intellectual Freedom News
<https://www.oif.ala.org/category/intellectual-freedom-news/> –a weekly
roundup of IF related articles
Oregon Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Toolkit
<https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/iftoolkit/home> (published February 8,
2022). A range of tools and resources relating to IF challenges and
policies created by the OLA Intellectual Freedom Committee.

Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions is a monthly roundup of Intellectual
Freedom News compiled by the Multnomah County Library Intellectual Freedom
Committee. We welcome suggestions at lib.ifc at multco.us.

*Jennifer Keyser *(she/her)
*Policy Coordinator Librarian*
Monday - Friday
971-429-4699
Multnomah County Library
multcolib.org

[image: Copy of MultCoLib_2LineLogo_252px_RGB.jpg]
[This email was encrypted for your privacy and security]
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20231229/6ba5d34d/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: December2023_IntellectualFreedomNews.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 165172 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20231229/6ba5d34d/attachment.pdf>