Susan Morgan
@smmorgan.bsky.social
Work on technology and society. Not a fan of accelerationism.
Reposted by Susan Morgan
What happens when Reform UK takes over your local council? I’ve been keeping very close tabs on Lancashire County Council since May for this magazine piece www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Infighting, broken promises and insisting on the national anthem: what seven months of Reform UK in charge actually looks like
Nigel Farage’s party is gunning for power – so what is it like in the places where they’ve already got it? We embedded with Lancashire county council to find out what happens when rhetoric meets reali...
www.theguardian.com
December 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
What happens when Reform UK takes over your local council? I’ve been keeping very close tabs on Lancashire County Council since May for this magazine piece www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Susan Morgan
And then there’s the story about Alex Karp’s not-at-all-weird interview (for lack of a better word) with Oswald Mosley’s grandson for a senior position at Palantir.
December 13, 2025 at 1:41 AM
And then there’s the story about Alex Karp’s not-at-all-weird interview (for lack of a better word) with Oswald Mosley’s grandson for a senior position at Palantir.
Reposted by Susan Morgan
The number of murders in the capital in the first nine months (1st January to 30th September) of 2025 is the lowest since monthly records began and represents a fall of almost 60 per cent compared to 2003.
www.london.gov.uk/london-recor...
www.london.gov.uk/london-recor...
London records fewest homicides this year since monthly records began
The number of homicides in London in the first nine months of 2025 was lower than any year since monthly homicide records began in 2003, according to new analysis from the Mayor’s Office for Policing ...
www.london.gov.uk
December 13, 2025 at 2:18 AM
The number of murders in the capital in the first nine months (1st January to 30th September) of 2025 is the lowest since monthly records began and represents a fall of almost 60 per cent compared to 2003.
www.london.gov.uk/london-recor...
www.london.gov.uk/london-recor...
Reposted by Susan Morgan
Britain's Right have gone completely off the deep end into an invented fantasy world. The country as a whole agrees with them on almost nothing - culture, identity, religion, human rights, Europe, public services. Yet they could easily hold power in just 3.5 years. Won't end well.
Just Harry Cole interviewing the guy who called for ethnicity checks on MPs, by the way
December 13, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Britain's Right have gone completely off the deep end into an invented fantasy world. The country as a whole agrees with them on almost nothing - culture, identity, religion, human rights, Europe, public services. Yet they could easily hold power in just 3.5 years. Won't end well.
Reposted by Susan Morgan
In late 2020 a Chinese man called Guan Heng travelled to Xinjiang with our BuzzFeed map of detention facilities to provide ground truth for our work - he provided the first corroborating evidence for many sites.
He escaped to the US - then ICE detained him.
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
He escaped to the US - then ICE detained him.
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
ICE Holding Chinese Man Who Documented Uyghur Camps
Heng Guan is awaiting an immigration hearing on Monday that could lead to his removal from the U.S. and ultimately land him back in China, according to his lawyer and a New York-based activist group.
www.wsj.com
December 13, 2025 at 3:17 PM
In late 2020 a Chinese man called Guan Heng travelled to Xinjiang with our BuzzFeed map of detention facilities to provide ground truth for our work - he provided the first corroborating evidence for many sites.
He escaped to the US - then ICE detained him.
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
He escaped to the US - then ICE detained him.
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
Reposted by Susan Morgan
Delighted to share this TEDxGeneva talk! The more I study the digital, the more I'm in awe of the richness and primacy of the analogue world. Don't forget that life is analogue, and all things digital depend on and are but a ghost of the analogue. #AIEthics
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvJe...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvJe...
The power of analogue | Carissa Veliz | TEDxGeneva
YouTube video by TEDx Talks
www.youtube.com
December 13, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Delighted to share this TEDxGeneva talk! The more I study the digital, the more I'm in awe of the richness and primacy of the analogue world. Don't forget that life is analogue, and all things digital depend on and are but a ghost of the analogue. #AIEthics
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvJe...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvJe...
Reposted by Susan Morgan
Super interesting reporting on Palantir‘s efforts to be used in Swiss governmental services and the military. They decided against it, because they worried Palantir was giving information to CIA and NSA and feared a loss of national sovereignty.
www.republik.ch/2025/12/08/w...
www.republik.ch/2025/12/08/w...
December 11, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Super interesting reporting on Palantir‘s efforts to be used in Swiss governmental services and the military. They decided against it, because they worried Palantir was giving information to CIA and NSA and feared a loss of national sovereignty.
www.republik.ch/2025/12/08/w...
www.republik.ch/2025/12/08/w...
Reposted by Susan Morgan
"The takedowns and restrictions began in October and targeted the Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp accounts of more than 50 organisations worldwide ... in what appears to be a growing push by Meta to limit reproductive health and queer content across its platforms."
Meta shuts down global accounts linked to abortion advice and queer content
More than 50 organisations report sites being restricted or removed, with abortion hotlines blocked and posts showing non-explicit nudity triggering warnings
www.theguardian.com
December 11, 2025 at 12:14 PM
"The takedowns and restrictions began in October and targeted the Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp accounts of more than 50 organisations worldwide ... in what appears to be a growing push by Meta to limit reproductive health and queer content across its platforms."
Reposted by Susan Morgan
This is wild - for both companies in different ways. OpenAI now has to get way more stringent with creating a safe AI environment, while Disney just became an AI investor. That's before you get to the AI copyright fight Disney is waging openai.com/index/disney...
The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI reach landmark agreement to bring beloved characters from across Disney’s brands to Sora
Agreement marks a significant step in setting meaningful standards for responsible AI in entertainment.
openai.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:09 PM
This is wild - for both companies in different ways. OpenAI now has to get way more stringent with creating a safe AI environment, while Disney just became an AI investor. That's before you get to the AI copyright fight Disney is waging openai.com/index/disney...
Reposted by Susan Morgan
New! We worked with the Public Interest Research Group to test a bunch of LLM-driven toys ahead of the Christmas. That sexual talking teddy bear wasn't a one-off; it turns out disturbing behavior is deeply built into these toys across the board.
AI toys for kids talk about sex and issue Chinese Communist Party talking points, tests show
New research from Public Interest Research Group and tests conducted by NBC News found that a wide range of AI toys have loose guardrails.
www.nbcnews.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:24 PM
New! We worked with the Public Interest Research Group to test a bunch of LLM-driven toys ahead of the Christmas. That sexual talking teddy bear wasn't a one-off; it turns out disturbing behavior is deeply built into these toys across the board.
Reposted by Susan Morgan
"there is little reason to doubt what the aim [of the massive investment in AI] is: to embed knowledge in machines—knowledge that previously belonged to the people working in these domains."
🧵
🧵
In applying AI to material science, biology, etc, capitalism is trying to shed science.
The point is to substitute the engineering of a machine that can generate what science has hitherto done, but without having people know things. Knowledge ultimately residing in private property is the dream.
The point is to substitute the engineering of a machine that can generate what science has hitherto done, but without having people know things. Knowledge ultimately residing in private property is the dream.
Jeff Bezos Creates A.I. Start-Up Where He Will Be Co-Chief Executive
www.nytimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 6:20 PM
"there is little reason to doubt what the aim [of the massive investment in AI] is: to embed knowledge in machines—knowledge that previously belonged to the people working in these domains."
🧵
🧵
Reposted by Susan Morgan
There’s no way Starmer himself would go with this line if asked this question.
Which means they’re putting out his spokesman underbriefed and underprepared. This was a cardinal sin of Number 10’s comms during the Theresa May era, was woeful then and is woeful now.
bsky.app/profile/adam...
Which means they’re putting out his spokesman underbriefed and underprepared. This was a cardinal sin of Number 10’s comms during the Theresa May era, was woeful then and is woeful now.
bsky.app/profile/adam...
Asked repeatedly about Donald Trump calling Sadiq Khan "disgusting" and suggesting that he was only elected because of immigrants, Keir Starmer's spokesman says only that the PM has a "strong relationship" with the President which has "yielded positive results for this country"
December 9, 2025 at 12:52 PM
There’s no way Starmer himself would go with this line if asked this question.
Which means they’re putting out his spokesman underbriefed and underprepared. This was a cardinal sin of Number 10’s comms during the Theresa May era, was woeful then and is woeful now.
bsky.app/profile/adam...
Which means they’re putting out his spokesman underbriefed and underprepared. This was a cardinal sin of Number 10’s comms during the Theresa May era, was woeful then and is woeful now.
bsky.app/profile/adam...
It is more than time for the UK government to start reading Timothy Snyder’s excellent work and incorporate it into thinking on how to develop government policy.
December 10, 2025 at 3:22 PM
It is more than time for the UK government to start reading Timothy Snyder’s excellent work and incorporate it into thinking on how to develop government policy.
Reposted by Susan Morgan
The number of Labour MPs who have strong, informed views on growth and what drives it is much smaller, which is why the government's growth mission is in such a mess, because No 10's natural caution and aversion to doing anything difficult has no strong countervailing pressure.
December 9, 2025 at 6:14 PM
The number of Labour MPs who have strong, informed views on growth and what drives it is much smaller, which is why the government's growth mission is in such a mess, because No 10's natural caution and aversion to doing anything difficult has no strong countervailing pressure.
Reposted by Susan Morgan
India shows how BritCard Digital ID could be weaponised
Starmer’s BritCards have cited India’s Digital ID system as a positive example – here’s why that should scare you.
Starmer’s BritCards have cited India’s Digital ID system as a positive example – here’s why that should scare you.
India shows how BritCard Digital ID could be weaponised
Starmer’s BritCards have cited India’s Digital ID system as a positive example – here’s why that should scare you
centralbylines.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 5:39 PM
India shows how BritCard Digital ID could be weaponised
Starmer’s BritCards have cited India’s Digital ID system as a positive example – here’s why that should scare you.
Starmer’s BritCards have cited India’s Digital ID system as a positive example – here’s why that should scare you.
Reposted by Susan Morgan
Dave Karpf on The End of Optimization - optimization has ended (e.g. Musk not caring about X's ops, quality), and it's been replaced with enshittification.
Another take: optimize until you have effective control, then switch to policy setting.
davekarpf.substack.com/p/the-end-of...
Another take: optimize until you have effective control, then switch to policy setting.
davekarpf.substack.com/p/the-end-of...
The end of optimization
Some thoughts on a transition point in recent internet history,
davekarpf.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Dave Karpf on The End of Optimization - optimization has ended (e.g. Musk not caring about X's ops, quality), and it's been replaced with enshittification.
Another take: optimize until you have effective control, then switch to policy setting.
davekarpf.substack.com/p/the-end-of...
Another take: optimize until you have effective control, then switch to policy setting.
davekarpf.substack.com/p/the-end-of...
Reposted by Susan Morgan
The EU was created in by people who lived through WWII and saw political and economic integration as a means to bringing peace and stability to the continent.
It is being opposed by Putin, Musk and the others who support Neo Nazis in Europe.
It is being opposed by Putin, Musk and the others who support Neo Nazis in Europe.
December 8, 2025 at 4:31 AM
The EU was created in by people who lived through WWII and saw political and economic integration as a means to bringing peace and stability to the continent.
It is being opposed by Putin, Musk and the others who support Neo Nazis in Europe.
It is being opposed by Putin, Musk and the others who support Neo Nazis in Europe.
Reposted by Susan Morgan
The number of global deaths of children under-5 is projected to increase this year (from 4.6m to 4.8m) for the first time this century. (FT)
The price of aid cuts.
The price of aid cuts.
December 8, 2025 at 9:29 AM
The number of global deaths of children under-5 is projected to increase this year (from 4.6m to 4.8m) for the first time this century. (FT)
The price of aid cuts.
The price of aid cuts.
Reposted by Susan Morgan
Huge response to this. Clearly something ppl are hungry for. Any funders wanna bring us on to help grantees get off Big Tech infrastructure? That might be the quickest way to scale this
My org @fightforthefuture.org has been “de-googling” for the last year.
We’re totally off Google suite, Google docs, Drive, Calendar.
We’re using Signal and Element for chat, Nextcloud for docs, etc
Planning to publish a “how to” guide for other nonprofits and activist groups soonish.
We’re totally off Google suite, Google docs, Drive, Calendar.
We’re using Signal and Element for chat, Nextcloud for docs, etc
Planning to publish a “how to” guide for other nonprofits and activist groups soonish.
December 7, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Huge response to this. Clearly something ppl are hungry for. Any funders wanna bring us on to help grantees get off Big Tech infrastructure? That might be the quickest way to scale this
Reposted by Susan Morgan
In Finland, "Training in scepticism and the development of critical thinking skills are not seen as purely academic matters, but as essential to daily life"... starting in primary school.
newhumanist.org.uk/articles/6482
newhumanist.org.uk/articles/6482
Teaching when to trust
As fake news accelerates, we need to teach our children how to think critically. Finnish schools are leading the charge
newhumanist.org.uk
December 7, 2025 at 8:55 PM
In Finland, "Training in scepticism and the development of critical thinking skills are not seen as purely academic matters, but as essential to daily life"... starting in primary school.
newhumanist.org.uk/articles/6482
newhumanist.org.uk/articles/6482
Reposted by Susan Morgan
For the Tech Policy Press podcast, I spoke to Joris van Hoboken, a professor at the Institute for Information Law (IViR) at the University of Amsterdam and part of the core team of the Digital Services Act (DSA) Observatory. We discussed the overall politics of the EU's enforcement against Musk's X:
Unpacking the Politics of the EU's €120M Fine of Musk’s X | TechPolicy.Press
A conversation with Joris van Hoboken, a professor at the Institute for Information Law (IViR) at the University of Amsterdam and part of the DSA Observatory.
www.techpolicy.press
December 7, 2025 at 4:51 PM
For the Tech Policy Press podcast, I spoke to Joris van Hoboken, a professor at the Institute for Information Law (IViR) at the University of Amsterdam and part of the core team of the Digital Services Act (DSA) Observatory. We discussed the overall politics of the EU's enforcement against Musk's X:
Reposted by Susan Morgan
When the House and Senate marked up stablecoin legislation, we raised all of these concerns - their anonymity, their nearly perfect design for money laundering. All the barn doors were left wide open. It’s used for crime because that is its purpose. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/07/t...
How a Cryptocurrency Helps Criminals Launder Money and Evade Sanctions
www.nytimes.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:03 PM
When the House and Senate marked up stablecoin legislation, we raised all of these concerns - their anonymity, their nearly perfect design for money laundering. All the barn doors were left wide open. It’s used for crime because that is its purpose. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/07/t...
Reposted by Susan Morgan
8/For more on the dangers that lurk at the intersection of neo-royalism and weaponized interdependence, check out this thread.
bsky.app/profile/aben...
bsky.app/profile/aben...
1/Quick thoughts of implications of US National Security Strategy for Europe -- weaponized interdependence meets nationalist international. The US will use its tools (economic, technology, and financial dominance) to press for far right agenda.
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
www.whitehouse.gov
December 7, 2025 at 12:23 PM
8/For more on the dangers that lurk at the intersection of neo-royalism and weaponized interdependence, check out this thread.
bsky.app/profile/aben...
bsky.app/profile/aben...
Reposted by Susan Morgan
5/The reason it seems so confusing is this is not about a specific dispute. It is an attempt to shift the underling principles of the international system to what @segoddard.bsky.social call neo-royalism -- a system based not on rules but hyper elite interests.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Further Back to the Future: Neo-Royalism, the Trump Administration, and the Emerging International System | International Organization | Cambridge Core
Further Back to the Future: Neo-Royalism, the Trump Administration, and the Emerging International System - Volume 79 Issue S1
www.cambridge.org
December 7, 2025 at 12:17 PM
5/The reason it seems so confusing is this is not about a specific dispute. It is an attempt to shift the underling principles of the international system to what @segoddard.bsky.social call neo-royalism -- a system based not on rules but hyper elite interests.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Susan Morgan
1/US stepping up attacks on the EU. This has left many in Europe scratching their heads but it is part of the neo-royalist agenda. The EU stands for the rules based order and stands in the way of a new order based not on rules but clique interests.
www.politico.eu/article/top-...
www.politico.eu/article/top-...
Top US official says EU regulation ‘undermines’ NATO ties
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said Europe’s policy agenda was hurting its credibility in Washington.
www.politico.eu
December 7, 2025 at 12:12 PM
1/US stepping up attacks on the EU. This has left many in Europe scratching their heads but it is part of the neo-royalist agenda. The EU stands for the rules based order and stands in the way of a new order based not on rules but clique interests.
www.politico.eu/article/top-...
www.politico.eu/article/top-...