Nick Harkaway
@nickharkaway.com
Author: Karla’s Choice, Gnomon, Titanium Noir etc. Also husband, dad and occasional clothing-repairer, dog-walker, enthusiastic improviser of temporary solutions to random problems. Decreasingly rigorous on social media.
www.linktr.ee/harkaway
He/him
www.linktr.ee/harkaway
He/him
Pinned
Nick Harkaway
@nickharkaway.com
· Dec 5
Boring update: I am not the owner/operator of the asknickharkaway Gmail account. If you get mail from it, no, that’s not me. (And please let me know.)
What a mess.
The number of Britons backing Kemi Badenoch against other leaders over who would make the better PM has increased significantly since last August
Badenoch 31% (+10 from 3-4 Aug 2025)
Farage 21% (-2)
Badenoch 28% (+8)
Starmer 28% (-2)
Badenoch 28% (+9)
Davey 25% (-1)
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Badenoch 31% (+10 from 3-4 Aug 2025)
Farage 21% (-2)
Badenoch 28% (+8)
Starmer 28% (-2)
Badenoch 28% (+9)
Davey 25% (-1)
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
January 12, 2026 at 1:34 PM
What a mess.
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
I've written something about why banning kids from social media could be a terrible idea.
paulbernal.wordpress.com/2025/12/03/b...
paulbernal.wordpress.com/2025/12/03/b...
Banning kids from social media? A very bad idea…
As the idea of banning kids from social media is spreading round the globe – the new ban of under-16s from social media in Australia comes into action in a week or so – it is worth look…
paulbernal.wordpress.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:11 AM
I've written something about why banning kids from social media could be a terrible idea.
paulbernal.wordpress.com/2025/12/03/b...
paulbernal.wordpress.com/2025/12/03/b...
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
What I call climate 'appeasement' - the idea that climate breakdown isn't actually going to be that bad - is growing fast, and presents as great a threat as climate denial
Climate appeasers denigrate reality as alarmism, so fostering inertia and inaction
We are in deep, deep, sh*t - fact
Climate appeasers denigrate reality as alarmism, so fostering inertia and inaction
We are in deep, deep, sh*t - fact
January 12, 2026 at 10:47 AM
What I call climate 'appeasement' - the idea that climate breakdown isn't actually going to be that bad - is growing fast, and presents as great a threat as climate denial
Climate appeasers denigrate reality as alarmism, so fostering inertia and inaction
We are in deep, deep, sh*t - fact
Climate appeasers denigrate reality as alarmism, so fostering inertia and inaction
We are in deep, deep, sh*t - fact
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
Where @aptshadow.bsky.social goes, scientists follow.
Bees may hold the secret to communication with aliens, scientists find
Bees may hold the secret to communication with aliens, scientists find
Bees may hold the secret to communication with aliens, scientists find
www.independent.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 10:48 AM
Where @aptshadow.bsky.social goes, scientists follow.
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
Seven Select Committee Chairs have written jointly to the Prime Minister calling for an explicit ban on cryptocurrency donations in the forthcoming Elections Bill.
This is not an argument about digital assets. It is an argument about democratic integrity.
This is not an argument about digital assets. It is an argument about democratic integrity.
January 12, 2026 at 8:05 AM
Seven Select Committee Chairs have written jointly to the Prime Minister calling for an explicit ban on cryptocurrency donations in the forthcoming Elections Bill.
This is not an argument about digital assets. It is an argument about democratic integrity.
This is not an argument about digital assets. It is an argument about democratic integrity.
Who’s who at X, the deepfake porn site formerly known as Twitter
A look inside Elon Musk’s big tent
www.ft.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:23 AM
For five solid heartbeats I thought Apple had made a hat.
Beim Ringen um Marktanteile liefern sich Apple und Samsung seit Jahren ein Kopf-an-Kopf-Rennen. Für 2025 geht der Pokal an die Amerikaner.
Apple hat 2025 weltweit die meisten Smartphones verkauft
Beim Ringen um Marktanteile liefern sich Apple und Samsung seit Jahren ein Kopf-an-Kopf-Rennen. Für 2025 geht der Pokal an die Amerikaner.
www.spiegel.de
January 12, 2026 at 8:07 AM
For five solid heartbeats I thought Apple had made a hat.
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
The details are considerably more nuanced than this headline suggests unsurprisingly.
‘We want people to sit, pause, relax’: National Trust to open its libraries for public use
‘We want people to sit, pause, relax’: National Trust to open its libraries for public use
Charity plans to make stately homes more welcoming by inviting visitors to use furniture and reading rooms
www.theguardian.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:04 AM
The details are considerably more nuanced than this headline suggests unsurprisingly.
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
Properly funding the court system would clear the backlog even more quickly.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Slashing jury trials could clear courts backlog within a decade, says Lammy
Exclusive: Lord chancellor urges MPs to back judge-only trials in thousands of criminal cases in England and Wales
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Properly funding the court system would clear the backlog even more quickly.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Aside from the obvious “gotcha”, this is a serious problem in a lot of contexts. But also… how sad.
New research presents the most compelling evidence yet that generative AI directly stores and reproduces material used to train it—a finding that could have massive legal consequences for the tech industry, Alex Reisner reports.
AI’s Memorization Crisis
Large language models don’t “learn”—they copy. And that could change everything for the tech industry.
bit.ly
January 12, 2026 at 7:49 AM
Aside from the obvious “gotcha”, this is a serious problem in a lot of contexts. But also… how sad.
Well, this is distressing.
For generations Greenlanders felt protected by the US , but now with uncertainty looming, Edmund Heaphy speaks to resident's in Nuuk about what comes next.
'I don't want to leave my people' - Fear grips Greenland
For generations, Greenlanders felt protected by the US - the superpower that had helped defend them during World War II and maintained a reassuring military presence ever since. Now, with US threats a...
www.rte.ie
January 12, 2026 at 7:35 AM
Well, this is distressing.
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
London’s homicide rate drops to lowest in more than a decade
London’s homicide rate drops to lowest in more than a decade
Sadiq Khan says ‘public health’ approach has made the capital one of the safest cities in the western world
London’s murder rate has dropped to its lowest in more than a decade with police in the capital and the mayor saying it is now one of the safest cities in the western world.
The figures come as those on the radical right criticise the city for having a crime problem, hoping to gain politically from such claims being believed. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:12 AM
London’s homicide rate drops to lowest in more than a decade
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
#BBCNews - Himalayas bare and rocky after reduced winter snowfall, scientists warn
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#Climate #ClimateChange
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#Climate #ClimateChange
Himalayan winters are seeing less snowfall as more ice melts
Experts say dwindling snowfall during winter will impact the lives and livelihoods of millions.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 6:40 AM
#BBCNews - Himalayas bare and rocky after reduced winter snowfall, scientists warn
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#Climate #ClimateChange
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#Climate #ClimateChange
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
Longtime mining journalist here.
This is 100% correct.
Plus, there's no infrastructure to bring in machines or people, or to transfer mined metals out to ports.
The costs of that alone would be enormous.
This is 100% correct.
Plus, there's no infrastructure to bring in machines or people, or to transfer mined metals out to ports.
The costs of that alone would be enormous.
People have been exploring for minerals in Greenland for a very, very long time, and yet there are less than 5 mines there. Why? Simply not economic!
And that is not taking into account environmental damage and indigenous rights. Which one should.
And that is not taking into account environmental damage and indigenous rights. Which one should.
January 11, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Longtime mining journalist here.
This is 100% correct.
Plus, there's no infrastructure to bring in machines or people, or to transfer mined metals out to ports.
The costs of that alone would be enormous.
This is 100% correct.
Plus, there's no infrastructure to bring in machines or people, or to transfer mined metals out to ports.
The costs of that alone would be enormous.
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
Common Sense, published 250 years ago today.
January 10, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Common Sense, published 250 years ago today.
UK government once again behaving as if this was some weird invisible iceberg.
The UK is hoping to build a "coalition of decency", following the Grok nudification row
Govt is speaking to allies in Aus, Canada and the EU, & is even finding unlikely MAGA support
No sign they're coming off X for now - but they are considering joining BlueSky
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Govt is speaking to allies in Aus, Canada and the EU, & is even finding unlikely MAGA support
No sign they're coming off X for now - but they are considering joining BlueSky
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
UK considers ban on X as anger over sexualised AI images ...
Ofcom could act ‘in days’ to implement sanctions against Musk’s platform and the Grok chatbot
observer.co.uk
January 11, 2026 at 9:45 AM
UK government once again behaving as if this was some weird invisible iceberg.
Sunk Capitol fallacy?
Impossible to disagree but it's very difficult for ministers to have a public discussion about this given the UK's reliance on the US for defence and its strategy towards Ukraine, let alone its almost total reliance on AI and Big Tech as the tool for public sector reform and boosting growth.
January 11, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Sunk Capitol fallacy?
Random thought: if you apply “the medium is the message” to GenAI it gets distressing really fast
January 10, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Random thought: if you apply “the medium is the message” to GenAI it gets distressing really fast
Passed a white horse cut into a hillside. Explained the Uffington White Horse. Found a picture.
Quite clearly: not a horse.
#rabbitholeengaged
Quite clearly: not a horse.
#rabbitholeengaged
January 10, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Passed a white horse cut into a hillside. Explained the Uffington White Horse. Found a picture.
Quite clearly: not a horse.
#rabbitholeengaged
Quite clearly: not a horse.
#rabbitholeengaged
Sure, let’s make politics more ridiculous.
The AI industry is pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into super PACs ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The AI industry is getting into politics. Here are the key super PACs to watch in 2026.
The AI industry is pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into super PACs ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
www.businessinsider.com
January 10, 2026 at 11:18 AM
Sure, let’s make politics more ridiculous.
I’m rediscovering my dislike for solo travellers who attempt to occupy a table for four
January 10, 2026 at 10:30 AM
I’m rediscovering my dislike for solo travellers who attempt to occupy a table for four
Trump: “We’ve always had a strategic right to the Dogger Islands.”
The former Chair of Northern Rock has had another bright idea.
January 10, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Trump: “We’ve always had a strategic right to the Dogger Islands.”
I need this on a shirt
🚩 Signal of the Day — Signal No. 10 (1804) ⚓
"Last Signal has not been complied with"
In the Royal Navy signal book:- That the purpose of the last signs was not understood.
#DockYardTalk #NavalSignals #RoyalNavy #AgeOfSail #MaritimeHistory
"Last Signal has not been complied with"
In the Royal Navy signal book:- That the purpose of the last signs was not understood.
#DockYardTalk #NavalSignals #RoyalNavy #AgeOfSail #MaritimeHistory
January 10, 2026 at 10:10 AM
I need this on a shirt
Want!
Cover reveal is always a big day for an author - so here it is
The title, I hope, is self-explanatory
Out May 21st. Pre-order now
@harpernorth.bsky.social @harpercollins.bsky.social @chrisgpackham.bsky.social @matthewtodd.bsky.social @zackpolanski.bsky.social @nickharkaway.com
The title, I hope, is self-explanatory
Out May 21st. Pre-order now
@harpernorth.bsky.social @harpercollins.bsky.social @chrisgpackham.bsky.social @matthewtodd.bsky.social @zackpolanski.bsky.social @nickharkaway.com
January 9, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Want!
“Issa metaphor fer capitalism“
Trump is planning even more insane renovations to the White House www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/u...
The Next Phase of Trump’s Renovations: A New ‘Upper West Wing’
www.nytimes.com
January 9, 2026 at 7:26 AM
“Issa metaphor fer capitalism“