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Holger Hestermeyer

@hhesterm.bsky.social
20K followers 4K following 3.7K posts

Professor of Int’l & EU Law, Diplomatic Academy Vienna. Past: Prof., founding Director CIGAD at King's College London, specialist adviser House of Lords EU Select Committee, Référendaire CJEU

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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 22h
Do you have a source for that? I am dismayed.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
I don't feel comfortable with the silicon valley type economy in which you become fabulously rich of products that don't make money. Do you think the bubble will burst before societal harm gets too grave?
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The curious thing about the whole development for now is that while you are absolutely right, the statement still is correct: the AI boom has enriched the AI CEOs at a fabulous rate. Even though the firms make no money.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Does the definition of zionism by necessity include the notion that others cannot live free with equal rights in the Jewish homeland? I know it's very much like a lawyer to push this into the territory of definitions, but isn't it all a question of the definition of zionism?
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
AI comes with hypothetical risks. It also comes with actual grave environmental costs and societal harms right now. It creates massive wealth for a select group of people. On the plus side it enables inventions, some of them very helpful. /7
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Why am I so upset that this was not made explicit in @thedailyshow.com ? Because our choice is not "AI carries a risk we'll all die, but there's a chance of a utopia, which you might philosophically like or not". What is it? /6
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The utopia is not remotely what we are heading for. None of the people proclaiming it are working towards it. They are working towards personal wealth. The utopia that noone needs to work and everyone is in an age of abundance is, at the very best, a lie they tell themselves. /5
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The reality is that the wealth goes to a very limited group of people. The Musks, the Zuckerbergs, the Altmans. None of them have ever shown any interest in sharing wealth. Not even if they have a trillion. Instead, they invest hundred of millions to prevent fair taxation. /4
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The very premise is a lie. The reality is this: jobs will get cut. Who will make the money? AI company through licensing their product. So how, I ask you, does this lead to a universal high income? Will the AI companies dish it out? The AI barons? The US state? NONE of this is realistic /3
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
For a good part of the show they discuss the utopia that the AI barons are selling us: that jobs will no longer be necessary, that we'll live in an age and a time of plenty and everyone has a high income. Stewart reasonably argues that that is not human. But also: it is utterly besides the point /2
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The OpenAI whistle blower was on @thedailyshow.com . And while it is absolutely worth a watch, I am angered and dismayed a the naivety of both Coxon and Stewart. Let me explain /1 youtu.be/lnLDjXy2kRA?...
youtu.be
Jacob Coxon On Witnessing the Existential Threat of AI from the Inside | The Daily Show
YouTube video by The Daily Show
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
More on the "refunds" - 71% of which will go to battleground states. www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
reuters.com
Trump's $500 Obamacare 'rebate' checks land in prime political battlegrounds
President Donald Trump's administration is sending $500 payments to nearly 1 million Americans this week, in a move that strategists say could potentially influence races that may ​determine whether h...
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Absolutely horrifying pre-midterm election news.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
So... can they resubmit very similar maps saying they weren't drawn to favour Latinos, they were drawn to favour democrats?
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
The combination of 1) employees highlighting the risks 2) the safety officer leaving and 3) the CEO saying "suck it up, you'll get hurt, but hey, there are upsides" seems like a textbook example of why punitive damages exist in the US system. Let's see...
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Further pursuing the punitive damages angle: the CEO of OpenAI saying that he is totally fine with bad things happening to others for the benefits of AI might be a relevant statement in any attempt to get punitive damages disciplining OpenAI www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
Accept ‘bad things’ in return for benefits of AI, says Sam Altman
Boss of OpenAI calls for a regulatory light touch because of the ‘good stuff’ the technology can deliver
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
The @studyofparl.bsky.social is on bsky. It is a wonderful community of scholars and practitioners. I have been a member for years and my only regret is that I cannot always attend their conferences. Do follow them, though.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Back in 2025 Merz called for Germans to create a new unity together. He has made much progress in that direction. I am not sure that was the plan...
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
The sheer number of insiders pointing out that security culture at AI companies is broken combined with the number of incidents would, usually, translate into enormos punitive damages awards. Yet, so far, nothing www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
OpenAI safety leader quits, warning AI company’s culture is ‘broken’
David Robinson joins other insiders in urging industry to take more care over rapidly developing technology
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I think we probably agree on this and the only problem is my inadequate wording - what I mean is of English were as meaningless a supposedly ethnical category as ‘white Caucasian’ on us form. But it isn’t.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
A fascinating new development in us federalism. Unclear whether it will survive constitutional challenges
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
I'm glad they have different standards for law profs...
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Soccer is a crazy profession. Klopp had two days to train with a new team before his first match. And there seems to be some disappointment that in those two days he did not manage to raise the German game to Spanish levels.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
This is such a tough one. I would add Babylon Berlin and probably some more if I‘d think about it.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The way the US usually deals with unsafe products are punitive damages. At some point, unsafe AI products should be sued for hundreds of billions if they repeatedly do things like break into systems.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
All nationalities are, to some extent, invented. The idea of ethnic purity of a nation is an insane one based on historic ignorance, biological pseudo-science and usually resulting in catastrophy.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The number of US politicians who simply say that they should get money from other countries is frightening. The reality is, of course, that other countries opposed Trump’s war, know we will never return to something as good as the JCPOA and already have to pay higher prices thanks to you…
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Reposted by Holger Hestermeyer
Asymmetrical Haircuts @asymmetricalh.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄! New Episode in our Universal Jurisdiction series out tomorrow! @astridcoracini.bsky.social sits down with Janet and Steph to discuss the details of a recent Austrian trial.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The Greenland agreement www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-st...
whitehouse.gov
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK TOGETHER WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF GREENLAND
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK TOGETHER WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
In theory that could be a legal-sounding argument, but then it was the House of Stuart cocreating, and the crown granting a monopoly to the premier slave trading outlet. So it is mostly just historical ignorance.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
And with their evaluation of the use of ICE....
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
It is time for US courts to question presidential determinations of national security. Otherwise you let Trump build ballrooms in violation of the law claiming they‘re military installations and triumphal arches claiming they‘re for drones. All of this is so stupid it is laughable.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I fear BRICS approaches this as a matter of power, not justice. Putin has no interest in saving the ICC.
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Reposted by Holger Hestermeyer
Iva Vukušić @vukusiciva.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
More reports announcing it: www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/...
aljazeera.com
Trump administration readies sweeping sanctions against ICC, reports say
Measures targeting the court itself could disrupt payments, IT services and investigations.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
When the international financial system is used as a weapon to enable war crimes, it is not in good shape.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Also difficult to do in coalition situations, as personalities are part of the package.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Ich wünschte ich könnte Ihre Leidenschaft momentan teilen.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
The President of Austria illustrating the difficulties Austria will have to deal with as a member of the UNSC. Challenging is an understatement.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
The use of national security in the US is reminiscent of Notverordnungen under Art. 48 of the Weimar Constitution. As long as SCOTUS leaves the factual determination of whether there is a national security situation to Potus, there's little hope things will improve.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Absolutely - I think one of the nightmares for the EU to navigate is that they do want a close relationship, would want to cooperate with people like Burnham, but continue to see stances made around ripping up everything. Treacherous waters.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
I agree - particularly in the mostly intergovernmental branches. And an exemption from /inclusion in make Europe policies (?)
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Kenneth describes what associate membership might mean…
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
On the margins yes, for varying reasons. Eg conformity assessment: a limited risk CAN organisations will achieve a similar role as U.K. ones, risking eu loss of control over checking its own rules /2
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
My guess: on the basics, no. A lot of these are dictated by how the eu works. Eg free movement of goods requires rule alignment and an institutional backbone. /1
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
I don‘t think that’s correct. The 90/180 rule applies to Canada BUT Canada has agreements with some member states that seem to be grandfathered and provide for different provisions (and that the U.K. didn‚t have).
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I actually think this is true: underpaid journalists that have to create clicks end up having to constantly exaggerate drama to earn a living.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
The only somewhat surprising thing is that he hates migrants. Sir, your own football squad are more than 50% migrants. And yes, of course, you don’t mean those. But by far far far most migrants are legal and working.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
How is this news? billionaire oil person says uk needs to drill more and tax less, though, of course, he‘s actually in Monaco. And he would do more in the uk if the state subsidised him more. Dear BBC, that‘s like me saying the uk‘s problem is underpaid law profs. www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Billionaire Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe says he has lost confidence in UK
Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe tells the BBC he thinks the country is "on the slide" and calls for more investment in the North Sea.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
And... isn‘t he right?
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
One of the most annoying things about populism is that pointing out contradictions doesn‘t do a thing to change anyone‘s mind on anything
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