iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

A terrific line up of talks at Sussex Digital Humanities Lab today, part of PhD symposium convened by @sandy yu @tatiana makhoul @sara al sherif / full programme here www.canva.com/design/DAHL5... kicking off with @jim killock @openrightsgroup.org on digital sovereignty - tech giants & giant slayers

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

terrific & inspiring stuff in Graphic Justice stream, now to IT & Cyberspace, kicking off with Lisa Flower's work on 'Virtual reality and the courtroom'. Asking: "which key sociological issues do we need to consider when VR merges with the courtroom?" #slsa2026

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

a great first day at #slsa2026 in the legal borderlands stream, and gender/sexuality & law. Today I'm hopping into Graphic Justice, looking forward to hearing about @lawbore.bsky.social's latest work w. Rachel Warner "Designing with Emotion in Mind: Visual Legal Tools for Accessing Justice"

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

pleased to be at #slsa2026 , this year on home turf. Huge credit to all my colleagues in Sussex law dept organising this event. I'll be presenting in 2 streams this pm. In Legal Borderlands w. Daniel Clark, on open justice, and on the 'gendered chilling effect' in the Gender & Sexuality stream

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Our collective and individual tributes to @rmwilliams.bsky.social , great friend and supporter of the University of Sussex University of Sanctuary group and Sussex Centre for Migration Research blogs.sussex.ac.uk/sussex-centr...

blogs.sussex.ac.uk

SCMR and Sussex University of Sanctuary tribute to Richard Williams | Sussex Centre for Migration Research Blog

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Cautiously optimistic for the UK's renewed (or revived?) commitment to open government and transparency by taking on the co-chair role @opengovpartnership.org from Oct 2026. I attended a meeting yesterday with government/civil society updating on the 6th National Action Plan & looking ahead to 7th

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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 24/11/2025

The final straw – the Information Commissioner's Office has decided NOT to investigate the Afghan data leak. It's time to investigate them! Over 70 organisations and experts back ORG's call for an inquiry into the regulator's chronic failure to enforce data law. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

theguardian.com

Civil liberties groups call for inquiry into UK data protection watchdog

Campaigners including Good Law Project describe ICO ‘collapse in enforcement activity’ after Afghan data breach

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

useful insights into AI uses in policing, and what the Scottish police does/doesn't do, based on law and governance. Key point: police as a public body will never keep pace with private sector - does not receive funding available to corporate sector

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

attending this today, 10 years since we organised the very first one! congratulations to @nniloideain.bsky.social and all for a rich programme of research & policy work in the years since. Looking forward to the day

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

bravo @jessicashurson.bsky.social on impressive convening of today's Online Safety Act 2023 event at University of Sussex, v much enjoyed the discussions and diversity of perspectives. Thanks to other supporting colleagues & all the presenters too.

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

today at Sussex Law School, Sussex Centre for Law and Technology, a day of papers and discussion devoted to the Online Safety Act 2023, and its future www.sussex.ac.uk/research/cen...

sussex.ac.uk

Research and Policy Seminar: The Future of the Online Safety Act

The Sussex Centre for Law and Technology (SCLT) invites you to our one-day hybrid seminar: The Future of the Online Safety Act 2023.

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Ending the day at Green Templeton College yesterday, after many rich discussions with court observers and legal/policy specialists on the nature and challenges of doing open justice, through court observation and reporting.

Green Templeton College, University of Oxford

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

happening this time next week. Still places available, I believe - or you can register for a live-stream.

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Adele Zeynep Walton @adelewalton.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

In The Guardian in print and online today speaking about the catalyst that triggered me to write Logging Off, and changed my life forever. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Please share! Public lecture - Mr Justice Nicklin - Open Justice: Fit for Purpose - Wednesday 4 June 2025 17:00 to 19:00 Location: Green Templeton College, University of Oxford Speaker: The Honourable Mr Justice Nicklin Register here: www.gtc.ox.ac.uk/news-and-eve...

gtc.ox.ac.uk

Open Justice: Fit for Purpose - Green Templeton College

Details Date: June 4 Time: 05:00 pm - 07:00 pm Event Category: Lectures and Seminars

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Join us Sussex Digital Humanities Lab on 19 June for a conversation about the human cost of the digital world with @adelewalton.bsky.social, journalist & author www.sussex.ac.uk/research/cen... pls register for in-person/remote attendance www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/logging-of...

sussex.ac.uk

Logging Off

In the 30 years since we’ve been online, we've created connections, crossed boundaries and discovered new worlds, but at what cost?

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

V. much enjoying this fast paced keynote on psychological inoculation against misinformation, though a little nervous to live-report any of it, till I've checked the citations at source #bennettinst

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

As yet, no direct discussion on role of the news media/social media in political disenchantment & neglected areas, I'm curious to know if the panel would support public policy interventions to support local media - and in what form #bennettinst

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Now onto "tackling political disenchantment in ‘forgotten about’ places: what should governments try now?" Prof Andrés Rodríguez-Pose starts off, describing the crisis/crises we're in; why/how people are in revolt #bennettinst

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

onto post-lunch third panel #bennettinst, on building a productive society. First concept: the 4 day week, advocated for by sociologist Brendan Burchell. coming from business, interestingly, and proving successful

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

pleased to be here today, esp for later sessions on political disenchantment and misinformation: www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/wp-content/u...

bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk

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Peter Walker @peterwalker99.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

This article by Sussex university’s vice chancellor about how the Office for Students seemingly oversaw its investigation into worries about free speech at Sussex is… quite something. www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

politicshome.com

The Kafkaesque investigation into our university looks like political scapegoating

The Office for Students' so-called investigation into the University I represent was flawed and politically motivated. The implications for the hig...

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James Greenwood-Reeves @jgreenwoodreeves.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Finally sat down with my copy of the @queerjudgments.bsky.social book, and accidentally lost several hours of my Sunday in the process. Highly recommended! #queer #academicsky #lawsky #booksky

Picture of James' hand holding the Queer Judgments book, edited by Nuno Ferreira, Maria Federica Moscati and Senthorun Raj. It features a graphic design image of a queer flower, with petals each being a colour from the progress pride flag

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Jessica Shurson @jessicashurson.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Join us at the new Sussex Centre for Law and Technology for a research and policy seminar on the Online Safety Act! The seminar is partly funded by the @bileta.bsky.social Research Seminar Awards. 📍 Sussex uni and online 🗓️ Friday 6 June 2025 Call for papers: www.sussex.ac.uk/schools/law-...

sussex.ac.uk

Research and Policy Seminar: The Future of the Online Safety Act 2023 - Call for Papers

We invite academics (including postgraduate researchers), practitioners,policy researchers to submit papers on any aspect of the Online Safety Act.

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Transparency updates from the family court: rule changes to allow more reporting from the family courts and the naming of the judges in the Sara Sharif family court proceedings. Links to coverage and commentary: courtobservers.org/2025/01/31/t...

courtobservers.org

Transparency updates from the family court

(1) What was introduced as the Reporting ‘Pilot’ in 2023 is now a permanent change in family courts, to allow more reporting by journalists and legal bloggers. Within a few months, reporting will b…

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

At last! The Government has published a summary of responses to its 2023 open justice consultation: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/679a5a... It's a summary - no recommendations or conclusions of the MOJ's own at this stage. 131 responses, mix of backgrounds, including individual court users

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

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Gavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.com · 23/01/2025

*Very* excited about this - an unconference on public involvement/engagement in public sector decisions on data & AI! We also have the latest online meeting of our community of practice on that topic (with speakers from LOTI and @involveuk.bsky.social) on 12 Feb connectedbydata.org/events/2025-...

connectedbydata.org

Data and AI public engagement: Community of Practice

On Wednesday 12 February 2025 at 2pm we will hold the fifth meeting of a community of practice as part of our project on Giving communities a powerful say in public sector data and AI projects.

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Joshua Rozenberg @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

The government is considering whether to reverse a legal presumption that played a key role in Post Office scandal. rozenberg.substack.com/p/computer-s...

rozenberg.substack.com

Computer says nothing

Should we reverse the presumption that machines tell the truth?

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The Transparency Project @seethrujustice.transparencyproject.org.uk · 14/01/2025

Start HERE for a thread of all our live-posts of the anonymous judge appeal. We will try to post in a continuous thread. We'll do our best to cover everything accurately, & to use exact words when possible but may need to summarise. The hearing starts at 10.30 today (Tues) and is listed for 2 days.

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Connected by Data @connectedbydata.org · 06/01/2025

2024 was another busy one for us. We've been working locally, nationally and globally for communities to have a powerful say in decisions about data and AI, to help create a just, equitable & sustainable world. Here are some highlights... 🧵 (1/8)

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Sue Hawley @suehawley.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Major open justice win for us at Spotlight which we hope will lead to more scrutiny and public engagement with cases like this which reveal government complicity or coverup in alleged wrongdoing.

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 17/12/2024

“the practical purposes of open justice are predicated upon the public becoming aware of what happens in a court hearing” Picken J rules @spotlightcorruption.org does *not* need permission to publish jury bundle and transcripts from Crown court trial www.bailii.org/ew/cases/Mis...

bailii.org

Serious Fraud Office, R (On the Application Of) v Cook & Anor [2024] EWCR 8 (Ch) (17 December 2024)

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Data & Society @datasociety.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

Hello Bluesky! We’ll be posting here from now on. Follow us for the latest in public interest tech research, policy, and ideas.

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

the Information Law and Policy Centre's two day conference (today in person; tomorrow online) on AI, power and regulation kicks off now, with @zephoria.bsky.social giving this year's annual lecture. let me know if you're here infolawcentre.blogs.sas.ac.uk/2024/10/23/i...

infolawcentre.blogs.sas.ac.uk

ILPC Annual Conference 2024 - AI and Power: Regulating Risk and Rights - Information Law & Policy Centre

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 15/10/2024

OECD report on justice system data governance - arguing a people-centred approach required: Wells, P., N. Byrom and M. Piccinin-Barbieri (2024), "Towards effective governance of justice data", OECD Working Papers on Public Governance, No. 74, OECD Publishing, Paris, doi.org/10.1787/d295...

doi.org

Towards effective governance of justice data

This working paper explores the role of data governance in advancing people-centred justice systems. It outlines the objectives, values, and practices necessary to harness data effectively, drawing on...

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 16/09/2024

It’s been a while since I’ve seen any new starter packs for this place, so I’ve tried to come up with a mainly legal one which simply includes many of the people I used to interact with on Twitter & whose posts I enjoyed reading. I hope anyone I’ve overlooked will excuse me. go.bsky.app/4XCaLVx

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 20/09/2024

Enjoyed a pre-term mini-tour: Dundee in glorious sunshine on Wednesday (thank you to the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science, @angela daly & colleagues Dundee Law School & the Justice and Power research theme University of Dundee)

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Gavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.com · 20/09/2024

Well that's more than 50 data/AI/tech events I've spotted at Labour conference in Liverpool... Please do add any I've missed to our @connectedbydata.org spreadsheet! docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

docs.google.com

Party Conferences 2024: Data, AI and tech events

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Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 09/01/2024

For a deeper dive into the “inaccurate and incomplete information” in the guidance, take a look at the Courts and Tribunals Observers’ Network’s excellent blog, including insight from Daniel Cloake, @maggotlaw.bsky.social, Celia Kitzinger, @jtownend.bsky.social and Claire Martin:

courtobservers.org

Fine words – but new HMCTS public guidance falls short

HMCTS recently launched a document entitled “How you can attend or access courts or tribunals -- a guide for members of the public”. It is not clear whether this is intended to be the “Charter s...

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 06/12/2023

v busy end to term and barely time to log into a social media account! But here it is: my book with Lucy Welsh on open justice and transparency in the criminal courts. We plan to mark its publication with an event in the spring. details to follow! bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/observing-ju...

bristoluniversitypress.co.uk

Observing Justice

Observing Justice - Digital Transparency, Openness and Accountability in Criminal Courts; This book examines how major but often under-scrutinised legal, social, and technological developments have af...

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 30/10/2023

I'm among signatories to a letter coordinated by Connected By Data, TUC & ORG. AI must be shaped in interests of wider public: a range of expertise, perspectives and communities must have an equal seat at the table #AISummitOpenLetter #AISafetySummit ai-summit-open-letter.info FT: on.ft.com/46N5wwb

on.ft.com

UK summit on AI ‘squeezing out’ workers, say labour groups

Innovation will be ‘smothered’ if Big Tech gains clout at next week’s event, say 100 global signatories in letter to Sunak

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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 17/10/2023

Book review: Depp v Heard: the unreal story, by @nickwallis.bsky.social @bathpublishing reviewed by @maggotlaw (Paul Magrath) on the Courts and Tribunals Observers' Network blog courtobservers.org/2023/10/17/b...

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