Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 11h

Flying cars and real hoverboards?

Reposted by David Banisar

Alderik Oosthoek @alderik.bsky.social · 1d

“Today, the European Commission published guidelines to support the effective implementation of the Regulation on transparency and targeting of political advertising, which will become fully applicable as of 10 October.” ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

Commission publishes guidelines to support the implementation of the Regulation on the Transparency of Political Advertising

Today, the European Commission published guidelines to support the effective implementation of the Regulation on transparency and targeting of political advertising, which will become fully applicable...

ec.europa.eu

2 2

Reposted by David Banisar

Maria Farrell @mariafarrell.bsky.social · 1d

Germany's justice ministry held firm and killed EU chat control (for now):

"Chat control without cause must be taboo in a state governed by the rule of law. Private communication must never be under general suspicion."

Admirably concise and direct. German in the best possible way.

2 79 170

Reposted by David Banisar

Techlore @techlore.tech · 2d

🚨 BREAKING: Chat Control BLOCKED in EU! 🎉

Germany just refused to back the EU's mass surveillance "Chat Control" regulation after public pressure! This blocks the required majority in the EU Council and derails next week's planned vote.

NICE JOB EVERYONE! 💪

3 18 47

David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 6d

I’d also like to know why it’s necessary for digital id to “see local air quality” and how bad Estonian services were that identity processes took 5 days a year that are now saved. 🤨

1

David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 7d

If you said Quark xpress I’d more more impressed!

1 1

Reposted by David Banisar

David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 10d

New map for International Right to Know Day. 132 UN countries now with FOI law+6 w/ regulation, covering 92% of world population. 2 new cos in last year Senegal and Costa Rica.

Map of countries with freedom of information laws in dark green or regulations in light green, bills in yellow. Over 2/3 of map is dark green.

1 3 3

David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 8d

This was well played!

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

#idcards

‘Reverse Midas touch’: Starmer plan prompts collapse in support for digital IDs

Net public backing for scheme has fallen to -14% after prime minister’s announcement, according to polling

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by David Banisar

Lauren Harper @laurenleharper.bsky.social · 10d

This takes FOIA fee bullying to a whole new level

Josh Gerstein @joshgerstein.bsky.social · 13d

SCOOP: Justice Department asks judge to force nonprofit & reporter to post $50,000 bond to get faster release of classified docs found at Mar-a-Lago. Trump order to seek bonds for early injunctions seeps into #FOIA litigation. www.politico.com/newsletters/...

1 12 16

David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 10d

More detailed overview including internal law developments at www.linkedin.com/pulse/right-...

#IDUAI #FOI #rightotknow #righttoinfo

Right to Know Update - September 2025

Happy Right to Know Day (or those of you who speak UN - International Day for the Universal Access to information) #IDUA. Here's the updated map of countries around the world with Freedom of Informati...

www.linkedin.com

1 1

David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 10d

New map for International Right to Know Day. 132 UN countries now with FOI law+6 w/ regulation, covering 92% of world population. 2 new cos in last year Senegal and Costa Rica.

1 3 3

Reposted by David Banisar

Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 15d

Explosive insights about Carter-Ruck's tactics to shut down scrutiny of OneCoin's $3 billion crypto fraud after our work with @danneidle.bsky.social @tbij.bsky.social @fpcthinktank.bsky.social including attempts to get an FCA warning notice taken down:
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...

‘Send a clear message’: Carter-Ruck’s dirty tactics on behalf of $4bn…

Stunning new documents lay bare law firm’s attempts to silence whistleblowers and cast doubt on police probe

www.thebureauinvestigates.com

2 7 11

Reposted by David Banisar

William Shakespeare @shakespeare.lol · 18d

Free speech and fearless I to thee allow.

8 89 500

Reposted by David Banisar

Pope Abecedarian I @abecedarian.bsky.social · 18d

Tell it to the mouse

1

David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 20d

Let us not forget to thank @economist.com for their immortal thoughts

bsky.app/profile/dban...

David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · Jul 22

Just wanted to say that this issue of the @economist.com has aged like a fine cheese, stuck under a lit dumpster, behind a zero star hygiene rated takeaway etc…..

You have surpassed your usual brilliance and the world anxiously awaits your next tour de force.

1

David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 20d

But does it rotate with the sun?

m.youtube.com/watch?v=PCYT...

Turkmenbashi Rotating statue

YouTube video by Kim Young

m.youtube.com

David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 20d

Big media news! The @theonion.com and @washingtonpost.com editorial boards are officially merged!

1 4

David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 21d

A groundbreaking decision from Spain’s Supreme Court on transparency of algorithms and FOI.

Javier de la Cueva @javierdelacueva.es · 21d

Civio pulls back the curtain on public algorithms: Spain’s Supreme Court orders the Government to release BOSCO’s source code vía @civio.es civio.es/novedades/20...

Civio pulls back the curtain on public algorithms: Spain’s Supreme Court orders the Government to release BOSCO’s source code

The precedent-setting ruling states that public decision-making algorithms require transparency and oversight. The court rejects claims that national security or intellectual property can absolutely l...

civio.es

1 2

Reposted by David Banisar

Javier de la Cueva @javierdelacueva.es · 21d

Civio pulls back the curtain on public algorithms: Spain’s Supreme Court orders the Government to release BOSCO’s source code vía @civio.es civio.es/novedades/20...

Civio pulls back the curtain on public algorithms: Spain’s Supreme Court orders the Government to release BOSCO’s source code

The precedent-setting ruling states that public decision-making algorithms require transparency and oversight. The court rejects claims that national security or intellectual property can absolutely l...

civio.es

1 10 13

Reposted by David Banisar

Graham Smith @cyberleagle.bsky.social · 22d

Since it's 10 years since I originally charted the genealogy of the S.127 communications offence, time for an update to take account of the #OnlineSafetyAct. Plus a new section for the Malicious Communications Act 1988. 1/2

2 5 6

Reposted by David Banisar

Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 24d

📣 Watch this PSA from our board member @johncusack.bsky.social: Democracy is under attack — and paywalls shouldn’t stand in the way of accessing vital public records.

News outlets, it’s time to drop the paywalls for FOIA-based reporting.

@wired.com did it. @404media.co did it. Now, it’s your turn!

John Cusack: Time to drop paywalls for FOIA reporting

YouTube video by Freedom of the Press Foundation

www.youtube.com

9 65 170

David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 28d

I thought it was the evil europeans who were censoring the free speech of freedom luvin’ ‘mericans. Crazy world man.

1

Reposted by David Banisar

Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · Sep 9

FOIA offices are being decimated across federal agencies, leaving the government unable to fulfill public records requests. Don’t let this blatant attack on transparency fly under the radar.

Use our new, easy tool to tell your representatives to safeguard FOIA.

Strengthen the Freedom of Information Act

Defending press freedom for the next generation

freedom.press

3 110 210

Reposted by David Banisar

Berin Szóka @berinszoka.bsky.social · Sep 3

I also joined 30+ EU and US scholars on the DSA in letter debunking Jim Jordan's claims that the Digital Services Act is a censorship law (it's content neutral) and that it censors US speech (it applies only inside the EU) husovec.eu/wp-content/u...

husovec.eu

1 7 17

Reposted by David Banisar

Gavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.bsky.social · Sep 3

A massive thank you to @jennacorderoy.bsky.social @benworthy.bsky.social @itscrowbot.bsky.social @lynnwyeth.bsky.social, John Edwards & Charlie Falconer (& a great audience) for a terrific and constructive discussion on FOI @instituteforgovernment.org.uk today

Watch back bit.ly/IfGFoI2025

The Freedom of Information Act at 25: What next for freedom of information? | Institute for Government

The event includes proposals and discussion about how the Freedom of Information system can improve for the future.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

1 7 12