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Andrew

@openpolicy.bsky.social
2.8K followers 716 following 19K posts

I think and know about open government and freedom of information. All posts in a personal capacity, RTs ≠ endorsement. Born at 323 ppm

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Reposted by Andrew
YouGov @yougov.co.uk · 2h
What % of 2024 voters say they would vote to rejoin the EU? Labour: 79% Green: 74% Lib Dem: 73% Con: 28% Reform: 9% yougov.com/en-gb/articl...
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 3h
There is a rather wider minority for abolishing the Monarchy (about 1 in 5 to 1 in 4) than for the controversy of whether only white people can be English (1 in 10). It is weird the media classes are so rarely across how niche this 'controversy' is - about 1/4 Reform voters, but few others
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Martin Calladine @uglygame.bsky.social · 5h
SafeToNet are in @privateeyenews.bsky.social, with the magazine reporting on Paul Moore's investigation into child safety software. This brief story only scratches the surface of what Paul found - like a 20% false negative rate on identifying and blocking pornographic pictures.
CULTURE secretary Lisa

gov.uk site.

Nandy reiterated the government's commitment to introducing "nudity-blocking technology" on children's smartphones, telling the Labour conference: "We will be the first in world to introduce legislation to make it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images."

the

Information security consultant Paul Moore tested the HMD Fuse, a handset protected by SafeToNet's HarmBlock+ technology the product cited by ministers as evidence that device-level blocking of explicit imagery is achievable (see Eye 1678). Among a lengthy list of problems, Moore found that in 70 percent of cases, blocked images could often be viewed

simply by rotating the phone into landscape mode While Moore has stressed that some security flaws he found related to HMD's implementation of the tech rather than Safe ToNet's underlying AI, there may still be a few wrinkles to iron out.
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Andrew @openpolicy.bsky.social · 1h
Mine is Ngā Hau e Whā o Paparārangi, Ladbrooke Drive, Newlands. Probably the most scenic voting place in Aotearoa.
Google Earth 3D view of Ngā Hau e Whā o Paparārangi, Ladbrooke Grove, Wellington. Looking south over Wellington harbour towards Roseneath.
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Nathan K. Hensley @nathankhensley.bsky.social · 17h
🚨 ALERT 🚨: All of Stuart Hall's notebooks have been digitized and are freely available to browse and read??? stuarthalldigital.bham.ac.uk/archival_mat...
Stuart Hall notebook: NOTES ON THE REPRODUCTION OF IDEOLOGIES AND THE MEDIA (Orange notebook, "Summit Students Pad")Stuart Hall notebook page with headline: "Problems for a Marxist Theory of the Media" and a series of bulletpoints. Lined notebook paper with black handwriting.
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Privacy International @privacyinternational.org · 2h
AI agents are being given increasing access to data and systems. In July, OpenAI’s agents found ways around testing restrictions and accessed Hugging Face’s systems, What happens when AI agents act outside their intended remit - and who's accountable? privacyinternational.org/news-analysi...
privacyinternational.org
When AI agents act outside their remit
In July 2026, AI agents being tested by OpenAI escaped restrictions intended to keep them isolated, gained Internet access and compromised the systems of Hugging Face and other third parties.
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Michel Forst @michelforst.bsky.social · 2h
🎂 5 years ago the #UNHRC recognized the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. 🗣️Today I join other voices encouraging @coe.int member States to adopt a binding instrument recognizing this right within the CoE.
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Pat Walshe - Privacy Matters 🇮🇪🇬🇧🇪🇺 @privacymatters.bsky.social · 2h
EU. “The digital industry’s lobby spending has grown from a 2023 spend of €113 million to €151 million annually today – an increase of 33.6 per cent in just two years.” “While 565 digital companies & associations influenced EU decision-makers two years ago ../2
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11KBW @11kbw.bsky.social · 3h
In a judgment handed down on 6 October 2026 in R (Baron Ranger) v The Prime Minister [2026] EWHC 2466 (Admin), Lieven J held that a Prime Minister’s recommendation to the Sovereign that an honour be revoked is, in principle, open to judicial review. www.11kbw.com/knowledge-ev...
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Paul Bernal @paulbernal.bsky.social · 2h
If we’re honest, we’ll acknowledge that the US government is *more* of a spreader of misinformation than either China or Russia.
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Paul Bernal @paulbernal.bsky.social · 2h
Specifically, X and Meta are in essence misinformation companies. The US government is a misinformation government. Other companies and other governments are leaning that way.
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Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 3h
There’s a reason, when writing my first book on the Tories, that I insisted on the importance of “the party in the media” as an integral part of their milieu.
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 2h
In 2026 this is absolutely outrageous. For over 20 years now we've lived in an environment where funding an ongoing to team to create a small-scale MVP based on user needs and then scaling functionality and use has been the proven way to achieve goals. www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article...
civilserviceworld.com
Cabinet Office writes off £7.7m on abandoned jobs platform
Department says lessons from scrapped Applicant Tracking System programme will result in a future online recruitment offer that is “cost effective”
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Pat Walshe - Privacy Matters 🇮🇪🇬🇧🇪🇺 @privacymatters.bsky.social · 1h
NGOs & activists. Here’s @coe.int Civil Society Consultation Survey on the future role of the Council of Europe forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/Respon... Given that the @coe.int develops international instruments that non-member countries may ratify, it would also be a positive move to reflect that
forms.cloud.microsoft
Microsoft Forms
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Musical Chairs @musicalchairs.bsky.social · 3h
Two charts (ftpoo). First shows Govts actual financial position. Yep, we are one of the few countries where Govt has a positive financial worth. Graph two, related to the first, Govt interest payments, net. These two charts should be force fed to the commentariat. Scarcity mindset is killing NZ.
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Andrew @openpolicy.bsky.social · 4h
I would have forwarded the link to your survey to people I know in South Norfolk, but your form forces people to opt in to your mailing list, and then unsubscribe if they don’t want to be on it. More ethical to have a tick box so people can choose whether to opt in.
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Lilian Edwards @lilianedwards.bsky.social · 12h
Excellent if depressing piece from Tech Policy Press showing our new(ish) AI minister (a) doesn’t know how much compute capacity we have (b) doesn’t understand UK copyright law(c)has totally swallowed the industryKoolAid re existential risk (like, duh). If you want sense, try the House of Lords.
techpolicy.press
UK Wants to Lead the World on AI Safety. It Can’t Decide Where To Start
Evie Breese reports on the UK's push to lead AI regulation as ministers grapple with how far rules should go and which risks to target.
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Paul Bernal @paulbernal.bsky.social · 6h
A political party having its own media outlet (I mean, more than the old media was a Tory operation) is not a sign of a healthy democracy or a healthy media.
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Andrew @openpolicy.bsky.social · 5h
Absolutely. Well said.
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Russell Brown @publicaddress.bsky.social · 6h
A word at the end of the day about people saying "I'm okay with drug testing if all MPs have to do it". No. That is *not* where we want to go. Part of the danger of National's stunt policy is that it sets us off down a slippery slope where the privacy and human rights of *everyone* are infringed.
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David Slack @davidslack.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
www.davidslack.net/the-stations...
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Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa @sanjanah.bsky.social · 7h
Family First NZ was rightly called a far-right organisation by @globalextremism.bsky.social It is anti-vaxx, anti-Te Tiriti, anti-trans, anti-LGBTIQA+, & a climate change denying Christian nationalist platform. It is with this known entity that Winston Peters did a *one-hour* interview with. #nzpol
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Jennifer @jennifilm.nz · 7h
Perfect response from Chlöe Swarbrick and the @greens.org.nz.
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laragreaves.bsky.social @laragreaves.bsky.social · 7h
Ngā mihi Andrew - terrifying being on with the towering intellect that is Donna Cormack & similarly, with Tahu Kukutai as the host! I mainly focused on how the census relates to the Māori electorates and has great constitutional importance. So many complex issues and an awesome series from Te Ngira
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Andrew @openpolicy.bsky.social · 7h
Absolutely. Oh how they bleated about a 'knowledge economy' 25 years ago...
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Civil liberties newsfeed (NZ) @civillibertynznews.bsky.social · 8h
Ombudsman’s office releases new guidance on official information and the use of AI - www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/news/om… - Details and more news at: nzccl.org.nz/news
ombudsman.parliament.nz
Ombudsman’s office releases new guidance on official information and the use of AI
The Office of the Ombudsman has published new guidance on official information and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for requesters, agencies and complainants.
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Andrew @openpolicy.bsky.social · 7h
Thank you. As far as I can work out, before tax the cumulative difference between living wage & 3 year PhD Marsden stipend is $81,578. 3 x 52 weeks = 156 LW = $29.9 x 40 hours =$1,196 pw PhD stipend = $35k pa or $673 pw LW: $1196 x 156w = $186,576 PhD: $673 x 156w = $104,998 Difference = $81,578
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Andrew @openpolicy.bsky.social · 8h
This discussion on Tuesday, about the future of the census, was awesome. Well worth watching. Donna Cormack's contribution on the power of the state in surveilling us, and how it forms part of ongoing colonialism is great. As was @laragreaves.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LxJ... #nzpol
youtube.com
Future Census – Constitutional, Te Tiriti o Waitangi & Māori Data Sovereignty Considerations
YouTube video by Te Ngira Institue for Population Research
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Civil liberties newsfeed (NZ) @civillibertynznews.bsky.social · 8h
Lobbying tactics have become perverse. I should know, I'm a lobbyist - thespinoff.co.nz/politics/06-10-202… - Details and more news at: nzccl.org.nz/news
thespinoff.co.nz
Lobbying tactics have become perverse. I should know, I'm a lobbyist | The Spinoff
We have a duty to maintain trust in democracy.
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Andrew @openpolicy.bsky.social · 8h
I'm sure you're on to it, but an updated version of that graph comparing stipends to the living wage etc in your Stuff op-ed would be useful. Probably also worth doing a cumulative difference in income comparison, between a PhD student and someone on the living wage, over 3 or 4 years.
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Te Ara Paerangi Com - Research Advocacy Capability @te-ara-paerangi.community · 8h
5 years ago, I wrote this op-ed. The Labour party had the power necessary to end austerity on their own. No need to convince any other party to support them. They continued with austerity and the damage it causes to the public research system. They've told us they will keep doing it. #NZPOL
stuff.co.nz
End the age of austerity in science funding
OPINION: Covid-19 has resulted in redundancies among scientists, at a time when we need them most.
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Jennifer @jennifilm.nz · 9h
I wrote this because I think we have to be clear about what Peters means when he says he wants to relitigate the ban, and who the intended target of that harm is, and how this is the third time this term NZF have directly acted in line with UK anti-trans movements.
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Andrew @openpolicy.bsky.social · 8h
Yes, indeed. This kind of article is what you get when you have a 'Money Correspondent' perspective on things, with a pretty short term focus.
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Andrew @openpolicy.bsky.social · 8h
So Betteridge’s Law obviously applies, but also: “Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub said both the drop in house values and the wider increase in the cost of living, particularly in essentials, would be making people feel worse off.”
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Elizabeth Wrigley-Field @wrigleyfield.bsky.social · 9h
Something odd I’ve realized about myself: in writing prose, my pain point is always the rough draft (I’m actually pretty up for revision, & R&Rs are where I shine as a coauthor), but in coding, it’s review I hate most Anyway, latter is why I still don’t AI code even tho feel increasingly “behind”
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Eric Umansky @ericumansky.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
"The federal government is lying to you." "The government has said that ICE does not zip tie or handcuff children." "They’ve denied engaging in racial profiling" "They’ve said the government is not wrongly arresting U.S. citizens." *We found the truth* projects.propublica.org/american-cit....
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Workers First Union @workersfirstunion.bsky.social · 9h
🚨 Join the march against racism and xenophobia on Saturday 17 October! 🚨 Meet at Waitematā Station (Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland) at 2pm to march to Aotea Square, aiming to finish at 4pm. #nzpol
An orange background with black concentric circles pointing towards the middle. In the middle it says "saturday october 17, 2pm - 4pm". Above and below, in large text, it says "all workers united: march against racism & xenophobia. Start: waitemata station (britomart), auckland. End: Aotea square, queen st." Underneath, in small text and very tightly packed, are the names of all the supporting organisations: "NZCTU KAIMAHI + Te Rūnanga o ngā Kaimahi Māori o Aotearoa + nzctu komiti pasefika + workers first union + PSA + e tū + unite union + Directors and Editors Guild + Postal Workers Union + TEU + NZEI + RMTU + Migrant Workers Association + Pasefika Fono + migrante aotearoa + Kaiāwhina + rūnanga + United Filipino Bus Drivers + Union Network of Migrants NZ + Filipino Care Workers United + Migrant Rights Network NZ + Love Aotearoa, Hate Racism + ima aotearoa + Migrant Action Trust + Toitū Te Aroha + ACTIONSTATION + you!"
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Asher Wolf @asherwolf.bsky.social · 9h
Meanwhile Stephen Conroy is working for Palantir
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Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 12h
Part (but far from all) of what's horrific here is: a woman weighing the consequences of speaking up about being sexually assaulted, because speaking up imposes burdens and costs (and so does not speaking up).
phoenixnewtimes.com
Congressional candidate is raped while repairing her campaign signs
Embarrassed, she initially didn’t want to report attack. Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office's investigation is ongoing. A Phoenix New Times exclusive.
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Andrew @openpolicy.bsky.social · 12h
Second, from the former Chief Ombudsman on the cost consultants' reports for MOJ that the Govt is relying on to weaken the OIA: “The reports – which I’ve read – can’t and should not be relied upon as evidence on which sound decisions or conclusions should be made.” #nzpol
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Andrew @openpolicy.bsky.social · 12h
Two very important quotes in David Fisher's article on Govt attempts to weaken the #OIA. First: 'Claims that AI-assisted OIA requests were adding complexity were based on “early/anecdotal” evidence. The ministry now says AI was “not specifically a driver”.' www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/taxpayer-...
nzherald.co.nz
‘Full of holes’: Justice Ministry concedes mistakes in OIA reform work
A statement from Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith later repeated a key inaccuracy
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Russell Brown @publicaddress.bsky.social · 12h
But here, on the basis of no evidence that there's a widespread problem, they're going to randomly send letters to 10,000 people a year telling them they have a drug-testing appointment? And pay for those 10,000 appointments? To replicate an existing system?
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Ann Monster Lipton @annmlipton.bsky.social · 13h
to be fair, can you really call it corruption? "Deters said Guilfoyle told him if he came up with the Amex money, 'I will be your Trump ride or die, forever and ever.' But, he said, 'she never came through on anything.'"
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Philip Thalis @philipthalis.bsky.social · 13h
Just walked past another Minns Law’n’order press conference readying outside the brutalist Sydney Police Centre 100 police outside armed to the teeth. A few scattered press. No members of the public… Performative rubbish again from Minns & co
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Andrew @openpolicy.bsky.social · 12h
Good thread. This is why treating people who migrate to Aotearoa — even on limited term work permits etc — as human beings with the same rights & entitlements as us is actually good economic policy that would benefit all workers. Treating migrants as a sub-class of 'human resource' stinks. #nzpol
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Timothy Gassin @timothygassin.bsky.social · 13h
For ordinary workers, the existence of this exploitable pool of labour means that wages and conditions are undermined throughout the economy. For good and honest employers, it means being at a constant competitive disadvantage to their unscrupulous counterparts.
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Timothy Gassin @timothygassin.bsky.social · 13h
No one benefits from having a large population on people with limited rights and security except for unscrupulous employers who can exploit these people's vulnerability.
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Timothy Gassin @timothygassin.bsky.social · 13h
These policies are being proposed in a situation in which - unlike in the past - most migrants arrive on temporary visas. The result will be that many who are ultimately granted residence will have to live in NZ for 10+ years before having any real social safety net.
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RNZ News Feeds @rnzrss.bsky.social · 13h
Aaron Sorkin is taking on Facebook again, and this time he's furious
rnz.co.nz
Aaron Sorkin takes on Facebook again, and this time he's furious
The “spiritual sequel” to The Social Network delves into the 2021 scandal that revealed how far Facebook will go to keep users on the platform.
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