Discussion · bonfire.cafe

@chris@mastodon.mihalis.net replied · 3 weeks ago

makes it so easy to donate to help people in Gaza. Aral verifies each account. I just donated a small amount to each of the accounts listed and it's easy. They are mostly gofundme or chuffed.org

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 3 weeks ago

@span chris Thank you so much for your support. And I couldn’t do it without @span joynewacc; we hold the video chats together, her from Gaza, me from Ireland :)

💕

zy

@zy@masto.bike replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral
wow this is a smart use of mastodon certifications

Daniel

@helmet91@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @palestine While I appreciate the initiative and the intent behind it, I must point out, that there's at least one account in the list that is proven to be using AI-generated footage for their verification video. This raises doubts about the methodologies used for proving authenticity before accepting anyone on this website.
I'd like to encourage everyone to prefer trusted organizations for donations, such as the Global Sumud Flotilla or UNRWA or others.

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@helmet91 @palestine What are you taking about? There is no “verification video.” Which account are you talking about and what is this proof you purport to have?

I’ve *personally* had video chats over Signal with all four of the people verified on the site currently and I am in touch with them daily.

Daniel

@helmet91@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral Video in Nouran's pinned post: shadows are inconsistently cast in every direction in the ruins in the background - one of the hallmarks of AI imagery. In the AI era I'm afraid, video calls on their own are no proof anymore.

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@helmet91 I know Nouran uses ChatGPT for translations. I don’t know what they used for the videos they posted. But I do know I’ve chatted to her and her brother *live* over video on Signal.

Daniel

@helmet91@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral I mean, they're not supposed to use anything but a camera for a video that is meant for proving their authenticity.

This was more than a year ago: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/02/deepfake-scammer-walks-off-with-25-million-in-first-of-its-kind-ai-heist/
AI is evolving rapidly, it's only becoming easier to pull off such scams. This is why I cannot recommend video calls as proof.

I do have ideas for validation that could be implemented before you accept Gazan profiles, but none of them would be 100% scam-proof either. Some strengthening wouldn't harm, nonetheless.

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 3 weeks ago

@helmet91 These people are literally faced with genocide and famine and you’re out here acting like a dollar-store Sherlock Holmes.

I’ve told you several times now that I’ve had live video conversations over Signal with Nouran and her brother Yousef.

I don’t know what your problem is but what you’re doing by spreading this FUD is deplorable. I just saw that you wrote this blog post also: https://helmet91.com/post/how-not-to-get-scammed

Congratulations, you are slandering people who are trying to survive genocide and famine.

Please think long and hard about what you’re doing here.

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@helmet91 And her older brother, Yousef, has an English Literature degree and was just recently asking me if I could help him find work. Does that sound like a scammer to you?

https://mastodon.ar.al/@aral/115062517821183778

I really think you’re jumping to conclusions here.

Daniel

@helmet91@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral Regarding the Upwork profile: this doesn't seem impossible in a scam operation at all.

Coralie Renée

@globcoco@mamot.fr replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine

Is it possible to verify this one account please?

https://ioc.exchange/@helpmahmoudfamily0

🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@globcoco @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine Sorry, that looks like one of the scam accounts. I believe it has already been removed.

Good way to check: has the person just joined (eg. Today) and do they already have lots of posts (eg. Over a hundred).

Variations of this account have been popping up on various servers yesterday/today and one even added a to link to gaza-verified.org to their account (of course it didn’t look verified).

Coralie Renée

@globcoco@mamot.fr replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine

Thank you so much for having checked it out.

It looks suspicious because of the same toot send 5 times.

💖💖💖

Niavy :verified: :bearn:

@niavy@masto.bike replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral I thank you so much for it. You got the point. I follow @NouranKhaledGh since this summer, she really sounds real and moving contrary to these mastodon.social scammers. Now i'm sure I can help. @joynewacc @mohshbair
@Aseelsehwel @palestine

@aral This is gold. Thank youLoading...

Andre123

@andre123@snowfan.masto.host replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine thank you for doing that!

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@andre123 @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine You’re very welcome 😊 💕

Dark and and Stormy

@darkandandstormy@kinkycats.org replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral 👆 Great 👆

Hope the people on "Free Free Palestine!" are seeing this too.
https://freefree.ps/about

@jmcnaughton
@Farid
@Prgauthier
@Abdullahawwad
@loulatea
@AlBatish_Family

And thanks to @pixelfed for boosting this and making me aware of it!

n816 Life

@elchorten@mastodon.world replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine avoid using signal, under surveillance. Use matrix instead.

David Culley

@davidculley@hachyderm.io replied · 4 weeks ago

@elchorten Please consider the target audience: non-technical people in Gaza being shot at by tanks and soldiers, weak from famine. Do you think they have the time or nerves to fiddle around with Matrix?

dansup

@dansup@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine This is such a powerful and practical use of the fediverse and your following.

Thank you for creating a clear, trusted way for us to directly support and amplify voices from Gaza.

A truly vital initiative. We're so lucky to have people like you on the #fediverse. Much love. ❤️

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@dansup @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine That’s very kind of you to say, Dan. Thank you. Here’s hoping it helps 💕

Boud

@boud@framapiaf.org replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @dansup @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine

Just to get this on to this thread: there's this toot:

https://troet.cafe/@m7moodfamily/115155497247554312

from @m7moodfamily

which has a profile link to gaza-verified.org but does *not* have a green tick.

Maybe @m7moodfamily is waiting for @aral to verify?

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @mohshbair @palestine A quick announcement that I’m very excited about: @joynewacc and I are going to run Gaza Verified together now and we’ll both be present during the video chats.

I’ll update the site as soon as I can to reflect this.

Thank you so much for volunteering to help in the middle of everything else, Joy. You’re amazing :)

💕

#GazaVerified #Gaza #Palestine #FreePalestine #fediverse #mastodon

Solène

@SolenedeM@piaille.fr replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral Hello.
Do you have any news from @Aseelsehwel ?

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@SolenedeM @Aseelsehwel Not yet :(

Solène

@SolenedeM@piaille.fr replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral

Je suis inquiète de nouveau. Je n'ai pas de nouvelles non plus. (Que j'ai normalement en dehors de Mastodon/Fedivderse) Espérons que ce soit juste un problème de connexion à internet... 😥🤞🏼
@Aseelsehwel

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@SolenedeM @Aseelsehwel Yes, she said they would not have a connection while on the road. Still, I’m worried too.

RFanciola

@RFancio@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @SolenedeM @Aseelsehwel 🤞🏻🍀🤞🏻🍀🤞🏻

Nouran 🍉

@NouranKhaledGh@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @mohshbair @palestine @joynewacc

Very inspirational efforts. Good luck

Joy

@joynewacc@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @mohshbair @palestine
Glad to be part of your amazing team. you are so welcome Aral
♥

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@joynewacc @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @mohshbair @palestine As much your team as mine; so glad to have you on board 😊 💕

Joachim Bondo

@bondo@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral ❤️

Ma’moun

@mamouneyya@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @arabiccola

nemo™ 🇺🇦

@nemo@mas.to replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine

Hi @shathamohammed123 I see you seem to have a new account Aral abi created this service, feel free to let your account be verified and welcome to the fediverse 😊 👍

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@nemo @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine @shathamohammed123 I don’t know about the “abi”, just Aral is enough ;)

nemo™ 🇺🇦

@nemo@mas.to replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral 😅 🙏 ✅ 💡 @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine @shathamohammed123

Shatha Mohammed

@shathamohammed123@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral

We cannot find the words to thank you enough for everything you do to support and help Palestinians 🙏🇵🇸.
As a mother of three children, one of them with a disability, we suffer from hunger, displacement, and destruction every single day 💔.

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@shathamohammed123 Shatha, thank you for your kind words but please think nothing of it; I wish there was more we could do.

I’ll send you a message now so we can hopefully get you on the site.

Shatha Mohammed

@shathamohammed123@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral
Thank you so much for your support and kindness. I really appreciate it and will look out for your message

Sylvain Mailler

@s_mailler@piaille.fr replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral

Amazing job, thus was so necessary ! !

#Gaza #Palestine #FreePalestine #fediverse #mastodon #verification

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@s_mailler 💕

Solène

@SolenedeM@piaille.fr replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine

Merci ❤️ 🇵🇸

Lydia Conwell :mastodon:

@lydiaconwell@todon.nl replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral You are brilliant. Truly brilliant.

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@lydiaconwell I’m just a monkey with a typewriter. But here’s hoping it helps :)

Joachim Nuyttens

@jnuyttens@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral thank you

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@jnuyttens 💕

crazyeddie

@crazyeddie@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine You could design a certification program around this using verifiable credentials (https://www.w3.org/TR/vc-data-model-2.0/) that would allow you to give them something you've signed and contains stuff like maybe a link to an interview video or something that they can display as an emote or something--probably best if the video is embedded in the cert in case you get shut down and there's no place to put it. Or put it in a torrent in p2p land.

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@crazyeddie @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine Thanks, appreciate the suggestion, but I’m not convinced it would add much real-world value at the moment given how niche it is. Trying to keep things simple :)

David Peach 🍑

@peach@phpc.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine this is incredible. Literally "being the change you want to see in the world"

Will donate as soon as I can. 💚

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@peach @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine Thank you 💕

DoomsdaysCW

@DoomsdaysCW@kolektiva.social replied · 4 weeks ago

TY, @aral ! This is very helpful!

Jaime Herazo

@jherazob@mastodon.ie replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral
I've received follow requests from accounts asking for donations and had put them on standby until i could verify them, some have been deleted in the meanwhile (scams i guess), but two remain, one you already mentioned and have approved and will donate as soon as possible (Nouran), but another one is not on the list, \ @lolorenad, who last posted on August 29 and seems real

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@jherazob @lolorenad Thanks so much for the heads up, Jaime. I’ve contacted Lolo to try and set up a time to have a quick video chat so we can hopefully add them to Gaza Verified :)

esanikerruzegibat

@bixardune@mastodon.eus replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral
EU: 7,5 milioi* esker!
EN: 7.5 million* thanks!

*Hau da, gizaki guztion partez. Kopuru bariazio handiak egon litezke.
*I mean on behalf of all human beings. Figures may very much vary.

katzenberger

@katzenberger@tldr.nettime.org replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral

A much welcome initiative. Tying it to the Mastodon verification feature is an excellent move.

A little suggestion: the website just states "I verify that their accounts are genuine".

Could you make a more specific assertion of what that statement means, to you? At the moment, I could think of all, or some of the following:

Verified there is a person that looks like the avatar
Verified that the person lives in Gaza
Verified that the persons mentioned in their fundraiser stories exist
Verified that the facts in the fundraiser stories are correct. (This is just an example. I believe that verification may easily transgress into the territory of humiliation, when taken to far.)

So what does "Gaza Verified" specifically mean, from your perspective?

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@katzenberger I’ll add a note about this to the site. I originally had a longer piece of text but I’m trying to keep it short.

katzenberger

@katzenberger@tldr.nettime.org replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral I agree, the shorter the better. Looking forward to it.

John Weeks :mastodon:

@johnweeks@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@LaurensHof Tidbit

buffy leigh (she/they)

@buffyleigh@mas.to replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral What an amazing thing to do, thank you for this. 🙏🏻

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@buffyleigh I hope it will make a difference. Here’s to the day we won’t need such things. 💕

Martin

@mjsberna@infosec.exchange replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine
Actually, I really needed this.
I'm very mistrustful because of the scams.

TFed 🍉🌻

@tfed@infosec.exchange replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral I got an idea by accident, when was reading the "Gaza Verified" phrase...

Why dont we have a website that compares products, companies, etc. to have some knowledge what impact they may have on Gaza.

It's just a thought, i have no idea how hard would it be to build and maintain such website

TFed 🍉🌻

@tfed@infosec.exchange replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral like these companies may have positive impact on Gaza: "Gaza Supportive"

Otttoz

@Otttoz@mastodon.uno replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine
Scuderi, Corrado, Croatti e Scotto: chi sono i 4 parlamentari italiani a bordo della Flotilla diretta a Gaza · Global Sumud Flotilla

Nouran 🍉

@NouranKhaledGh@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine

Very helpful and supportive initiative ❤️ thank you for your efforts Aral

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@NouranKhaledGh @Aseelsehwel @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine Think nothing of it. Here’s hoping it helps 💕

Goth Jessica

@normjess@tech.lgbt replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral thank you!

been trying to navigate this minefield for a long time!

I've suggested before for people to do videos to prove they're real

people are out there using AI and all sorts to exploit a genocide. its disgusting

I don't have a lot. when I can donate it needs to be to the right people

intumescentProvocateur

@intumescentProvocateur@troet.cafe replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine ¿who is Jesus Christ?

Kiloku

@Kiloku@burnthis.town replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral Apparently accounts have already started being created to pretend to be verified. Users unfamiliar with the link verification system might end up not realizing that the link needs to be green with a checkmark.
Here's an example: https://techhub.social/@m7moodfamily10/115151656713463500

Harriet Monkhouse

@HarrietMonkhouse@mcr.wtf replied · 4 weeks ago

@Kiloku @aral I'm getting "You don't have permission to view this page" when I click on that link, so I'm not quite clear whether it was an example of a fake verified account or a genuine verified account.

Orla de Díez

@orladediez@mastodon.ie replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine

Excellent Aral !!!!!

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@orladediez 💕

Joy

@joynewacc@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @mohshbair @palestine
I'm so proud of you. Thank you for saving our struggling from being exploited by scammers. And thank you for making it easier for our generous donors.
💗💗
#FreePalestine

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@joynewacc @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @mohshbair @palestine Thank you. Here’s to the day when we won’t need any of this any longer because you will be free.

💕

Joy

@joynewacc@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @mohshbair @palestine One day , me and the friends from gaza will be💪🏻

Sarah W

@Sarahw@mastodon.green replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine
Thank you for this excellent work. I want to help but struggle with verifying which are genuine accounts and which are scammers. This gives me reassurance.

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@Sarahw @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine 💕

Toni Aittoniemi

@gimulnautti@mastodon.green replied · last month

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine great work! 🫶

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@gimulnautti @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine 💕

David Culley

@davidculley@hachyderm.io replied · last month

@aral This is such a great idea! As all great ideas, totally obvious in hindsight, but I myself had never thought of doing it.

Looking forward to the impact it will have in making their lives a bit easier.

Ciara

@CiaraNi@mastodon.green replied · last month

@aral Thank you

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · last month

@CiaraNi 💕

Ciara

@CiaraNi@mastodon.green replied · last month

@aral 💚

Sehar Irfan

@seharinsights@mastodon.social replied · last month

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine You are doing a great job

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · last month

@seharinsights @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine You’re very kind but really, it’s nothing. 💕

Arend (they) 🏳️‍⚧️🍉

@arendleejessurun@musicians.today replied · last month

@aral Thank you for doing this, Aral.

@Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · last month

@arendleejessurun @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine You’re very welcome. Fingers crossed it helps :)

Top Totty

@Geri@mastodon.online replied · last month

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine thank you for this great initiative, Aral. I shall follow these people with all my heart xxx

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · last month

@Geri @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine You’re very welcome. And thank you and your boyfriend for going out there and protesting and facing arrest.

💕

Top Totty

@Geri@mastodon.online replied · last month

@aral @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine time has come

I thought the only criminal record I'd ever have was a very dodgy album by Micheal Jackson. Xx

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · last month

@Geri @Aseelsehwel @NouranKhaledGh @joynewacc @mohshbair @palestine It’s brave and necessary. You’re on the right side of history. And thank you :)

Ω 🌍 Gus Posey

@Gustodon@mas.to replied · last month

@aral This is a remarkable effort.

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · last month

@Gustodon Thanks, Gus. It’s nothing; just what little I can contribute in my own small way. Fingers crossed it helps. 💕

Amir Khan

@amirbkhan@mastodon.social replied · 4 weeks ago

@aral are you familiar with the tech 4 Palestine org set up by @paulbiggar ? What youre doing is something they would certainly appreciate and maybe even help support.

Also look up UpScrolled. An instagram alternative build to help Palestine. It’s really quite impressive 🍉🇵🇸

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · 4 weeks ago

@amirbkhan @tech4palestine @paulbiggar I wasn’t, thanks for the heads up. Hey Paul, @joynewacc and I have just set up Gaza Verified (https://gaza-verified.org). If you have any thoughts, please do let me know :)

Paul Biggar

@paulbiggar@hachyderm.io replied · 3 weeks ago

@aral @amirbkhan @tech4palestine @joynewacc Will email!

Pauli

@atzetonfree@ravenation.club replied · last month

@aral omg so good and so important I followed all of them right away, thanks!

Aral Balkan

@aral@mastodon.ar.al replied · last month

@atzetonfree Thank you 💕