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Reddit Mods Push Back Against Ethan Klein Subpoenas
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
Moderators of a subreddit critical of YouTuber Ethan Klein are pushing back against subpoenas that would reveal their identities.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Ethan Klein filed subpoenas to unmask Reddit moderators of r/h3snark.
- Moderators’ lawyers warn revealing identities could put them in serious danger.
- Klein publicly threatened to find moderators’ personal information and IP addresses.
The moderators’ lawyers argue that revealing their identities would put them at serious risk. “These worries extend to all family and friends connected to Does. Does fear their professional lives being ruined, potential sexual violence, extortion, fans showing up to their home, and endless years of harassment due to Ethan’s prolific lies surrounding them,” the filing said, as reported by 404Media .
Klein has publicly warned the moderators, saying on a podcast, “Listen, guys, at this point you [r/h3snark mods] are totally fucked… We’re going to get your IP address and find your information,” reported 404Media.
He also said, “If there’s any justice in the world [the h3snark mods] will lose everything that they care about and I will be the one who makes them lose those things […] through legal means. Through any legal means.”
The creators of the video claim that their use of the song falls under fair use provisions because they are using it for educational purposes and that their use does not harm the market value of the song.
They also contend that sharing reaction videos and hosting discussion threads about the song constitutes fair use, and does not violate copyright law. The filing added that unmasking the moderators could set a dangerous precedent for anonymous online speech, saying “Very few would-be commentators are prepared to bear costs of this magnitude […] That speech will disappear. But that is precisely what Ethan Klein wants.”
A judge has allowed the subpoenas to be filed, but the moderators’ motion to quash them is currently under review, raising questions about the balance between copyright enforcement and protecting anonymous online voices.
The court issued acceptance of the subpoenas yet the moderators’ request to prevent them from being enforced continues to be assessed which raises questions about the balance between copyright enforcement and protecting anonymous online voices.
Image by Ed Hardie, from Unsplash
Microsoft Rolls Out AI-Powered Agent Mode For Office Applications
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
Microsoft is expanding its AI tools in Office apps with the rollout of Agent Mode and Office Agent in Microsoft 365 Copilot.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Agent Mode is now available in Excel and Word, with PowerPoint coming soon.
- Excel’s Agent Mode can generate formulas, analyze data, and create visualizations.
- Word’s Agent Mode streamlines drafting, editing, and formatting through conversation.
The update brings new features that improve spreadsheet and document creation and presentation development through interactive tools which minimize manual work.
“Today, we’re bringing vibe working to Microsoft 365 Copilot with Agent Mode in Office apps and Office Agent in Copilot chat,” the company said , framing the move as part of a shift toward closer human–AI collaboration.
Agent Mode is launching in Excel and Word, with PowerPoint to follow. The AI models in Excel perform advanced data analysis, generate formulas, and build visualizations. Microsoft says that the system can also check its own results and correct errors, making the spreadsheet more accessible to non-experts.
The system accepts user commands which include “Run a full analysis on this sales data set. I need essential business data which will form the basis for my company decision-making process. Make it visual.”
Word offers Agent Mode as a functionality which enables users to enhance their document creation and editing work flow. A prompt like “summarize recent customer feedback and highlight key trends” produces a draft that Copilot can refine through follow-up questions, and formatting suggestions. The company describes this as shifting document creation into a more conversational process.
Office Agent, built into Copilot’s chat, is focused on creating PowerPoint presentations and Word documents. It begins by clarifying what the user wants, gathers information online, and then produces a structured draft. Users have the ability to modify content and visual elements before making their final choices through the standard Office applications.
