James Ball
@jamesrball.com
Tech, policy, politics.
Political editor @ The New World
Opinion @ The i Paper
Fellow @ Demos
PhD researcher @ UCL Laws
newsletter @ techtris
Latest book: The Other Pandemic – How QAnon Contaminated The World. 🏳️🌈
https://www.jamesrball.com/
Political editor @ The New World
Opinion @ The i Paper
Fellow @ Demos
PhD researcher @ UCL Laws
newsletter @ techtris
Latest book: The Other Pandemic – How QAnon Contaminated The World. 🏳️🌈
https://www.jamesrball.com/
Pinned
James Ball
@jamesrball.com
· Aug 11
Techtris | James Ball | Substack
A weekly(ish) newsletter on technology, policy and society, from James Ball. Click to read Techtris, by James Ball, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.
www.jamesrball.com
Enjoying my posts? (If not: sorry..?)
I have a newsletter here, plz do subscribe: www.jamesrball.com
Details of books I’ve written here: www.jamesrball.com/p/books
And all my writing for @thenewworldmag.bsky.social is here: www.thenewworld.co.uk/contributor/...
I often pop up elsewhere, too.
I have a newsletter here, plz do subscribe: www.jamesrball.com
Details of books I’ve written here: www.jamesrball.com/p/books
And all my writing for @thenewworldmag.bsky.social is here: www.thenewworld.co.uk/contributor/...
I often pop up elsewhere, too.
Reposted by James Ball
If xAI and Musk had reacted to these events swiftly and with the seriousness they demanded then no one would be suggesting bans.
But Musk repeatedly treated it as a joke, and no one can have confidence that xAI will make any effort to minimise these harms.
But Musk repeatedly treated it as a joke, and no one can have confidence that xAI will make any effort to minimise these harms.
January 12, 2026 at 11:16 PM
If xAI and Musk had reacted to these events swiftly and with the seriousness they demanded then no one would be suggesting bans.
But Musk repeatedly treated it as a joke, and no one can have confidence that xAI will make any effort to minimise these harms.
But Musk repeatedly treated it as a joke, and no one can have confidence that xAI will make any effort to minimise these harms.
Reposted by James Ball
What the FSU misses (purposely) here is that X is the one "creating the material"
The images are being generated by xAI's Grok.
The reason that such actions aren't considered for Meta and OpenAI is that they take action to prevent these uses.
Musk makes minimal guardrails a product goal.
The images are being generated by xAI's Grok.
The reason that such actions aren't considered for Meta and OpenAI is that they take action to prevent these uses.
Musk makes minimal guardrails a product goal.
January 12, 2026 at 11:16 PM
What the FSU misses (purposely) here is that X is the one "creating the material"
The images are being generated by xAI's Grok.
The reason that such actions aren't considered for Meta and OpenAI is that they take action to prevent these uses.
Musk makes minimal guardrails a product goal.
The images are being generated by xAI's Grok.
The reason that such actions aren't considered for Meta and OpenAI is that they take action to prevent these uses.
Musk makes minimal guardrails a product goal.
Wrote this back in September for @thenewworldmag.bsky.social on the gullibility of America’s right-wing preppers.
Somehow the idea that an authoritarian government might seem to be on their side never occurred to them. And for most of them, it still hasn’t.
Somehow the idea that an authoritarian government might seem to be on their side never occurred to them. And for most of them, it still hasn’t.
“Finally a government has come along that is doing everything they warned about – undermining the constitution, deploying the military, sending plain-clothed goons to disappear its enemies, and more. Donald Trump has vindicated the preppers. The strange thing is, none of them seem to have noticed.”
The tough guys who learned to love tyranny
For decades, US survivalists have warned about a future with troops on the street and plain-clothes goons disappearing the White House’s enemies. Now it’s all happening under Trump, they are silent
www.thenewworld.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Wrote this back in September for @thenewworldmag.bsky.social on the gullibility of America’s right-wing preppers.
Somehow the idea that an authoritarian government might seem to be on their side never occurred to them. And for most of them, it still hasn’t.
Somehow the idea that an authoritarian government might seem to be on their side never occurred to them. And for most of them, it still hasn’t.
“Finally a government has come along that is doing everything they warned about – undermining the constitution, deploying the military, sending plain-clothed goons to disappear its enemies, and more. Donald Trump has vindicated the preppers. The strange thing is, none of them seem to have noticed.”
The tough guys who learned to love tyranny
For decades, US survivalists have warned about a future with troops on the street and plain-clothes goons disappearing the White House’s enemies. Now it’s all happening under Trump, they are silent
www.thenewworld.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 11:03 PM
“Finally a government has come along that is doing everything they warned about – undermining the constitution, deploying the military, sending plain-clothed goons to disappear its enemies, and more. Donald Trump has vindicated the preppers. The strange thing is, none of them seem to have noticed.”
Reposted by James Ball
I'll be honest, as a Labour supporter Im quite happy with a key dividing line between is and the Tories being: 'We think sites that generate/host CSAM should be banned.'
I think its a winner
I think its a winner
Right, so if I get this right, the official position of the UK Conservative Party is that child sex abuse material is fine as long as your social media site that is generating it from pictures of clothed children can't be accessed by children and the people asking for it are paying for the privelege
January 12, 2026 at 9:44 PM
I'll be honest, as a Labour supporter Im quite happy with a key dividing line between is and the Tories being: 'We think sites that generate/host CSAM should be banned.'
I think its a winner
I think its a winner
Reposted by James Ball
In the Minnesota case, here is the memorandum of law backing their TRO motion: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 12, 2026 at 10:39 PM
In the Minnesota case, here is the memorandum of law backing their TRO motion: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by James Ball
The creation of CSAM on X is unrelated to whether children use the site or not. So what Badenoch appears to be arguing is that only adults should be allowed to look at CSAM. She’s also implying that that it’s rather judgy and illiberal of the govt to “not like” a CSAM generator
Kemi going to bat for the non-consensual, violent, child porn app formerly known as X.
January 12, 2026 at 9:02 PM
The creation of CSAM on X is unrelated to whether children use the site or not. So what Badenoch appears to be arguing is that only adults should be allowed to look at CSAM. She’s also implying that that it’s rather judgy and illiberal of the govt to “not like” a CSAM generator
“Please note that buying this will not in any direct way support Jerome Powell, but if we sell a decent number we’ll donate the profits to the FT’s Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign, to slightly reduce the chance this happens again.”
Keep Alphaville free* by investing in our Free** Jay Powell merch.
* without cost
** not under the control of another
as.ft.com/r/82db28aa-3...
* without cost
** not under the control of another
as.ft.com/r/82db28aa-3...
Get your ‘Free Jay Powell’ T-shirts here
[FREE TO READ] Street Fed
as.ft.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:24 PM
“Please note that buying this will not in any direct way support Jerome Powell, but if we sell a decent number we’ll donate the profits to the FT’s Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign, to slightly reduce the chance this happens again.”
This is a brilliant fellowship and incredibly worth applying to if you’re an ambitious early-career journalist who wants to see the States – and it’s certainly an *interesting* time to do that.
Early-career journalist in the UK? Interested in spending 3 months at The Washington Post? What if we drop in another month of travel across the US in this mid-term election year?
You can now apply to become our 45th Stern-Bryan Fellow! Details: lnkd.in/eXuhPH_Y
Trust us, you don't want to miss it!
You can now apply to become our 45th Stern-Bryan Fellow! Details: lnkd.in/eXuhPH_Y
Trust us, you don't want to miss it!
Stern-Bryan Fellowship | City St George's, University of London
Every year, a British journalist gets the chance to spend three months at the Washington Post.
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk
January 12, 2026 at 3:36 PM
This is a brilliant fellowship and incredibly worth applying to if you’re an ambitious early-career journalist who wants to see the States – and it’s certainly an *interesting* time to do that.
Reposted by James Ball
I do enjoy these CCHQ quotes: "Yes another of the people we promoted to extremely important roles is a grifting wanker."
A Tory spokesperson goes in two-footed: "Reform is fast becoming the party of has-been politicians looking for their next gravy train. Their latest recruit used to say he'd be 'frightened to live in a country' run by Nigel Farage, which shows the level of loyalty for sale."
Former Conservative cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi has defected to Reform UK
Having served in numerous ministerial positions for successive prime ministers, his defection will likely be seen as the most high-profile yet
"Britain needs Nigel Farage as prime minister," he said on Monday morning
Having served in numerous ministerial positions for successive prime ministers, his defection will likely be seen as the most high-profile yet
"Britain needs Nigel Farage as prime minister," he said on Monday morning
January 12, 2026 at 12:02 PM
I do enjoy these CCHQ quotes: "Yes another of the people we promoted to extremely important roles is a grifting wanker."
Sure, the pills might *look* like Smarties. But do we have any concrete evidence that the Lin Dem press office hasn’t laced them with meth??
Special delivery from the Lib Dem media team to the lobby to “pep you up for the rest of the afternoon”
January 12, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Sure, the pills might *look* like Smarties. But do we have any concrete evidence that the Lin Dem press office hasn’t laced them with meth??
Feels too like there’s a serious danger for Reform in accepting too many Tory defections.
Hard to accuse the Conservatives of being the same old faces who screwed everything up in the first place when half of those faces are on your team now.
Hard to accuse the Conservatives of being the same old faces who screwed everything up in the first place when half of those faces are on your team now.
This feels like a sign of what I think might be another trend of this year - people giving up on saving the Conservatives and believing they can shape and/or politically profit from the Tories being subsumed into Reform.
Nadhim Zahawi being unveiled as Reform’s newest defector
January 12, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Feels too like there’s a serious danger for Reform in accepting too many Tory defections.
Hard to accuse the Conservatives of being the same old faces who screwed everything up in the first place when half of those faces are on your team now.
Hard to accuse the Conservatives of being the same old faces who screwed everything up in the first place when half of those faces are on your team now.
Reposted by James Ball
Old tweets being deleted now
January 12, 2026 at 11:37 AM
Old tweets being deleted now
“The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President.”
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
Statement from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell
Good evening. On Friday, the Department of Justice served the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas, threatening a criminal indictment related to my testi
www.federalreserve.gov
January 12, 2026 at 8:34 AM
“The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President.”
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
When did “disrespect” for law enforcement become a crime worthy of summary execution in the street? Clearly it must have started after Jan 6th, 2021. So…when?
Q: "Do you believe that deadly force was necessary?"
Trump: "It was highly disrespectful of law enforcement. The woman and her friend were highly disrespectful of law enforcement…Law enforcement should not be in a position where they have to put up with this stuff."
Trump: "It was highly disrespectful of law enforcement. The woman and her friend were highly disrespectful of law enforcement…Law enforcement should not be in a position where they have to put up with this stuff."
January 12, 2026 at 8:30 AM
When did “disrespect” for law enforcement become a crime worthy of summary execution in the street? Clearly it must have started after Jan 6th, 2021. So…when?
Reposted by James Ball
Kemi, this is just a population density map
January 12, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Kemi, this is just a population density map
Reposted by James Ball
My piece from our investigation, finding that doctors complicit in torture in Syria now practice in Europe, plus the horrors kept inside Assad's forensic archive of state murders
www.thetimes.com/world/middle...
www.thetimes.com/world/middle...
Syrian doctors complicit in Assad’s torture now working in Europe
Newly obtained photographs lay bare how medics were implicated in mass detention, abuse and killing of citizens under the dictator’s regime
www.thetimes.com
January 11, 2026 at 11:09 PM
My piece from our investigation, finding that doctors complicit in torture in Syria now practice in Europe, plus the horrors kept inside Assad's forensic archive of state murders
www.thetimes.com/world/middle...
www.thetimes.com/world/middle...
Reposted by James Ball
Really proud to have participated in this project. The teams at @icij.org and @recherche.ndr.de did hugely important work, with some of the most difficult and traumatic images and material I've ever personally worked on. May it count towards justice.
#DamascusDossier reporters found new details about the Assad regime’s systematic torture and murder of civilians; information about money funneled out of Syria by the ruling class; and explored how European authorities have responded to calls for justice.
Damascus Dossier stories from around the world - ICIJ
Reporters from 26 newsrooms across 20 countries uncovered new details about the Assad regime’s crimes — and how authorities are still seeking justice.
buff.ly
January 11, 2026 at 11:07 PM
Really proud to have participated in this project. The teams at @icij.org and @recherche.ndr.de did hugely important work, with some of the most difficult and traumatic images and material I've ever personally worked on. May it count towards justice.
Reposted by James Ball
“Ms. Noem’s new guidelines on lawmaker visits are virtually identical to a policy that a federal judge halted last month after ruling that it appeared to violate a provision of the appropriations law that funds ICE.” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/u...
After Minnesota Shooting, ICE Again Limits Congressional Visits
www.nytimes.com
January 11, 2026 at 10:15 PM
“Ms. Noem’s new guidelines on lawmaker visits are virtually identical to a policy that a federal judge halted last month after ruling that it appeared to violate a provision of the appropriations law that funds ICE.” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/u...
Three episodes into Heated Rivalry and feel like the production team made the absolutely correct call on how much actual hockey they’d need to show for their particular audience.
January 11, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Three episodes into Heated Rivalry and feel like the production team made the absolutely correct call on how much actual hockey they’d need to show for their particular audience.
If you:
1. Need to get guests to studios, and back home after, or
2. Need to get staff safely into work or back home after the tube has stopped running
You need to use taxis or private hire. If you do that via contract, it’s cheaper than paying full price each time.
1. Need to get guests to studios, and back home after, or
2. Need to get staff safely into work or back home after the tube has stopped running
You need to use taxis or private hire. If you do that via contract, it’s cheaper than paying full price each time.
January 11, 2026 at 10:08 PM
If you:
1. Need to get guests to studios, and back home after, or
2. Need to get staff safely into work or back home after the tube has stopped running
You need to use taxis or private hire. If you do that via contract, it’s cheaper than paying full price each time.
1. Need to get guests to studios, and back home after, or
2. Need to get staff safely into work or back home after the tube has stopped running
You need to use taxis or private hire. If you do that via contract, it’s cheaper than paying full price each time.
Reposted by James Ball
I can't say this loudly enough: THEY ARE TRYING TO NORMALIZE THE KILLING OF CIVILIANS FOR PARTICIPATING IN FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTED PROTEST ACTIVITIES.
Homan: "We gotta stop the hateful rhetoric. Saying this officer is a murderer is dangerous. It's just ridiculous. It's gonna infuriate people more which means there's gonna be more incidents like this."
January 11, 2026 at 3:54 PM
I can't say this loudly enough: THEY ARE TRYING TO NORMALIZE THE KILLING OF CIVILIANS FOR PARTICIPATING IN FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTED PROTEST ACTIVITIES.
Read this article this morning and I’ve said White Town’s Your Woman in my head ever since. (Also even if you think you don’t know the song you probably do…)
youtu.be/lVL-zZnD3VU?...
youtu.be/lVL-zZnD3VU?...
January 11, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Read this article this morning and I’ve said White Town’s Your Woman in my head ever since. (Also even if you think you don’t know the song you probably do…)
youtu.be/lVL-zZnD3VU?...
youtu.be/lVL-zZnD3VU?...
Me: Okay Cers, we’re going for the Felix ad gig again. You’re a black and white cat, they love that. You love food, another tick.
We just need that shot of you looking adorable but also hungry as you stare at the product. This is the big one. Give us your best.
Cers:
We just need that shot of you looking adorable but also hungry as you stare at the product. This is the big one. Give us your best.
Cers:
January 11, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Me: Okay Cers, we’re going for the Felix ad gig again. You’re a black and white cat, they love that. You love food, another tick.
We just need that shot of you looking adorable but also hungry as you stare at the product. This is the big one. Give us your best.
Cers:
We just need that shot of you looking adorable but also hungry as you stare at the product. This is the big one. Give us your best.
Cers:
Reposted by James Ball
If anyone is involved in monitoring the Iranian communications blackout or in helping Iranians access technology to communicate with each other and the outside works, then please get in touch.
January 11, 2026 at 1:19 PM
If anyone is involved in monitoring the Iranian communications blackout or in helping Iranians access technology to communicate with each other and the outside works, then please get in touch.