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Mark Boyd

@markboyd.bsky.social
717 followers 2.3K following 823 posts

Mostly here to talk about how to build open digital ecosystems where everyone can participate and co-create (platformable.com) and to share my queer fetish comedy fiction (akamarkboyd.com). He/him 🏳️‍🌈📚

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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
This is the strategy I predict and advocate for but going in the other direction. Through open digital ecosystems, sovereign infrastructure & a shift away from a growth at all costs mindset we can build a parallel market of quality businesses that enjoy serving customers and all buy and work in that
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Nicolas Hénin @nicolashenin.net · 17/09/2026
Nice campaign by the Norwegian Consumer Council about the declining lifespan of products. Enjoy!
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
There is nothing wrong with my 10-year old iMac, but Apple want me to chuck it out & buy a new one so they have stopped allowing software updates to work with models that fall outside the EU's Empowering Consumers Directive maintenance requirement: technically allowable but still sucks
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Still annoyed by this. I am part of some lgbt tech groups here in bcn where people have been asking if increased STDs is a fact or rumour and the most recent state data is 2022. Now @ecdc.europa.eu says it's rising but doesn't actually link or publish any of the data it is withholding.
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
I need some new accountability. Person all writing: 992 words today
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Great new series from @apievangelist.com providing course corrections and beat practice's on a range of API governance and other topics. Affordable bite sized chunks that summarise where the industry is at and how to move forward on the issues that just seem to keep popping up over and over
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
A year ago in our state of the api economy report I predicted that finops - and in particular ensuring AI costs did not spiral - would become a key issue this year. Up until a few months ago people were still disputing that this would be the case.
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API Evangelist @apievangelist.com · 30/07/2026
Every Andreessen Horowitz company that ships an API, scored the way a machine reads it. A thesis is a claim. The APIs are the evidence. papers.apievangelist.com/papers/a16…
The a16z API Portfolio — an API Evangelist white paper
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Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) @corporateeurope.org · 28/07/2026
"Big Tech is selling AI to Big Oil to find more fossil fuels to burn, faster" explains DeSmog. "Big Tech has gone from promising climate breakthroughs to breaking the climate." 😡 Fossil fuel-powered data centres + data centre-powered oil & gas expansion = 🔥🌍🔥🌎🔥🌏🔥 www.desmog.com/2026/07/16/b...
desmog.com
Big Tech Joins Big Oil in Ruining Summer
The industry has abandoned its climate pledges in favor of fossil fuel-powered AI data centers.
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Quick question: how good is Pan Amsterdam? tidal.com/album/436619... & tidal.com/album/530398...
tidal.com
Pan Amsterdam & Leron Thomas - Confines
Listen to Confines on TIDAL
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Robinson Meyer @robinsonmeyer.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
New data shows that Microsoft's carbon emissions rose 25% from June 2024 to June 2025, after plateauing for several years, as electricity use surged to power artificial intelligence heatmap.news/daily/micros...
heatmap.news
Microsoft’s Climate Pollution Surged 25% Last Year
Plus, the Trump administration appointed a new “beacon of rational thought.”
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404 Media @404media.co · 02/07/2026
Sources and leaks from Amazon, Adobe, Atlassian, Citi, and more show what is really happening with AI right now: companies are trying to rein in AI use as costs spiral out of control. @evystadium.bsky.social has more. @josephcox.bsky.social story: www.404media.co/companies-ar...
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Elise (they/them)🇦🇺 🏳️‍⚧️ @eliseswords.eurosky.social · 30/06/2026
Hi Folks! I write friendship-centred, Epic SciFi/Fantasy, in which people saving the world happen to be Queer & ND! With mystery, monsters, magic, banter & adventure. Sythe Series also explores aro-ace, autistic & nonbinary identities, trauma & healing All🔗 elisecarlson.com/sythe-series/ Direct⬇️
elisecarlsonsffbooks.au
Elise Carlson, Fantasy Author
Elise is a restless adventurer and passionate educator, with an endless list of 'what if?' questions to explore in epic fantasy and SciFi-Fantasy. They write neurodiverse, queer-led adventures for tho...
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Rewire News Group @rewirenewsgroup.com · 30/06/2026
“The idea of this successful, grassroots, genuine community of women is very appealing to young people looking for connection,” archivist Stuart Hinds said.
rewirenewsgroup.com
How a Group of Lesbians Created 'Womontown,' a Queer Utopia in Missouri
“The idea of this successful, grassroots, genuine community of women is very appealing to young people looking for connection,” archivist Stuart Hinds said.
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Sonja Drimmer @sonjadrimmer.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
“Data work is a popular side gig for many Philippine football league players looking for additional income…”
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Anyone else on TIDAL? Wanna listen to my monthly playlists? Here's April, I'm doing a may-june one at the moment but have one for each month of the year: tidal.com/playlist/39c...
tidal.com
April 2026
Playlist - April 2026 - 29 items
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Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) @corporateeurope.org · 18/06/2026
EU leaders gather in Brussels for #EUCO meeting today They will discuss #competitiveness & #deregulation among other topics Check out how the biggest corporate lobbies are pushing this self-interested agenda, which cuts our social & environmental protections corporateeurope.org/en/2026/06/e...
 Infographic from The EU's 2026 Corporate Lobby League — Big Tech sector. Top three corporate lobby spenders: 1. Meta, declared spend €8 million, +135.3% since 2020, 282 high-level Commission meetings. 2. Amazon, declared spend €9 million, +414.3% since 2020 (highest rise), 212 high-level meetings. 3. Apple, declared spend €10 million, +300% since 2020, 175 high-level meetings. Context notes include: Trump administration pressuring EU to protect US tech companies; data protection and AI Act targeted for deregulation; Digital Omnibus described as the biggest rollback of digital rights in the EU; rules to rein in Big Tech under threat. Data correct as of 11 May 2026. Logos of Corporate Europe Observatory and Lobby Control appear at the bottom.
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Tim Newman @tnewmsblues.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Excited to share V2 of our project mapping the data work part of the AI supply chain. This update includes: 📍A new interactive network graph including data work companies, their clients and investors; 📍Profiles of some of the major companies: 📍47 new companies in the database. DataWorkLandscape.org
dataworklandscape.org
Data Work Landscape
Tech companies in the AI industry are powered by workers who develop, train, test, and maintain AI systems. We’re shining a light on this shadowy industry.
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
I wonder how much of this is from APIs? The Dutch Gov is one of the most advanced with their API governance: developer.overheid.nl
developer.overheid.nl
Ontwikkelaarsportaal van de Nederlandse Overheid | developer.overheid.nl
Eén plek met informatie, bronnen, tools en codevoorbeelden van de overheid voor developers over privacy, security, toegankelijkheid, DevOps, infra, data, AI, standaarden, API's, Open Source en meer.
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API Conference @apiconference.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
🤖 AI is everywhere — is your platform ready? Sebastian Meyen with @markboyd.bsky.social on why platform engineering is key for modern orgs. 💡 From AI readiness to ecosystems — it’s about being future-proof. 👉 Join us for API London 2026: apiconference.net/london #APIConference
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Olivier Hoedeman @olivierhoedeman.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
The EU's current #deregulation agenda resembles nothing we have seen before, in terms of scope, level of ambition, speed and degree of corporate capture 🚨 New must-read report presents the workings of the deeply undemocratic #deregulationmachine that Commission President von der Leyen has built ⬇️
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Timeless new track by Todd Terry and by timeless I mean early 90s house, so good tidal.com/track/502021...
tidal.com
Todd Terry - I'm Not Her (Real House Mix)
Listen to I'm Not Her (Real House Mix) on TIDAL
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EU Court of Justice @eucourtofjustice.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
#ECJ: National legislation which does not allow a citizen who has exercised their right to free movement to change their gender data are contrary to #EUlaw 🇧🇬 #transgender 👉 curia.europa.eu/site/upload/...
curia.europa.eu
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
As I'm writing analysis and drawing on a wide range of existing work and adding my own thoughts, this piece aimed at academic writing rings true and motivates me to think directly on the page... patthomson.net/2026/03/08/g...
patthomson.net
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Eurosky Social @eurosky.social · 10/03/2026
@robin.berjon.com co-founder of Eurosky is testifying in the French Parliament today - watch live 👇
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
This is ecosystem thinking. Build infrastructure to distribute power not consolidate it.
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⭑ salma @whitep4nth3r.com · 03/03/2026
To celebrate the launch of the @npmx.dev alpha, I wrote up a guide on how to make your first contribution to an open-source project. Let me know if this helps you make your first contribution (and it doesn't have to be code)!
whitep4nth3r.com
How to make your first contribution to an open source project
Getting involved in open source doesn't have to be scary! Understand how to find a great project and make your first contribution in this ten-step guide.
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Had a Disney lawyers moment today
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Just posted my latest EuroStack newsletter: platformable.beehiiv.com/p/digital-so...
platformable.beehiiv.com
Digital sovereignty and open source technologies
Proposed strategies to support open source technologies in Europe to strengthen and take an open digital ecosystem approach when building communities and delivering value for users.
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
One of airtable's suggested prompts for using their AI is "Generate brainstorm ideas for our fall activewear campaign". Generate brainstorm? Also, if you are in marketing isn't that the part of your job you *want* to do?
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
After PEPFAR funding was cancelled I looked for EU health groups I could join to advocate for replacement funding to ensure we keep pace with ending the global AIDS epidemic. I didnt have any luck so i volunteer directly with a human & sexual rights ngo in Nigeria. The issues they face are: ... 1/3
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
I'm gonna write something up about this a bit more, but i submitted a response to the European Commission's open digital ecosystems consultation last night: drive.google.com/file/d/1W2fy...
drive.google.com
Open digital ecosystems response.pdf
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UNI Europa @uni-europa.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
As Amazon announced 16,000 layoffs today, worker representatives and MEPs blasted Amazon management for undermining worker health and democracy at work during a European Parliament hearing on working conditions in its warehouses.
uniglobalunion.org
Unions and MEPs blast Amazon’s disregard for worker health at European Parliament hearing
As Amazon announced 16,000 layoffs today, worker representatives blasted Amazon management for disregarding worker health at a European Parliament hearing on working conditions in its warehouses.
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Anyone else reading Some Desperate Glory or read it recently? By @emilytesh.net So good! Halfway through at the moment but the emerging deradicalisation plotline is fascinating and keeping me up at night reading. And love the queer characters of course.
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
For anyone interested, here are the tracks I've been listening to this month: tidal.com/playlist/ce2...
tidal.com
January 2026
Playlist - January 2026 - 46 items
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Dr Abeba Birhane @abeba.blacksky.app · 21/01/2026
if you’re passionate about AI accountability research and enjoy working in a vibrant lab with a multi-disciplinary team but not interested in doing traditional academic work, this position might be for you
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
Why isnt this data used in the constant “EU needs to be more competitive” policy arguments? Why isnt this all factored into the so-called competitiveness agenda?
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 18/01/2026
I do appreciate what i think is @mozilla.org's work in providing an option when right clicking for links: offering a "clean link" copy that removes everything after the ? So much easier to share links without having to manually remove campaign tracking parameters each time
Screenshot of a webpage section when right-clicking to save a link and seeing a menu option from Firefox that includes "Copy Clean Link" that removes everything after the ? when copying the link
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 18/01/2026
Over on LinkedIn people are AI meme-ing their way through the threat of the Greenland invasion. Here I am getting hopeful that Europe is finally saying "enough", (they should have done that after EU digital regulation threats & commissioner sanctions but now is a good time too)
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
I've enjoyed reading the GTM analysis and deep dives that Kyle Poyar does, so super happy to see he has shifted to @beehiiv.com now, and i can share his work here. His latest newsletter discusses creator support at beehiv and his creator economy operating model www.growthunhinged.com/p/new-unhing...
growthunhinged.com
What’s new (did I hear perks 👀)
The tools and insights you need to have an unhinged 2026
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
Petition for a new term: AI gunk. Meaning: the additional infra and workarounds that cause products that used to work fine now feel jammed up or slower cos there is AI gunk in the system, even if its not being used in whatever you are trying to do. Oh also why is LinkedIn down at the moment?
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
My line of the day is "API governance supports entelechy not entropy." I am my own writing audience.
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
My EuroStack Potential newsletter is changing it's focus: now I am focusing on what it's like for a digital small business/startup (like mine) to operationalise the EuroStack ideals: platformable.beehiiv.com/p/the-eurost...
platformable.beehiiv.com
The EuroStack tech stack in practice
Discover how EuroStack supports open digital ecosystems, helping businesses move beyond big tech monopolies and embrace a collaborative, sustainable tech approach.
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
"Hope is a discipline. It requires that you not give in to despair." - Doctorow on the EuroStack potential and more: pluralistic.net/2026/01/01/3...
pluralistic.net
Pluralistic: The Post-American Internet (01 Jan 2026) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
In 2025, i started the #EuroStack potential newsletter, but i couldn't find the right angle i wanted to focus on. I am superproud of the piece on using EuroStack for decolonisation: you can't show you are worried about EU being a digital colony without addressing Europe's colonisation legacy 1/4
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Last week i shared how it was hard to #EuroStack when open source providers (including European) use AWS servers for their online cloud. I love what @openproject.bsky.social are doing: They have two options for cloud hosting, ok yes an AWS option but also the French cloud provider @scaleway.com
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Scaleway @scaleway.com · 13/12/2025
We are looking for an European 🇪🇺 alternative to replace OpsGenie / PagerDuty; could you please share some love with us ? #cloud #sovereignty
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
"Let's be bold, ambitious and creative!" @diegonaranjo.bsky.social shares a plan for 2026: www.linkedin.com/pulse/2026-y...
linkedin.com
2026 - The year we fight back
Everywhere I look in my professional and personal circles, things look rather depressing. Whether the ongoing genocide in Palestine, Russian's invasion of Ukraine, the latest Trump's attack on democra...
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Mark Boyd @markboyd.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
We've mapped the #agrifood ecosystem. We want to help players identify how data flows, how to align with standards & regulations, who to partner with, & how to calculate impacts on society, local economies & the environment. Anyone want to test this out? platformable.com/blog/agrifoo...
platformable.com
The Agrifood Data & Digital Ecosystem
Understanding the agrifood digital and data ecosystem is essential as systems become more digital and issues including climate impacts, sustainability, trade, and smart agriculture become more prevalent.
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AI Accountability Lab @aial.ie · 17/12/2025
We're hiring a postdoc to identify, map and evaluate commercially used age verification systems Closing Date: 16 January 2026 Apply here: aial.ie/hiring/postd...
About the role

Age verification systems are increasingly being deployed in ways that rely on inferring the age or age range of the user from data such as live selfies or conversational analysis. These systems pose challenges regarding accuracy, bias, privacy, and most importantly raise questions around the scientific legitimacy and methodological soundness underlying the very process. Furthermore, commercially deployed age-verification systems and processes operate in non-transparent ways with no recourse from errors and deficiencies. Currently, information on where, how, and when such technologies are being developed and deployed is extremely scarce, as well as which actors are becoming established as market leaders and key vendors. The AIAL seeks to understand this challenge better through high-quality, high-impact research that helps uphold the principles of scientific validity, methodological rigour, transparency, accountability, and equity.

To directly tackle this urgent problem, the AIAL is looking for a highly driven Post-Doctoral Researcher who can identify and map the current state of commercially used age verification systems, the techniques being used, and the key actors in the development and deployment pipeline. Based on publicly available information, the researcher will closely replicate the techniques used in commercial age-verification systems and undertake socio-technical audits with a focus on assessing the scientific legitimacy, epistemic and methodological validity of the overall approach as well as assessing the accuracy, discrimination, and privacy risks.

The output of this work is expected to contribute to advancing the state of the art in accountable governance and responsible practices, and will support the application of relevant laws such as the GDPR and the AI Act. Ultimately and in the best case scenario, insights from this work would feed legal or other mechanisms to gain access to real-world deployed age-verification systems.
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