Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mike O'Neill @mikeoneillcloud.bsky.social · 3h

Misleading question used by lobbyists' paid-for poll "Peers beware" by @peterkellner.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/kellnerp...

Peers beware

Flawed polling and flawed journalism are distorting the debate over assisted dying

open.substack.com

Mike O'Neill @mikeoneillcloud.bsky.social · 17h

The UK Corporate Coup - What They’re Not Telling You open.substack.com/pub/european... @europeanpowell.bsky.social

The UK Corporate Coup - What They’re Not Telling You

I’ve spent several years researching UK Freeports and “free zones.” What I found is the largest transfer of sovereignty from democratic institutions to private corporations in British history.

open.substack.com

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Reposted by Mike O'Neill

Dan Snow @thehistoryguy.bsky.social · 7d

We have built a society in which people of different skin tones, religious backgrounds & cultures get along, share power, work alongside each other, procreate with each other, recognise the each other’s humanity and democratic rights. It is a STUNNING ACHIEVEMENT OF WORLD HISTORIC PROPORTIONS.

Omar Khan @omaromalleykhan.bsky.social · 7d

I know statistics are poorly understood and are misused. But facts matter

Between the 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021 Census *every* ethnic group in the UK has become *less* geographically segregated and *all* groups, majority and minorities, are more likely to interact with people not like them

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Reposted by Mike O'Neill

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 6d

A corporate lawyer who has worked for Big Tech played a key role in picking a former lobbyist for Facebook and WhatsApp as one of Europe's most powerful privacy regulators.

Time to stop funding Libyan militias running amok in the Mediterranean

EU countries should coordinate competent search and rescue operations, open routes for those fleeing to safety, and ensure the bloc stops financing out-of-control militias.

ow.ly

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Reposted by Mike O'Neill

Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 6d

As I write in The Guardian this morning, the danger of this moment is that if Europe does not act against Trump now, it will never act again.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The EU has a secret weapon to counter Trump’s economic bullying. It’s time to use it | Johnny Ryan

The anti-coercion instrument, or ‘trade bazooka’, is designed to shield against foreign pressure, says civil liberties campaigner Johnny Ryan

www.theguardian.com

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Mike O'Neill @mikeoneillcloud.bsky.social · 6d

cppa.ca.gov/announcement...

California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA)

cppa.ca.gov

Mike O'Neill @mikeoneillcloud.bsky.social · 6d

Good News! Governor Newsom has rightly rejected pressure from Silicon Valley Big Tech & AdTech & just signed the CA Opt Me Out Act (was AB-566)! h/t
@calprivacy.bsky.social

Here is my post about it from last week.
baycloud.com/blog/PostDet...

If it happens, this will mean that companies than develop or maintain browsers, i.e. any "interactive software application that is used by consumers to locate, access, and navigate internet websites", must:

baycloud.com

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Mike O'Neill @mikeoneillcloud.bsky.social · 6d

Here is the correct link:
baycloud.com/blog/PostDet...

If it happens, this will mean that companies than develop or maintain browsers, i.e. any "interactive software application that is used by consumers to locate, access, and navigate internet websites", must:

baycloud.com

Reposted by Mike O'Neill

California Privacy Protection Agency @calprivacy.bsky.social · 6d

Great news! Governor Newsom has signed The CA Opt Me Out Act (AB 566, Lowenthal). This bill, sponsored by the CPPA, will make it easier for Californians to protect their privacy by requiring browsers to offer opt-out preference signals. It goes into effect Jan. 1, 2027.

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Mike O'Neill @mikeoneillcloud.bsky.social · 6d

MW
mw is milli watt

Reposted by Mike O'Neill

Mike Keller @thebestmike.bsky.social · 14d

Hey @governor.ca.gov!

AB 566 makes it easy for Californians to tell companies what they want to happen with their own private information. Sign it and make the California Consumer Privacy Act more user-friendly!

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Kris @webkris.bsky.social · 14d

We are living in a time of mass surveillance and tracking. Californian consumers should be able to easily control their privacy and AB 566 would make that possible. @governor.ca.gov sign AB 566 and ensure that millions of Californians can opt out of the sale and sharing of their private information!

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Reposted by Mike O'Neill

Jeff @bettysears.bsky.social · 14d

Now it’s time to sign AB 566 sitting on your desk waiting for what?

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No pity to Fascist, MAGA, or GOP. But I'm repeating myself. @tedzilla.bsky.social · 14d

Please don't allow major Internet browser companies to make it difficult for Californians to exercise our rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act. @governor.ca.gov sign AB 566 and give power to the consumers to protect their privacy!

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Reposted by Mike O'Neill

Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 8d

After 8 years of inaction, the DPC now claims that RTB adtech does not provide location data to dodgy firms.
Wrong.
Meet "Patternz" for example:
An Israeli surveillance tool built on RTB data that provides a targeted individual's coordinates and "driving path" www.iccl.ie/wp-content/u...

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Mike O'Neill @mikeoneillcloud.bsky.social · 8d

"Voters are not listening" by @peterkellner.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/kellnerp...

Voters are not listening

New research uncovers the gap between what politicians say and what voters notice

open.substack.com

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Mike O'Neill @mikeoneillcloud.bsky.social · 13d

thenai.org/it-is-time-t...

It Is Time to Move On from the W3C “Do Not Track” Process - NAI: Network Advertising Initiative

Three years ago, the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) joined with a wide range of constituencies at the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Tracking Protection Working Group in an attempt to

thenai.org

Reposted by Mike O'Neill

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 13d

French soldiers boarded an oil tanker suspected of belonging to Russia's "shadow fleet" and possibly launching the drones that disrupted air traffic in Denmark last month. Two senior crew members are now in custody. The ship is stationed off the coast of western France.

French navy boards Russia 'shadow fleet' ship, arrests two

France has detained two senior crew members of a tanker linked to Russia, which data showed was off the Danish coast last month during mysterious drone flights, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

www.france24.com

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Mike O'Neill @mikeoneillcloud.bsky.social · 13d

thenai.org/the-nai-send...

The NAI Sends Letter to CA Gov. Newsom Urging Him to Veto AB 566 - NAI: Network Advertising Initiative

On September 24, the NAI sent a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom recommending that he vetoes AB 566 because it does not include appropriate safeguards to ensure that the

thenai.org

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Mike O'Neill @mikeoneillcloud.bsky.social · 13d

The Network Advertising Initiative proposes their version of St Augustin' s prayer "make me chaste and virtuous, but not yet.". In case anyone is taken in by this (thinking of you
@gavinnewsom.bsky.social), this was exactly their position 12 years ago with Do Not Track

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Reposted by Mike O'Neill

Ed Zitron @edzitron.com · 14d

Standing on the top of the turnbuckle with my hand cupped around my ear as the crowd screams “IS? THAT? GOOD???”
www.theinformation.com/articles/bus...

Business Adoption of AI Will Take Years, Say Venture Capitalists and Executives

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Mike O'Neill @mikeoneillcloud.bsky.social · 15d

Tony Blair Institute has received US levels of big tech corporate funding from Oracle and others and has massive influence on UK Government policy including on AI and exploitation of peoples sensitive personal data.
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-the...

Inside the Tony Blair Institute

A former PM, Trump's 'CEO of everything' and NHS data - what could go wrong?

democracyforsale.substack.com

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Reposted by Mike O'Neill

Alex Russell @infrequently.org · 18d

Apple's playbook is the same as Big Oil's: delay is winning.

It's good the EU didn't give away its power to regulate like a common Chuck Schumer, but Apple is brazenly violating the DMA to deny EU citizens real browser choice because it threatens the App Store:

infrequently.org/2025/09/appl...

Apple's Antitrust Playbook - Infrequently Noted

Apple wants to launder the consequences of its own anticompetitive, anti-user choices through a credulous tech press. The goal is to frame regulators for Apple's own deeds, and it's rotten to the…

infrequently.org

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Reposted by Mike O'Neill

Center for Democracy & Technology @cdt.org · 29d

CDT applauds the California legislature for passing AB 566, which enables Californians to easily opt-out of the sale of their data through universal opt-out mechanisms in their browsers rather than needing to navigate each website to express their preferences.

California Privacy Protection Agency @calprivacy.bsky.social · Jun 3

Our latest CPPA Blog is now online! Websites collect and share your data — often in ways you don’t expect. Our latest blog is about how AB 566, the CA Opt Me Out Act, makes privacy easier by providing access to opt-out tools. Learn more: CPPA Blog | privacy.ca.gov

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Reposted by Mike O'Neill

Alan Katz @askatz.bsky.social · 17d

In a time of relentless tracking, it should be easy for Americans to our control our privacy l California has an opportunity to set a higher standard for the country. @CAgovernor, sign AB 566. Ensure that millions of Californians can opt out of the sale and sharing of their private information.

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