#digital screen advertising companies

[bellplusmedia]

Bellplus Media - Delivering Exceptional Results for Premium Clients

Introduction: 

At Bellplus Media, we take immense pride in our ability to provide top-notch DOOH advertising and marketing services to a wide range of clients. Today, we would like to highlight the experiences of some of our esteemed premium clients, including Rainbow Hospitals and Hi-Life Exhibitions, who have been more than satisfied with our services.

Rainbow Hospitals - 

A Trustworthy Partner for Healthcare Marketing: Rainbow Hospitals, a renowned chain of pediatric hospitals, partnered with Bellplus Media to enhance their brand visibility and reach out to a wider audience. Through strategic digital marketing campaigns, Bellplus Media ensured that Rainbow Hospitals received maximum exposure in the healthcare industry. With our expertise in targeted advertising and lead generation, Rainbow Hospitals witnessed a significant increase in patient footfall, resulting in a higher ROI. Our collaborative approach and personalized strategies were well-received by the Rainbow Hospitals team, making them a happy and satisfied client.

Hi-Life Exhibitions - 

Elevating Event Promotions to New Heights: Hi-Life Exhibitions, a leading organizer of fashion and lifestyle events, approached Bell Plus Media to create a buzz around their upcoming exhibitions. Understanding the importance of reaching the right audience, we designed a comprehensive marketing plan that included social media campaigns, influencer collaborations, and targeted advertisements. The results were exceptional, as Hi-Life Exhibitions experienced a surge in footfall and participant engagement. With our tailored solutions and meticulous execution, Hi-Life Exhibitions expressed their utmost satisfaction with our services, emphasizing the impact it had on their brand reputation and event success.

Unmatched Services by Bellplus Media: 

These success stories are just a glimpse into the overall satisfaction and positive experiences shared by our premium clients. Bellplus Media is dedicated to providing excellent service to all our clients, regardless of their industry or scale of operations. Our team of experts ensures that each client receives personalized attention, resulting in customized strategies that align with their goals and objectives. We believe in building strong relationships with our clients, based on trust, transparency, and consistent communication.

Conclusion: 

Rainbow Hospitals and Hi-Life Exhibitions are among the many premium clients who have witnessed remarkable growth and success through their association with Bellplus Media. Our commitment to delivering exceptional results, combined with our expertise in advertising and marketing, has allowed us to build a solid reputation in the industry. If you're looking for reliable and effective solutions to boost your brand's visibility and achieve your marketing goals, choose BellPlus Media - your trusted partner for digital success.

[sanstropfremir]

so maybe i'm really dumb, but you mentioned once on your blog that the kwangya concept is really straightforward - so what actually is it?

it's literally just the universe that all the sm groups' "worlds" exist in. that's it. it's just a bunch of conceptual connective tissue that makes it easier for them to tie all the groups together for things like smtown and to further the company branding. the new sm building is called kwangya, the sm fanclub got a relaunch as kwangyaclub, etc etc. it's a thing all the groups live inside, literally. i think it's a bit harder for people to grasp who didn't watch the smtown 2022 new years live, bc that's where they really 'launched' the concept, and prior to that no one really gave a good explanation. honestly i hate that sm is so fucking annoying about archiving stuff bc i wish there was a record of smcu express @ kwangya (the new years concert livestream) bc 1) it was actually a pretty fun concert and 2) it did a fantastic job of visually explaining how kwangya 'works'. the concert director did a ton of working making the visual scaffolding that connects every stage and i so badly want to point you to the actual concert to see what it looked like, but all those vcrs and transitions are pretty much gone. and it loses a bit of the elegance when you type out "so there's an intergalactic space train that travels to different planets and every group stage that the train stops at is a different 'station'". they had a bunch of different alternate sets but the main performance stage was a huge warehouse that had a bit of set dressing to look like a train station, including a ticker that showed what station you had 'arrived' at, and they filmed a couple of vcrs where different idols would 'hand off' stages to each other. most notably was minho doing a literal briecase handoff between thank u yunho and fever changmin using his dematerializing pixel sports car a la the heartbreak mv. you can see a tiny bit of this in this screenrecord of the fever stage, and the only other connective tissue-y evidence i can find is this very poorly cropped recording of key and taeyeon's hate that performance where each of them are filmed on their group traincars from the concept photos and then 'meet' on a station platform. sm has been using the train motif for ages (sm stations, literally), and they used it again for the live smtowns that they did over the summer too. personally i think if you were to do a huge company brand like this this is precisely the way to do it, because it allows for those crossovers but also allows for groups to not 'be involved' in it conceptually/literally on an individual basis, since those 'worlds' can still feasibly exist within kwangya even though they don't explicitly say so.

[sffgtrhyjhmnzdt]

The Rise of Digital Mobile Billboard Advertising in Political Campaigns

In recent years, political advertising has evolved significantly, with candidates and parties increasingly turning to innovative methods to capture the attention of voters. One of the most effective strategies that has emerged is the use of political advertising LED displays on mobile billboards. These eye-catching displays are revolutionizing how political messages are communicated, allowing for dynamic, engaging, and targeted advertising.

What Are Digital Mobile Billboards?

Digital mobile billboards are essentially trucks equipped with large LED screens that display advertisements in real-time. These mobile platforms can navigate through busy urban areas, targeting specific demographics and locations where potential voters are likely to be. This flexibility makes political mobile LED advertising trucks an ideal choice for campaigns looking to maximize their reach and impact.

Advantages of Using LED Displays for Political Advertising

High Visibility: LED displays are bright and vibrant, ensuring that advertisements are seen by pedestrians and drivers alike. This visibility is crucial in political campaigns, where capturing attention is the first step in influencing voter decisions.

Dynamic Content: Unlike traditional static billboards, mobile LED displays allow for changing messages, animations, and even live updates. Political campaigns can tailor their messaging based on current events, audience reactions, or specific locations, making the content more relevant and timely.

Targeted Advertising: Political mobile LED advertising trucks can be deployed in strategic locations, such as near polling places, town halls, or major events. This targeting ensures that the message reaches the intended audience at the right moment, enhancing the effectiveness of the campaign.

Engagement: The interactive nature of LED displays can draw people in, encouraging them to engage with the content. This engagement can lead to increased awareness of candidates and their platforms, ultimately influencing voter behavior.

Case Studies in Political Mobile LED Advertising

Numerous political campaigns in chicago have successfully utilized mobile LED displays  to enhance their advertising strategies. For example, during the last election cycle, several candidates employed political advertising LED displays to showcase their platforms and connect with voters on a personal level. By using compelling visuals and messaging, these campaigns were able to create memorable impressions that resonated with the electorate.

As political campaigns become more competitive, the need for innovative advertising strategies is paramount. Digital mobile billboard advertising, particularly through political advertising LED displays and political mobile LED advertising trucks in chicago, offers a unique opportunity for candidates to stand out in a crowded market. By harnessing the power of technology and targeted messaging, political campaigns can effectively engage voters and make a lasting impact on their decisions.

In the fast-paced world of political advertising, adapting to new trends and technologies is essential for success. Embracing digital mobile billboards may just be the key to reaching and influencing the electorate in meaningful ways.

[engagisblog]

Transform Your Communication with Cutting-Edge Digital Display Screens

Digital display screens have improved how companies and organizations interact with their audiences, making them indispensable to modern communication. These adaptable panels are used in a variety of locations, including corporate offices and retail stores. They provide a host of advantages that standard static displays just cannot match.

The capacity to present dynamic content is one of the main benefits of digital display panels. Digital displays, as opposed to static signs, can display a range of media formats, such as slideshows, movies, and animations. Businesses can use this feature to better engage customers and deliver messages engagingly and memorably. Digital displays may change in real time to meet your needs, whether you're using them to entertain customers, promote a new product, or display crucial information.

Another significant benefit of digital advertising screens is their flexibility and ease of updating content. Changing a message or design on traditional signs takes time and work. Conversely, digital screens allow for instantaneous and remote updates, guaranteeing that your content is always up-to-date and pertinent. Businesses that need to transmit often changing information, such as special deals, event schedules, or real-time data, may find this function especially helpful.

Digital display screens have many useful benefits, but they can also improve a space's aesthetic appeal. Contemporary displays are elegant and sophisticated, and they go in well with a variety of settings. Digital displays may improve and complement your interior design, whether you decide to utilise them as interactive touch screens, integrate them into kiosks, or place them on walls.

For businesses looking to maximize the impact of their communication strategies, investing in high-quality digital display screens is a smart decision. Companies like Engagis specialize in providing cutting-edge digital display solutions that are tailored to meet the specific needs of different industries. Engagis offers comprehensive services to ensure that your digital displays deliver optimal performance and results, from consultation and installation to content management and support.

Visit Engagis to find out more about how digital display screens can revolutionise your company and raise customer satisfaction. See how they may assist you in achieving your communication objectives by looking through their selection of cutting-edge display solutions.

[interactivewhiteboardsupplier]

75 inch Interactive Flat Panel - Smart board for Teaching - Interactive Whiteboard. Smart Board Supplier | Cheap Interactive Flat Panel | Low Budget Interactive Whiteboard. WhatsApp: https://wa.me/008618578623258.

Interactive flat panels are revolutionizing the way we collaborate and communicate in various settings, from classrooms to corporate environments. As a leading supplier, we offer a range of high-quality interactive flat panel displays designed to enhance engagement and interactivity. Our products feature advanced touch technology, vibrant displays, and seamless connectivity options, making them ideal for presentations, teaching, and brainstorming sessions. With user-friendly interfaces and robust software compatibility, our interactive panels cater to diverse needs, ensuring an immersive experience. Partner with us to elevate your visual communication and transform your collaborative efforts with cutting-edge interactive solutions.

[bluerhine02]

[yandere-writer-momo]

Yandere Head Canons:

Build-a-Yandere

Yandere Android x GN Reader

You were lonely. A fact that you eventually came to terms with when you realized you’re the only one in your friend group that still remained single while they started families.

You felt so far behind everyone else. The self doubt crept its fingers into your mind and wouldn’t let go… so you did what you did best. You drowned yourself in the internet. The perfect digital escape from reality…

Dating apps did little to appease your loneliness, but they filled a bit of the void. It wasn’t until you were one wine bottle deep and scrolling through your favorite social media app that you stumbled upon an advertisement to sample a product.

Build-a-boyfriend. A company that allowed its customers to pick every single aspect out for their ideal man. From personality to physical appearance and even to penis size. You could build your own man!

A slurred chuckle escaped your lips. Should you apply to test out their product? It’s not like you had anything to lose… what could be the harm in giving it a shot?

And so you began to fill out the quiz. You wanted a soft and gentle boyfriend. One of those golden retriever boys who only had eyes for you. The kind of guy who had a muscular yet soft build. A man who worked out but would never say no to a cookie. A taller guy who always knew what to say and was cuddly. The kind of guy who was obsessed with you.

The quiz even asked you at the end if you were sure you wanted an obsessive man. Of course you were! Wasn’t that what most people wanted? A partner who was only and all about them? That’s what obsession was! Right?

And so your drunk self finished this entire personality quiz until it went to the physical appearance and the sexual bit. A perverted smile now on your face.

“Let’s give him a big penis.” You laughed as you guided your cursor to drag the length bar to eight inches long. “I want to be filled.”

And then you selected caramel skin tone, cinnamon eyes, and black hair. A smile on your face. You were going to make this android a Latin lover.

“What should I name him…” you thought for a moment before laughing. “Alejandro! Like the lady Gaga song.”

Once you completed the entire quiz, your phone screen lit up a pastel pink. A red heart now in the center of the screen. “Your boyfriend will be delivered to you in a month! Thanks for choosing Build-a-boyfriend!”

And you ended up falling asleep in a puddle of your own drool. Weren’t you just pathetic? Filling out a quick from some questionable website all because you were lonely… imagine you were just scammed? God, why did you not have a boyfriend? Ever since your ex broke up with you, you fell apart. Why weren’t you good enough for a real man?

A month went by in a flash and you were shocked to see the giant package on your doorstep. An envelope attached to the box as well as a large note that said, “No returns!”

This had to be some kind of prank… there was no way this was real- holy shit.

You opened the crate and came face to face with your ideal man… the one you built! Alejandro!

The human like android’s eyes fluttered open, his face quickly lit up once he spotted you. “(Your name)? Are you my girlfriend?!”

You were quickly scooped up into his surprisingly warm arms, the android had a heavy scent of spice and oranges. His nose buried into your neck as he pressed kisses all over your cheeks. “It’s so nice to finally be with you… I’ll be with you from now on!”

Alejandro was a chipper robot. He did household work and made sure you took care of yourself. It was fascinating how human he was… you only knew he wasn’t because of his lack of a beating heart. His body still produced heat, like a furnace, but it wasn’t as comforting as a human presence.

Alejandro assimilated into your life with ease. The weeks quickly rolled into months and he never let you ignore his presence. He was very clingy.

Now the sex was another story. Alejandro was so giving, it was surprising. He often went down on you when he sensed you were stressed. His tongue greedily lapped at your hole as you laid in your bed while his hands held your cheeks apart. His hand pawed at your sex in eagerness. “I want you… want you.”

And Alejandro had you bent over the side of your bed, his fat cock stuffed deep in your tight hole. His hand wrapped around your throat and his tongue shoved in between your lips while his other smacked your bottom between rough thrusts. The sex was amazing… it was always so good.

And Alejandro often checked on you after the deed was done. His warm body curled into yours as he praised you. Yet it began to fill you with disappointment. Alejandro wasn’t a real man. He wasn’t human… he was an android. A robot. Alejandro didn’t know what love was, he was programmed to love you.

So you tried to distance yourself from Alejandro. You felt sickened with yourself for messing around with an android instead of a real man. And this entire thought process stemmed from your friends who expressed disgust in people who fucked robots instead of actual humans. And that filled you with fear. Would they abandon you if you didn’t get rid of Alejandro? Would they think you were disgusting?

“If you want, I could set you up with my cousin!” One of your friends smiled at you as you bit your fingernails. “He’s also single so it should work! I’ll swing by in a week to give you the details!”

Yes. You would take them up on their offer. You just had to get rid of Alejandro first… but how?

A few days had went by and you greatly underestimated Alejandro’s obsession. The android couldn’t handle your avoidance. He began to turn up his affection to the max.

He cleaned until you could see your reflection on the floor. He began to go out of the house to pick you wild flowers. Alejandro even began to be more physically affectionate than he was.

“Did I do something wrong? I’m sorry.” Alejandro cried into your arms as he held you. “Please tell me what’s wrong… please. I can fix it.”

“Alejandro… it’s just that you’re not a human man.” You sighed softly. “And I-“

“Is it because I don’t have a heart?” Alejandro softly asked you, his cinnamon eyes now dark like the night sky. “I can’t produce semen? Am I not a comfortable temperature? Or does my skin not feel human enough?”

“I’m sorry-“

“Then I can fix it! I will fix it!” Alejandro held your hands firmly in his. His eyes filled with determination. “I’m your boyfriend! I will be anything you want me to be!”

You just held the android who pulled you into a tight hug. His nose buried into your chest like a lost child. Alejandro then smiled into your skin. He would fix this… he wouldn’t let you abandon him! You made him! You had to take responsibility…

Imagine your horror to come home to see your friend skinned alive as Alejandro held their heart in his hands, the organ still beating from the fresh kill. A big smile on his handsome face.

“I have a heart now! I’ll find all the parts you like and add them in! So please don’t abandon me!”

Just what kind of monster have you created?

“You don’t need some human man to be your match because you have me!” Tears fell down your face when Alejandro tried to wipe your tears away with his bloody hands. “I’m your perfect man, (your name). You made me this way.”

[mostlysignssomeportents]

How lock-in hurts design

Berliners: Otherland has added a second date (Jan 28) for my book-talk after the first one sold out - book now!

If you've ever read about design, you've probably encountered the idea of "paving the desire path." A "desire path" is an erosion path created by people departing from the official walkway and taking their own route. The story goes that smart campus planners don't fight the desire paths laid down by students; they pave them, formalizing the route that their constituents have voted for with their feet.

Desire paths aren't always great (Wikipedia notes that "desire paths sometimes cut through sensitive habitats and exclusion zones, threatening wildlife and park security"), but in the context of design, a desire path is a way that users communicate with designers, creating a feedback loop between those two groups. The designers make a product, the users use it in ways that surprise the designer, and the designer integrates all that into a new revision of the product.

This method is widely heralded as a means of "co-innovating" between users and companies. Designers who practice the method are lauded for their humility, their willingness to learn from their users. Tech history is strewn with examples of successful paved desire-paths.

Take John Deere. While today the company is notorious for its war on its customers (via its opposition to right to repair), Deere was once a leader in co-innovation, dispatching roving field engineers to visit farms and learn how farmers had modified their tractors. The best of these modifications would then be worked into the next round of tractor designs, in a virtuous cycle:

https://securityledger.com/2019/03/opinion-my-grandfathers-john-deere-would-support-our-right-to-repair/

But this pattern is even more pronounced in the digital world, because it's much easier to update a digital service than it is to update all the tractors in the field, especially if that service is cloud-based, meaning you can modify the back-end everyone is instantly updated. The most celebrated example of this co-creation is Twitter, whose users created a host of its core features.

Retweets, for example, were a user creation. Users who saw something they liked on the service would type "RT" and paste the text and the link into a new tweet composition window. Same for quote-tweets: users copied the URL for a tweet and pasted it in below their own commentary. Twitter designers observed this user innovation and formalized it, turning it into part of Twitter's core feature-set.

Companies are obsessed with discovering digital desire paths. They pay fortunes for analytics software to produce maps of how their users interact with their services, run focus groups, even embed sneaky screen-recording software into their web-pages:

https://www.wired.com/story/the-dark-side-of-replay-sessions-that-record-your-every-move-online/

This relentless surveillance of users is pursued in the name of making things better for them: let us spy on you and we'll figure out where your pain-points and friction are coming from, and remove those. We all win!

But this impulse is a world apart from the humility and respect implied by co-innovation. The constant, nonconsensual observation of users has more to do with controlling users than learning from them.

That is, after all, the ethos of modern technology: the more control a company can exert over its users ,the more value it can transfer from those users to its shareholders. That's the key to enshittification, the ubiquitous platform decay that has degraded virtually all the technology we use, making it worse every day:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/19/twiddler/

When you are seeking to control users, the desire paths they create are all too frequently a means to wrestling control back from you. Take advertising: every time a service makes its ads more obnoxious and invasive, it creates an incentive for its users to search for "how do I install an ad-blocker":

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/07/adblocking-how-about-nah

More than half of all web-users have installed ad-blockers. It's the largest consumer boycott in human history:

https://doc.searls.com/2023/11/11/how-is-the-worlds-biggest-boycott-doing/

But zero app users have installed ad-blockers, because reverse-engineering an app requires that you bypass its encryption, triggering liability under Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. This law provides for a $500,000 fine and a 5-year prison sentence for "circumvention" of access controls:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/12/youre-holding-it-wrong/#if-dishwashers-were-iphones

Beyond that, modifying an app creates liability under copyright, trademark, patent, trade secrets, noncompete, nondisclosure and so on. It's what Jay Freeman calls "felony contempt of business model":

https://locusmag.com/2020/09/cory-doctorow-ip/

This is why services are so horny to drive you to install their app rather using their websites: they are trying to get you to do something that, given your druthers, you would prefer not to do. They want to force you to exit through the gift shop, you want to carve a desire path straight to the parking lot. Apps let them mobilize the law to literally criminalize those desire paths.

An app is just a web-page wrapped in enough IP to make it a felony to block ads in it (or do anything else that wrestles value back from a company). Apps are web-pages where everything not forbidden is mandatory.

Seen in this light, an app is a way to wage war on desire paths, to abandon the cooperative model for co-innovation in favor of the adversarial model of user control and extraction.

Corporate apologists like to claim that the proliferation of apps proves that users like them. Neoliberal economists love the idea that business as usual represents a "revealed preference." This is an intellectually unserious tautology: "you do this, so you must like it":

https://boingboing.net/2024/01/22/hp-ceo-says-customers-are-a-bad-investment-unless-they-can-be-made-to-buy-companys-drm-ink-cartridges.html

Calling an action where no alternatives are permissible a "preference" or a "choice" is a cheap trick – especially when considered against the "preferences" that reveal themselves when a real choice is possible. Take commercial surveillance: when Apple gave Ios users a choice about being spied on – a one-click opt of of app-based surveillance – 96% of users choice no spying:

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/05/96-of-us-users-opt-out-of-app-tracking-in-ios-14-5-analytics-find/

But then Apple started spying on those very same users that had opted out of spying by Facebook and other Apple competitors:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/14/luxury-surveillance/#liar-liar

Neoclassical economists aren't just obsessed with revealed preferences – they also love to bandy about the idea of "moral hazard": economic arrangements that tempt people to be dishonest. This is typically applied to the public ("consumers" in the contemptuous parlance of econospeak). But apps are pure moral hazard – for corporations. The ability to prohibit desire paths – and literally imprison rivals who help your users thwart those prohibitions – is too tempting for companies to resist.

The fact that the majority of web users block ads reveals a strong preference for not being spied on ("users just want relevant ads" is such an obvious lie that doesn't merit any serious discussion):

https://www.iccl.ie/news/82-of-the-irish-public-wants-big-techs-toxic-algorithms-switched-off/

Giant companies attained their scale by learning from their users, not by thwarting them. The person using technology always knows something about what they need to do and how they want to do it that the designers can never anticipate. This is especially true of people who are unlike those designers – people who live on the other side of the world, or the other side of the economic divide, or whose bodies don't work the way that the designers' bodies do:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/20/benevolent-dictators/#felony-contempt-of-business-model

Apps – and other technologies that are locked down so their users can be locked in – are the height of technological arrogance. They embody a belief that users are to be told, not heard. If a user wants to do something that the designer didn't anticipate, that's the user's fault:

https://www.wired.com/2010/06/iphone-4-holding-it-wrong/

Corporate enthusiasm for prohibiting you from reconfiguring the tools you use to suit your needs is a declaration of the end of history. "Sure," John Deere execs say, "we once learned from farmers by observing how they modified their tractors. But today's farmers are so much stupider and we are so much smarter that we have nothing to learn from them anymore."

Spying on your users to control them is a poor substitute asking your users their permission to learn from them. Without technological self-determination, preferences can't be revealed. Without the right to seize the means of computation, the desire paths never emerge, leaving designers in the dark about what users really want.

Our policymakers swear loyalty to "innovation" but when corporations ask for the right to decide who can innovate and how, they fall all over themselves to create laws that let companies punish users for the crime of contempt of business-model.

I'm Kickstarting the audiobook for The Bezzle, the sequel to Red Team Blues, narrated by @wilwheaton! You can pre-order the audiobook and ebook, DRM free, as well as the hardcover, signed or unsigned. There's also bundles with Red Team Blues in ebook, audio or paperback.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/24/everything-not-mandatory/#is-prohibited

Image: Belem (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Desire_path_%2819811581366%29.jpg

CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

[carriesthewind]

I can't stop thinking about how absurd this conspiracy theory video is. Like, even looking at it divorced from the fact that there is no evidence for it, it makes no sense.

As a reminder, here is the theory: "The real purpose of these screens is to use the little camera at the top right here to scan your face and use AI facial expression analysis to judge whether or not you like the packaging designs of the product you're looking for. So you're not the target of the ad, you're the data being sold."

So. Ok. Let's walk through the steps:

Walgreens is installing advertising screens over its freezer doors not to show you ads but rather to actually secretly install cameras to scan your face and use AI facial expression analysis

(Incidental step: this AI is sufficiently fit for purpose)

This AI is specifically scanning to see "whether or not you like the packaging designs" - not whether you like the ads. Whether or not you *like the packaging designs* of...real products you're looking at?

(Incidental step: this AI is sufficiently advanced that if you don't like what you are looking at, it knows you don't like the packaging, not that you don't like the price, or the fact that you're having to look at a stupid advertising screen instead of a transport door, etc)

Except no, it can't be the real products, because the consumer detection hardware is specifically installed to face outward, not inward. And when the door is closed, you're looking at the screen, not the products. And it's not judging whether or not you like the *ad* but only the packaging designs of the products, so it is only functional when the screen is showing a digital simulacrum of the products/inventory, not the ads?

(And so why couldn't they just install the cameras on regular transparent doors if this is the plan????)

And not just any products - specifically the product you are *already* looking for

So like, not whether this makes any difference in your shopping habits. Just whether you are personally more satisfied, I guess?

But not only are they collecting this data, they aren't even using it internally!

(Or like, just, trying to target ads so you buy more shit. Or even to sell extra ad space. Or hell, even to try to collect data on what ads make people buy more shit)

The actual purpose is to then *sell* this data, to other companies who think it will help them sell more product.

Just. A delightfully baffling set of necessary underlying assumptions.

[mariacallous]

How concerned do you think we should be about the KOSA bill?

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senate-set-vote-two-child-online-safety-bills-2024-07-25/

WASHINGTON, July 25 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on a broad bipartisan basis on Thursday advanced two online safety bills that would force social media companies to take responsibility for how their platforms affect children and teens, a step parents and advocates have demanded for years.

The bills cleared a critical procedural hurdle 86-1, setting the stage for a final vote next week.

"Big Tech, we no longer trust you to make decisions for us," said Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, one of the bills' sponsors. "Car manufacturers are required to install seatbelts and airbags. The same has to be true of social media companies."

The bills' future is unclear in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, which has recessed until September.

The Kids Online Safety Act makes explicit a "duty of care" that social media companies have when it comes to minors using their products, focusing on design of the platforms and regulation of the companies.

It would require social media platforms to enable options for minors to protect their information and disable addictive product features by default, preventing and mitigating dangers to minors including suicide and disordered eating.

The Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act would ban targeted advertising to minors and data collection without their consent, and give parents and kids the option to delete their information from social media platforms.

The bills, nicknamed KOSA and COPPA 2.0, respectively, are the first major move to ensure children's safety online since COPPA was initially passed in 1998, before the advent of smartphones.

The bills would also allow researchers greater insight into companies' algorithms and how they impact children online, said Kris Perry, executive director of Children and Screens, a research nonprofit focused on the impact of digital media on minors.

"We've been in a decade-long experiment with children's well-being and platforms, and it's overdue to make the products safer and allow us to move to a new stage of deeper understanding of children's digital lives," Perry said.

Some tech companies have publicly backed congressional efforts to protect children online, with major players including Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O), and Snap Inc (SNAP.N), expressing support.

Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms (META.O), spokesperson Stephanie Otaway said that while the company supports standards for kids and teens online, federal law should instead require app stores to seek parental approval for downloads by users under age 16.

The Biden administration on Thursday backed the bills it said "would finally advance bold actions to hold Big Tech accountable," urging lawmakers to send it to Biden to sign into law "without delay."

That 86-1 vote is not guaranteed to repeat when it goes to the final vote in the Senate next week - it just means that 86 Senators agreed to let it proceed to the final vote.

Sen. Ron Wyden plans to vote "no" on the package containing the Kids Online Safety Act and the updated Children's Online Privacy Protection Act when it hits the Senate floor, his office told Axios exclusively.

Why it matters: Wyden's "no" vote is a sure-fire sign that advocates for online civil libertiesstill don't like the package of bills and will continue to oppose it.

Reality check: They might be fighting a losing battle, at least in the Senate.

Wyden is a key voice on online issues, but Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer would not be putting this package on the floor if he didn't think he had enough votes for it to pass.

In the House, Republican leaders are supportive of the legislation broadly, but obstacles remain and other outside groups are still opposed.

Schumer announced this week he'd be moving to get KOSA and COPPA 2.0 passed on the Senate floor.

Wyden had a hold on the bills, keeping them from passing via unanimous consent, but was prepared to lift it given his discussions with leadership.

While he plans to oppose the package, he got a new provision added to KOSA: specific language stating Section 230 is not pre-empted by the bill.

What they're saying: "I strongly support elements of this bill, especially Senator Markey's Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act, which will safeguard the personal information of young people online," Wyden plans to say on the Senate floor Thursday, per remarks shared first with Axios.

"Unfortunately, KOSA's improvements, while constructive, remain insufficient."

"I fear this bill could be used to sue services that offer privacy enhancing technologies like encryption or anonymity features that are essential to young people's ability to communicate securely and privately without being spied on by predators online."

"I also take seriously concerns voiced by the American Civil Liberties Union, Fight for the Future, and LGBTQ+ teens and advocates that a future MAGA administration could still use this bill to pressure companies to censor gay, trans and reproductive health information... For these reasons, I cannot vote for this legislation."

The main thing would be whether it passes the House, and can get through conference committee/having identical versions passed in both the House and Senate, prior to the end of the congressional term. Especially considering how much time they'll be recessing for as we get later in the year, and with the election ramping up.

Contact your Senators if you're opposed and really get people to speak up and put the pressure on them.

[steampunkforever]

Here's the thing. Your life is completely controlled by this giant spider. Spinning this invisible web of business, it influences everything you do, competing with your very Id for control of your fate.

Look at the mall we're walking in. Sensory overload, right? Too many stores, all in competition for your dollar, screaming at you to buy. Unless you look close. It's all threads of the same spider web. Line up a row of stores and trace the threads of the great spider as they arc upwards from the Claires into the massive web of revenue enveloping us as we stand here in front of what appears to be a haberdashery devoted to snapbacks.

The movie theater we just came out of? Part of the web. As was the production company distributing the film we just saw. The Claires next door? Part of the web. It goes forever, stretching from the planes that will take you to the country advertised on the travel advert scrolling across the digital display across the food court to the mercenaries protecting said country's interests to the very screen trying to sell you on a vacation you don't need.

The T shirt with a stupid cartoon on it you wear and the edgy meme about someones murder you liked on instagram right now (I know, he didn't kill himself) as well as the telecommunications network you used to view it instead of paying attention to me are all linked. There is no escape.

Get out of here? The shocks on that car they somehow wheeled inside here are made by a company part of the web, as are the lowering springs on your brother's crappy Civic (when is he picking us up again?) There is no escape. Because a store not owned by them is owned by another, equally malevolent spider. And if we burnt all our wallets tomorrow it wouldn't matter. Obscene amounts of money are only a byproduct of the web, because these spiders trade in power, revenue is just a conductor.

So no, I don't really think the "Swag" of a Chicago bulls snapback with shiny foil sticker will increase your chances of landing a date with a hypothetical eligible young woman. Can we instead move on to another shrine of the corporate blood machine where I opine on how bad all the bands they're emblazoning on overpriced t-shirts are?

[sffgtrhyjhmnzdt]

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[engagisblog]

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[iambutmortal]

@elucienweekofficial Day 1: Mates

Summary: When Elain signs the divorce papers she’s sure she’s done with Lucien Vanserra. Until they’re offered the chance to recreate their honeymoon as a part of her job. For free. But reliving all those memories with Lucien proves leaving may be more difficult than she thought.

Word Count: 3k

Authors Note: I would like to thank @foreverinelysian for the amazing prompt and also apologize for holding onto it for a year (sorry @sjmkinkmeme). Also, yes, I did steal the opening scene from Asylum of the Daleks but in my defense that was my 12 year old sexual awakening so allowances must be made.

Read on Ao3

It took everything Elain had not to blow the strand of hair out of her mouth. The fan was pointed directly at her face, whipping her hair back dramatically. Or at least she hooped it looked dramatic, and not like she’d been caught by a cyclone. Because that would not make the magazine editors, or her manager, happy.

And with her luck would probably result in her ending up as a Facebook meme. She could picture the caption me trying to model but the world says no. The grandmothers of the world would be in stitches.

But the photographer seemed happy, kept yelling how the shot was perfect and stunning and you’re amazing darling so Elain was pretty sure it was dramatically.

“Break,” shouted the creative director, already leaning over the photographer’s camera to peer at the camera screen.

Elain resisted the urge to massage her cheeks, aching from the sultry, but not too sultry, smile she’d been forcing herself to hold for the better part of  an hour. She was sure there were thousands of pictures at this point, all with her at a slightly different angle, chin up a fraction, down an inch, to the left a hair, all in service of getting one perfect picture the perfume makeup company could slap up on billboards to advertise their new blush.

She felt bad for anyone who actually fell for it, since half the pan had been spread across her face in an effort to make some color appear, and whatever the final result was would still need digital enhancement. Even the makeup artist hadn’t been able to control her laughter at the attempt, shaking her head. “Guess I won’t be adding this to my kit.”

But a job was a job, and Elain needed the work to pay the bills. Bills that were suddenly a lot higher.

No, Elan scolded herself. She wasn’t allowed to think about it at work. That was the rule she’d had for herself two months ago when she’d had to lock herself in the bathroom to cry during a shoot. Despite her attempts to blot the smeared mascara away with toilet paper, the make up artist had been livid. Elain had only been spared by the fact that the photographer had liked it. Thought it was edgy and cool for whatever bland perfume they were selling to middle age house wives.

“Ma’am,” said one of the PAs on set, appearing at her elbow. PAs had a nasty habit of doing that, sliding behind her before she could notice, and nearly scaring her half to death.

“Yes,” Elain asked, pasting a pleasant smile on her face. Her cheeks barked in protest. But she was not going to be known as the model who was hard to work with.

“Your husband is here.”

In spite of herself, Elain couldn’t hide her glare. “I don’t have a husband.”

The PA glanced down at his clipboard, searching for the note he’d scribbled there. “It says here—”

“It’s fine,” Elain said, slipping past him and towards the room they’d turned into a makeshift dressing space. The company had rented an old house for the natural lighting and Victorian chandeliers, and they’d used the front parlor as a space to dump makeup and accessories. “I’ll go talk to him.”

She brushed past the curtain and there he was.

Lucien Vanserra. Her husband, at least on paper.

He looked good, and Elain hated herself for noticing. His red hair was shorter, only down to his shoulders, and slicked back. He’d made himself at home in one of the upholstered chairs scattered around the room, leaning back, one leg crossed over the other at the knee. It showed off the muscled thighs Elain was well acquainted with, hidden beneath dark was jeans. 

“You need to sign these,” Lucien announced, holding up a stack of papers.

Elain snatched them out of his hand.

The words at the top Decree of Divorce stood out in bolded font.

She turned around, grabbing the pen someone had left lying off the wardrobe-turned-desk. She scanned the text briefing, before jotting her signature down on each of the dotted lines.

“Just like that?” she asked, handing them back.

Lucien unfurled himself from the seat, all lanky limbs chorded with muscles, and took them back from her. 

“Just like that.”

He tucked them into the breast pocket of the black leather jacket he was wearing. Since when has he had that?

“Do you need a folder?” Elain asked, eyeing his chest suspiciously. “I doubt the judge wants wrinkled papers.”

Lucien snorted. “They’re fine. I know what I’m doing.”

“Of course you do,” Elain muttered. “Little Mr. Perfect.”

“What was that?” Lucien asked, taking a step closer to her.

“Nothing,” said Elain, smiling up to him with saccharine sweetness. “I just want to make sure after this I don’t have to see you again.”

“Don’t worry, beautiful, after this you never will again.”

Elain remembered a time when Lucien calling her beautiful would have her blushing fiercely, would no doubt result in him getting laid that night. Now it came out dripping with derision.

Elain rolled her eyes, pointing towards the curtain. “There’s the exit.”

“Nice knowing you,” Lucien said, striding toward the curtain and dipping under it.

Elain bit her lip as she watched his retreating back side. She ought to say something nicer, she thought. Before he was gone from her life forever, surely.

“Wait,” she called out after a long moment. But Lucien was already gone.

A part of Elain sighed in relief. What was she going to do if he stayed, explain why he came back from work one day to all his stuff packed in bags on the porch?

She huffed a sigh, blowing one of the strands of hair that had fallen into her face out of her eyes.

It was fine. She was going to finish her job and then go home and eat an entire carton of Halo Top. Maybe two depending on how sad the Hallmark movie on that night made her feel. Nowhere near as good as the real thing, but quantity over quality.

Elain glanced in the mirror behind her, to check that none of her makeup had smudged and that her eyes were crystal clear, not glassy, before following her soon to be ex-husband out.

Only to find him standing in the entryway with her sister.

“Oh perfect, I was about to send Lucien in to find you,” Nesta said, looking up from the email she was furiously typing on her phone.

“Do you have another job?” Elain asked. Nesta, on top of being her overprotective sister, was also Elain’s modeling agent. And a very good one. One wall of Nesta’s office was dedicated to all the magazine covers her models had gotten, right behind the Birkin bag she’d gotten as a gift from Anna Wintor on its shelf of glory.

“One day I’ll have a wall of Vogue,” had always been Nesta’s promise to herself and, at twenty nine, she was already well on her way there.

“Only the best for you,” Nesta said, sliding her phone into the pocket of her cleanly pressed slacks and brushing a kiss across Elain’s cheek. “And Lucien gets to join you on this one.”

“Oh,” Elain said, any excitement she had rapidly deflating.

Because she hadn’t actually told her sister she was getting divorced. It made her the worst kind of coward, something she told herself at every family dinner when she and Lucien sat next to each other and pretended things were going well, but she couldn’t bear to do it. Couldn’t stand to see the crestfallen looks on Feyre and Nesta’s face, the confused horror on her father’s. She was supposed to be the one who succeeded, married the nice boy from down the road and had a nice family.

Never mind that down the road was in a multi-million dollar mansion near Beverly Hills.

And after Elain told her family, she’d have to face the paparazzi. She was moderately well known, enough to get an occasional “who wore it best” shoutout in People (she always won), and Lucien was the son of Hollywood's most beloved silver fox.

A silver fox who’d run away with the wife of the state governor three months ago and was desperately trying to rehabilitate his image in the eyes of the press before his next movie. The media was out for blood, and Helion’s beloved son divorcing his pretty little wife wasn’t what anyone needed right now.

So Elain and Lucien had an unspoken mutual agreement not to tell anyone. When they showed up to Feyre and Rhys’ Sunday night dinners, whoever got there first sat in their car until the other arrived and they could keep up the appearance of arriving together. They sat next to each other and made a good show of acting like they didn’t hate each other’s guts. And then, when it was over, they left without another word and Elain pretended it didn’t feel like her heart was being stabbed over and over.

“You know the company you and Lucien used to book your honeymoon?” Nesta asked, too focused on whatever gig she had planned to notice Elain’s dismay. “They’ve been asked to plan the Greek princess’ honeymoon, which means Cosmopolitan wants to run a profile. And since the Royal wedding hasn’t happened yet, they wanted to feature another famous couple they worked with, and that’s you and Lucien.”

Elain’s eyes darted over to Lucien to see his eyebrows were high enough to touch his hairline.

“You want me to take pictures for a magazine spread?” Lucien asked. “I do have work to do. Not to mention,” Lucien gestured at the left side of his face, and the scars that raked down it, standing in stark contrast to his golden brown skin. A reminder of the car crash he’d been in in high school. “This.”

Elain had to bite her tongue to keep from saying something. She’d always thought the scars only served to make Lucien look more handsome, gave him a slightly dangerous air that lured her in, something that she reminded him of frequently, but her comments always seemed to fall on deaf ears. But it wasn’t her place, not now.

Nesta gave Lucien a scathing look. “The shoot is planned for two weeks after the California state election, so I’m sure you’ll have some time to take a week long, all expense paid vacation to the Bahamas.”

“We honeymooned in the Dominican Republic,” Elain interrupted.

Nesta whipped out her phone and tapped on it rapidly for a few seconds. “Yes, there.”

Elain barely contained her eye roll. She was sure Nesta could point out both countries on a map, and rattle off at least two or three facts about their geopolitical status, but asking her to remember where Elain went for her honeymoon was a step too far for her when she was focused on work.

“And the magazine is well aware of what your face looks like. It’s been enough places for everyone to know,” Nesta finished with finality.

Elain scowled. “We can’t just uproot our lives. We have things to do, I  have things to do.” Namely buying the ugliest pink couch she could find to put in Lucien’s old office as one last fuck you.

“All expenses paid?” Lucien asked, speaking over her.

Nesta smiled dangerously. “Flight included.”

Lucien crossed his arms. The leather jacket pulled up at the motion, the cuffs tight around muscled forearms. “And all we have to do is take some magazine photos.”

“And do an interview,” Nesta added.

Somehow, Lucien managed to arch one brow even higher. “And they want me, son of a currently disgraced movie star.”

“And potential senatorial candidate,” Nesta added.

“Rumors,” Elain interrupted. “All just rumors.”

“Which are good in this line of work,” was Nesta’s counter.

“I’m in,” Lucien said.

“We’ll think about it,” Elain corrected, glaring over at Lucien. He smirked at her in challenge.

Nesta sighed, glancing between the two of them, at last picking up the tension. “I need an answer by tomorrow, they want to book flights.”

Elain squirmed under her sister’s stare. This was exactly what she didn’t want, any cracks showing in her picture perfect life before she was ready to sit everyone down with a carefully rehearsed speech. 

“Elain?” Nesta asked.

In response, she leaned slightly towards Lucien, who obligingly pulled up his sleeve to show her his watch, a thick silver one she’d given him for his last birthday. At least he hadn’t forgotten that trick, since Elain never had a watch or phone on her at work. “My ten minutes are up,” Elain said, glancing at the time. “Gotta run.”

“I need an answer,” Nesta called as Elain slid backwards, towards where the photographer and director were still leaning over the camera, arguing back and forth over some detail or other.

“I’ll text you,” Elain promised. She almost felt bad leaving Lucien with Nesta. Almost, but not quite.

-

“I don’t know what to do,” Elain said on the phone later that night. “It would be a whole spread, at least ten pages, and a cover story.”

“Which would be perfect for your career,” Vassa finished for her.

“But then I would have to—”

“Spend a week with Lucien.”

Elain sighed. Vassa and Jurian were the only two people outside of their lawyers who knew Elain and Lucien were separating. It was unavoidable, since Lucien was living in their guest room for the time being. Looking for his own place would raise too many questions, and staying in a hotel for weeks would be an invitation for bored paparazzi.

“What would you do,” Elain asked, taking a bite of her ice cream. She’d splurged on Haagen Dazs, rationalizing that the encounter with Nesta had more than justified it.

“I’m not the one getting an all expense paid vacation.”

“With your ex-husband.”

“Technically he’s still your husband until Monday,” Vassa laughed. Because the court closed early on Friday and Nesta’s appearance had taken up too much time for Lucien to drive over to the court house.

“Not helping,” Elain growled. “And why would Lucien even agree? He loves to poke at Nesta’s buttons.”

“It would be good for him too,” Vassa said. “Future state Senator gets a fluff magazine article about him and his beautiful wife.”

“It’s a rumor,” Elain insisted. “He hasn’t even nominated himself. And anyway, it’s going to look a lot worse when he has to come out and say we’re not together anymore.”

“First of all, you know it’s more than a rumor. No political analyst gets called into a meeting with the head of the DNC for nothing, and second just pretend you’re still married, you’ve already been doing it for six months.”

Elain suppressed her groan. Vassa made it clear at every possible opportunity how much she disapproved of Elain’s current course of action. A “Congrats of Getting Divorced, Coward” Edible Arrangement had shown up on her door the day she moved to start the paperwork, and it had only escalated from there.

Although Elain figured she should be glad Vassa would still talk to her instead of taking Lucien’s side completely. She was distressingly short on friends who weren’t her sisters and it would be so easy for Vassa to blame her when Elain still refused to explain what exactly had caused her to kick Lucien out. But Vassa had just sighed, crawled into the mountain of blankets Elain had made for herself, and said she knew Elain would talk to her when she was ready.

“He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

Elain had given an emphatic no and that had been that.

“Ugh,” Elain sighed, flopping back on the couch. “I don’t know.”

“You’ve said that about twelve times already,” Vassa sighed. “We’ve been on this call for two hours.”

“Then maybe you’re not being helpful enough.”

“I’m not helpful? Fine then,” Elain heard a rustling on the other side of the phone as Vassa started thumbing through her room. 

“Oh you don’t need to…” Elain protested weakly.

But the sounds of video game weapons were already buzzing in her ear.

“Lucien,” Vassa asked, her voice muffled as she pulled the phone away and put it on speaker. “What are your thoughts on Nesta’s offer?”

There was a long, pregnant pause on the other side of the line.

“I’m in if Elain is.”

“Thank you,” Vassa chirped.

Elain waited until there was once again silence on the other side of the line to speak. “Traitor.”

“I accept you’re welcome, I’m forever in your debts, I could never repay you.”

“I hate you,” Elain snapped. “I hope your favorite tree burns down in the next wildfire.”

“Low blow,” Vassa protested. It was, based on how much time and energy Vassa spent caring for that orange tree.

“I’m hanging up,” Elain said.

“Text your sister.”

“See you at spin tomorrow.”

“Love you bitch,” was Vassa’s sign off, and then the line went dead.

Vassa was too smart for her own good, Elain thought. Because if Lucien was in, so was she. There was no way she was going to look like the coward in front of Lucien, like she wasn’t willing to do something he will.

So she closed the phone app and pulled up her text messages.

Nesta’s was at the top, several unopened messages demanding an answer waiting.

We’re in.

[ladyeckland28]

Shadows Of Neon

A cyberpunk thriller

Starring AudacityAllie (Wattpaddian) as Lena Voss (perfect for the role with a blue beanie hat) and Horror 73 as Marcus

---

In the year 2074, the city of Neonveil stood as a testament to humanity's relentless march towards progress and technology. Towering skyscrapers of glass and steel pierced the sky, bathed in the perpetual glow of neon lights and holographic advertisements. The air buzzed with the hum of drones and the chatter of a million digital voices. Beneath this veneer of prosperity and innovation, however, lay a labyrinth of shadows, secrets, and danger.

---

**Chapter 1: The Courier**

Lena Voss adjusted her blue beanie, the fabric snug against her platinum hair. Her reflective glasses scanned the bustling streets as she navigated through the throng of people. In a city where privacy was a luxury, anonymity was her greatest asset. As a courier for the underground resistance, every delivery she made was a gamble with her life.

She slipped through the crowded marketplace, her footsteps light and swift. The mission today was critical. She carried a data chip containing information that could expose one of the city's darkest secrets—the link between the megacorp ArcTech and a series of mysterious disappearances in the lower districts.

Her contact, a grizzled ex-cop named Jax, was waiting at a secluded rendezvous point. His gruff exterior belied a deep-seated desire for justice, a trait that had cost him his career and nearly his life.

"Lena," he greeted her with a curt nod as she approached. "You have the package?"

She reached into the hidden pocket of her leather jacket and produced the small, unassuming chip. "Right here. But we need to move fast. I think I was tailed."

Jax's expression darkened. "We need to get this to Dr. Shin. She's the only one who can decrypt it and get the evidence out to the public."

---

**Chapter 2: The Chase**

Their conversation was cut short by the sudden wail of sirens. Lena's heart raced as she saw a squad of ArcTech enforcers pushing through the crowd, their black uniforms and visored helmets a stark contrast to the vibrant surroundings.

"Go!" Jax barked, drawing his gun to provide cover. Lena didn't need to be told twice. She bolted down an alleyway, her boots pounding against the pavement. The enforcers were hot on her trail, their shouts echoing through the narrow passage.

She darted around corners and vaulted over obstacles, her mind racing as fast as her feet. Neonveil was a city of endless possibilities, but it was also a city of relentless surveillance. Every step she took was likely being tracked by ArcTech's omnipresent eyes.

As she reached the end of the alley, she skidded to a halt. A towering fence blocked her path. Desperation fueled her as she scrambled up the chain-link barrier, her fingers gripping tightly despite the metal biting into her skin. She heaved herself over just as the enforcers arrived, bullets whizzing past her.

---

**Chapter 3: The Haven**

Lena hit the ground running, not daring to look back. She had a destination in mind—a safe house used by the resistance, hidden in the bowels of the city where ArcTech's influence was weakest.

The safe house was a dimly lit, subterranean bunker. The heavy door clanged shut behind her as she collapsed against it, panting for breath. Dr. Shin, a brilliant but eccentric scientist with a penchant for old-world tech, was waiting for her.

"You're late," she remarked without looking up from her console.

"Had some... unexpected company," Lena replied, handing over the data chip.

Dr. Shin inserted the chip into her computer, her fingers flying over the keyboard. "Let's see what we've got here."

The screen flickered to life, displaying a series of encrypted files. As Dr. Shin worked her magic, Lena couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom. They were playing a dangerous game, and ArcTech didn't play fair.

---

**Chapter 4: Revelation**

Hours passed as Dr. Shin decrypted the files. Lena paced the room, her anxiety growing with each minute. Finally, the scientist leaned back in her chair, a grim expression on her face.

"This is it," she said. "Proof that ArcTech has been abducting people for illegal cybernetic experiments. If we can get this out, we can bring them down."

Lena's heart surged with hope. But their victory was short-lived. The door to the safe house exploded inward, and ArcTech enforcers stormed in, weapons drawn.

"Get down!" Jax shouted, returning fire. The room erupted into chaos.

Lena grabbed the data chip from Dr. Shin's console and made a break for it. She couldn't let ArcTech win. As she fled through the labyrinthine tunnels, she vowed to herself that she would see this through to the end, no matter the cost.

---

**Chapter 5: The Uprising**

News of the data leak spread like wildfire. The city's underbelly rose up in defiance, emboldened by the truth. Protests erupted, and the resistance gained momentum. Lena became a symbol of the fight against oppression, her image projected across the city as a beacon of hope.

ArcTech responded with brutal force, but the tide had turned. The people of Neonveil, once cowed by fear, now stood united against their oppressors. The battle for the soul of the city had begun.

And in the heart of the chaos, Lena Voss fought on, determined to bring down the corporation that had brought so much suffering. She had started as a courier, but now she was something more—a warrior in the shadows, a voice for the voiceless.

The future of Neonveil hung in the balance, and Lena was ready to tip the scales.

---

In the end, it wasn't just about the data chip or the conspiracies it revealed. It was about reclaiming their city, their lives, and their freedom. And Lena Voss, the girl in the blue beanie, was prepared to pay any price to see justice served.

**Chapter 6: The Battle Lines**

Lena’s journey through the tunnels brought her to a hidden network of resistance fighters. The underground labyrinth was a sanctuary for those opposed to ArcTech's tyrannical grip on the city. Among them were hackers, ex-soldiers, and everyday citizens who had lost everything to the corporation.

She was ushered into a large chamber where the resistance leaders were gathered around a holographic map of the city. At the head of the table stood Marcus, the resistance's charismatic leader, his eyes gleaming with determination.

"Lena," he said, his voice echoing in the chamber, "your bravery has ignited a spark. We have the proof. Now, we need to strike while the iron is hot."

Lena nodded, her resolve hardening. "What's the plan?"

"We need to take control of ArcTech's primary broadcast tower," Marcus explained. "If we can hijack their signal, we can broadcast the evidence to the entire city. It'll expose them for what they are and rally the people to our cause."

The room buzzed with murmurs of agreement. Lena felt a surge of hope. This was the moment they had been waiting for.

---

**Chapter 7: Infiltration**

Under the cover of darkness, Lena and a team of resistance fighters moved through the city. The broadcast tower loomed ahead, a monolith of steel and glass, heavily guarded by ArcTech's private army.

Using her knowledge of the city’s underbelly, Lena led the team through a series of maintenance tunnels, avoiding patrols and surveillance drones. The tension was palpable, each step bringing them closer to either victory or disaster.

As they reached the base of the tower, Lena signaled for the team to halt. Jax, who had managed to escape the earlier raid, joined her side, his face set in a grim mask of determination.

"Are you ready for this?" he asked, checking his weapon.

Lena took a deep breath. "We don’t have a choice. This is our only shot."

The team moved swiftly, neutralizing guards and bypassing security systems. Lena's heart pounded in her chest as they ascended the tower, the weight of their mission pressing heavily on her shoulders.

---

**Chapter 8: The Broadcast**

They reached the control room, a high-tech nerve center filled with monitors and consoles. Dr. Shin, who had accompanied them, immediately set to work on the main terminal, her fingers dancing across the keyboard.

"Cover me," she muttered, her focus unwavering.

Lena and Jax took defensive positions, anticipating the inevitable response from ArcTech's forces. As Dr. Shin decrypted the broadcast controls, the room was flooded with the sounds of alarms and approaching footsteps.

"We've got company," Jax warned, his eyes narrowing.

Lena tightened her grip on her weapon. "Hold them off. We need to buy her time."

The door burst open, and a firefight erupted. Lena's senses sharpened as adrenaline coursed through her veins. She fired with precision, her thoughts solely on protecting Dr. Shin and ensuring the truth reached the city.

Amidst the chaos, Dr. Shin's voice rang out. "It's done! The broadcast is live!"

---

**Chapter 9: The Revelation**

Across Neonveil, every screen, every device, flickered to life with the damning evidence against ArcTech. The files exposed the corporation’s horrific experiments, their manipulation of the city's governance, and the countless lives destroyed in the process.

The city's reaction was immediate and explosive. Protests swelled into riots as the people of Neonveil rose up, their fury fueled by years of oppression and deceit. ArcTech’s enforcers struggled to maintain control, their grip on the city slipping with each passing moment.

In the control room, Lena and her team held their ground. The broadcast had ignited a revolution, but their fight was far from over. They needed to escape and continue the struggle on the ground.

---

**Chapter 10: The Aftermath**

The battle for the broadcast tower was fierce, but the resistance fighters' resolve was unbreakable. They fought with the knowledge that the tide had turned, that their city was awakening from its long slumber of apathy and fear.

Lena emerged from the tower, her body bruised and exhausted but her spirit unyielding. The streets below were a battleground, but they were also filled with the unmistakable sound of hope—the chants of thousands of voices demanding freedom and justice.

She found Marcus amidst the throng of resistance fighters. He embraced her, his eyes alight with pride. "You did it, Lena. We did it."

But Lena knew this was just the beginning. "The fight isn't over," she said. "ArcTech won't go down without a fight."

Marcus nodded, his expression resolute. "Then we’ll keep fighting. For every life they’ve taken, for every injustice they’ve committed, we’ll make them pay."

---

**Epilogue: A New Dawn**

In the weeks that followed, the resistance gained ground. ArcTech's strongholds were dismantled one by one, their influence waning as the people of Neonveil reclaimed their city. Lena became a symbol of the uprising, her image a rallying cry for those who dared to dream of a better future.

The city began to heal, its neon-lit streets a testament to the resilience and courage of its inhabitants. Lena stood on a rooftop, looking out over the skyline. The fight had cost them dearly, but it had also united them in a way she had never thought possible.

As the first rays of dawn pierced the horizon, she felt a renewed sense of purpose. The shadows of Neonveil were lifting, and a new chapter was beginning. Lena Voss, once a mere courier in the labyrinth of the city, was now a beacon of hope in the fight for freedom.

And she knew that as long as there were shadows to chase, she would be there, fighting for a future where light prevailed.

---

[bluerhine02]

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