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Tom King

@acertaintom.bsky.social
118 followers 101 following 205 posts

overmighty citizen publicstatistic.substack.com

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Reposted by Tom King
Charles West @pseudo-isidore.bsky.social · 22h
A new blogpost, on how "sorry" really did seem to be the hardest word for late Carolingian kings. blogs.ed.ac.uk/cwest3/2026/...
blogs.ed.ac.uk
Holding kings to account in late Carolingian Francia: the council of Metz, 859 – Earlier medieval history
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peterkwells @peterkwells.com · 27/09/2026
Now all we have to do is wait for service providers to realise that if they sort out their shoddy services and customer service processes then none of us have to pay for all that compute going on AI bots 'arguing' with each other, and we can perhaps live in a better future 🙏
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Have you shown them the price list you use to market your consultancy services?
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
@randomwalker.bsky.social makes this point in his talk about normal technology, that 'accuracy' does not correspond to the property we want in general application and so inhibits uptake icml.cc/virtual/2026...
icml.cc
ICML Invited Talk What will be left for us to work on?ICML 2026
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Daniel Lakens @lakens.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
This is such a nice thread about whether metascientists have provided ammunition to US Government (ignoring how in Europe, the same metascience has just led to widespread improvements) where 2 people have an actual nuanced discussion about the topic (so rare) I just wanted to highlight it. 😍
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Charles West @pseudo-isidore.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
For anyone looking for a £245 Bayeux Tapestry silk scarf. www.libertylondon.com/uk/bayeaux-t...
libertylondon.com
Liberty Bayeaux Tapestry Silk Scarf 90 | Liberty
Drawing on Liberty’s love of storytelling, the Bayeaux Tapestry Silk Scarf brings a landmark chapter of history to life, marking its moment on display at The Br
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
She knows perfectly well the cats are the masterminds
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Could it be moving to OPMC?
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Reposted by Tom King
peterkwells @peterkwells.com · 07/09/2026
Inevitable and frankly baffling/astonishing that neither UK govt or Matt Clifford seemed to think this should be part of last week's announcement that he was joining Anthropic to lead a chunk of their work with governments
It’s been a huge privilege to serve as the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA)'s founding Chair over the last four years. Having completed my first full term last month, I have decided to step down to ensure my new role at Anthropic doesn’t become a distraction from ARIA’s incredible work. 

I have often said that ARIA is one of the things that makes me most optimistic about Britain. It’s a bold national experiment that’s paying off: ARIA has become a beacon for global talent and is building a portfolio of programmes - across neurotech, climate science, life sciences and more - that I have no doubt will change the world.

There’s lots to do, but I’m proud of the foundations the extraordinary team has built and so grateful to them for their work. I know that, under the leadership of our brilliant CEO Kathleen Fisher, ARIA will go from strength to strength. I will be excited to watch ARIA’s next steps and will remain the agency’s biggest fan. 

The Secretary of State has asked me to stay on for a short transitory period until 6 November to allow BIST to launch a process to select a new Chair. I’ve agreed to do this, with appropriate safeguards against potential conflicts in place. We will kick off the search shortly - it may well be the best non-executive job in the world, so I know we will find someone brilliant!
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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Connecting data to enable modern digital government dataingovernment.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/03/c... Every day is groundhog day in UK data policy
The public sector holds vast amounts of information, but we still find it difficult to share and reuse that information effectively.

Different services often maintain their own versions of the same data. This creates duplication, makes collaboration more difficult and can lead to frustrating experiences for citizens and businesses.

Our discovery found that some data sets play a particularly important role because they are used repeatedly across many services and organisations. We call these foundational data.

Foundational data can be thought of as a small set of core facts that many services rely on. These might include who someone is, which organisation they belong to or where a property is located.
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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
"You might be surprised that this guidance hasn't substantially changed from what we've given in previous resources …" One in the eye for UK Gov't bods who have been pointing to CC's recent work on AI as an argument for rolling back open licensing of public sector information #techpolicy #opendata
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
How interested in Princeton in the non-US market for your book? Are you speaking about it in the UK, and do you have a provisional publication timetable?
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Reposted by Tom King
Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
The National Data Library Expert Advisory Group has now concluded www.gov.uk/government/g... Well done everybody I like the gradient fills in particular www.data.gov.uk #govtech #opendata #datapolicy
Screenshot from GOV·UK:

National Data Library Expert Advisory Group: Terms of Reference

This transparency data was withdrawn on 2 September 2026
This page was withdrawn on 2 September 2026. The National Data Library Expert Advisory Group concluded in September 2026. The National Data Library was launched in June 2025 and now sits within the wider work of the Government Chief Data Officer within DCMS, drawing on expert input from external advisers and government Chief Data Officers.
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
This is an area where the RSS ought to be involved but it looks digital led at the moment and you might like to stick your nose in
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peterkwells @peterkwells.com · 02/09/2026
"we’ll draw together a two-year digital and data devolution strategy and roadmap as part of the forthcoming Devolution White paper" gds.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/01/s...
gds.blog.gov.uk
Supporting devolution through digital, data and AI
Across government, there is a growing focus on how powers, funding and decision-making can be exercised closer to the places they impact. We're pleased to be working with Mayoral Strategic Authorities...
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Who is the publisher for your book?
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
A review for an academic publication is a bit different. But if you say it did not cover something or assumes this or had a specific weakness, readers know you would have mentioned other issues if they were present. It also makes it more worthwhile
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Reposted by Tom King
Charles West @pseudo-isidore.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
I think a lot of people would be surprised to learn how much gatekeeping there is for what gets into bookshops - which might explain why so much of the history shelf in UK looks rather tired* * except of course /your/ sparklingly novel book, if your book is there ;)
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Reposted by Tom King
Laura Spinney @laurainparis.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
My investigation in today's @bmj.com shorturl.at/4ANG2
bmj.com
A “monstrous” conflict of interest: Kim Fox, ivabradine, and European Society of Cardiology clinical practice guidelines
A historical case involving more than £50m shows what’s at stake in the debate around transparency of doctor-industry relations. Laura Spinney reports A British cardiologist and former president of t...
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Reposted by Tom King
lordtim.bsky.social @lordtim.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Welcome recommendation from the Fisher Review: a new offence for identity-based impersonation. I've pushed for this for years, since a Lords Select Committee report, after Bennett Arron's stolen identity went uncharged. Caveats : fraud "purpose" must be proven, and it should be triable either way.
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Reposted by Tom King
Prof Penny Endersby @pennyend.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
www.bbc.co.uk/weather/arti... I had an early brief on this and ordered a pallet of sandbags for my marginally flood-prone house. They’re easy to obtain in the middle of a drought! This is a good article by the BBC covering some of the global impacts to be expected from such a strong El Niño.
bbc.co.uk
El Niño set to be 'strongest in living memory', says Met Office
Scientists say the growing El Niño weather pattern is an "unprecedented event" and means 2027 is likely to be the world's hottest year on record.
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Well I hope you learned your lesson - never mow the yard again
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
You'll miss the north
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Reposted by Tom King
peterkwells @peterkwells.com · 14/08/2026
The dog that stares at cows
A brick wall with a small gate in it and grass on either side, a smallish yellow dog stands on its hind legs while staring intensely through the gate
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Reposted by Tom King
Reuters @reuters.com · 14/08/2026
Spain removes remains of 11th century kings from monastery as wildfire rages reut.rs/4zAAN4r
reut.rs
Spain removes remains of 11th century kings from monastery as wildfire rages
Spanish authorities on Thursday removed the remains of three kings who ruled the Aragón region in the 11th ​century from a monastery threatened by a wildfire.
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Reposted by Tom King
Jonty Wareing @jonty.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
I always suspected a UK government would eventually reverse course on "coding in public". So I've been backing up all government code. For six years. Today I finally generated a report on what has been deleted. Its much worse than I realised. github.com/uk-gov-mirro...
Deleted UK Government code repositories

Total deleted repositories: 1526
Organisations affected: 56

See RECENTLY_DELETED.md for the most recently deleted repositories.

Organisation	Deleted Repos	% Deleted
hmrc	195	9.8%
nhsdigital	169	33.8%
SkillsFundingAgency	154	22.7%
informatics-lab	154	100.0%
UKHomeOffice	101	7.5%
ministryofjustice	74	2.8%
ONSdigital	66	4.3%
moj-analytical-services	65	75.6%
ukwa	47	46.1%
dwp	46	6.7%
UKGovernmentBEIS	43	27.4%
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Side @sidegallery.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
🏙️ Looking back at Newcastle in 1971, we were struck by the blackened buildings. These Lambton Visual Aids slides catch the city mid-clean: some façades pale, others still carrying decades of coal smoke and industrial soot. How have you seen your city change over time?
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
People said the metascience conference in London last year showed signs of capture by vested interests. Not secret agendas but definitely incumbents trying to hold onto their position of influence
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Christopher Smith @christophersmith.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
I no longer use X/Twitter, so here I am to support @stianwestlake.bsky.social who has written well on @ukri.org 's strategy I believe his argument is correct: a science funder must fund both curiosity driven and applied research, and that will demand difficult choices 🧵 x.com/stianwestlak...
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
It is fairly odd to read, because the issue for 'organised scepticism' is the organisation. For a long time it has been unorganised, muddling through, but disorganisation has become a feature of barriers to scrutiny of data, methods etc. And I know if I wrote parochial navel gazing you would say so
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Reposted by Tom King
The Register @theregister.com · 29/07/2026
Word worm crawls into Copilot, spreads chaos
theregister.com
Word worm crawls into Copilot, spreads chaos
Researcher says months of coordination with Microsoft have yet to produce a robust mitigation
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Not surprised they could not match your gazelle-like progress up the hill
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Who had to bring her personal photographer with her?
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
That is the shadow cast over public journalism by big teacake
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
There is a PNQ following oral questions
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
How can you tell how many wifes' shoulders she was standing on?
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
I've found other things man, I don't need you anymore
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Reposted by Tom King
peterkwells @peterkwells.com · 14/07/2026
"‘UK politicians are a lot more easily impressed than American politicians. It costs a lot less to influence them,’ a former Global Counsel employee said" www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
lrb.co.uk
Peter Geoghegan and Lucas Amin · ‘This looks absolutely rubbish’: Palantir and the NHS
A decade ago Palantir was largely unknown in the UK. It now holds public contracts worth hundreds of millions of pounds...
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Reposted by Tom King
Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Wikimedia Foundation Challenges UK Online Safety Act Regulations wikimediafoundation.org/news/2026/07... update from @wikimediafoundation.org #Wikipedia #censorship #openweb #techpolicy
UPDATE — On 10 July 2026, the Wikimedia Foundation was notified by Ofcom that Wikipedia is not currently deemed a Category 1 service under the Online Safety Act (OSA). However, as part of that announcement, Ofcom informed the Foundation that Wikipedia will remain on a "watch list" of platforms that do not currently qualify as Category 1 services, but that could become Category 1 at any point in the future, should Ofcom choose to reassess its decision. 

While the Foundation is relieved by Ofcom's agreement that Wikipedia is not a Category 1 service, future Category 1 designation remains an existential threat to Wikipedia, open knowledge, and the privacy and safety of the global community of volunteers who create the information on the site. Without any clear and sustainable limits to categorization, Wikipedia remains vulnerable should Ofcom choose to reassess its decision. The Foundation will continue to advocate for safeguarding public-interest spaces like Wikipedia, asking for a careful re-scoping of the OSA and its Categorization Regulations.
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Hope you send this stuff to Dan to put in the next newsletter
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Reposted by Tom King
Royal Institution @rigb.org · 22/06/2026
How can AI improve statistics and take the pulse of our nation in new ways? Statistician @arthurturrell.bsky.social will illuminate how AI can be used in a considerate manner, for better data.
rigb.org
Statistics and stupidly smart AI
Statistician Arthur Turrell explores how we can separate bad data from good, how it impacts decisions, and w
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
There is the annual lecture in July which may make direction clearer and your constituency ought to be represented www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reception-...
eventbrite.co.uk
Reception with Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, Penny Young
Join Penny Young, Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, for a reception with stakeholders in the statistical system.
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
An oversight not to mention the Lievesley review (and many economists) thought the answer to this was to make response to the LFS compulsory. Do you agree with them?
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Lynton Lees @lyntonlees.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
By no means defunct but DSIT's 2023 Christmas jumpers (featuring Five Priority Technologies) to celebrate their inaugural year surely stand out as limited edition departmental merchandise for the ages... www.linkedin.com/posts/christ...
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Christmas Jumper from 2023.
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Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Tech secretary Liz Kendall has now also blogged on socials about the resignation of the UK's Information Commissioner, John Edwards www.linkedin.com/posts/liz-ke... #FOI #dataprotection #govcomms
Screenshot of Linkin post by Liz Kendall:

UPDATE ON THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER

▶️ John Edwards resigned from his post as the Information Commissioner and Chair of the Information Commission earlier today, following an independent investigation that upheld multiple allegations made against him.

▶️ I have seen evidence of the vulgar and highly sexualised language that was used in his interactions with his staff and am extremely concerned that he continues to describe these incidents as misplaced humour, including on his social media post announcing his resignation. Such conduct does not belong in the workplace, least of all exhibited by the leader of an organisation.

▶️ Multiple women shared testimony to the investigator on feeling offended, shocked and uncomfortable following interactions with Mr Edwards. I am deeply grateful to all who came forward to share their experiences as part of this investigation.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Didn't you know that crumpeting was a gateway to witchcraft?
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peterkwells @peterkwells.com · 10/06/2026
"Temporary governance changes at the ICO" ico.org.uk/about-the-ic...
ico.org.uk
Temporary governance changes at the ICO
The ICO has today made temporary changes to the governance around how the Information Commissioner’s responsibilities are carried out.
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Back then, the data was not routinely collected
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
People who don't know each other at all can find it really hard but I don't know what to say to them (and it is best not to provide alcohol at lunchtime)
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Tom King @acertaintom.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Do you have tips and activities to facilitate the networking sessions?
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