Archive - Red Packet

My Oslo Freedom Forum Keynote: Authoritarians and AI

China defines AI safety as “safe for the Party.” That model is being exported.

Jun 9 • Fergus Ryan

March 2026

Prediction markets are heading for a collision with Beijing

The platforms Western regulators are cracking down on may also be the best open-source window into Chinese politics we have

Mar 3 • Fergus Ryan

February 2026

Why I Still Watch X, Even Though I’d Rather Not

On platform decay, casual claims, and why some conversations are still impossible to ignore

Feb 3 • Fergus Ryan

December 2025

China’s AI is built for control — and it’s going global

What our new research reveals about the political logic built into China’s LLMs, vision models and “AI+” governance architecture.

Dec 2, 2025 • Fergus Ryan

November 2025

Beyond the AI Hype

The limits of scaling, the illusion of superintelligence, and what the U.S. can learn from China’s “AI+” approach.

Nov 2, 2025 • Fergus Ryan

March 2025

TikTok, the AEC, and the problem no one’s talking about

The AEC's move to join TikTok acknowledges the platform’s influence, but it overlooks the deeper risk of algorithmic manipulation and covert political…

Mar 11, 2025 • Fergus Ryan

A smarter approach to age verification? Apple thinks so

Apple’s new age verification system shifts responsibility to device manufacturers—echoing elements of China’s approach.

Mar 5, 2025 • Fergus Ryan

February 2024

MrBeast goes East

Plus, how TikTok is just the tip of the digital privacy iceberg.

Feb 5, 2024 • Fergus Ryan

September 2023

TikTok can't be trusted to tackle CCP-linked information ops

But the Australian government's anti disinformation bill could lead them towards greater transparency.

Sep 18, 2023 • Fergus Ryan

Examining Australia’s bid to curb online disinformation

Separating fact from fiction.

Sep 3, 2023 • Fergus Ryan

April 2023

TikTok's unique risk

All social media apps have problems with data privacy and content manipulation but the CCP's decisive leverage over ByteDance make those problems worse…

Apr 19, 2023 • Fergus Ryan

Escaping the vortex of Twitter.

Apr 14, 2023 • Fergus Ryan