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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕

@leelum.bsky.social
1.3K followers 849 following 369 posts

Snr Lecturer @ Edge Hill - Social Media, Pol Com, Content Moderation & Politics. 🗳️ Also Convenor @techpolicy.bsky.social Spends more time posting GIFs than working. www.Leelum.com

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Reposted by Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕
Political Studies Association @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
🌟PSA E&I Fund - winning projects🌟 Congratulations @techpolicy.bsky.social on funding for ‘Growing Up Digital: Young People & Technology Workshop’, which they are running in collaboration with @psampg.bsky.social Demonstrating excellence & impact across #Politics & #Policy ➡️ buff.ly/usiWI9r
psa.ac.uk
Growing Up Digital: Young People & Technology Workshop - Political Studies Association
Join the Technology, Internet and Policy Group (TIP) and the Media and Politics Group (MPG) for a day-long workshop exploring how young people interact with social media and the wider digital…
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Reposted by Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕
PSA Technology, Internet, & Policy (TIP) @techpolicy.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
🤔 How can we keep young people safe online? 💬 Can we anticipate the impact of age assurance policies? How do these relate to online rights? ❗Join academics, civil society & practitioners in London on 16 Sep to explore & address these questions ✏️ Sign up here! www.tickettailor.com/events/techn...
tickettailor.com
Select tickets – Growing Up Digital: Young People & Technology Workshop – The Lecture Hall, Queen Elizabeth II Centre, Coram Campus, 41 Brunswick Square, London
Growing Up Digital: Young People & Technology Workshop – The Lecture Hall, Queen Elizabeth II Centre, Coram Campus, 41 Brunswick Square, London, Wed 16 Sep 2026 - We are pleased to announce a joint wo...
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Babe, a new political map just dropped (the more you look at it, the better it gets)
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Reposted by Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕
404 Media @404media.co · 17/08/2026
EXCLUSIVE: 404 Media placed a tracking device in a shipment of rare books to see which AI company was buying it, and found an Amazon facility where Amazon scans and destroys books. @evystadium.bsky.social has more. Investigation by @emanuelmaiberg.bsky.social here: www.404media.co/we-tracked-a...
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Reposted by Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕
Tama Leaver @tamaleaver.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
New from me in The Conversation today: More than half of children and teens are using AI for personal reasons. This comes with risks doi.org/10.64628/AA.... #generativeAI #digitalchild #childrights
doi.org
More than half of children and teens are using AI for personal reasons. This comes with risks
Navigating personal problems are a normal part of growing up. Young people are now turning to AI for help.
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Excuse me, but a certain Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead is messing up my current attempts to collect a full list of 650MPs from the Parliamentary API.
Text on screen reads:
"Python fetch_mps.py
Fetching member list...
Found 649 current Commons Members."
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
They got "put Nazis in the bin" wrong.
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Reposted by Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕
PSA Technology, Internet, & Policy (TIP) @techpolicy.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
🤳The UK is pushing for device controls to filter nudity: but why is it problematic? Our research brief by @cynthiang.bsky.social discuses the technology behind device controls to stop young people sharing explicit content, problems, & possible future scenarios. psatip.uk/research/the...
psatip.uk
Research Brief - The UK is pushing for device controls to filter nudity: but why is it problematic?
The Government has called for tech companies to prevent children from sharing sexually explicit images. But what exactly is the technology behind device controls, and what changes to the law are being...
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
What I don't think gets talked about enough here is that under old access rules, inquiry into how people used platforms could be more exploratory, even playful. Platforms have subsequently blocked this through increased red-tape, which is a shame.
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Reposted by Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕
Political Studies Association @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
*PSA EVENTS* #CallForPapers 📢 'Dis(mis)information and the Public Sphere in the Age of AI' 📍 12 - 13 Jan, City St George’s, University of London Joint event by @psampg.bsky.social & @techpolicy.bsky.social Specialist Groups. 📆 CfP deadline: 7 Sept 2026 ➡️ Full details
buff.ly
Media and Politics & Technology, Internet, and Policy Joint Annual Conference - Political Studies Association
“Dis(mis)information and the Public Sphere in the Age of AI” You are warmly invited to submit papers for presentation at the joint annual conference of the Political Studies Association’s Media and…
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Me moving all my emails from my inbox into my archive for a sense of pride and accomplishment.
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Can someone update this now?
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Well, that sadly ruins the man in the white suit 2.0 dream
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
There's a lot of claims regarding the veracity of the written-off car story that would otherwise be perfect political capital (such as with the widely reported milk shaking incidents).
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Current scenes in Reform's office.
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
In 2016, I calculated the public cost of a by-election as £239k. I suspect that's now closer to a quarter of a million pounds. Farage's resignation & by-election just made a quarter of a million pound political statement.
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
It's 2026, and the future Prime Minister, and Leader of the Opposition are having a spat on Reddit.
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
The vibes of British politics & press today [Colourised].
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Ohhh is this a potential record for someone winning a constituency election and speedrunning into No.10? 👀
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Everyone in Britain right now: "I had plans this morning, I promise"
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Did nobody told Al about the Rishi Sunak National Service memes during the 2024GE? Nobody?!
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Reposted by Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕
Chris Stokel-Walker @stokel.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Keir Starmer keeps referring to the consultation as evidence for why the social media ban isn't a last gasp by-election gambit in his answers to the press. The consultation had 116,211 responses to 54 questions. The government has published a single percentage of answers to just two questions
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
I put some words on if the big phone OS providers can stop children from sharing explicit images in this article by @stokel.bsky.social. Also some excellent words by @bloggeronpole.bsky.social & Julian Hayes. Overall, great collection of words. Go read. www.newscientist.com/article/2529...
newscientist.com
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Reposted by Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕
Ariadne Vromen @ariadnevromen.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
In this blog we argue that blanket social media bans (like in Australia) conflate restricted access with safer access, and frame young people as vulnerable objects for protecting - rather than as rights-bearing participants in digital society @uofgsocsci.bsky.social
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Reposted by Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕
PSA Technology, Internet, & Policy (TIP) @techpolicy.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
With the UK's Government moving ever closer towards banning social media content for under 16s, @maia-aa.bsky.social & @ariadnevromen.bsky.social share their thoughts on "Why an under 16s social media ban won’t improve online safety" in the TIP Blog. 👇 technologypolicy.substack.com/p/why-an-und...
technologypolicy.substack.com
Why an under 16s social media ban won’t improve online safety
With the United Kingdom moving towards banning under 16s from accessing social media, Dr. Maia Almeida-Amir & Prof. Ariadne Vromen provide a rights-based perspective following the Australian ban.
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
I'd like to say I've been a a productive researcher this week. Instead I've created MandelsonMail.com 👀 View 1,500+ pages of the Peter Mandelson files as his email box and WhatsApp chats. Today's @politico.eu London Playbook described it as "a lot of fun, so it should probably be avoided".
mandelsonmail.com
Interactive Archive of Peter Mandelson’s Emails and Chats
Searchable archive of the Cabinet Office disclosure: 296 emails, 60 WhatsApp conversations, 51 meetings and 14 letters involving Lord Peter Mandelson.
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Every single time a @richersounds.com newsletter hits my email.
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Women are beating men at the ballot box, but we’re far off gender equality in local government. I followed-up my last analysis back in April with the updated @democracyclub.org.uk 2026 Local Election results. 👇👇 leelum.com/politicsmedi...
leelum.com
Women are beating men at the ballot box, but we’re far off gender equality in local government: Gender and the UK 2026 Local Elections - Leelum
In the local elections, women out-polled men. Paradoxically, men remain overly represented. The reason is simple: no single political party managed gender equality in the number of women candidates st...
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Reposted by Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕
RM @dorsalstream.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
The horse op-ed is an instant classic. I can't tell you how much joy this piece gives me. It should be taught in every introductory writing class in no small part because the horse arguments are so compelling. "I have noticed that human children get to eat cake. But I am bigger than the children."
I Work Very Hard, And I Would Like To Try Cake

By A Horse

Hello. I am a horse. I work very hard at my job of being a horse. When humans say move the heavy thing, I move the heavy thing. When humans sit on top of me and pull on my head, I carry them where they want to go. The main food the humans give me is hay and oats. But I am thinking it would be nice to have a different food.

I am thinking I would like to try cake.

Yes, yes. Cake. I know all about it. When humans eat cake, it is in glad times. It is the food for a celebration, such as when a woman becomes 47. I have seen cake on the Fourth of July. When humans have a cake, they stand around it and clap hands and smile and say happy birthday at each other. Sometimes there are beautiful markings on a cake, such as balloons or a pink shape.

Sometimes the top of a cake is on fire and a boy must blow on the fire with mouth wind. This is the scariest cake. I do not want this kind. But I will eat any other cake. Any cake that is not the fire cake that tries to kill the boy.

Please understand: I do not get money for doing work. I do not get to go inside the house. All I am either doing my horse job or standing in my pen or eating food off the floor. I always do these things. But I have never once gotten cake and I would like it very much.

I have noticed that human children get to eat cake. But I am bigger than the children. I am more helpful to the farm. Children do not move the heavy things like me or let anyone ride on them. And yet they get cake. Maybe the humans will realize this. Maybe they will say, "You  know who deserves cake? That horse. That horse whose back we are always on."

Every day I dream about what it will be like if I get to eat cake. Here is what will happen. First, I will walk to the cake and putt my nose at it like hrrfff to make and stomping my hooves to make sure it is not a snake. Then I will trot in a circle to show that I am a horse and I am large. After that, I will nuzzle the cake to …
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Local Council website having a bit of a wobble with the election results.
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
So me and my partner have been going through the Fast & Furious films as an ironic watching. I'm still angry they did this to Whitehall in Fast 6.
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
So, I've been slowly prototyping a little screen which replicates the Houses of Parliament's Annunciator system and pulls live data to it. Through the process I've learned that they regularly post the current threat level. A regular, but scary, reminder for staff I suppose?
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
I took the full list of candidates in the Local Elections in May & undertook an approach to infer gender. The analysis suggests little movement in the % of women standing for each party, but recent polls suggest a decline in the total % of women in local government. leelum.com/politicsmedi...
leelum.com
The roll back of gender equality in the 2026 Local Elections?
I analysed the list of candidates for the upcoming 2026 Local Elections to predict the state of gender inequality in local government
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Reposted by Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕
Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
2010: massive Orbán win 2014: massive Orban win 2018: massive Orban win 2022: massive Orban win 2024: Goodwin visits, starts promoting Orban regime 2026:
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Reposted by Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕
Dr. Elinor Carmi @elinorcarmi.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
I've been saying for a long time that AI tools promote shortcuts and by doing so skip the learning experience which involves persistence (like the article linked here suggests), but also making mistakes and learning how to solve a problem in a way that makes sense to you -> arxiv.org/pdf/2604.04721
Abstract of paper arguing AI assistance reduces persistence
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Coming up next: "Errr, Huston, it's asking for the authenticator code from the mobile app, and our phone does not have signal in space"
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Important update from my mum's hedgehog cam 🦔. Now there's Owls.
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
This has to be the most unique academic panels I've ever seen. I wouldn't have even been mad. Quite impressed really.
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Reposted by Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕
PSA Technology, Internet, & Policy (TIP) @techpolicy.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
This is *today*! There's still time to sign up ⏰ 🔗 www.tickettailor.com/events/techn...
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
So while my mother is away, I'm tasked with feeding her rescue hedgehogs. Worth it.
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
I'm no legal expert. But are calls for the former Prince Andrew's (alleged*) crimes of being a nonce to be sent to an American prison forgetting that under Section 72 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, he could perfectly also be tried and sent to prison here?
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Another fantastic coffee worthy newsletter by @sarahledoux.bsky.social It's too action packed to draw out all the amazing features this month in one post. So I'm just going to demand you read it!
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
The Nigel Farage's Cameo gaff probably shouldn't be the highlight here. The real interesting story, to me at least, is how much it's earning him - which is viable in the register of MPs interests. Since becoming an MP, he has declared earnings of £126,330.89 from the platform. 🧵
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Reposted by Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕
Tom Warren @tomwarren.co.uk · 14/01/2026
UK police have blamed Microsoft Copilot for an intelligence mistake. Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant made up a non-existent football match and British police included the mistake in an intelligence report. Yikes. Details on the Copilot mistake here👇 www.theverge.com/news/861668/...
theverge.com
UK police blame Microsoft Copilot for intelligence mistake
Copilot invented a football match that never happened
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
My local DIY store might have needed to spend a few more seconds on these door signs...
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
The Out of Office is on!
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
Which of these robot dogs is your sprit animal today?
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Reposted by Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕
PSA Technology, Internet, & Policy (TIP) @techpolicy.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
📣 Join us 𝒕𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒘 📣 (2 Dec) to discuss "The Politics of Platform Regulation" 📖 with Robert Gorwa @gorwa.ca 3:00-4:15pm GMT! Looking forward to a thought-provoking discussion on how govs shape content moderation & strategies to combat harmful content Sign up 👉 www.tickettailor.com/events/techn...
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Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕ @leelum.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
ONLINE EVENT: Content Moderation Book, 2nd December 3:00-4:15pm GMT with @gorwa.ca www.tickettailor.com/events/techn... This is looking like an interesting one, so get signed up!
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Reposted by Dr Liam Mcloughlin ☕
PSA Technology, Internet, & Policy (TIP) @techpolicy.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
📬 Our Nov newsletter is out 📬 - Roundup on this month's tech & policy news - TIP top story on how to 'opt-out' from apps' training AI clauses in their T&Cs, and why it matters - Jobs & opportunities! Link: technologypolicy.substack.com/p/the-tip-ne...
technologypolicy.substack.com
The TIP Newsletter: Content Moderation Book Talk, Opting-out of AI training, and more!
Hello TIPers,
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