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Katy Vaughan

@drkatyvaughan.bsky.social
378 followers 353 following 43 posts

Senior Lecturer in Law. Member of CYTREC, VOX-Pol, Christchurch Call Advisory Network. Legal Ed, Counter-Terrorism, Human Rights, Digital Rights.

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Reposted by Katy Vaughan
Audrey Gagnon @audreygagnon.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Do you research online extremism at a university in Australia, NZ, UK, US, Canada or Ireland? Consider taking this survey which compare ethics review boards' and researcher perception and understanding of the risk of online extremism research. For more info: soton.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
soton.eu.qualtrics.com
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
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Reposted by Katy Vaughan
Digital Trust & Safety Partnership @dtspartnership.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Eleven certified bodies now handle content moderation disputes under Article 21 of the DSA. None charges the nominal user fee the mechanism was designed around. New in @techpolicypress.bsky.social from DTSP's David Sullivan, Farzaneh Badiei and Jonny Shipp.
techpolicy.press
The Overlooked Issue Undercutting EU’s Out-of-Court Dispute System
David Sullivan, Jonny Shipp, and Farzaneh Badiei examine the EU’s DSA dispute system and how fee structures may affect content moderation appeals.
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 21/09/2026
LMFAO -- Trump is holding an event at the White House right now but there's no audio because the press pool isn't there. The Newsmax host notes that this is an example of Trump's attacks on the press "backfiring just a little bit"
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Daphne Keller @daphnek.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Good write up of US abuse of the terrorist org designation process against an Italian provider of privacy-protective internet services. This should be a high priority issue for orgs in this space. It shines a light on legal and technical vulnerabilities to US pressure that will be exploited again.
article19.org
USA: Terrorism designation has global consequences for open internet and free expression - ARTICLE 19
The US sanctioning of infrastructure provider Autistici/Inventati violates international freedom of expression standards and sets a dangerous precedent.
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Electronic Frontier Foundation @eff.org · 27/08/2026
"The idea that an organization that is an alternative host—for email, websites, and other services—could be designated a terrorist organization simply for providing a service that a lot of people want…is scary," EFF’s @jillian.bsky.social told @reason.com.
reason.com
Rubio uses terrorism law to ban secure email service
The State Department doesn’t accuse Autistici/Inventati of doing anything more than providing surveillance-free email accounts. But that’s enough to declare it a terrorist organization.
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Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
The US government has been finding it pretty difficult to find far-left terrorists but has been asserting their existence in all fora, domestic and international So being able to pointed to the UK's ban is a gift: "Today’s action complements the UK’s proscription" home.treasury.gov/news/press-r...
home.treasury.gov
Treasury Takes Action Against Violent Far-Left Terrorist Networks
WASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action to counter the growing threat posed by violent far-left terrorist groups. OFAC sanctioned Autistici Inventati, an Italy-based entity that supplies specialized digital architecture, tools, and …
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Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Any coverage of the US designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist group should bear in mind the US Treasury's framing of it as part of "Action Against Violent Far-Left Terrorist Networks" This is a crusade that has been happening for a long time under the current Trump administration
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CourtWatch @courtwatchproject.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
📢 Are you signed up to CourtWatch yet? 💻Spaces are filling up fast for our mid and late September online training sessions - sign up today to be sent all the details! transformjustice.eo.page/courtwatchlo...
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Daphne Keller @daphnek.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Here are the categories of lawful but harmful speech, many of which teens have a First Amendment right to see without government interference, that Meta will suppress in order to appease the government.
“Age Inappropriate Content” refers to content that is generally perceived by U.S. parents,
youth experts, and teens as not being appropriate for Teen Users. For the purposes of this
Agreement, Age Inappropriate Content shall mean content prohibited by Meta’s
Community Standards concerning bullying and harassment; nudity and sexual activity;
child sexual exploitation, abuse, and nudity; sexually explicit language; suicide, self-harm
and eating disorders; graphic violence and incitements to violence; gambling; and restricted
substances or goods (including illegal drug use), as well as policies specifically focused on
protections for Teen Users, including those regarding high-risk viral challenges and risky
stunts.
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Society for Terrorism Research (STR) @socterres.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
We are happy to announce Dr. Haroro Ingram as a Keynote Speaker for the 18th Annual International Conference of the @SocTerRes.bsky.social! Join us at the Coogee Bay Hotel (Sydney, Australia) between December 09-11, 2026. Submit your abstract by August 31, 2026: indico.global/event/18285/
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Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Reforms introduced after the Southport attack include recording a new category of referral - “fascination with extreme violence or mass casualty attacks” It's now one of the largest types of concern, behind Islamist extremism and the extreme right wing, and growing fast inews.co.uk/news/pupils-...
inews.co.uk
The pupils planning attacks on UK schools - who aren't breaking the law
Despite a rise in school violence and students being flagged to authorities, teenagers feared to be plotting attacks are falling into a legal gap
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Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
The Supreme Court is to decide on the lawfulness of the Palestine Action ban The court has granted the group's co-founder permission to appeal the Court of Appeal ruling, which was in the government's favour It says the hearing will take place sometime between 1 October and 21 December
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David Greene @davidgreene.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Highly recommend reading Manushya Foundation's submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association for the UNGA report on “Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association Youth Activism Report: Gen-Z Activism and the Future of Civic Space”
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Graham Smith @cyberleagle.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
"It is now clear that the Act is not working as well as it should. We want to understand why." #OnlineSafetyAct committees.parliament.uk/work/9955/th...
committees.parliament.uk
Online Safety Act inquiry launched by Committee - Committees - UK Parliament
The Communications and Digital Committee has today launched a new inquiry into the implementation, enforcement and impact of the Online Safety Act. 
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Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
ChatGPT requests are starting to turn up as evidence in criminal trials and these ones are going to be hard to beat
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Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Neo-nazi who planned gun attacks sentenced after being caught in MI5 sting www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Essex neo-Nazi jailed for terror offence after MI5 sting
Alfie Coleman, 22, is sentenced at the Old Bailey after being found guilty in April.
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Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
A quarter of terror attacks in Britain over the past decade have targeted Muslims, but some have gone largely unnoticed because of delays formally declaring them terrorism Most jihadist attacks, by contrast, have been declared within hours of taking place inews.co.uk/news/uk-terr...
inews.co.uk
The UK terror attacks you don't hear about - and how they go under the radar
Some incidents are not being confirmed as terrorism for up to nine months, leaving the public unaware about the threat on British streets
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Ashton Kingdon @ashkingdon.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
On Route to My Fave Conference Ever #TASM (Terrorism and Social Media) Looking Forward to Presenting Some Research and Chairing Some Panels/Roundtables as Well as Catching up With So Many Friends 😍😍🥂🥂🥂🍷🍷🍻🍻 Also Excited to Run a Session at the VOX-Pol Summer School 💃💃💃💃
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VOX-Pol @vox-pol.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Presenting at #TASM in Swansea? Don't let your insights stop at the final slide! VOX-Pol wants to amplify your work. Turn your conference papers or in-progress research into an impactful blog post for our global network. Keep the momentum going. Visit the guidelines here voxpol.eu/how-to-submi...
voxpol.eu
VOX - Pol | Network of Excellence
The VOX-Pol Network of Excellence (NoE) is an academic research network focused on researching Violent Online Political Extremism.
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Katy Vaughan @drkatyvaughan.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
A fantastic piece of analysis on the new CA Palestine Action Ruling 👇
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Society for Terrorism Research (STR) @socterres.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
🧵 2/2 Join us at the Coogee Bay Hotel (Sydney, Australia) between December 09-11, 2026! Submit your abstract by August 31, 2026:
indico.global
18th Annual International Conference of the Society for Terrorism Research (STR): Continuity and Change in the Character of Terrorism
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Society for Terrorism Research (STR) @socterres.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
📣 Call for Abstracts Submissions are open for the 18th Annual International Conference of the Society for Terrorism Research (STR)! We are thrilled to be hosted by Dr. Emily Corner and Dr. Levi West from the Australian National University (ANU). 🧵 1/2
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Dr Fern Riddell @drfernriddell.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
But that is exactly how the suffragettes operated. With a nationwide organisation of sleeper cells of arsonists and bombers. I’m gratefully people have reached out and referenced my work today. I remain (I believe) the only academic expert on the terrorism of the suffragettes. Links below:
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Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
All eyes to the Court of Appeal in London at 11am for the hand down of a special five judge decision (in light of the importance of the issues at stake) on the lawfulness of the UK Govt's Palestine Action ban: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
independent.co.uk
High Court to rule on Palestine Action terror group ban
Three judges ruled in February that the then-home secretary Yvette Cooper’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action was unlawful
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David Mead @seethingmead.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Court of Appeal judgment in the Palestine Action judicial review - tomorrow morning 10:30
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Graham Smith @cyberleagle.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation @terrorwatchdog.bsky.social has been commissioned by the government to do an independent review of section 1 Terrorism Act 2006 (encouraging terrorism). terrorismlegislationreviewer.independent.gov.uk
terrorismlegislationreviewer.independent.gov.uk
Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation «
The Independent Reviewer�s role is to inform the public and political debate on anti-terrorism law in the United Kingdom, in particular through regular reports which are prepared for the Home Secretar...
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Gabriel Tan @finishedloading.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Judgment hand down for the Palestine Action appeal will be live-streamed from the Court of Appeal on 15 June at 11am.
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Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Police are monitoring the potential for disorder sparked by the murder of Henry Nowak, which has been seized upon by the far right A protest has been called in Southampton tonight and the situation is being tracked by a unit that decides if to trigger a national response inews.co.uk/news/police-...
inews.co.uk
Police tracking British far-right agitators over Nowak death riot fears
The murder of Henry Nowak is being treated by police as a 'trigger incident' that has the potential to spark disorder and hate crime
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Global Project Against Hate and Extremism @globalextremism.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
GPAHE is seeking an External Affairs and Advocacy Lead to help strengthen public engagement, shape advocacy strategy, and expand policy impact. This role will connect research, partnerships, and advocacy efforts to growing public awareness of hate, extremism, and threats to democracy. Apply here:
globalextremism.org
External Affairs and Advocacy Lead
The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) is seeking an External Affairs and Advocacy Lead to join our growing team. This role will align messaging, advocacy, and engagement efforts so tha...
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Electronic Frontier Foundation @eff.org · 16/05/2026
You ever start browsing the internet and think, "Yeah, I'd love if I had to upload my ID to check out this cool new site." We didn't think so. EFF is fighting back against bogus age verification laws across the globe. You can support our fight today: eff.org/spring
supporters.eff.org
Claw Back Your Privacy
Support free expression and fight the mass surveillance used for control and intimidation.
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Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Alina Burns, 19, has been sentenced to 15-and-a-half years in prison with an extended 4-year licence period after being found as a dangerous offender The judge said the sentence was necessary for public protection due to both the attack and "disturbing" evidence of Burns' current mindset in prison
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VOX-Pol @vox-pol.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
TASM 2026 is just around the corner! As the leading international conference on extremist use of online platforms; keynote presentations from leading experts and a selection of breakout sessions featuring 100+ speakers. 📅 16-18 June 📍Swansea University Visit tasmconf.com to secure your pass today!
tasmconf.com
TASM Conference 2026
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Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
A new far-right terror attack in the UK has been confirmed in court. Alina Burns, then 18, tried to behead an Iranian refugee who was standing outside a barber's shop in Bristol with an axe The attack took place on 2 August 2025 but a judge did not rule on 'terrorism connection' until today
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Dr William Allchorn @willallchorn.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
“This is a long cry from Robinson’s early EDL days. Today, the British far-right scene has become a professional operation: backed by foreign funders, circulating chronic synthetic content on social media, and amplified by supporters in public office.” www.csohate.org/2026/05/12/u...
csohate.org
London's 'Unite the Kingdom' Rally and the Transatlantic Far-Right Playbook
Tommy Robinson's London rally is not an isolated protest but the product of coordinated transatlantic far-right networks, disinformation, and political alliances.
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Katy Vaughan @drkatyvaughan.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Whilst expected, the harsh reality of the #Senedd Election Results are heartbreaking for some of us in Wales today. Community is deep rooted in Welsh culture. 💔💔💔
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Will Hayward - Wales Journo @willhaycardiff.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
On a personal level, I feel sorry for Eluned Morgan. It was a big deal that she was the first woman to be First Minister. Say what you want about her, but to suggest the Labour result is just down to her is wrong.
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Alan Greene @alangreene.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
I get the feeling that a lot of people go to the polls in the UK thinking that regardless of who they vote for, things are going to get worse. So you're voting for the party that will either blow it up or make it worse more slowly. And I think that's a very dangerous place for a democracy to be in.
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RTÉ News @news.rte.ie · 05/05/2026
Media regulator Coimisiún na Meán has opened investigations into Meta relating to the recommender systems that promote content on Facebook and Instagram
rte.ie
Media regulator to probe Meta over recommender systems
Media regulator Coimisiún na Meán has opened investigations into Meta relating to the recommender systems that promote content on Facebook and Instagram.
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Global Network Initiative @thegni.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
GNI’s Q1 newsletter is out. We condemn the postponement of #RightsCon2026 and stand in solidarity with the global digital rights community. Also in this edition: AI governance (MAP-AI), WSIS+20, cybercrime convention, and policy engagement across regions. mailchi.mp/globalnetwor...
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Electronic Frontier Foundation @eff.org · 05/05/2026
EFF joins 18 organizations in writing a letter to UK policymakers urging them to address the root causes of online harm—rather than undermining the open web through blunt restrictions www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...
eff.org
EFF and 18 Organizations Urge UK Policymakers to Prioritize
EFF joins 18 organizations in writing a letter to UK policymakers urging them to address the root causes of online harm—rather than undermining the open web through blunt restrictions.
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Telegraph data editor Ben Butcher contrasts net migration at 230k (ons projection) and at 100k (current trajectory). Should add third option - accelerate population decline by zero/ net emigration - which is policy of Reform, Restore at massive scale & maybe Cons www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04...
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Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
The absurdity of UK counter terrorism policy laid bare. A mess of historic groups that Govt can't decide whether to remove, strict liability offences denying police discretion and an inappropriate application of counter terrorism law to direct action protest:
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Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Wrote this for the @bigissue.com about how Labour's, as with previous governments, focus on anti-asylum policies isn't just harmful for those seeking safety, but is also a diabolical waste of money which could be used to help support people in the UK. www.bigissue.com/opinion/labo...
bigissue.com
Labour’s hostile asylum policies are a dangerous waste of money
In the last decade the UK will have paid France more than £1 billion to stop channel crossings. We know these policies don’t work.
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JUSTICE @justicehq.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
We’re recruiting for 3 paid internships, offering hands-on experience working in our policy team on important law reform, research and drafting work. 📅 Two 6-month roles & one 3-month role 📍 UK wide Read more & apply: justice.org.uk/about-us/car...
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The Empty City @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
This is the best account to follow for reports on the Palestine Action case. @lizziedearden.bsky.social’s stuff on this has been outstanding.
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Electronic Frontier Foundation @eff.org · 26/04/2026
Whether you’re an admin in an existing Signal group chat, or starting a new one up fresh, here are some tips to doing so as safely as possible. ssd.eff.org/module/crea...
ssd.eff.org
Creating and Managing Signal Groups
Signal is one of the best encrypted chat apps for communicating online because it focuses on usability and simplicity, while still retaining strong default settings that protect privacy. Because of this, it is often used in community organizing and activist groups for street protest organizing, neighborhood mutual aid, strike and...
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Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Authentic Iranian political prisoners are being packaged into AI-enhanced collages and unverified execution claims and fed into a propaganda noise machine. The Iranian state is the only beneficiary, writes Mahsa Alimardani.
techpolicy.press
The Real Iranian Women Protesters Trump Made Look Synthetic
Political prisoners are packaged into AI-enhanced collages and unverified execution claims. The Iranian state is the only beneficiary, writes Mahsa Alimardani.
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NetBlocks @netblocks.org · 21/04/2026
📵 The #Iran internet blackout is now in its 53rd day after 1248 hours of disconnection from global networks. As authorities work to develop tiered access for select users and businesses, the human impacts and economic harms of this digital censorship measure continue to spiral.
Graph from NetBlocks showing network connectivity in Iran from 24 February 2026 to 21 April 2026. The y-axis represents normalized connectivity, ranging from 0% to 100%, and the x-axis represents the dates. The green line representing Iran's connectivity is high through the initial time period, with a sharp drop on the morning of 28 February. The continued drop in connectivity aligns with a nation-scale internet blackout imposed by authorities after joint military strikes by the US and Israel. A brief restoration was observed on 18 March. The minimum and current connectivity levels are indicated as 1% and 1%, respectively. The chart has a dark background with a red horizontal arrow labeled 'SHUTDOWN' indicating the disruption period, and the NetBlocks logo in the lower left corner with the Mapping Internet Freedom slogan.
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Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
In December, a European court handed down a ruling that could have major unintended consequences on online speech, writes Daphne Keller, director of platform regulation at Stanford Law School's Program in Law, Science & Technology.
buff.ly
In Russmedia Ruling, the GDPR Displaces Europe's Rules for Online Speech
The ruling shows the serious problems that can arise when European courts rely solely on the GDPR, writes Daphne Keller.
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