Sander van der Waal
@sandervdwaal.bsky.social
Research Director at Waag Futurelab, Amsterdam
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
I spent the day at #EuroskyLive and it is so energizing to hear developers make a better case for European innovation and competition policy than a whole high-level summit on digital sovereignty yesterday...
November 19, 2025 at 6:57 PM
I spent the day at #EuroskyLive and it is so energizing to hear developers make a better case for European innovation and competition policy than a whole high-level summit on digital sovereignty yesterday...
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
"What we see with media organisations is that they have to go to YouTube and TikTok to find their audiences but then they get shadowbanned when they mention genocide." — @sandervdwaal.bsky.social #EuroskyLive
November 19, 2025 at 11:42 AM
"What we see with media organisations is that they have to go to YouTube and TikTok to find their audiences but then they get shadowbanned when they mention genocide." — @sandervdwaal.bsky.social #EuroskyLive
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
Blender is struggling. it's the best piece of 3d software on the market, and it's free. I'm not going back to autodesk.
please donate if you can!
fund.blender.org
please donate if you can!
fund.blender.org
Blender Development Fund
Join the Development Fund and support Blender Foundation to work on core Blender development.
fund.blender.org
November 18, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Blender is struggling. it's the best piece of 3d software on the market, and it's free. I'm not going back to autodesk.
please donate if you can!
fund.blender.org
please donate if you can!
fund.blender.org
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
It's very notable that this room has plenty of developers and builders, and whenever someone says that deregulation is stupid they're getting full-throated applause.
The people pushing deregulation are disconnected from those of us who are building the future. #EuroskyLive
The people pushing deregulation are disconnected from those of us who are building the future. #EuroskyLive
November 19, 2025 at 10:57 AM
It's very notable that this room has plenty of developers and builders, and whenever someone says that deregulation is stupid they're getting full-throated applause.
The people pushing deregulation are disconnected from those of us who are building the future. #EuroskyLive
The people pushing deregulation are disconnected from those of us who are building the future. #EuroskyLive
As @alexandrageese.bsky.social mentioned at #EuroSkLive, we need the European Commission to stand up against big tech.
Very timely with the important campaign launched by @peoplevsbigtech.bsky.social!
Very timely with the important campaign launched by @peoplevsbigtech.bsky.social!
🚨 Brussels, today 🚨Ursula! Stand up for Europe – not for Trump’s tech bros!
As the EU unveils its “Digital Omnibus” today, we're rolling out billboards calling on @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu to stop bending to US and Big Tech pressure and enforce our digital laws #StandUpUrsula✊
As the EU unveils its “Digital Omnibus” today, we're rolling out billboards calling on @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu to stop bending to US and Big Tech pressure and enforce our digital laws #StandUpUrsula✊
November 19, 2025 at 10:44 AM
As @alexandrageese.bsky.social mentioned at #EuroSkLive, we need the European Commission to stand up against big tech.
Very timely with the important campaign launched by @peoplevsbigtech.bsky.social!
Very timely with the important campaign launched by @peoplevsbigtech.bsky.social!
Amazing inspiring presentation by @bmann.ca that inspires new ideas of apps that can be built on ATProto. #EuroSkyLive
November 19, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Amazing inspiring presentation by @bmann.ca that inspires new ideas of apps that can be built on ATProto. #EuroSkyLive
Great to see @alexandrageese.bsky.social on fire. Takeaways:
1. EU capital investing in US tech instead of European
2. Public procurement power not deployed to prefer EU tech
3. The unbelievable admiration(!) in EC circles for big tech.
But momentum building for building OUR tech #EuroSkyLive
1. EU capital investing in US tech instead of European
2. Public procurement power not deployed to prefer EU tech
3. The unbelievable admiration(!) in EC circles for big tech.
But momentum building for building OUR tech #EuroSkyLive
November 19, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Great to see @alexandrageese.bsky.social on fire. Takeaways:
1. EU capital investing in US tech instead of European
2. Public procurement power not deployed to prefer EU tech
3. The unbelievable admiration(!) in EC circles for big tech.
But momentum building for building OUR tech #EuroSkyLive
1. EU capital investing in US tech instead of European
2. Public procurement power not deployed to prefer EU tech
3. The unbelievable admiration(!) in EC circles for big tech.
But momentum building for building OUR tech #EuroSkyLive
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
#EuroskyLive “we’re not building a space agency” - @seabass.bsky.social sad but okay.
So what are they building for our #ATproto ecosystem? 🚀
So what are they building for our #ATproto ecosystem? 🚀
November 19, 2025 at 9:04 AM
#EuroskyLive “we’re not building a space agency” - @seabass.bsky.social sad but okay.
So what are they building for our #ATproto ecosystem? 🚀
So what are they building for our #ATproto ecosystem? 🚀
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
Public Data Cultures is out today on @politybooks.bsky.social! 📗🎊 jonathangray.org/2025/10/23/p...
It aims to nurture critical and creative engagements with public data as cultural material, medium of participation and as site of transnational politics. Happy to see it out in the world! 🦔🌌💜
It aims to nurture critical and creative engagements with public data as cultural material, medium of participation and as site of transnational politics. Happy to see it out in the world! 🦔🌌💜
October 23, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Public Data Cultures is out today on @politybooks.bsky.social! 📗🎊 jonathangray.org/2025/10/23/p...
It aims to nurture critical and creative engagements with public data as cultural material, medium of participation and as site of transnational politics. Happy to see it out in the world! 🦔🌌💜
It aims to nurture critical and creative engagements with public data as cultural material, medium of participation and as site of transnational politics. Happy to see it out in the world! 🦔🌌💜
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
The richest man on earth owns X.
The second richest man on earth is about to be a major owner of TikTok.
The third richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The fourth richest man owns The Washington Post.
See the problem here?
The second richest man on earth is about to be a major owner of TikTok.
The third richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The fourth richest man owns The Washington Post.
See the problem here?
September 24, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The richest man on earth owns X.
The second richest man on earth is about to be a major owner of TikTok.
The third richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The fourth richest man owns The Washington Post.
See the problem here?
The second richest man on earth is about to be a major owner of TikTok.
The third richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The fourth richest man owns The Washington Post.
See the problem here?
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
The fact that the thing we're calling artificial intelligence *can't do math* and yet we're jamming it into programs that successfully *have done math* for decades, then warning people against using the AI to do math, seems like an excellent summary of where we are.
Good thing no one uses Microsoft Excel for anything related to legal, regulatory or compliance business functions
www.theverge.com/news/761338/...
www.theverge.com/news/761338/...
August 19, 2025 at 6:09 PM
The fact that the thing we're calling artificial intelligence *can't do math* and yet we're jamming it into programs that successfully *have done math* for decades, then warning people against using the AI to do math, seems like an excellent summary of where we are.
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
I spent seven years writing a book on this and she just… said it in three succinct paragraphs to politico.
Stand by this: www.politico.com/newsletters/...
July 31, 2025 at 11:21 AM
I spent seven years writing a book on this and she just… said it in three succinct paragraphs to politico.
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
turns out climate change will cost dramatically more than economists predicted, and the cost of addressing it is actually negative. oops! prospect.org/environment/...
Climate Change Will Bankrupt the Country
Climate-fueled disasters cost America almost a trillion dollars over the last year, far more than economists predicted.
prospect.org
June 20, 2025 at 7:16 PM
turns out climate change will cost dramatically more than economists predicted, and the cost of addressing it is actually negative. oops! prospect.org/environment/...
Mooie quote van wethouder Scholtes in het tweegesprek met Elisabeth IJmker "Ik heb ook naar @[email protected] geluisterd" als ondersteuning van punt dat stappen gezet worden in de gemeente om digitaal onafhankelijker te worden #PubConf2025
June 13, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Mooie quote van wethouder Scholtes in het tweegesprek met Elisabeth IJmker "Ik heb ook naar @[email protected] geluisterd" als ondersteuning van punt dat stappen gezet worden in de gemeente om digitaal onafhankelijker te worden #PubConf2025
Ooh look at that, Bluesky creates a link to Elena's account that is on Mastodon! Love this cross platform feature ❤️
June 13, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Ooh look at that, Bluesky creates a link to Elena's account that is on Mastodon! Love this cross platform feature ❤️
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
June 13, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
This @politico.eu piece threatens a reality checks against a position that, uh, no one has been advocating for.
They erect a strawman position backed by no quote or reference according to which European tech sovereignty involves "decoupling" from the world.
Huh?
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
They erect a strawman position backed by no quote or reference according to which European tech sovereignty involves "decoupling" from the world.
Huh?
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
Europe’s dream to wean off US tech gets reality check
As the Trump administration plays hardball, a new EU strategy puts collaboration front and center.
www.politico.eu
June 5, 2025 at 10:08 AM
This @politico.eu piece threatens a reality checks against a position that, uh, no one has been advocating for.
They erect a strawman position backed by no quote or reference according to which European tech sovereignty involves "decoupling" from the world.
Huh?
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
They erect a strawman position backed by no quote or reference according to which European tech sovereignty involves "decoupling" from the world.
Huh?
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
Don’t be deceived by democracy- and sovereignty-washing: The US government has most to gain from ‘OpenAI for countries’ ↘️ on.ft.com/4kJLh93
The US government has most to gain from ‘OpenAI for countries’
Imagine how much leverage it will have if it can turn off artificial intelligence capabilities around the world
on.ft.com
June 3, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Don’t be deceived by democracy- and sovereignty-washing: The US government has most to gain from ‘OpenAI for countries’ ↘️ on.ft.com/4kJLh93
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
So, Internet, we really do need to talk about Elon. How did we get to a place where a single billionaire with daddy issues could take over and control our global public square?
I picked up my paintbrush as a means to answer that question.
I picked up my paintbrush as a means to answer that question.
We Need To Talk About Elon
I’m a portrait artist, fascinated by what Elon Musk is doing to our online and offline worlds. Join me as I spend a week, alongside special guests, exploring...
www.youtube.com
May 19, 2025 at 2:00 PM
So, Internet, we really do need to talk about Elon. How did we get to a place where a single billionaire with daddy issues could take over and control our global public square?
I picked up my paintbrush as a means to answer that question.
I picked up my paintbrush as a means to answer that question.
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
Silicon Valley’s alliance with Donald Trump has brought me to my breaking point with US tech.
I’m going to keep pushing for governments to get serious about digital sovereignty, but in the meantime I’m looking for non-US alternatives — and will have more on what I’ll be using instead soon.
I’m going to keep pushing for governments to get serious about digital sovereignty, but in the meantime I’m looking for non-US alternatives — and will have more on what I’ll be using instead soon.
Why I’m getting off US tech
At least as much as feasibly possible
www.disconnect.blog
May 1, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Silicon Valley’s alliance with Donald Trump has brought me to my breaking point with US tech.
I’m going to keep pushing for governments to get serious about digital sovereignty, but in the meantime I’m looking for non-US alternatives — and will have more on what I’ll be using instead soon.
I’m going to keep pushing for governments to get serious about digital sovereignty, but in the meantime I’m looking for non-US alternatives — and will have more on what I’ll be using instead soon.
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
You have to read this article.
"The forces we are up against have made peace with mass death. They are treasonous to this world and its human and non-human inhabitants."
By @naomiaklein.bsky.social and @astra.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
"The forces we are up against have made peace with mass death. They are treasonous to this world and its human and non-human inhabitants."
By @naomiaklein.bsky.social and @astra.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
The rise of end times fascism | Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor
The governing ideology of the far right has become a monstrous, supremacist survivalism. Our task is to build a movement strong enough to stop them
www.theguardian.com
April 17, 2025 at 9:49 AM
You have to read this article.
"The forces we are up against have made peace with mass death. They are treasonous to this world and its human and non-human inhabitants."
By @naomiaklein.bsky.social and @astra.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
"The forces we are up against have made peace with mass death. They are treasonous to this world and its human and non-human inhabitants."
By @naomiaklein.bsky.social and @astra.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
I can't emphasize enough that the most important thing journalists can do right now is publish exactly this kind of article
April 16, 2025 at 2:30 AM
I can't emphasize enough that the most important thing journalists can do right now is publish exactly this kind of article
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
The movement's official website...
50501 — 50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement
Join the movement to uphold the Constitution and end executive overreach. 50 protests, 50 states, 1 day: #50501.
www.fiftyfifty.one
April 16, 2025 at 5:37 AM
The movement's official website...
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
"My name is Ibtihal, and for the past 3.5 years, I’ve been a software engineer on Microsoft’s AI Platform org. I spoke up today because after learning that my org was powering the genocide of my people in Palestine, I saw no other moral choice."
Microsoft employee disrupts 50th anniversary and calls AI boss ‘war profiteer’
“Shame on you.”
www.theverge.com
April 5, 2025 at 10:38 PM
"My name is Ibtihal, and for the past 3.5 years, I’ve been a software engineer on Microsoft’s AI Platform org. I spoke up today because after learning that my org was powering the genocide of my people in Palestine, I saw no other moral choice."
Reposted by Sander van der Waal
The dominoes keep falling. Doing the government's bidding, changing speech rules, and harming vulnerable minorities is still appeasement. Even if you do it YouTube style, quietly and with little fanfare.
SCOOP: YouTube removes 'gender identity' from hate speech policy. "YouTube quietly removing ‘gender identity and expression’ from its list of protected groups is a major radical shift away from best practices in the field of trust and safety."
YouTube removes 'gender identity' from hate speech policy
TariffTokers, Gen Z’s ‘it couple’, Easter potatoes, anti-MAGA hats, Zuck's D.C. mansion, Amazon's TikTok bid, Silicon Valley's cupid, and the fastest growing political channels on YouTube
www.usermag.co
April 3, 2025 at 7:35 PM
The dominoes keep falling. Doing the government's bidding, changing speech rules, and harming vulnerable minorities is still appeasement. Even if you do it YouTube style, quietly and with little fanfare.