Yes, but it still has a meaning, and it is not "icon". I think you can be pragmatic here and use <i>, since it to my knowledge doesn't cause any real world problem, but it's worth exploring other options.
The src is the data uri of a transparent gif. Screen readers will hear the alt text if you supply one. This will not work with font icons (img can't have ::before or ::after) but it should work fine for sprites or data uris in the CSS.
I hate this trend so much. I must say it feels like it
"Breaks" the web. I use Gill Dyslexic[1] on all websites across the internet and I'm tired of having to put in exceptions for sites like github. Icons should be images.
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[ 5.9 ms ] story [ 72.2 ms ] threadThanks for the incredible work!
http://imgur.com/ByrB9
(Chrome 20.0.1132.21 on Mac OS X 10.7.3)
Clearing the font cache as instructed here solved the problem.
http://surgeworks.com/blog/general/how-to-fix-chrome-for-mac...
I use them in every bootstrap project now; can't live without resizing and colouring my icons.
[0] http://stackoverflow.com/a/10001692/368409
Aside from that, it's a nice collection which I could see finding a way into many of my projects.
[1]http://www.pixelscript.net/gilldyslexic/