Andrew
@openpolicy.bsky.social
I think and know about open government and freedom of information. All posts in a personal capacity, RTs ≠ endorsement.
Born at 323 ppm
Born at 323 ppm
Pinned
Andrew
@openpolicy.bsky.social
· Oct 14
Netanyahu was never interested in a #ceasefire.
It was always about ethnic cleansing, colonialism and genocide.
The west won’t act as he burns children alive.
It is the biggest moral failure of our time, and the failure to stop it hasn’t even done what the Democrats hoped - secure re-election.
It was always about ethnic cleansing, colonialism and genocide.
The west won’t act as he burns children alive.
It is the biggest moral failure of our time, and the failure to stop it hasn’t even done what the Democrats hoped - secure re-election.
Reposted by Andrew
Context includes firms such as Microsoft whining that they won’t recoup their hundreds of billions of AI investment because non-tech firms aren’t adopting AI sufficiently
BREAKING: Free AI training will be offered to every adult in the UK, with short courses to teach people how to use simple AI tools effectively in the workplace.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall tells #BBCBreakfast about the scheme
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall tells #BBCBreakfast about the scheme
January 28, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Context includes firms such as Microsoft whining that they won’t recoup their hundreds of billions of AI investment because non-tech firms aren’t adopting AI sufficiently
Reposted by Andrew
Horrendous reports of the carnage carried out on protesters by the authorities in #Iran
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Disappeared bodies, mass burials and ‘30,000 dead’: what is the truth of Iran’s death toll?
Testimony from medics, morgue and graveyard staff reveals huge state effort to conceal systematic killing of protesters
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Horrendous reports of the carnage carried out on protesters by the authorities in #Iran
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Reposted by Andrew
Hannah Quirk is Reader in Law at King's College London.
She has written extensively on miscarriages of justice, given evidence to Parliament on juryless trials & explored the lessons of the "Diplock Courts" in N Ireland.
She makes the case for jury trial here: www.opendemocracy.net/en/openjusti...
She has written extensively on miscarriages of justice, given evidence to Parliament on juryless trials & explored the lessons of the "Diplock Courts" in N Ireland.
She makes the case for jury trial here: www.opendemocracy.net/en/openjusti...
Why you should care about the right to trial by jury
Trial by jury is one of the few aspects of the UK criminal justice system that treats people of colour fairly. It is now under threat.
www.opendemocracy.net
January 28, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Hannah Quirk is Reader in Law at King's College London.
She has written extensively on miscarriages of justice, given evidence to Parliament on juryless trials & explored the lessons of the "Diplock Courts" in N Ireland.
She makes the case for jury trial here: www.opendemocracy.net/en/openjusti...
She has written extensively on miscarriages of justice, given evidence to Parliament on juryless trials & explored the lessons of the "Diplock Courts" in N Ireland.
She makes the case for jury trial here: www.opendemocracy.net/en/openjusti...
Reposted by Andrew
Should jury trial be scrapped for most offences?
What can behavioural science tell us about how juries make decisions?
What can we learn from the history of the jury system?
Join our online panel to explore all this & more on Tuesday 3 February 12:00. All welcome!
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
What can behavioural science tell us about how juries make decisions?
What can we learn from the history of the jury system?
Join our online panel to explore all this & more on Tuesday 3 February 12:00. All welcome!
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
January 28, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Should jury trial be scrapped for most offences?
What can behavioural science tell us about how juries make decisions?
What can we learn from the history of the jury system?
Join our online panel to explore all this & more on Tuesday 3 February 12:00. All welcome!
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
What can behavioural science tell us about how juries make decisions?
What can we learn from the history of the jury system?
Join our online panel to explore all this & more on Tuesday 3 February 12:00. All welcome!
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Reposted by Andrew
The Met Police is facing a legal challenge over its use of live facial recognition from two campaigners who say the technology is expanding without adequate safeguards and argue that the tool risks arbitrary and discriminatory use www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
High Court told police live facial recognition needs limits
Two campaigners are taking the Met Police to court over live facial recognition technology.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 9:06 AM
The Met Police is facing a legal challenge over its use of live facial recognition from two campaigners who say the technology is expanding without adequate safeguards and argue that the tool risks arbitrary and discriminatory use www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Andrew
France will ban public officials from using American platforms including Google Meet, Zoom and Teams for videoconferencing, according to a spokesperson.
France to ban officials from US video tools including Zoom, Teams
The government wants staff to shun Silicon Valley and shift to its home-grown Visio platform instead.
www.politico.eu
January 27, 2026 at 6:51 PM
France will ban public officials from using American platforms including Google Meet, Zoom and Teams for videoconferencing, according to a spokesperson.
Reposted by Andrew
NZ must reject Trump's plan for Gaza. #FreePalestine
January 28, 2026 at 8:56 AM
NZ must reject Trump's plan for Gaza. #FreePalestine
Reposted by Andrew
Power and control over and alongside AI (and any tech) come not necessarily from individual skills to use 'tech as tool', but from critical understanding of tech power - and from being able to make collective decisions about where and how tech is introduced. (4/4)
January 28, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Power and control over and alongside AI (and any tech) come not necessarily from individual skills to use 'tech as tool', but from critical understanding of tech power - and from being able to make collective decisions about where and how tech is introduced. (4/4)
Reposted by Andrew
The government response (connectedbydata.org/blog/2025/09... ) promised a meeting with officials to explore greater public co-creation of AI Skills initiatives... but, despite chasing, that was never forthcoming. Instead, it's tech firms who seem to be shaping the training.
Response to Open Letter on Prioritising AI Literacy for All Citizens
In July we coordinated an open letter to Keir Starmer PM, Peter Kyle MP (the then Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology) and Bridget Phillipson MP (then Secretary of State for…
connectedbydata.org
January 28, 2026 at 8:58 AM
The government response (connectedbydata.org/blog/2025/09... ) promised a meeting with officials to explore greater public co-creation of AI Skills initiatives... but, despite chasing, that was never forthcoming. Instead, it's tech firms who seem to be shaping the training.
Reposted by Andrew
Just now on R4 Today @lizforleicester.bsky.social re-announcing the AI Skills programme ( www.gov.uk/government/n... ) that led to a 70 signature open letter back in July on developing a more inclusive, independent and collective approach to AI literacy: connectedbydata.org/blog/2025/07...
Open Letter to the UK Government - Prioritising AI Literacy for All Citizens
On 9th June the Prime Minister announced a skills drive on AI focussed technical/functional skills for students and workers, with the announcement centred on industry collaborations, and economic…
connectedbydata.org
January 28, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Just now on R4 Today @lizforleicester.bsky.social re-announcing the AI Skills programme ( www.gov.uk/government/n... ) that led to a 70 signature open letter back in July on developing a more inclusive, independent and collective approach to AI literacy: connectedbydata.org/blog/2025/07...
Revolving doors and dodgy procurement.
Doesn’t bode well for Britain’s place in the @anticorruption.bsky.social #Corruption Perceptions Index in a couple of weeks.
Doesn’t bode well for Britain’s place in the @anticorruption.bsky.social #Corruption Perceptions Index in a couple of weeks.
Palantir hired four Ministry of Defence officials last year. Then it won its biggest ever contract with the department
Read this story and more like it in our newsletter ⤵️
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/newsletters/sign-weekly-opendemocracy-newsletter/
Read this story and more like it in our newsletter ⤵️
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/newsletters/sign-weekly-opendemocracy-newsletter/
January 28, 2026 at 9:23 AM
Revolving doors and dodgy procurement.
Doesn’t bode well for Britain’s place in the @anticorruption.bsky.social #Corruption Perceptions Index in a couple of weeks.
Doesn’t bode well for Britain’s place in the @anticorruption.bsky.social #Corruption Perceptions Index in a couple of weeks.
Reposted by Andrew
Just started doing new data analysis and I know I keep saying this, but: I really, really don't think people appreciate how much this moral panic was a deliberate and extremely expensive invention.
January 28, 2026 at 3:12 AM
Just started doing new data analysis and I know I keep saying this, but: I really, really don't think people appreciate how much this moral panic was a deliberate and extremely expensive invention.
Reposted by Andrew
It's quite worrying the SoS is equating learning how to prompt in 20 mins or under with diagnostic uses of AI in healthcare. I also still can't really believe govt is investing in universal training in proprietary tools. That Microsoft koolaid must be pretty intoxicating
BREAKING: Free AI training will be offered to every adult in the UK, with short courses to teach people how to use simple AI tools effectively in the workplace.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall tells #BBCBreakfast about the scheme
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall tells #BBCBreakfast about the scheme
January 28, 2026 at 9:08 AM
It's quite worrying the SoS is equating learning how to prompt in 20 mins or under with diagnostic uses of AI in healthcare. I also still can't really believe govt is investing in universal training in proprietary tools. That Microsoft koolaid must be pretty intoxicating
Reposted by Andrew
You will be forced to use this technology whether you like it or not. You will comply. Do not ask questions about basic training in any other skill that we will not supply.
BREAKING: Free AI training will be offered to every adult in the UK, with short courses to teach people how to use simple AI tools effectively in the workplace.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall tells #BBCBreakfast about the scheme
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall tells #BBCBreakfast about the scheme
January 28, 2026 at 9:11 AM
You will be forced to use this technology whether you like it or not. You will comply. Do not ask questions about basic training in any other skill that we will not supply.
Reposted by Andrew
Morrison was PM when a white Australian killed 51 people in Christchurch mosques.
While in Israel, he has called for more regulation of Islam to weed out extremism in the wake of the Bondi massacre. Notably, he failed to mention the Chch massacre or suggest policing white Australians. #auspol #nzpol
While in Israel, he has called for more regulation of Islam to weed out extremism in the wake of the Bondi massacre. Notably, he failed to mention the Chch massacre or suggest policing white Australians. #auspol #nzpol
Address, The Second International Conference on Anti-Semitism — Scott Morrison
“Keeping Wolves from the Flock: The Case for Good Religion to Fight Anti-Semitism” 27 January 2026 – International Holocaust Remembrance Day Binyaney Ha’uma Conference Center, Jerusalem, Israel
www.scottmorrison.com.au
January 28, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by Andrew
To hear Queen Victoria’s successors berate Starmer for ‘kow-towing’ to the Chinese is to be reminded of how the British empire used opium to poison the son of the Chinese emperor - and then millions of others - to force access to the Chinese market. @BBCRadio4...
January 28, 2026 at 9:16 AM
To hear Queen Victoria’s successors berate Starmer for ‘kow-towing’ to the Chinese is to be reminded of how the British empire used opium to poison the son of the Chinese emperor - and then millions of others - to force access to the Chinese market. @BBCRadio4...
Reposted by Andrew
100%. I honestly believe political leaders ask too little of people. The thinking is you need an extraordinarily low bar - so ask people for money or to sign something. People want to be part of something and they're eager to do real meaningful work in defense of their community and their rights.
I have begun to think that Minnesota pushback to ICE was unique and a model because it gave people something to do. It wasn’t about just going out in streets for rallying purposes. People had a mission: videos, whistles, information and communication flow to communities. They had something to do.
January 28, 2026 at 3:10 AM
100%. I honestly believe political leaders ask too little of people. The thinking is you need an extraordinarily low bar - so ask people for money or to sign something. People want to be part of something and they're eager to do real meaningful work in defense of their community and their rights.
Reposted by Andrew
And New Zealand is still thinking about joining this…
January 28, 2026 at 6:26 AM
And New Zealand is still thinking about joining this…
Reposted by Andrew
☎️ Saudi Arabia will not allow its airspace or territory to be used for military actions against Iran, Crown Prince tells Pezeshkian in telephone call —SPA
January 28, 2026 at 6:50 AM
☎️ Saudi Arabia will not allow its airspace or territory to be used for military actions against Iran, Crown Prince tells Pezeshkian in telephone call —SPA
Reposted by Andrew
MBIE confirmed that while ADHD in the workplace is considered an “emerging area of focus”, it has not developed any employment policy or guidance relating to ADHD.
OIA Request #18
OIA request and response: fyi.org.nz/request/3307...
OIA Request #18
OIA request and response: fyi.org.nz/request/3307...
fyi.org.nz
January 28, 2026 at 6:40 AM
MBIE confirmed that while ADHD in the workplace is considered an “emerging area of focus”, it has not developed any employment policy or guidance relating to ADHD.
OIA Request #18
OIA request and response: fyi.org.nz/request/3307...
OIA Request #18
OIA request and response: fyi.org.nz/request/3307...
Reposted by Andrew
Reposted by Andrew
As Speaker, this chap did daily videos to camera reading out what the business of the House would be that day. I used to watch them on my lunch break because I found them very calming and they helped with anxiety. I thought he was great!
Former Speaker Adrian Rurawhe delivers his valedictory speech
Former Speaker Adrian Rurawhe delivers his valedictory speech
Speaking off-the-cuff, Rurawhe says one of his biggest honours was to serve as Speaker.
www.rnz.co.nz
January 28, 2026 at 7:07 AM
As Speaker, this chap did daily videos to camera reading out what the business of the House would be that day. I used to watch them on my lunch break because I found them very calming and they helped with anxiety. I thought he was great!
Reposted by Andrew
We should be protecting our rights - and especially privacy - more, rather than less, in the face of an impending fascist government.
January 28, 2026 at 7:12 AM
We should be protecting our rights - and especially privacy - more, rather than less, in the face of an impending fascist government.
Reposted by Andrew
This is one of the reasons we should be *very* wary of things like digital ID, extended facial recognition and AI policing. These are tools we should not put in the hands of fascists.
The UK version of “Project 2025” by the Reform party includes a British ICE, a concentration camp for 24,000 people, mass surveillance and withdrawing from refugee, anti-torture and anti-trafficking conventions.
It’s on their website. That’s how comfortable fascists are in the UK today.
It’s on their website. That’s how comfortable fascists are in the UK today.
January 28, 2026 at 7:09 AM
This is one of the reasons we should be *very* wary of things like digital ID, extended facial recognition and AI policing. These are tools we should not put in the hands of fascists.
Reposted by Andrew
Meanwhile Shabana Mahmood plans much more extensive surveillance powers in the U.K….
January 28, 2026 at 7:23 AM
Meanwhile Shabana Mahmood plans much more extensive surveillance powers in the U.K….