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

too bad. Is that always the case, or just this year? the school holiday clash can be a bit tricky too...

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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

Open justice was on the agenda, I hope there will be good opportunities for civil society court observers to engage in the NAP review/drafting process going forward / @spotlightcorruption.org @transformjustice.bsky.social @openjusticecop.bsky.social @kevkeith.bsky.social

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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

a pleasure to chair a rich set of papers in the afternoon: @edinadd.bsky.social on ‘Postmortem Socio-Digital Indeterminacy’, Katerina Perrou on AI use by Tax Administrations and Will Mbioh on 'Beyond Possessive Agency', reflecting on the blurred boundaries between user agency & platform influence

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

Now to @gushosein.bsky.social from @privacyinternational.org setting out PI's role in some of the regulatory action already mentioned, and the role of NGOs more generally #airegulation #ilpc2025

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

fascinating range of material on biometrics governance, including insights on public views reflecting demographic differences, from Nuala Polo, UK Public Policy Lead @adalovelaceinst.bsky.social - hope slides will be available afterwards! A lot to digest.

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

As might be expected (for those who know his work!), the next speaker, @daviderdos.bsky.social is critical of the 'very limited' hard-end enforcement in the UK, comparing unfavourably with EU national jurisdictions e.g. Italy and Germany

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

A focus on regulatory enforcement in this keynote panel. Mairead O’Reilly, Director of Legal Service, Regulatory Enforcement Team flags the ICO's data protection enforcement procedural guidance consultation, open till 23 Jan 2026. ico.org.uk/about-the-ic... #Airegulatiom #ilpc2025

ico.org.uk

ICO consultation on data protection enforcement procedural guidance

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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

fascinating panel on implementation of OSA 2023 for small/not-for-profit providers. Qs on definitional ambiguity, burdensome obligations on small provider / potential deterrance of public interest activity

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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

He also made clear that important work was undertaken by public observers including but not limited to the traditional media (e.g. citizen observers, academics).

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

I was pleased to hear Mr Justice Nicklin, chair of the Transparency and Open Justice Board, acknowledge practical difficulties and complexities of open justice in the current digital environment.

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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

Just to update, this is no longer happening. Hopefully @adelewalton.bsky.social will visit us another time in the future.

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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

also, would like to hear more on methods for local stakeholder/citizen empowerment , i.e. public participatory methods ...

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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

Sarah O'Connor from the FT questions whether it works for all: points out that white collar work is like the holiday suitcase - you fill the space you have. Does it translate so well into environments where productivity already maximised?

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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

Questions focussed on the mechanics and practical delivery of open justice. Will discuss with our network of Courts and Tribunals Observers & write more in due course. NB - we published some of the submissions here at this link. Please let me know if you'd like yours added.

courtobservers.org

Submissions to MoJ Consultation – Open Justice: the way forward

This page aims to compile submissions made to the Ministry of Justice’s consultation on Open Justice in September 2023. If you would like to add your submission, please contact us. Index Courts and…

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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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Judith Townend @jtownend.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

congratulations to all the team, look forward to discussing more in the new year

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