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
Want to see something no one's ever seen before? (barring 160~ people who watched it live a few minutes ago)
January 28, 2026 at 1:42 AM
Want to see something no one's ever seen before? (barring 160~ people who watched it live a few minutes ago)
Reposted by Andrew
Why did Keir Starmer really block Andy Burnham from running in Gorton and Denton?
January 27, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Why did Keir Starmer really block Andy Burnham from running in Gorton and Denton?
Reposted by Andrew
The draft schedule for #FOIFest is now online at www.mysociety.org/foifest2026!
If that looks right up your street, register at pretix.eu/mysociety/fo..., and come along in person or online.
#FOI #ATI #FreedomofInformation
If that looks right up your street, register at pretix.eu/mysociety/fo..., and come along in person or online.
#FOI #ATI #FreedomofInformation
January 27, 2026 at 4:24 PM
The draft schedule for #FOIFest is now online at www.mysociety.org/foifest2026!
If that looks right up your street, register at pretix.eu/mysociety/fo..., and come along in person or online.
#FOI #ATI #FreedomofInformation
If that looks right up your street, register at pretix.eu/mysociety/fo..., and come along in person or online.
#FOI #ATI #FreedomofInformation
Reposted by Andrew
It created 2 million new voters - twice as many as 1867 & many times the total in 1832.
It tripled the electorate in Ireland, with seismic consequences for Home Rule.
It was the first reform crisis in which women's suffrage was a major issue; the first at which Proportional Repn was widely debated
It tripled the electorate in Ireland, with seismic consequences for Home Rule.
It was the first reform crisis in which women's suffrage was a major issue; the first at which Proportional Repn was widely debated
January 28, 2026 at 11:19 AM
It created 2 million new voters - twice as many as 1867 & many times the total in 1832.
It tripled the electorate in Ireland, with seismic consequences for Home Rule.
It was the first reform crisis in which women's suffrage was a major issue; the first at which Proportional Repn was widely debated
It tripled the electorate in Ireland, with seismic consequences for Home Rule.
It was the first reform crisis in which women's suffrage was a major issue; the first at which Proportional Repn was widely debated
Reposted by Andrew
‘“Democracy Has Come!” The Third Reform Act & the Making of British Democracy’.
I'll be speaking at the IHR Modern British Seminar on Thursday 29 Jan, on why the 1884 Reform Act is more exciting than you think...
17:30 in London or online. Read on for a taster...🧵
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
I'll be speaking at the IHR Modern British Seminar on Thursday 29 Jan, on why the 1884 Reform Act is more exciting than you think...
17:30 in London or online. Read on for a taster...🧵
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
January 28, 2026 at 11:19 AM
‘“Democracy Has Come!” The Third Reform Act & the Making of British Democracy’.
I'll be speaking at the IHR Modern British Seminar on Thursday 29 Jan, on why the 1884 Reform Act is more exciting than you think...
17:30 in London or online. Read on for a taster...🧵
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
I'll be speaking at the IHR Modern British Seminar on Thursday 29 Jan, on why the 1884 Reform Act is more exciting than you think...
17:30 in London or online. Read on for a taster...🧵
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Andrew
Josephine Butler wondered bitterly how MPs could dare to speak of a "wholly enfranchised people", when "half the people remain unenfranchised".
"A time will come", she wrote, "when men will look back with wonder that such an expression should have been possible, the facts being such as they are".
"A time will come", she wrote, "when men will look back with wonder that such an expression should have been possible, the facts being such as they are".
January 28, 2026 at 11:19 AM
Josephine Butler wondered bitterly how MPs could dare to speak of a "wholly enfranchised people", when "half the people remain unenfranchised".
"A time will come", she wrote, "when men will look back with wonder that such an expression should have been possible, the facts being such as they are".
"A time will come", she wrote, "when men will look back with wonder that such an expression should have been possible, the facts being such as they are".
Reposted by Andrew
Join our research symposium online! We are delighted to welcome registrations for online attendance at our research symposium on evidence and impact of #BeneficialOwnership #transparency. More below 👇
Read more, find the agenda, and register to join us online: bit.ly/oo-wbg-csc-s...
Read more, find the agenda, and register to join us online: bit.ly/oo-wbg-csc-s...
January 28, 2026 at 11:27 AM
Join our research symposium online! We are delighted to welcome registrations for online attendance at our research symposium on evidence and impact of #BeneficialOwnership #transparency. More below 👇
Read more, find the agenda, and register to join us online: bit.ly/oo-wbg-csc-s...
Read more, find the agenda, and register to join us online: bit.ly/oo-wbg-csc-s...
Reposted by Andrew
The Lords Constitution Committee has previously warned that fast-tracking raises constitutional concerns and recommended a presumption in favour of sunset clauses - where provisions cease to have effect after a certain date unless Parliament renews them.
publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/...
publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/...
January 27, 2026 at 12:28 PM
The Lords Constitution Committee has previously warned that fast-tracking raises constitutional concerns and recommended a presumption in favour of sunset clauses - where provisions cease to have effect after a certain date unless Parliament renews them.
publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/...
publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/...
Reposted by Andrew
Today the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill - granting priority for training to UK & Irish medical school graduates - will be fast-tracked through the Commons in one sitting.
Why is it being fast-tracked, and is it an appropriate procedure? 🧵
www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliam...
Why is it being fast-tracked, and is it an appropriate procedure? 🧵
www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliam...
January 27, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Today the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill - granting priority for training to UK & Irish medical school graduates - will be fast-tracked through the Commons in one sitting.
Why is it being fast-tracked, and is it an appropriate procedure? 🧵
www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliam...
Why is it being fast-tracked, and is it an appropriate procedure? 🧵
www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliam...
Reposted by Andrew
👉NEW -- Cameron met top government lawyer while dodging ICC prosecutor
by Dania Akkad
David Cameron sought advice from government’s top lawyer in Israel arms sales case a day after pencilled-in meet with Karim Khan, new filings show
www.declassifieduk.org/cameron-met-...
by Dania Akkad
David Cameron sought advice from government’s top lawyer in Israel arms sales case a day after pencilled-in meet with Karim Khan, new filings show
www.declassifieduk.org/cameron-met-...
Cameron met top government lawyer while dodging ICC prosecutor
David Cameron sought advice from government’s top lawyer in Israel arms sales case a day after pencilled-in meet with Karim Khan, new filings show
www.declassifieduk.org
January 28, 2026 at 10:27 AM
👉NEW -- Cameron met top government lawyer while dodging ICC prosecutor
by Dania Akkad
David Cameron sought advice from government’s top lawyer in Israel arms sales case a day after pencilled-in meet with Karim Khan, new filings show
www.declassifieduk.org/cameron-met-...
by Dania Akkad
David Cameron sought advice from government’s top lawyer in Israel arms sales case a day after pencilled-in meet with Karim Khan, new filings show
www.declassifieduk.org/cameron-met-...
Reposted by Andrew
Like many services, as Signal grows, it becomes a more appealing place for scammers to try and cause harm.
We've put together tips to help you protect yourself from phishing, scams, & impersonation attempts. Plus info about how Signal support communicates.
support.signal.org/hc/en-us/art...
We've put together tips to help you protect yourself from phishing, scams, & impersonation attempts. Plus info about how Signal support communicates.
support.signal.org/hc/en-us/art...
Staying Safe from Phishing, Scams, and Impersonation
We provide a privacy-first, end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) messaging and calling platform designed so only you and your intended recipients can communicate securely. Even with strong encryption, attac...
support.signal.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Like many services, as Signal grows, it becomes a more appealing place for scammers to try and cause harm.
We've put together tips to help you protect yourself from phishing, scams, & impersonation attempts. Plus info about how Signal support communicates.
support.signal.org/hc/en-us/art...
We've put together tips to help you protect yourself from phishing, scams, & impersonation attempts. Plus info about how Signal support communicates.
support.signal.org/hc/en-us/art...
Reposted by Andrew
We cannot aim at Digital Sovereignty or even some degree of digital autonomy if both students and workers are trained to serve the interests of Big Tech. And they are influencing every curricula and capacity building program in private, public and social sector!
After announcing it in the summer, today the UK government launched free training courses to AI upskill workers. It's free because it's funded by big-tech companies such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft and others, and not by local organisations in the UK who have been working with communities->
January 28, 2026 at 9:57 AM
We cannot aim at Digital Sovereignty or even some degree of digital autonomy if both students and workers are trained to serve the interests of Big Tech. And they are influencing every curricula and capacity building program in private, public and social sector!
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