David Wells
@davidwellsct.bsky.social
Global security consultant focused on terrorism, counter-terrorism & new technology (particularly AI): Former head of research & analysis at UN CTED: Ex UK/Aus intelligence
Reposted by David Wells
I think one of the real challenges in discussing anything to do with trans people is that the media simply cannot accept that the anti-position is entirely eliminationist. There is no way to "exist in public whilst trans" that they will accept, right down to celebrating a doctor quitting.
Susan Smith of For Women Scotland is quoted in this piece saying that Dr Upton leaving the NHS will be "a relief to female patients."
The employment tribunal found that Upton had done nothing wrong! She was completely innocent of any kind of harassment!
www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/1592555...
The employment tribunal found that Upton had done nothing wrong! She was completely innocent of any kind of harassment!
www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/1592555...
Trans doc at centre of landmark Sandi Peggie court battle quits NHS
THE trans medic at the heart of a changing room war that cost taxpayers a staggering £400,000 has walked out on the NHS. NHS Fife bosses racked up the eye-watering bill in a failed bid to hush up n…
www.thescottishsun.co.uk
February 15, 2026 at 11:00 AM
I think one of the real challenges in discussing anything to do with trans people is that the media simply cannot accept that the anti-position is entirely eliminationist. There is no way to "exist in public whilst trans" that they will accept, right down to celebrating a doctor quitting.
Reposted by David Wells
Great thread reflecting upon the use of LLM-based simulations to run experiments that inform science, systems, and policy. Here’s the final post in the thread.
anyway, what really matters here is that a lot of big companies will stop doing user testing with real humans and instead depend on these AI simulations. The machine will dictate the market and, should we conform to the market, we will ourselves become more like the machine. Unsubscribe.
February 13, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Great thread reflecting upon the use of LLM-based simulations to run experiments that inform science, systems, and policy. Here’s the final post in the thread.
Reposted by David Wells
Two weeks ago, Peter Mandelson told us he had no recollection of planning to buy a £2m apartment in Rio via a Panama holding company and a Brazilian company.
Yesterday we found notarised incorporation documents for the Brazilian company, with Mr Mandelson's signature.
Yesterday we found notarised incorporation documents for the Brazilian company, with Mr Mandelson's signature.
February 13, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Two weeks ago, Peter Mandelson told us he had no recollection of planning to buy a £2m apartment in Rio via a Panama holding company and a Brazilian company.
Yesterday we found notarised incorporation documents for the Brazilian company, with Mr Mandelson's signature.
Yesterday we found notarised incorporation documents for the Brazilian company, with Mr Mandelson's signature.
Reposted by David Wells
this feels like a spoof from The Day Today
Nadhim Zahawi thinks London is now unsafe, because the other day a tired-looking man walked past him during the morning rush hour.
February 13, 2026 at 3:24 PM
this feels like a spoof from The Day Today
Reposted by David Wells
Meta are never afraid to say the quiet bit out loud, but also, um WTAF?
Facebook plans to put facial recognition in its glasses and they think we’re too stupid to fight back.
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Meta Plans to Add Facial Recognition Technology to Its Smart Glasses
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Meta are never afraid to say the quiet bit out loud, but also, um WTAF?
Reposted by David Wells
It's a small part of the issue, but that the Palestine Action vote was combined with the proscription of two other organisations harmed parliamentary scrutiny of the SI. One lesson from this should adopting the Bingham Centre recommendation for one-org-per-order.
Yes, given that SIs can't be amended, requiring one-org-per-order would be appropriate.
February 13, 2026 at 12:56 PM
It's a small part of the issue, but that the Palestine Action vote was combined with the proscription of two other organisations harmed parliamentary scrutiny of the SI. One lesson from this should adopting the Bingham Centre recommendation for one-org-per-order.
Reposted by David Wells
Earlier this week @pbaskar.bsky.social quoted me in this excellent piece about how extremists around the world use platforms like Roblox & Minecraft to recruit children. Please read & share—especially with parents of young children.
Gift link! ⤵️
Gift link! ⤵️
How Hate Groups and Terrorists Use Gaming Platforms to Recruit Young Children
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:01 AM
Earlier this week @pbaskar.bsky.social quoted me in this excellent piece about how extremists around the world use platforms like Roblox & Minecraft to recruit children. Please read & share—especially with parents of young children.
Gift link! ⤵️
Gift link! ⤵️
Reposted by David Wells
"everyone has to get back to the office because the important thing about business is human interaction" is dying, but "white collar jobs will be replaced by AI agents within 18 months" cannot yet be born; in this interregnum a variety of morbid symptoms appear.
February 13, 2026 at 9:52 AM
"everyone has to get back to the office because the important thing about business is human interaction" is dying, but "white collar jobs will be replaced by AI agents within 18 months" cannot yet be born; in this interregnum a variety of morbid symptoms appear.
Reposted by David Wells
The UK ban on Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation is UNLAWFUL, high court judges have ruled.
The decision by the government to categorise the group alongside the likes of Islamic State has seen the greatest number of counterterror arrests in UK since the introduction of counterterrorism.
The decision by the government to categorise the group alongside the likes of Islamic State has seen the greatest number of counterterror arrests in UK since the introduction of counterterrorism.
February 13, 2026 at 10:21 AM
The UK ban on Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation is UNLAWFUL, high court judges have ruled.
The decision by the government to categorise the group alongside the likes of Islamic State has seen the greatest number of counterterror arrests in UK since the introduction of counterterrorism.
The decision by the government to categorise the group alongside the likes of Islamic State has seen the greatest number of counterterror arrests in UK since the introduction of counterterrorism.
Reposted by David Wells
The proscription of Palestine Action was unlawful, but we also shouldn't forget that the manner in which the proscription was enforced was blisteringly stupid. Continuing to arrest grandmothers for holding signs was a massive waste of police resources and did nothing to deal with the supposed threat
February 13, 2026 at 10:25 AM
The proscription of Palestine Action was unlawful, but we also shouldn't forget that the manner in which the proscription was enforced was blisteringly stupid. Continuing to arrest grandmothers for holding signs was a massive waste of police resources and did nothing to deal with the supposed threat
Reposted by David Wells
The silence of US elites about this remains stunning & utterly damning.
Elon Musk posted about race almost every day in January
Many social media posts by Tesla CEO on his platform are indiscernible from those of white supremacists, say experts
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:09 PM
The silence of US elites about this remains stunning & utterly damning.
Reposted by David Wells
I knew it was bad but this is just astounding. There is nothing organic about any of this. It's an engineered moral panic artificially imposed from the top. Of course, that doesn't make the harm done any less real.
a stat i always cite is the number of anti-trans articles in the press went from 60 in a year, to 7,500
February 13, 2026 at 12:46 AM
I knew it was bad but this is just astounding. There is nothing organic about any of this. It's an engineered moral panic artificially imposed from the top. Of course, that doesn't make the harm done any less real.
Reposted by David Wells
Ring cancels its partnership with Flock Safety after surveillance backlash
Ring cancels its partnership with Flock Safety after surveillance backlash
Flock off
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Ring cancels its partnership with Flock Safety after surveillance backlash
Reposted by David Wells
To me the chatbots pose zero interesting questions about the ‘nature of selfhood’ but dozens about the nature of manipulation. Here the Claude team pretends they are programming the robot for ethical responses but they land on one that is false and disingenuous.
February 11, 2026 at 3:42 PM
To me the chatbots pose zero interesting questions about the ‘nature of selfhood’ but dozens about the nature of manipulation. Here the Claude team pretends they are programming the robot for ethical responses but they land on one that is false and disingenuous.
Reposted by David Wells
People must think their art form is superior to another’s art form
Context here is conversation around copyright issues with music in figure skating.
Would these skaters be as honored if a musician used video of them skating without permission for a music video? Giving them “amazing exposure”?
Context here is conversation around copyright issues with music in figure skating.
Would these skaters be as honored if a musician used video of them skating without permission for a music video? Giving them “amazing exposure”?
February 10, 2026 at 6:29 PM
People must think their art form is superior to another’s art form
Context here is conversation around copyright issues with music in figure skating.
Would these skaters be as honored if a musician used video of them skating without permission for a music video? Giving them “amazing exposure”?
Context here is conversation around copyright issues with music in figure skating.
Would these skaters be as honored if a musician used video of them skating without permission for a music video? Giving them “amazing exposure”?
Reposted by David Wells
Reposted by David Wells
Don’t be afraid to share your writing. There are six Sharknado movies.
August 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Don’t be afraid to share your writing. There are six Sharknado movies.
Reposted by David Wells
#HIRING
Join RUSI as a Course Assistant and play a key role in delivering executive education on international security and global affairs.
Apply by 11 March 2026: https://bit.ly/4r4Q5JO
Join RUSI as a Course Assistant and play a key role in delivering executive education on international security and global affairs.
Apply by 11 March 2026: https://bit.ly/4r4Q5JO
February 11, 2026 at 12:10 PM
#HIRING
Join RUSI as a Course Assistant and play a key role in delivering executive education on international security and global affairs.
Apply by 11 March 2026: https://bit.ly/4r4Q5JO
Join RUSI as a Course Assistant and play a key role in delivering executive education on international security and global affairs.
Apply by 11 March 2026: https://bit.ly/4r4Q5JO
Reposted by David Wells
I honestly thought we'd just given up trying to regulate tech companies.
Certainly feels that way most days.
apple.news/A5IYd_-tuR2y...
Certainly feels that way most days.
apple.news/A5IYd_-tuR2y...
Tech bosses ‘not even close’ to doing enough on extremist content, UK counter-terror chief warns LBC — LBC
Britain’s most senior counter-terrorism police officer has accused tech companies of failing to do enough to stop extremist material spreading online, warning that algorithms can rapidly push vulnerab...
apple.news
February 11, 2026 at 12:16 PM
I honestly thought we'd just given up trying to regulate tech companies.
Certainly feels that way most days.
apple.news/A5IYd_-tuR2y...
Certainly feels that way most days.
apple.news/A5IYd_-tuR2y...
Reposted by David Wells
OpenAI: we're not like other tech companies. We're a cool tech company
Also OpenAI: *doing the most tech company thing possible*
Also OpenAI: *doing the most tech company thing possible*
OpenAI fired a VP who opposed their erotica rollout (and had started a company-wide peer mentorship program for women), allegedly telling her it was because she discriminated against a man 🤔 www.wsj.com/tech/ai/open...
Exclusive | OpenAI Executive Who Opposed ‘Adult Mode’ Fired for Sexual Discrimination
Ryan Beiermeister, who served as the vice president leading OpenAI’s product policy team, had raised concerns about the upcoming launch of erotic content.
www.wsj.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:20 PM
OpenAI: we're not like other tech companies. We're a cool tech company
Also OpenAI: *doing the most tech company thing possible*
Also OpenAI: *doing the most tech company thing possible*
Reposted by David Wells
🚨CALL FOR CHAPTERS!🚨
@amaramarasingam.bsky.social and I are putting together an edited collection looking at the use of pseudoscientific ideas by extremist movements. If you are interested, please send us your abstracts at this link: forms.gle/mAUtpDGNEj9i...
@amaramarasingam.bsky.social and I are putting together an edited collection looking at the use of pseudoscientific ideas by extremist movements. If you are interested, please send us your abstracts at this link: forms.gle/mAUtpDGNEj9i...
forms.gle
February 11, 2026 at 9:16 AM
🚨CALL FOR CHAPTERS!🚨
@amaramarasingam.bsky.social and I are putting together an edited collection looking at the use of pseudoscientific ideas by extremist movements. If you are interested, please send us your abstracts at this link: forms.gle/mAUtpDGNEj9i...
@amaramarasingam.bsky.social and I are putting together an edited collection looking at the use of pseudoscientific ideas by extremist movements. If you are interested, please send us your abstracts at this link: forms.gle/mAUtpDGNEj9i...
Reposted by David Wells
Yeah, British politics is simple. You just need to improve public services without any meaningful tax increases, reduce immigration without any labour market impacts, and deliver growth and you'll be hugely successful.
Right, but if you strip out the hyperbole it's just "the public are angry about the cost of living, immigration and the NHS and don't particularly understand any of them" which, sure, but what do I do with that?
You may not like it, but strip out the hyperbole and abuse and it's quite hard to argue with this Cummings asssessment of the public mood
February 10, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Yeah, British politics is simple. You just need to improve public services without any meaningful tax increases, reduce immigration without any labour market impacts, and deliver growth and you'll be hugely successful.
Reposted by David Wells
have never seen popular public opinion shift so fast about a surveillance product than the fallout from ring's super bowl "search party" ad. they'll teach this in advertising courses one day. chef's kiss baby www.404media.co/with-ring-am...
With Ring, American Consumers Built a Surveillance Dragnet
Ring's 'Search Party' is dystopian surveillance accelerationism.
www.404media.co
February 10, 2026 at 3:14 PM
have never seen popular public opinion shift so fast about a surveillance product than the fallout from ring's super bowl "search party" ad. they'll teach this in advertising courses one day. chef's kiss baby www.404media.co/with-ring-am...
Reposted by David Wells
I’m beginning every panel I chair for the rest of my career with this frontal attack…
If Bad Bunny can cover the history of Puerto Rico, colonialism, transatlantic slavery, hemispheric consciousness, as well as contemporary life and politics in under 14 minutes, you can do your 15- or 20-minute conference presentation with time to spare.
February 10, 2026 at 12:48 PM
I’m beginning every panel I chair for the rest of my career with this frontal attack…
Reposted by David Wells
SpaceX shifts focus from something that it will never do on Mars to something it will never do on the Moon.
February 9, 2026 at 3:32 AM
SpaceX shifts focus from something that it will never do on Mars to something it will never do on the Moon.