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Daniella Lock

@daniellalock.bsky.social
721 followers 503 following 121 posts

lecturer in law, KCL researching UK executive power, national security, political economy and human rights www.kcl.ac.uk/people/daniella-lock

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Daniella Lock @daniellalock.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-f...
democracyforsale.substack.com
Revealed: Five police forces to drop Palantir surveillance tool
Exclusive: Palantir's UK policing ambitions take a hit as East Midlands forces end their involvement in a controversial data pilot.
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London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · 18/09/2026
‘Palantir was willing to spend more on securing political access than almost all of its British and Continental competitors. It made donations to London think tanks and hosted parties at Davos.’ @petergeoghegan.bsky.social and @lucasamin.bsky.social, from July: 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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Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
MI5 admits its evidence was based on lies, in case concerning neo-Nazi informant who attacked his partner www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
MI5 accepts it gave evidence based on lies in neo-Nazi spy case
It is the first time MI5 has confirmed the BBC's revelation that it gave evidence based on lies in court while defending the violent informant.
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 14/09/2026
Coming up this week 🔔 It's the first of a series of townhall events delivered by the #SafetyNotSurveillance coalition. Join us in London to explore how AI and ‘crime-predicting’ technologies are currently being used by the Met. 🗓️ Thurs 17 September 🕕 6-9pm 📍The Liberation Centre Register now ⬇️
openrightsgroup.org
Safety Not Surveillance London Townhall
Join the #SafetyNotSurveillance coalition in London as we explore how AI and ‘crime-predicting’ technologies are currently being used by the Met, the harms and risks of their continues roll out, and w...
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Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 14/08/2026
This is the coverage of Arday **just in the Telegraph** in the UK. This is only the first four pages of results, just in one outlet.
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Jason Arday found dead
2 hours ago — Mr Arday was found •unresponsive• at an address in Battersea. south London. on Froy
afternoon. He was uter pronounced dead at the scene. A Read rnore
Jason Arday says he was an illiterate, mute child. His .
6 hours ago — Jason Arday says he was an i&erate. mute child. Cambridge's youngest-ever black
professor in 2023. Arday attended from the age of four to 11
r— mm-WI 3
A PhD is no longer a sign of brilliance — take it from Dr Arday
1 day aeo — Juon Arday resigns from the Unwersity of Cambrdge after The Telegraph reports he had
falseb• claimed to have pubåshed a book
We are all Jason Arday now
S days ago — Jason Arday resons from the University of Cambridge after The Telegraph reports he had
falsew cGimed to have published a book Aug 7.2028. Read more
Cambridge professor claimed he was on Seven Up..
2 Aug 2026 — He was not bom until 1985. Prof Arday is at the centre of a row about academk
plagiarism after The Tekgragh that he had been accused
The Jason Arday 'memoir' that now appears to be more .
7 days ago — Instead of tales of triumph over adversity. the now-fomer Cambridge professors
autob"qraphy is a case study in self-rnythobgising,
Arday failed to mention 'months-long coma' in autobiography
8 days ago — Jason Arday toz publishers he was k•ft a three-month coma fohwhg a car gash. but
never wrote about the ordeal his memoirs_
Jason Arday is living proof that you reap what you sow
6 Aug 2028 — The Cambridge professor feed plagiarism alegations and made fantastical clä'ns about
his life. so what did he expect woUz happen? Read rmre
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Arday 'accused student of Miite privilege' after she
4 days ago — Forrner Cambrdge professor alleged* htplied that Roehamptm student was racist after
cornplaint about essay SOOre.
Jason Arday is rnerely a symptom of the Leffs corruption
Aug 2026 — Lab-curs on school standards is on the same toxic assumptions that created his
academic career.
Cambridge hired Arday after 'listening to black stu…
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Daniella Lock @daniellalock.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
'In 2024 the company paid just £2.1m in UK corporation tax, despite declaring profits of over £25m, giving an effective tax rate of just over 8%' www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
Palantir paid just £2m corporation tax in UK in 2024 despite lucrative public sector contracts
Software group benefits from global systems and accounting practices ‘that enable tax to be shirked’, says union boss
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London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · 02/08/2026
‘Palantir’s market capitalisation has risen to $320 billion, 150 times earnings. The 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵 has speculated that “Palantir might be the most overvalued firm of all time.”’ @petergeoghegan.bsky.social and @lucasamin.bsky.social on Palantir’s NHS contract. 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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Alan Greene @alangreene.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
This was carried out before Palestine Action was proscribed. Will judges be applying a similar approach to the actions of, for example, Just Stop Oil or Extinction Rebellion? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Palestine Action activists face being sentenced as terrorists over bank damage
Exclusive: Judge intends to consider ‘terrorist connection’ after convicting five for damage to Barclays in Burnley
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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
'As can be seen from the OPEN gists of these [2006] authorisations, none of them identifies that Mr K is a journalist, nor that the data sought will reveal journalistic sources, nor that any heightened test applies as a consequence of these things.' investigatorypowerstribunal.org.uk/judgement/bb...
investigatorypowerstribunal.org.uk
BBC & Kearney and Moore v PSNI and Others - The Investigatory Powers Tribunal
BBC & Kearney and Moore v PSNI and Others - The Investigatory Powers Tribunal
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Netpol @netpol.org · 22/07/2026
Barristers and solicitors come together tonight to organise an event in solidarity with Rajiv Menon, the defence lawyer who faces contempt of court charges for daring to mention that juries are independent when speaking for a Palestine Action client. 🕠 Starts 5.30 us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Descent into Authoritarianism? Undermining the role of defence lawyers: the Rajiv Menon KC case
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The National @scotnational.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
The new Health Secretary took more than £165,000 from donors linked with the private healthcare sector, it has emerged
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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
'Sir John’s conclusions make stark reading. His report outlines a series of failings both individually and organisationally within MI5 that led to false evidence being included in its witness statements.' questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
questions-statements.parliament.uk
Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.
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Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
“I investigated Palantir’s foothold in the British state – and what I found should worry us all” @petergeoghegan.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
I investigated Palantir’s foothold in the British state – and what I found should worry us all | Peter Geoghegan
Paid-for political access and threadbare regulations have helped to embed the US tech firm in the NHS – and beyond. But there is a way to free ourselves, says Peter Geoghegan of Democracy for Sale
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Private Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
For all its professed commitment to “sovereign” tech capability, the UK government is remarkably ready to waive the rules to accommodate US data company Palantir. 🧵1/4
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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
'A statement from the Hillsborough Law campaign confirmed: "The Government has now conceded that there will be no carve-outs, no exemptions for security services or anyone else...' But not clear if amendments will be made in Commons or Lords - not published as of now.
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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
The National Security (State Threats) Act is now law: www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/2...
legislation.gov.uk
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Transition Security Project @transitionsec.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
“The findings cast doubt on claims by Starmer and his chancellor, Rachel Reeves, that they are boosting British jobs by reallocating large chunks of government spending to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).” Our new analysis in @theguardian.com 👇 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Infrastructure cuts to pay for defence will cost UK 10,000 jobs, analysis shows
Exclusive: Findings cast doubt on Starmer claims that reallocation of funds to MoD will boost British jobs
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Verfassungsblog @verfassungsblog.de · 06/07/2026
In the Palestine Action case, the defendants broke into an Israeli defence company in the UK, causing millions in damage. FREDERICK ATTENBOROUGH explains how the judge, rather than a jury, declared their actions to be terrorist acts. verfassungsblog.de/palestine-ac...
The defendants did not stand trial for terrorism offences, and the jury was not asked to determine whether they had committed such offences.
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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
All MPs' outside earnings by party: The Conservatives come out top at 66% of total earnings from second jobs, while Reform (with just eight MPs) account for 20%, and Labour (with 400+) just 7%. But taking into account their size, Reform has by far the highest outside earnings per MP of any party.
Table:

Party	MPs	Seat share	Earnings share	Index relative to party size (earnings ÷ seats)	Approx. avg. per MP
Reform UK	8	1.2%	20%	16×	£275,000
Conservative	117	18%	66%	3.7×	£62,000
Labour	403	62%	7%	0.1×	£1,900
Other parties*	122	18.8%	7%	0.4×	£6,300
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Daniella Lock @daniellalock.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
More NHS money for big pharma? This deal is baffling which is presumably why the government is implementing it in such an undemocratic way. Starmer’s goodbye gift to Britain: a US pharma deal that could be more lethal than Covid | Aditya Chakrabortty www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Starmer’s goodbye gift to Britain: a US pharma deal that could be more lethal than Covid | Aditya Chakrabortty
The deal on medicine imports will cost the NHS billions and take funding away from doctors, nurses, cancer scans and the rest, says Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 02/07/2026
What is life after Palantir? Join our special event on how the UK can build back control over our digital infrastructure, data and tech with open source. Hear from @jim.killock.org.uk, @megafreda.eurosky.social and Jordan Maris discuss Digital Sovereignty. 🗓️ 15 July 🕧️ 6-8pm BST 💻️ Online ⬇️ Sign up
openrightsgroup.org
From Digital Dependence to Digital Sovereignty
The UK’s over reliance on a small number of foreign technology companies is putting our economy, security and democracy at risk.
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Daniella Lock @daniellalock.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
'Billions that could be spent on ... improving our hospital care are set to be siphoned off by corporate giants in the pharma industry' US-UK drug deal could result in 229,000 excess deaths in England, analysis suggests www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
US-UK drug deal could result in 229,000 excess deaths in England, analysis suggests
Analysis reveals extent of impact on NHS of placating Donald Trump over price of British medicine exports
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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Summary of the Home Office Impact Assessment for Asylum Bill is hilarious (if it weren't so depressing). HO analysts say "basically no evidence to suggest *any* of these policies will work *even on their own terms*" (but will probably cost money). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a43e1...
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Jacobin @jacobinmag.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Defenders of the private equity industry cast it as a bold force driving economic dynamism. But its record of destroying public services is no accident: private equity is essentially an elite project to profit from asset-stripping.
jacobin.com
The Damage Caused by Private Equity Is No Accident
Defenders of the private equity industry cast it as a bold force driving economic dynamism. But its record of destroying public services is no accident: private equity is essentially an elite project to profit from asset-stripping.
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Laleh Khalili @lalehkhalili.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
One of our alumni actually made this graph to illustrate that Exeter's financial position is totally solid:
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Abby Innes @abbyinnes.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
PE insists it uses debt leverage ’responsibly’, by which they mean a high rate of return for investors. But if you asset strip public services, raise prices for goods and services and minimise investment it’s a dead end - you kill the real economy in the process. www.theguardian.com/business/ng-...
theguardian.com
Good for business – or profit at any cost? The controversial side of private equity – a visual explainer
The use of private equity in essential services is attracting scrutiny. Here we examine some of its more contentious elements
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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
And the Constitution Committee has reported on the Bill: publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5902/ld...
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Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) @corporateeurope.org · 23/06/2026
🚨 This is what corporate capture looks like While business interests already have unprecedented access, tech CEO's are now calling for direct access to Ursula von der Leyen. Their demand? To speed up the Commission's radical deregulation agenda. 👉 corporateeurope.org/en/2026/04/w...
politico.eu
European tech CEOs want direct line to craft EU policy
CEOs of Airbus, ASML, Ericsson and others have von der Leyen’s attention to push for deregulation, consolidation.
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Daniella Lock @daniellalock.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
This new ruling sets out a bizarre episode where Government Legal Department reps entered the safe of a Special Advocate without their permission on national security grounds, in the lead up to a hearing concerning a Guantanamo detainee accusing the UK gov of complicity in torture.
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Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
The EWCA's Ammori decision marks a dismal low in the courts' scrutiny of national security issues. In a new post on @verfassungsblog.de, @alangreene.bsky.social, @daniellalock.bsky.social and I examine the depressing tricks by which rights protections disappear: verfassungsblog.de/palestine-ac...
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Daniella Lock @daniellalock.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Here are some thoughts on the new Court of Appeal Palestine Action ruling, written with @alangreene.bsky.social and @colinmurray.bsky.social for @verfassungsblog.de verfassungsblog.de/palestine-ac...
Quote from the blog: 'The Court creates an impression of judicial scrutiny, but one so lacking in substance as to embolden even far more reaching uses of executive powers in the future'
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Alan Greene @alangreene.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Myself, @daniellalock.bsky.social, and @colinmurray.bsky.social on the Court of Appeal's Palestine Action judgment. verfassungsblog.de/palestine-ac...
verfassungsblog.de
The Judiciary Exits the Scene
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Hettie O’Brien @hettieobrien.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Some of the most exciting thinking about political economy in Britain has come out of PERC. Its closure is a huge loss and an indictment of the state of UK academia www.goldperc.uk/project_post...
goldperc.uk
Looking back on PERC - Political Economy Research Centre
The Political Economy Research Centre is to close formally this summer. Here, founding Director, Will Davies, reflects on its twelve years of activity. It took two or three years before the causes, ef...
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Paolo Sandro @paolosandro.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Excellent indeed.
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Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 08/06/2026
FT editorial board argues in favour of reducing dependencies from US suppliers. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Britain’s questionable reliance on Palantir
giftarticle.ft.com
Britain’s questionable reliance on Palantir
Government should use the best technology for any task, but be wary of ‘lock-ins’
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Holli Sargeant @hollisargeant.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
“Remember that all models are wrong; the practical question is how wrong they have to be to not be useful.” Usually treated as a technical question, in my new article in the Modern Law Review, I argue it is also a legal one. doi.org/10.1111/1468...
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Daniella Lock @daniellalock.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
An excellent new report from the Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee is just out. It includes a case study on Palantir and describes the company's increasing presence within the UK state as an 'unacceptable point of weakness' committees.parliament.uk/publications...
Paragraphs 93 and 94 of the Committee's conclusions on Palantir.
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The Constitution Society @consoc.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
⏰ ⏰ ⏰ There's one week left to apply for our (paid) summer research fellowship examining the position of protest within the UK Constitution. Full details at: consoc.org.uk/protest-fell... Please share widely and consider applying, but don't leave it too much longer! ⏰ ⏰ ⏰
consoc.org.uk
Fellowship on Protest and the Constitution: Apply Now - The Constitution Society
The Constitution Society invites applications for a three‑month Fellowship exploring the position of protest in the UK constitution.
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Netpol @netpol.org · 17/05/2026
UN Special Rapporteur Gina Romero last week said of Labour's new Crime and Policing Act: “criminalisation of face coverings is especially problematic amidst intensified surveillance, as anonymity is often essential to protect privacy and prevent chilling effects” www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
Correct! It’s techfascist favourite, Palantir. We’ve found a revolving door of UK officials who’ve gone from the highest levels of government into Peter Thiel’s firm. Transparency experts describe it as an ‘acute risk’ for corruption www.thenerve.news/p/palantir-r...
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Daniella Lock @daniellalock.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
“We don’t need £100m AI,” a source said. “We would like the more basic systems we already have to work properly" Met police in talks to buy Palantir AI tech for use in criminal investigations www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Met police in talks to buy Palantir AI tech for use in criminal investigations
Exclusive: Internal concerns over allowing US firm linked to ICE and Israeli military to process highly sensitive data
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Daniella Lock @daniellalock.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Not a moment too soon, @openrightsgroup.org's new report just out on the UK's irrational overreliance on US tech to run our most basic public services. It contains lots of recommendations for freeing our most intimate infrastructure from companies like Palantir and Amazon.
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Daniella Lock @daniellalock.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
'Investors have played extravagant games with our vital infrastructure, while regulators have been cut back...This all reflects a darker turn towards an economy where debt-driven speculation has become one of the most dominant routes to building wealth' www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Want to know capitalism’s endgame? Just look at private equity – it has captured our everyday lives | Hettie O'Brien
These companies now own everything from nurseries to care homes, squeezing vital services for profit while we foot the bill, says Hettie O’Brien, author of The Asset Class: How Private Equity Turned C...
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Common Wealth @cmmonwealth.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
“The govt has ruled out [nationalising] water, citing an est. £90bn cost. Campaigners point out this is based on water industry analysis ... a report by Common Wealth last year put the real cost at ‘close to zero’.” Our report by @ewanmg.bsky.social in @bigissue.com www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
bigissue.com
Water bills are rising and thousands are planning not to pay
The Take Back Water campaign has seen thousands of people vow they will not pay their water bill until the government returns water to public ownership.
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Daniella Lock @daniellalock.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Prof Michael Levi...said...AI is a potentially valuable technology to tackle financial crimes. But he said it was “a relevant question as to whether Palantir’s owners might tipoff their friends about methodologies” shorturl.at/apefc
theguardian.com
Palantir extends reach into British state as it gets access to sensitive FCA data
Exclusive: Allowing US tech firm to analyse intelligence in name of tackling fraud raises fresh concerns over privacy
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Daniella Lock @daniellalock.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
An FOI clampdown would be the perfect signal to officials that they will be even less accountable, and even more able to act for private rather than public interests. UK considers FOI clampdown as requests soar - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
giftarticle.ft.com
UK considers FOI clampdown as requests soar
Moves to tighten system likely to be met with resistance from campaigners
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THE NERVE @thenerve.news · 19/03/2026
NEW Is Palantir in your pension? Investigation reveals UK organisations – including some of Britain’s biggest retirement providers – had investments in Silicon Valley’s controversial technology company of more than £5bn at the end of 2025 @carolecadwalla.bsky.social and Ian Tucker report 1/🧵
Graphic including picture of Peter Thiel and Keir Starmer with Palantir CEO Alex Karp and the Nerve logo, with values of shareholdings in Palantir held by major UK institutions at the end of 2025, including Legal and General (£1.9bn), Barclays (£1.6bn), Marshall Wace (£303.3m) and Aviva (£255.5m)
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Daniella Lock @daniellalock.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Revealed: UK’s multibillion AI drive is built on ‘phantom investments’ www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
Revealed: UK’s multibillion AI drive is built on ‘phantom investments’
Exclusive: Rented datacentres and unrealised supercomputer site raise questions for Starmer’s push to ‘mainline AI into veins of economy’
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Daniella Lock @daniellalock.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
A 'closed' oversight report on a seismic issue such as the SIA's use of cloud technologies (i.e relying on AWS' cloud for our most security-sensitive data) is of limited value for the public. No reason has yet been given why the whole thing -including info on safeguards - should be closed.
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