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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 11h

It looks like several point cloud models have been set to private on Sketchfab, but I hope the Museum will restore access after they've reviewed the situation www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org/3d-collectio...

Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 12h

The IDF are problematic for a number of reasons – mass murder, other war crimes – but I'm disappointed to see they are also poisoning the digital commons:

The Israel Defense Forces used a Scottish museum's 3D models in propaganda videos theferret.scot/idf-scottish...

#opendata #dataforevil

The Scottish Maritime Museum confirmed some of its models are available online through Creative Commons licensing, but stressed it has no control over how the data is used. Following our request for a comment the museum's 3D scans used by the IDF are no longer publicly available.

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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 19h

Online Safety Act: 'Protect the kids' is pretext for rights erosions www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-tr... by Marin Scarlett

#censorship #openweb #techpolicy

Since the new regulations came into force in July 2025, tech companies appear to have instituted automated (and very risk averse) moderation systems to ensure they are complying with the new legislation. These sweeping systems act like digital trawler nets, indiscriminately capturing content that is not harmful, or that even actively contributes to reducing harms for vulnerable or at-risk groups.

Since July, sex workers have reported a huge spike in their social media accounts being flagged or deleted for photos and even usernames deemed too provocative. Social media shadow bans (where sites reduce the visibility of accounts) or account deletion can lead to a massive loss of income, as well as years of work building a following, leaving sex workers poorer and more vulnerable. These generally happen suddenly, without warning, clear reasoning or the right to appeal.

Content moderation algorithms also appear to be targeting harm reduction efforts and educational content on issues including drug use, reproductive healthcare and support services for LGBTQ+ communities. This has been well-documented in recent years, with queer content routinely flagged as pornographic or age-inappropriate, content focused on education and recovery from eating disorders removed. For LGBTQ+ youth, who are disproportionately likely to seek support online, blocking access to vital information and community support is particularly damaging. In the name of online safety, these systems aiming to comply with Ofcom regulations are censoring the very resources that protect and inform vulnerable populations.

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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 20h

'Done right, digital ID could restore trust in the state' labourlist.org/2025/10/digi...

The UK state is currently abetting a genocide. As far as public trust goes, I'm not sure successful implementation of a tech programme will balance the ledger. But maybe I'm just bad at compartmentalisation.

That's why tone will matter as much as technology. The public need to hear, and believe, that this is a service to empower, not a system to surveil. Ministers and officials must speak the language of trust. Be clear about privacy safeguards, upfront about who controls the data, and humble enough to listen when concerns arise.

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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 1d

Cabinet Office update on the UK National Action Plan for Open Government questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...

Context www.gov.uk/government/c... + www.opengovpartnership.org

Sounds like they're planning to gut the framework?

Question
Mike Wood
Conservative, Kingswinford and South Staffordshire Commons
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department's planned timetable is for the publication of the seventh UK National Action Plan for Open Government; and what consultation his Department has undertaken in relation to the sixth UK National Action Plan for Open Government since it was published in December 2023.

Answer
Nick Thomas-Symonds
Labour, Torfaen Commons
The Seventh National Action Plan for Open Government (NAP7) will be developed next year with final publication by 31 December 2026. Simultaneously, the UK is co-chairing the OGP Action Framework Task Force with the goal of making the action framework more user-friendly, agile and less bureaucratic.

During the implementation of the UK National Action Plan for Open Government 2024-2025 (NAP6), the UK Multi-Stakeholder Forum for Open Government (MSF) met on two occasions on 24th January 2024, and 17th July 2024, with further meetings under development, and Government teams responsible for commitments continued engagement with their stakeholders throughout implementation.

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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 1d

John Green has doubts about the efficacy of the Freedom of Information Act, once trumpeted by Tony Blair morningstaronline.co.uk/article/free...

Whole piece is about how the Met failed to respond to the author's subject access request – nothing to do with FOI. Doesn't the Morning Star have editors?

It seems, though, that this Act is not being implemented by public bodies in accordance with the law. I applied to the Metropolitan Police in August 2024 requesting information about any data held on me. I had an immediate response to inform me that my request had been logged and would be dealt with. Despite several complaints since I have been given no data or any reason for not being given access to it.

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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 1d

I have partial think tank agnosia (self-diagnosed)

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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 1d

Accidentally read a Center for Data Innovation blog because I confused it with Connected by Data, my bad

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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 1d

I don't understand people who use social media to parade their ignorance in specialisms where they are trying to sell themselves as experts. If you're not going to build your body of knowledge, just work the grift offline and post about sports or something

Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 1d

Reminder to renew your domain registrations:

Spy Dog children's books pulled from shelves over web link that directs children to porn website www.lbc.co.uk/article/spy-...

The URL: spydog451.co.uk (NSFW, pay attention horrified parents) + archive web.archive.org/web/20200801...

A companion link printed inside Andrew Cope's Spy Dog series now directs children towards an adult website, including explicit content featuring children's characters.

Puffin, the publisher of the series, is now working to pull the affected editions from primary schools and bookshops after horrified parents tried to use the link to access a companion website that has more information about the characters - but were met with pornographic videos.

The URL was once used to host more information about the main characters in the series, undercover spy dogs.

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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 1d

The author's name is Mathew, might be hereditary

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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 1d

Mapping the Future: Scotland's LiDAR Revolution blogs.gov.scot/digital/2025...

This Digital Scotland post indicates the new programme will produce #opendata outputs, so good news – but I don't understand why it's making out that LiDAR mapping is a new invention remotesensingdata.gov.scot/data#/list

But now, a new chapter is unfolding—one that promises to transform how we see and interact with the land around us.

Enter LiDAR: A New Dimension in Mapping

LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a game-changer. Using lasers mounted on aircraft, it captures the landscape in astonishing detail—measuring height at centimetre-level resolution, 100 times more precise than traditional Ordinance Survey maps. It doesn't just map the terrain; it sees objects too—trees, buildings, hedgerows.

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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 1d

More #opendata could help achieve the stated aims of this plan – but in practice it looks like MHCLG is just trying to create a bonanza for data intermediaries, following lobbying from proptech firms under the umbrella of the "Open Property Data Association". (Nobody mention the HIPs debacle …)

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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 1d

UK Government proposes requirement on sellers and estate agents to provide buyers with "vital information" about property upfront localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/property/404...

MHCLG press release with links to consultations (scroll down) www.gov.uk/government/n...

#UKhousing #proptech #datasharing

The full list of proposed mandatory upfront information includes: tenure, council tax band, EPC rating, property type, legal and transactional information such as title information and seller ID verification, leasehold terms, building safety data, standard searches, property condition assessments tailored to property age and type, service charges, planning consents, flood risk data, chain status, and clear floor plans.

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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 2d

UK Government spend data, transactions over £25,000, April 2010 - August 2025:

● Cabinet Office drive.google.com/uc?export=do... (3.4 MB XLSX)
● Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) drive.google.com/uc?export=do... (1.4 MB XLSX)

#publicspending #opengov #opendata

Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 2d

The Welsh Government's Statistical Services function has refreshed its #opendata site digitalanddata.blog.gov.wales/2025/09/29/s...

stats.gov.wales (beta) vs old version statswales.gov.wales (available until January)

Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 3d

Framing opposition to #digitalID as ill-informed and based on conspiracy theories makes it easier for Labour to gloss over principled arguments against the policy, from parties and experts across the political spectrum

File under nobody trusts the Government and whose fault is that

PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 3d

Labour MPs have expressed concern that government is not doing enough to combat the spread online of conspiracy theories about plans for digital ID

"I haven't seen an effective response from the government," said tech committee chair @chionwurah.bsky.social

@matildamartin.bsky.social reports

Labour MPs Say Government Must Do More To Tackle Digital ID Conspiracy Theories

Labour MPs have expressed concern that the government is not doing enough to combat the spread online of conspiracy theories about plans to introdu...

www.politicshome.com

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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 3d

UK Government blocks transparency on public data sale lobbying www.thenational.scot/news/2551686...

Last year's consultation on Labour's industrial strategy – outcome still unpublished www.gov.uk/government/c...

#FOI #opengov #datasharing

In Labour's industrial strategy published in June, it was revealed that tech firms had urged the Government to "take action to overcome barriers to data access and data sharing".

However, the Sunday National can reveal that the consultation responses which informed this strategy remain tightly under wraps almost a year after the exercise finished – sparking questions over which companies have argued for which policies.

It is understood the Government is refusing to name respondents or publish their responses in full to maintain confidentiality. A summary of responses will be published in the coming months.

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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 3d

Discord customer service data breach leaks user info and scanned photo IDs www.theverge.com/news/792032/...

Online Safety Act angle: "The unauthorized party also gained access to a small number of government‑ID images … from users who had appealed an age determination."

#dataprotection #techpolicy

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Reposted by Owen Boswarva

Mike Rose @mikerose.co.uk · 4d

Finally finished processing (well begun finishing processing) a fantastic OpenDataCamp in Edinburgh #ODCamp @odcamp.uk

I ran a session on the value of (open) data, my reflections here ->
medium.com/@mikeerose/a...

Are We Valuing [Open] Data All Wrong? | by Mike Rose | Oct, 2025 | Medium

Are We Valuing [Open] Data All Wrong? This is a post following the session I pitched at OpenDataCamp in Edinburgh last weekend. Those wonderful Drawnalism people were in the room, so as well as this …

medium.com

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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 4d

FOI applicant claims Gab has "withdrawn from the UK" due to the Online Safety Act www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/cens...

Can't confirm – looks accessible to me.

Ofcom claims not to know what Gab is. (It's a Christo-fascist social media platform based in the US.)

#openweb #censorship #techpolicy

Dear Information Requests,
It is most ironic that you claim to not know what GAB is, when it because of the actions/ threats of your office that GAB, a social media platform, has now withdrawn from the UK.
This is the archive of the page, for those in your office who could not think to put the link in the archive.
https://archive.md/RV5tz
It is beyond comprehension that people in your office could not work out what GAB was from the url alone.
Please send me a full copy of the letter that was sent to GAB.
Could you send the reasons why this letter was sent and when censorship and fines would be applicable.
Can you send me Ofcom's policy on free speech, disinformation and misinformation with definitions.

Yours sincerely,

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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 4d

A modern police service should be able to do security theatre on two fronts at once

Follow me for more think tank ideas

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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 5d

(Actually of course legalisation would be a step further than in Portugal, where drug use is decriminalised but fines or other sanctions may apply)

Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 5d

Green leader Zack Polanski backs legalisation of all drugs www.bbc.com/news/article... 🕶️

Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 7d

Why is it always let's copy Estonia on digital policy and never let's copy Portugal on drugs policy

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Reposted by Owen Boswarva

Jeni Tennison @jenitennison.com · 5d

Important read on digital ID based on experience in India.

Our investigations into Aadhar revealed that once such a system is implemented, it is almost impossible to prevent its proliferation into every interaction between the state and the resident, which turns each failed transaction into a potential criminal breach.

Politicians know that national IDs are hugely unpopular, which is why they invariably start with a scape-goat to sell the system to a sceptical public. These scapegoats offer a glimpse into the insecurities hidden in the national psyche. In India, Aadhar was sold to middle-class India as a technological balm to the widespread perception of corruption.

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