Alex Hardy
@alexhardy1987.bsky.social
Researcher @ Liverpool University
Estonia & Georgia enthusiast 🇪🇪🇬🇪
Research Interests: Digital Innovation/Central & Eastern Europe/ Cyber/ Geopolitics
Permanently unhappy sports fan:
Boro ⚽️ New York Giants 🏈 England 🏏
Estonia & Georgia enthusiast 🇪🇪🇬🇪
Research Interests: Digital Innovation/Central & Eastern Europe/ Cyber/ Geopolitics
Permanently unhappy sports fan:
Boro ⚽️ New York Giants 🏈 England 🏏
If I have an unlimited budget for bathroom refurbishment, I’m 100% installing a Japanese toilet, not this gaudy nonsense.
On the left, the refurbished Lincoln bathroom. On the right, picture I took in Saddam Hussein's palace in Basra in 2005.
October 31, 2025 at 8:09 PM
If I have an unlimited budget for bathroom refurbishment, I’m 100% installing a Japanese toilet, not this gaudy nonsense.
Reposted by Alex Hardy
I've written a couple of things over the last days about how the government and much of Westminster remaining on X as the platform becomes increasingly toxic is having consequences for our politics...
Our politics is increasingly normalised to racism – because politicians are addicted to X
The platform has quietly dragged British politics into a dark place
inews.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 7:38 PM
I've written a couple of things over the last days about how the government and much of Westminster remaining on X as the platform becomes increasingly toxic is having consequences for our politics...
The UK Defence Budget is 2.5% of GDP. We spend 18% of our GDP on the combined budget of Education, Health, and Housing.
There is a major war in Europe.
There is a major war in Europe.
There is always money for war, never for the poor.
Every penny spent on bombs, tanks and missiles is stolen from our homes, schools and hospitals.
We are not going to take it anymore.
Every penny spent on bombs, tanks and missiles is stolen from our homes, schools and hospitals.
We are not going to take it anymore.
October 28, 2025 at 10:06 AM
The UK Defence Budget is 2.5% of GDP. We spend 18% of our GDP on the combined budget of Education, Health, and Housing.
There is a major war in Europe.
There is a major war in Europe.
‘Your Party’ foreign policy brain rot update:
October 27, 2025 at 11:43 PM
‘Your Party’ foreign policy brain rot update:
Quoted here - a lone voice among partisans. Lots of democratic countries use Digital ID, not just Estonia. By and large, it serves as a secure means to access data that already exists (and it can cut bureaucracy & save money). It will not create a police state.
metro.co.uk/2025/10/24/s...
metro.co.uk/2025/10/24/s...
'Surveillance society': Will you be signing up for a digital ID?
metro.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Quoted here - a lone voice among partisans. Lots of democratic countries use Digital ID, not just Estonia. By and large, it serves as a secure means to access data that already exists (and it can cut bureaucracy & save money). It will not create a police state.
metro.co.uk/2025/10/24/s...
metro.co.uk/2025/10/24/s...
The UK Government and my football club, among a plethora of other other outlets, continue to use this platform above all else. It is indefensible.
This is a "recommended" tweet pushed to a (very much not-Nazi) contact's iPhone lockscreen last week.
Who knows how many millions it was pushed to by Musk's platform, including in this case, in the UK?
It's now been deleted, but only after getting thousands of RTs.
Who knows how many millions it was pushed to by Musk's platform, including in this case, in the UK?
It's now been deleted, but only after getting thousands of RTs.
October 22, 2025 at 9:23 AM
The UK Government and my football club, among a plethora of other other outlets, continue to use this platform above all else. It is indefensible.
All Telegram users are currently having the whining of Pavel Durov pushed on them, where he squeals about the freedoms of the internet. That is Pavel Durov, Russian citizen, Resident of UAE. Both bastions of the free internet, which Mr Durov has never developed the spine to criticise.
October 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM
All Telegram users are currently having the whining of Pavel Durov pushed on them, where he squeals about the freedoms of the internet. That is Pavel Durov, Russian citizen, Resident of UAE. Both bastions of the free internet, which Mr Durov has never developed the spine to criticise.
This also re-enforces what I have been trying to highlight (& so many are desperate to misrepresent) that a Digital ID does necessitate 'one giant database' - tech like X-Road means Digital ID accesses a data exchange layer that then interacts with decentralised sources.
www.ft.com/content/b7c2...
www.ft.com/content/b7c2...
October 3, 2025 at 9:52 AM
This also re-enforces what I have been trying to highlight (& so many are desperate to misrepresent) that a Digital ID does necessitate 'one giant database' - tech like X-Road means Digital ID accesses a data exchange layer that then interacts with decentralised sources.
www.ft.com/content/b7c2...
www.ft.com/content/b7c2...
Reposted by Alex Hardy
Estonia has more than 20 years experience of digital IDs.
As the UK plans to introduce digital IDs, what can it learn from pioneer Estonia?
Estonia has more than 20 years experience of digital IDs.
tcnv.link
October 1, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Estonia has more than 20 years experience of digital IDs.
No, a Digital ID is not going to turn Britain into Cold War-era East Germany. It is a completely normal and useful thing to have in many functioning democracies.
theconversation.com/as-the-uk-pl...
theconversation.com/as-the-uk-pl...
As the UK plans to introduce digital IDs, what can it learn from pioneer Estonia?
Estonia has more than 20 years experience of digital IDs.
theconversation.com
September 30, 2025 at 4:54 PM
No, a Digital ID is not going to turn Britain into Cold War-era East Germany. It is a completely normal and useful thing to have in many functioning democracies.
theconversation.com/as-the-uk-pl...
theconversation.com/as-the-uk-pl...
There has been some utter nonsense written about Digital ID in the UK over the past few days. Much referencing Estonian.
I hope this serves as a defence against that nonsense.
theconversation.com/as-the-uk-pl...
I hope this serves as a defence against that nonsense.
theconversation.com/as-the-uk-pl...
As the UK plans to introduce digital IDs, what can it learn from pioneer Estonia?
Estonia has more than 20 years experience of digital IDs.
theconversation.com
September 30, 2025 at 4:50 PM
There has been some utter nonsense written about Digital ID in the UK over the past few days. Much referencing Estonian.
I hope this serves as a defence against that nonsense.
theconversation.com/as-the-uk-pl...
I hope this serves as a defence against that nonsense.
theconversation.com/as-the-uk-pl...
In a way, I do admire the brass neck, although I think if I had such a highly popularised and defining book that turned out to be very, very wrong, I would just call it a day with the public comments and embrace peaceful retirement.
Francis Fukuyama: ‘The neoliberals went too far. Now, we need more social democratic policies’
english.elpais.com/culture/2022...
english.elpais.com/culture/2022...
Francis Fukuyama: ‘The neoliberals went too far. Now, we need more social democratic policies’
The political scientist, who at the beginning of the 1990s declared ‘the end of history,’ returns with a new book where he identifies the threats to classical liberalism: runaway capitalism and too mu...
english.elpais.com
September 29, 2025 at 10:29 AM
In a way, I do admire the brass neck, although I think if I had such a highly popularised and defining book that turned out to be very, very wrong, I would just call it a day with the public comments and embrace peaceful retirement.
This is correct, but it should not have taken this long to take this stance.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Keir Starmer calls Reform migrant policy 'racist' and 'immoral'
The prime minister said he needed
www.bbc.co.uk
September 28, 2025 at 11:41 AM
This is correct, but it should not have taken this long to take this stance.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Every single time we see a news story about dither and delay, it disastrously impacts impressions of this government. This is an absolute no brainer, as was completing HS2. Instead, it’s ’just one more review’. Just like renters rights bill, just like leasehold reform.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Northern Powerhouse Rail plans delayed again
The BBC understands the prime minister will now not announce plans for a rail link between Manchester and Liverpool at the Labour Party conference.
www.bbc.com
September 25, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Every single time we see a news story about dither and delay, it disastrously impacts impressions of this government. This is an absolute no brainer, as was completing HS2. Instead, it’s ’just one more review’. Just like renters rights bill, just like leasehold reform.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Alex Hardy
Sadiq Khan condemns Nigel Farage's threat to deport hundreds of thousands of Londoners with settled status.
“They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city.
“Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.”
“They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city.
“Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.”
September 22, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Sadiq Khan condemns Nigel Farage's threat to deport hundreds of thousands of Londoners with settled status.
“They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city.
“Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.”
“They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city.
“Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.”
This is fascism. Rehabilitated by Britain's conservative mainstream media outlets and pumped out via social media. This policy is to the right of the BNP twenty years ago.
Reform are now coming after people with permanent residency. It'll be citizens next. No one is safe from authoritarian governments.
September 21, 2025 at 9:34 PM
This is fascism. Rehabilitated by Britain's conservative mainstream media outlets and pumped out via social media. This policy is to the right of the BNP twenty years ago.
'very different' to 20 years ago my behind. The government now - and then - could already access vast amounts of personal data. The idea that an ID card is a precursor to a slide into fascism is one of the most tedious and intellectually lazy arguments.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Lib Dems consider ditching opposition to ID cards
Leader Sir Ed Davey - who helped block Labour's last attempt to bring in ID cards - says
www.bbc.co.uk
September 21, 2025 at 9:23 PM
'very different' to 20 years ago my behind. The government now - and then - could already access vast amounts of personal data. The idea that an ID card is a precursor to a slide into fascism is one of the most tedious and intellectually lazy arguments.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Absolutely this. *Workplace skills* are an employers responsibility. For way too long, some companies have deflected their own lack of training & professional development. A lot of UK graduate job adverts seem to expect mid-career skills for entry positions.
Far too much of Labour's messaging on policy since taking office has been framed in negative terms. This just sends a signal that the party doesn't like/stand for particular groups - and alienates them. To retain/win support it needs to tell people what and who it stands *for*...
In less jest - yes, it's good if universities can help students develop skills for the labour market. However, the pointless venom of the current government about one of the few world class sectors in the British economy is tiring, enervating and just plain sad. Get a grip lads.
September 19, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Absolutely this. *Workplace skills* are an employers responsibility. For way too long, some companies have deflected their own lack of training & professional development. A lot of UK graduate job adverts seem to expect mid-career skills for entry positions.
Reposted by Alex Hardy
In the week since Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Russia, Iran and China have spread thousands of false or incendiary claims about what happened to the conservative activist, in an effort to stoke political divisions or to portray the U.S. as a dysfunctional country.
Russia, China and Iran Use Kirk’s Murder to Stoke Conspiracy Theories and Division
State media and online trolls have seized on the assassination to score geopolitical points against the United States, according to a new report.
nyti.ms
September 18, 2025 at 8:00 AM
In the week since Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Russia, Iran and China have spread thousands of false or incendiary claims about what happened to the conservative activist, in an effort to stoke political divisions or to portray the U.S. as a dysfunctional country.
A lot of England fans should be writing lengthy letters of apology to Gareth Southgate. Thomas Tuchel will win nothing, and England will be incredibly boring doing it.
September 6, 2025 at 5:58 PM
A lot of England fans should be writing lengthy letters of apology to Gareth Southgate. Thomas Tuchel will win nothing, and England will be incredibly boring doing it.
No surprise. Can LLM’s be useful? Absolutely, if you know what you’re doing. Therein lies the problem. Huge swathes of the workforce aren’t ready to use it, have confidence in it, or have the skills to effectively use not just LLM’s but often tech in general
ddrc.exeter.ac.uk/wp-content/u...
ddrc.exeter.ac.uk/wp-content/u...
September 6, 2025 at 8:15 AM
No surprise. Can LLM’s be useful? Absolutely, if you know what you’re doing. Therein lies the problem. Huge swathes of the workforce aren’t ready to use it, have confidence in it, or have the skills to effectively use not just LLM’s but often tech in general
ddrc.exeter.ac.uk/wp-content/u...
ddrc.exeter.ac.uk/wp-content/u...