Megan Kirkwood
@megafreda.bsky.social
(she/her) - writing about tech policy, antitrust and competition in digital economies - attempting to leave behind the Zuckerberg apps
https://www.techpolicy.press/author/megan-kirkwood/
https://mastodon.social/@megafreda
https://www.techpolicy.press/author/megan-kirkwood/
https://mastodon.social/@megafreda
"...the false positive rate ... was far lower for white people, at 0.04 per cent. This rose to 4 per cent for Asian people and 5.5 per cent for Black people. ... False positives were highest for Black women, at 9.9 per cent, but close to zero for white men."
Facial recognition technology used by UK police is biased, Home Office admits
Official research showed wrong person identified about 100 times more often for Asian and Black people than white people
giftarticle.ft.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:22 PM
"...the false positive rate ... was far lower for white people, at 0.04 per cent. This rose to 4 per cent for Asian people and 5.5 per cent for Black people. ... False positives were highest for Black women, at 9.9 per cent, but close to zero for white men."
Reposted by Megan Kirkwood
It's not only in the US that the far right and tech monopolies have a strongly aligned agenda. We're watching a direct replay of the cartel playbook leading up to WWII.
Will the deregulation of our digital rights by the EU happen with the support of the far right? 🤨
That's what Meta seems to be aiming for, with 3 lobby meetings with far-right MEPs this week alone.
VDL's deregulation agenda isn't just opening the door to Big Tech, it's inviting the far right in.
That's what Meta seems to be aiming for, with 3 lobby meetings with far-right MEPs this week alone.
VDL's deregulation agenda isn't just opening the door to Big Tech, it's inviting the far right in.
December 12, 2025 at 12:27 PM
It's not only in the US that the far right and tech monopolies have a strongly aligned agenda. We're watching a direct replay of the cartel playbook leading up to WWII.
Really insightful breakdown on the Netflix-Warner Bros Discovery merger
Netflix Is Trying to Buy Warner Bros Discovery. That Would Be a Disaster for America.
Netflix won the bidding war to buy Discovery/Warner Brothers and consolidate Hollywood, but a Netflix-Warner merger looks illegal. It's likely to face meaningful political and antitrust hurdles.
www.thebignewsletter.com
December 5, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Really insightful breakdown on the Netflix-Warner Bros Discovery merger
Reposted by Megan Kirkwood
Netflix’s bid to swallow Warner Bros. Discovery’s studios and streaming business is a raw deal for viewers, writers, creators, theaters.
Our full statement is here: www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications...
Our full statement is here: www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications...
Consolidating Streaming Under Netflix Is Bad for Everyone. US Antitrust Authorities Should Flip the Script & Promote Industry Independence — Open Markets Institute
Netflix’s bid to swallow Warner Bros. Discovery’s studios and streaming business is a raw deal for viewers, writers, creators, theaters. Karina Montoya weighs in.
www.openmarketsinstitute.org
December 5, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Netflix’s bid to swallow Warner Bros. Discovery’s studios and streaming business is a raw deal for viewers, writers, creators, theaters.
Our full statement is here: www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications...
Our full statement is here: www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications...
Reposted by Megan Kirkwood
Meta-what? Never get it, never will, and I was right about not getting it.
Meta’s Zuckerberg Plans Deep Cuts for Metaverse Efforts
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Meta’s Zuckerberg Plans Deep Cuts for Metaverse Efforts
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Meta’s Zuckerberg Plans Deep Cuts for Metaverse Efforts
Meta Platforms Inc.’s Mark Zuckerberg is expected to meaningfully cut resources for building the so-called metaverse, an effort that he once framed as the future of the company and the reason for chan...
www.bloomberg.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Meta-what? Never get it, never will, and I was right about not getting it.
Meta’s Zuckerberg Plans Deep Cuts for Metaverse Efforts
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Meta’s Zuckerberg Plans Deep Cuts for Metaverse Efforts
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Megan Kirkwood
If it was a waste of time and compute (and environmental and power resources) to make useless videos anyway, it’s good that people get tired of it.
Enthusiasm for OpenAI’s Sora Fades After Initial Creative Burst www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Enthusiasm for OpenAI’s Sora Fades After Initial Creative Burst www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Enthusiasm for OpenAI’s Sora Fades After Initial Creative Burst
Welcome to Tech In Depth, our daily newsletter about the business of tech from Bloomberg’s journalists around the world. Today, Ellen Huet reports on OpenAI’s video generator, Sora, after an initial b...
www.bloomberg.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:20 PM
If it was a waste of time and compute (and environmental and power resources) to make useless videos anyway, it’s good that people get tired of it.
Enthusiasm for OpenAI’s Sora Fades After Initial Creative Burst www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Enthusiasm for OpenAI’s Sora Fades After Initial Creative Burst www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Reposted by Megan Kirkwood
Note that none of these fines are related to X’s content policies. Even before the decision was announced, politicians in the US were screeching about “censorship.” That’s either pure ignorance or outright lies. 2/
December 5, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Note that none of these fines are related to X’s content policies. Even before the decision was announced, politicians in the US were screeching about “censorship.” That’s either pure ignorance or outright lies. 2/
Reposted by Megan Kirkwood
In the first in a series of three planned posts on Nvidia’s position in the AI market, Tech Policy Press fellow Megan Kirkwood considers the company’s rise to dominance and the ways it has expanded to become an “AI factory.”
Examining the Source of Nvidia’s Power in the AI Industry | TechPolicy.Press
Tech Policy Press fellow Megan Kirkwood presents the first in a series of three posts on Nvidia’s rise to dominance in the AI industry.
www.techpolicy.press
December 4, 2025 at 6:40 PM
In the first in a series of three planned posts on Nvidia’s position in the AI market, Tech Policy Press fellow Megan Kirkwood considers the company’s rise to dominance and the ways it has expanded to become an “AI factory.”
Back on the old campus @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
December 3, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Back on the old campus @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
Reposted by Megan Kirkwood
Our research on data centres in Scotland picked up by @heraldscotland.bsky.social here:
"data centres use huge amounts of electricity. And if you're using huge amounts of electricity and drawing it from the grid, then it comes with climate emissions.”
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2566...
"data centres use huge amounts of electricity. And if you're using huge amounts of electricity and drawing it from the grid, then it comes with climate emissions.”
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2566...
December 3, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Our research on data centres in Scotland picked up by @heraldscotland.bsky.social here:
"data centres use huge amounts of electricity. And if you're using huge amounts of electricity and drawing it from the grid, then it comes with climate emissions.”
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2566...
"data centres use huge amounts of electricity. And if you're using huge amounts of electricity and drawing it from the grid, then it comes with climate emissions.”
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2566...
"At present Data centres are saying they are ‘Green’ because they use Scotland’s grid electricity. Under that definition every household and business in Scotland is green." If you don't laugh, you cry.
“The data centre boom has a massive energy demand and that results in huge emissions."
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562119...
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562119...
‘Green’ data centres will tear Scotland’s net-zero plans apart, charity warns
A rural charity warns that so-called ‘green’ data centres could consume city-scale energy and derail Scotland’s net-zero ambitions without…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:30 PM
"At present Data centres are saying they are ‘Green’ because they use Scotland’s grid electricity. Under that definition every household and business in Scotland is green." If you don't laugh, you cry.
Reposted by Megan Kirkwood
Two more candidates for DMA designation to assess during the coming weeks:
Commission receives notifications from Apple under the Digital Markets Act
The Commission received notifications from Apple indicating that its core platform services, Apple Ads and Apple Maps, meet the Digital Markets Act (DMA) thresholds.
digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu
November 27, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Two more candidates for DMA designation to assess during the coming weeks:
Reposted by Megan Kirkwood
As EU authorities launch investigations targeting cloud services under the Digital Market Acts, Megan Kirkwood looks at why the Commission is reassessing its approach, how market concentration and switching barriers factor into the probes, and what the inquiries could mean for digital sovereignty.
Cloud Services Face Scrutiny Under the Digital Markets Act | TechPolicy.Press
Megan Kirkwood unpacks the three investigations into cloud-computing services under the Digital Markets Act.
www.techpolicy.press
November 18, 2025 at 8:17 PM
As EU authorities launch investigations targeting cloud services under the Digital Market Acts, Megan Kirkwood looks at why the Commission is reassessing its approach, how market concentration and switching barriers factor into the probes, and what the inquiries could mean for digital sovereignty.
Reposted by Megan Kirkwood
We're in Berlin this week with @eurosky.social and many others for #EuroskyLive, a conference on digital sovereignty, media independence, startup opportunities, and the future of social technology being built and governed in Europe. free-our-feeds.ghost.io/free-our-fee...
Free Our Feeds - Update #5, November 2025
It’s the season for travel. Many of our custodians have traversed North America and Europe the past month, making stops at Attention: Govern or be governed, The Future of Democracy: Speech, Thought, S...
free-our-feeds.ghost.io
November 18, 2025 at 2:34 PM
We're in Berlin this week with @eurosky.social and many others for #EuroskyLive, a conference on digital sovereignty, media independence, startup opportunities, and the future of social technology being built and governed in Europe. free-our-feeds.ghost.io/free-our-fee...
Reposted by Megan Kirkwood
The EU has opened a new probe into Google’s search spam policy under the Digital Markets Act, zeroing in on its “site reputation abuse” policy. Tech Policy Press fellow Megan Kirkwood breaks down what’s behind the case.
Breaking Down the EU’s Investigation into Google’s Search Policy | TechPolicy.Press
The Commission is probing Google’s “site reputation abuse” policy, known as parasite SEO. Tech Policy Press fellow Megan Kirkwood explains its impact.
buff.ly
November 15, 2025 at 11:00 AM
The EU has opened a new probe into Google’s search spam policy under the Digital Markets Act, zeroing in on its “site reputation abuse” policy. Tech Policy Press fellow Megan Kirkwood breaks down what’s behind the case.
Reposted by Megan Kirkwood
The EU has opened a new probe into Google’s search spam policy under the Digital Markets Act, zeroing in on its “site reputation abuse” policy. Tech Policy Press fellow Megan Kirkwood breaks down what’s behind the case.
Breaking Down the EU’s Investigation into Google’s Search Policy | TechPolicy.Press
The Commission is probing Google’s “site reputation abuse” policy, known as parasite SEO. Tech Policy Press fellow Megan Kirkwood explains its impact.
www.techpolicy.press
November 14, 2025 at 3:25 PM
The EU has opened a new probe into Google’s search spam policy under the Digital Markets Act, zeroing in on its “site reputation abuse” policy. Tech Policy Press fellow Megan Kirkwood breaks down what’s behind the case.
@openrightsgroup.org just released a new report (authored by me), "Making Platforms Accountable: Empowering users and creating safety", diagnosing the problem of social media market concentration, providing examples of alternative visions, and recommendations to improve the online environment
Making Platforms Accountable: Empowering users and creating safety
A report and recommendations to improve on the online environment through user empowerment
Social media platforms dominate the online “attention market,” where user engagement and personal data are m...
www.openrightsgroup.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:13 PM
@openrightsgroup.org just released a new report (authored by me), "Making Platforms Accountable: Empowering users and creating safety", diagnosing the problem of social media market concentration, providing examples of alternative visions, and recommendations to improve the online environment
Reposted by Megan Kirkwood
UK government simultaneously replaced expert advice on technology with tech company “consultants” and displaced their civil servants’ experience and expertise into AI models… It’s a disaster & an absolute gift to the tech vendors…
August 22, 2025 at 9:56 AM
UK government simultaneously replaced expert advice on technology with tech company “consultants” and displaced their civil servants’ experience and expertise into AI models… It’s a disaster & an absolute gift to the tech vendors…
"One proposed change would allow companies to claim that their AI training data is legal [...]. This permissiveness would allow Google, Meta, OpenAI and Microsoft to legitimise years of ill-gotten data gains, and make it utterly impossible for European competitors to catch up."
The EU has let US tech giants run riot. Diluting our data law will only entrench their power | Johnny Ryan and Georg Riekeles
The GDPR is Europe’s defence against digital oligarchy and child harm. Deregulation plans are misguided, say Johnny Ryan and Georg Riekeles
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:11 PM
"One proposed change would allow companies to claim that their AI training data is legal [...]. This permissiveness would allow Google, Meta, OpenAI and Microsoft to legitimise years of ill-gotten data gains, and make it utterly impossible for European competitors to catch up."
Excellent winter reading lined up
November 8, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Excellent winter reading lined up
www.opendemocracy.net/en/podcasts/... -Found this really succinct and insightful
How Labour is reducing consumer protections
What can we learn about the future of consumer rights from the merger between Microsoft and Call of Duty publisher Activision Blizzard?
www.opendemocracy.net
November 6, 2025 at 11:55 AM
www.opendemocracy.net/en/podcasts/... -Found this really succinct and insightful
Reposted by Megan Kirkwood
Sheffield Hallam University complied with Beijing demand to halt research about human rights abuses in China, leading to a major project on supply chains and forced labour being dropped. It was reinstated after threat of legal action but chilling effect remains www.theguardian.com/education/20...
UK university halted human rights research after pressure from China
Exclusive: Leading professor at Sheffield Hallam was told to cease research on supply chains and forced labour in China after demands from authorities
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Sheffield Hallam University complied with Beijing demand to halt research about human rights abuses in China, leading to a major project on supply chains and forced labour being dropped. It was reinstated after threat of legal action but chilling effect remains www.theguardian.com/education/20...