Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by David Banisar

Psst.org @psst-org.bsky.social · 2h

What’s the ROI on telling the truth in Big Tech/AI?

Professor @katekenny.bsky.social of @uniofgalway.bsky.social spent 15 years running the numbers—and the moral math doesn’t look great...

But she’s got ideas for changing it. 🔦

Full Q&A in our Substack (link below).

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Reposted by David Banisar

Psst.org @psst-org.bsky.social · 2h

psstpsst.substack.com/p/the-strang...

The strange economics of speaking up

Inside the moral math of whistleblowing

psstpsst.substack.com

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Reposted by David Banisar

Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · 2h

California's new AI law SB 53 expands protections for tech whistleblowers but makes it so difficult to file a successful claim that many valid cases will likely be dismissed, writes Sophie Luskin.

California’s New AI Law Misses the Mark on Whistleblower Protections | TechPolicy.Press

SB 53's whistleblower protections make it so difficult to file a successful claim, and many valid cases will be dismissed, Sophie Luskin writes.

buff.ly

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Reposted by David Banisar

ARTICLE 19 Law and Policy @article19law.bsky.social · 13h

A piece of warning at this event about future of #democrcacy & #freespeech in age of AI:

We have to stop talking about #AI as if it were destiny.

In hands of unaccountable billionaires, it will be perfect dictatorship. Invisible, frictionless, personalised.

And you may never know you are in it!

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Reposted by David Banisar

WHAT TO FIX @whattofix.tech · 1d

OPEN LETTER: #EU must safeguard the independence of data protection authorities

Read more: edri.org/our-work/ope...

w @aiforensics.org @alliance4europe.bsky.social @article19europe.bsky.social @bitsoffreedom.bsky.social @hateaid.org @openmarkets.bsky.social @lobbycontrol.bsky.social and many more

The EU must safeguard independence of data protection authorities - European Digital Rights (EDRi)

The appointment raises serious concerns about impartiality and the credibility of data protection enforcement in the EU.

edri.org

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Reposted by David Banisar

Rachel Coldicutt @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social · 1d

Excellent Guardian piece on Aadhar, India's digital ID system, that captures the dilemma extremely well. Digital-by-default methods create huge convenience for some, double-down on social exclusion for others, and it is easy for their scope to rapidly expand www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

‘Your basis to live is checked at each and every step’: India’s ID system divides opinion

Keir Starmer is considering Aadhaar as model for UK, but detractors warn of ‘digital coercion’ and security breaches

www.theguardian.com

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David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 6d

Flying cars and real hoverboards?

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Reposted by David Banisar

Alderik Oosthoek @alderik.bsky.social · 7d

“Today, the European Commission published guidelines to support the effective implementation of the Regulation on transparency and targeting of political advertising, which will become fully applicable as of 10 October.” ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

Commission publishes guidelines to support the implementation of the Regulation on the Transparency of Political Advertising

Today, the European Commission published guidelines to support the effective implementation of the Regulation on transparency and targeting of political advertising, which will become fully applicable...

ec.europa.eu

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Reposted by David Banisar

Maria Farrell @mariafarrell.bsky.social · 7d

Germany's justice ministry held firm and killed EU chat control (for now):

"Chat control without cause must be taboo in a state governed by the rule of law. Private communication must never be under general suspicion."

Admirably concise and direct. German in the best possible way.

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Reposted by David Banisar

Techlore @techlore.tech · 8d

🚨 BREAKING: Chat Control BLOCKED in EU! 🎉

Germany just refused to back the EU's mass surveillance "Chat Control" regulation after public pressure! This blocks the required majority in the EU Council and derails next week's planned vote.

NICE JOB EVERYONE! 💪

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David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 12d

I’d also like to know why it’s necessary for digital id to “see local air quality” and how bad Estonian services were that identity processes took 5 days a year that are now saved. 🤨

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David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 13d

If you said Quark xpress I’d more more impressed!

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Reposted by David Banisar

David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 16d

New map for International Right to Know Day. 132 UN countries now with FOI law+6 w/ regulation, covering 92% of world population. 2 new cos in last year Senegal and Costa Rica.

Map of countries with freedom of information laws in dark green or regulations in light green, bills in yellow. Over 2/3 of map is dark green.

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David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 14d

This was well played!

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

#idcards

‘Reverse Midas touch’: Starmer plan prompts collapse in support for digital IDs

Net public backing for scheme has fallen to -14% after prime minister’s announcement, according to polling

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by David Banisar

Lauren Harper @laurenleharper.bsky.social · 16d

This takes FOIA fee bullying to a whole new level

Josh Gerstein @joshgerstein.bsky.social · 18d

SCOOP: Justice Department asks judge to force nonprofit & reporter to post $50,000 bond to get faster release of classified docs found at Mar-a-Lago. Trump order to seek bonds for early injunctions seeps into #FOIA litigation. www.politico.com/newsletters/...

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David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 16d

More detailed overview including internal law developments at www.linkedin.com/pulse/right-...

#IDUAI #FOI #rightotknow #righttoinfo

Right to Know Update - September 2025

Happy Right to Know Day (or those of you who speak UN - International Day for the Universal Access to information) #IDUA. Here's the updated map of countries around the world with Freedom of Informati...

www.linkedin.com

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David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 16d

New map for International Right to Know Day. 132 UN countries now with FOI law+6 w/ regulation, covering 92% of world population. 2 new cos in last year Senegal and Costa Rica.

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Reposted by David Banisar

Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 21d

Explosive insights about Carter-Ruck's tactics to shut down scrutiny of OneCoin's $3 billion crypto fraud after our work with @danneidle.bsky.social @tbij.bsky.social @fpcthinktank.bsky.social including attempts to get an FCA warning notice taken down:
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...

‘Send a clear message’: Carter-Ruck’s dirty tactics on behalf of $4bn…

Stunning new documents lay bare law firm’s attempts to silence whistleblowers and cast doubt on police probe

www.thebureauinvestigates.com

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Reposted by David Banisar

William Shakespeare @shakespeare.lol · 24d

Free speech and fearless I to thee allow.

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Reposted by David Banisar

Pope Abecedarian I @abecedarian.bsky.social · 24d

Tell it to the mouse

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David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 26d

Let us not forget to thank @economist.com for their immortal thoughts

bsky.app/profile/dban...

David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · Jul 22

Just wanted to say that this issue of the @economist.com has aged like a fine cheese, stuck under a lit dumpster, behind a zero star hygiene rated takeaway etc…..

You have surpassed your usual brilliance and the world anxiously awaits your next tour de force.

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David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 26d

But does it rotate with the sun?

m.youtube.com/watch?v=PCYT...

Turkmenbashi Rotating statue

YouTube video by Kim Young

m.youtube.com

David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 26d

Big media news! The @theonion.com and @washingtonpost.com editorial boards are officially merged!

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David Banisar @dbanisar.bsky.social · 27d

A groundbreaking decision from Spain’s Supreme Court on transparency of algorithms and FOI.

Javier de la Cueva @javierdelacueva.es · 27d

Civio pulls back the curtain on public algorithms: Spain’s Supreme Court orders the Government to release BOSCO’s source code vía @civio.es civio.es/novedades/20...

Civio pulls back the curtain on public algorithms: Spain’s Supreme Court orders the Government to release BOSCO’s source code

The precedent-setting ruling states that public decision-making algorithms require transparency and oversight. The court rejects claims that national security or intellectual property can absolutely l...

civio.es

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Reposted by David Banisar

Javier de la Cueva @javierdelacueva.es · 27d

Civio pulls back the curtain on public algorithms: Spain’s Supreme Court orders the Government to release BOSCO’s source code vía @civio.es civio.es/novedades/20...

Civio pulls back the curtain on public algorithms: Spain’s Supreme Court orders the Government to release BOSCO’s source code

The precedent-setting ruling states that public decision-making algorithms require transparency and oversight. The court rejects claims that national security or intellectual property can absolutely l...

civio.es

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