William Perrin
@willperrin.bsky.social
Trustee at Indigo Trust, CarnegieUK. Formerly Good Things Foundation, TPW, UK Civil Service (No10, Cabinet Office, DtI, DCMS). Defence, tech, online safety, rural, tractors, cats etc.
Reposted by William Perrin
Ofcom has launched a new investigation into whether social media platforms are doing enough to identify and remove illegal terror and hate content
It comes after a cross-party group of MPs wrote to the regulator demanding action against antisemitism on X, reports @zoecrowther.bsky.social
It comes after a cross-party group of MPs wrote to the regulator demanding action against antisemitism on X, reports @zoecrowther.bsky.social
Ofcom Launches Investigation Into Social Media Major Platforms Over Illegal Hate Content
Internet regulator Ofcom has launched a new investigation into whether social media platforms are doing enough to identify and take down illegal te...
www.politicshome.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Ofcom has launched a new investigation into whether social media platforms are doing enough to identify and remove illegal terror and hate content
It comes after a cross-party group of MPs wrote to the regulator demanding action against antisemitism on X, reports @zoecrowther.bsky.social
It comes after a cross-party group of MPs wrote to the regulator demanding action against antisemitism on X, reports @zoecrowther.bsky.social
excellent
Rightly lots of debates about growth this weekend - rightly because it was low productivity growth that saw wages entirely flatline during the 2010s.
December 1, 2025 at 8:51 AM
excellent
Reposted by William Perrin
Anyway from now on we can all legitimately call Reform the "Black Shirts" - given they're flogging them to their actual members.
What an own goal!
Geddit?
What an own goal!
Geddit?
It takes a special kind of right-wing British political party to literally sell black shirts.
Are you going to tell them?
Or shall I?
Are you going to tell them?
Or shall I?
November 28, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Anyway from now on we can all legitimately call Reform the "Black Shirts" - given they're flogging them to their actual members.
What an own goal!
Geddit?
What an own goal!
Geddit?
Reposted by William Perrin
It’s kind of incredible that The Onion’s aiming to surpass the Washington Post in print circulation but I’m here for it.
Here's a note I sent to our members about what we did with their money, and why we expect the Onion to outgrow the Washington Post.
We keep doing weird, hard shit — taunting ICE, yelling at Congress for not taunting ICE, buying bad websites — when nobody else does.
Our members keep getting papers.
We keep doing weird, hard shit — taunting ICE, yelling at Congress for not taunting ICE, buying bad websites — when nobody else does.
Our members keep getting papers.
November 28, 2025 at 11:15 PM
It’s kind of incredible that The Onion’s aiming to surpass the Washington Post in print circulation but I’m here for it.
Reposted by William Perrin
New article inspired by the recent hoopla surrounding Karen Hao's book (re: water use). I argue that "no one should look to the EA community as exemplifying good habits of epistemic and moral conduct." Here's why: www.realtimetechpocalypse.com/p/how-effect...
How Effective Altruists Use Threats and Harassment to Silence Their Critics
How does the Effective Altruist community respond to critics? With threats and harassment. Even people who still call themselves "Effective Altruists" are afraid to openly criticize the community.
www.realtimetechpocalypse.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:26 PM
New article inspired by the recent hoopla surrounding Karen Hao's book (re: water use). I argue that "no one should look to the EA community as exemplifying good habits of epistemic and moral conduct." Here's why: www.realtimetechpocalypse.com/p/how-effect...
Reposted by William Perrin
This boat, now in IWM London, came from a vessel that was attacked by a German naval raider in 1940. The raider's captain ordered his men to fire on survivors in other boats. He was later convicted of war crimes and died in prison.
Something certain people might like to reflect on.
Something certain people might like to reflect on.
November 28, 2025 at 9:57 PM
This boat, now in IWM London, came from a vessel that was attacked by a German naval raider in 1940. The raider's captain ordered his men to fire on survivors in other boats. He was later convicted of war crimes and died in prison.
Something certain people might like to reflect on.
Something certain people might like to reflect on.
Reposted by William Perrin
The markets are staying afloat right now on the hope that AI will destroy American workers. What a bleak thing.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/b...
November 28, 2025 at 5:15 PM
The markets are staying afloat right now on the hope that AI will destroy American workers. What a bleak thing.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/b...
Reposted by William Perrin
if Zillow Ed is saying you've not only done crimes but that an OLC opinion won't immunize you, you may want to start making travel plans to a non-extradition country that also ignores the ICC
Does Pete Hegseth have a "golden shield" against prosecution in the form of a DOJ OLC opinion? Ed Whelan thinks not.
November 28, 2025 at 11:01 PM
if Zillow Ed is saying you've not only done crimes but that an OLC opinion won't immunize you, you may want to start making travel plans to a non-extradition country that also ignores the ICC
Reposted by William Perrin
je vindt het leuk om het te zien
Dutch public broadcaster NOS quits X over disinformation reut.rs/3KpybRU
Dutch public broadcaster NOS quits X over disinformation
Dutch public broadcaster NOS on Tuesday said it had stopped posting on Elon Musk's social media platform X, as it said it did not want to facilitate the spreading of disinformation.
reut.rs
November 25, 2025 at 9:35 PM
je vindt het leuk om het te zien
Reposted by William Perrin
Is OpenAI a turkey because this headline is a stonecold murder
OpenAI needs to raise at least $207bn by 2030 so it can continue to lose money, HSBC estimates on.ft.com/4ij0yh8
OpenAI needs to raise at least $207bn by 2030 so it can continue to lose money, HSBC estimates
A burning platform
on.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Is OpenAI a turkey because this headline is a stonecold murder
Reposted by William Perrin
OpenAI needs to raise at least $207bn by 2030 so it can continue to lose money, HSBC estimates on.ft.com/4ij0yh8
OpenAI needs to raise at least $207bn by 2030 so it can continue to lose money, HSBC estimates
A burning platform
on.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:42 PM
OpenAI needs to raise at least $207bn by 2030 so it can continue to lose money, HSBC estimates on.ft.com/4ij0yh8
Reposted by William Perrin
Spoke to a number of devs about how, in the face of CEOs claiming gen-AI is the future, their declaration of being genAI free is making waves.
Indie game developers have a new sales pitch: being ‘AI free’
Indie game developers have a new sales pitch: being ‘AI free’
“We can produce results that meet our quality standards without its assistance.”
buff.ly
November 24, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Spoke to a number of devs about how, in the face of CEOs claiming gen-AI is the future, their declaration of being genAI free is making waves.
Reposted by William Perrin
It's also vastly easier and cheaper for media outlets to produce culture war content than policy stuff.
With policy, you have to find actual experts that are available and willing, then pray they're good entertaining communicators.
On culture shit, you start with a talking head and work backwards.
With policy, you have to find actual experts that are available and willing, then pray they're good entertaining communicators.
On culture shit, you start with a talking head and work backwards.
This chart (which applies even more to social media than it did to TV) lives in my head rent free.
Social media enveloping traditional media means everything and everyone is now competing in the entertainment market. Boring stuff like policy that affects millions of lives doesn’t stand a chance.
Social media enveloping traditional media means everything and everyone is now competing in the entertainment market. Boring stuff like policy that affects millions of lives doesn’t stand a chance.
November 23, 2025 at 8:37 PM
It's also vastly easier and cheaper for media outlets to produce culture war content than policy stuff.
With policy, you have to find actual experts that are available and willing, then pray they're good entertaining communicators.
On culture shit, you start with a talking head and work backwards.
With policy, you have to find actual experts that are available and willing, then pray they're good entertaining communicators.
On culture shit, you start with a talking head and work backwards.
Reposted by William Perrin
There's a reason why major social media platforms, including Twitter pre-Elon, spent time and resources on "countering foreign influence" or "coordinated inauthentic behavior."
But then Tai bi, Shellenberger, Weiss, Benz, and Jordan showed up claiming that was the "censorship industrial complex"
But then Tai bi, Shellenberger, Weiss, Benz, and Jordan showed up claiming that was the "censorship industrial complex"
NEWS: I spent the past 24 hours going through major MAGA accounts on Twitter, and a bombshell development has become clear: most of the right-wing ecosphere is being fed propaganda from foreign actors.
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
NEWS: Major MAGA Accounts on Twitter Exposed as Foreign Actors
A stunning development over the past 24 hours.
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:59 PM
There's a reason why major social media platforms, including Twitter pre-Elon, spent time and resources on "countering foreign influence" or "coordinated inauthentic behavior."
But then Tai bi, Shellenberger, Weiss, Benz, and Jordan showed up claiming that was the "censorship industrial complex"
But then Tai bi, Shellenberger, Weiss, Benz, and Jordan showed up claiming that was the "censorship industrial complex"
Reposted by William Perrin
The EU has published a world-first risk landscape report under the #DSA.
It flags systemic risks on big platforms — from illegal content to generative AI— and tracks how platforms are addressing them.
More transparency. More accountability.
A safer online space for all.
link.europa.eu/NKM4yd
It flags systemic risks on big platforms — from illegal content to generative AI— and tracks how platforms are addressing them.
More transparency. More accountability.
A safer online space for all.
link.europa.eu/NKM4yd
November 23, 2025 at 9:13 AM
The EU has published a world-first risk landscape report under the #DSA.
It flags systemic risks on big platforms — from illegal content to generative AI— and tracks how platforms are addressing them.
More transparency. More accountability.
A safer online space for all.
link.europa.eu/NKM4yd
It flags systemic risks on big platforms — from illegal content to generative AI— and tracks how platforms are addressing them.
More transparency. More accountability.
A safer online space for all.
link.europa.eu/NKM4yd
Reposted by William Perrin
Marcy's take is much better and ties together the three most confusing things going on!
"Groceries," and Other Secrets of Managing Donald Trump - emptywheel
Three developments that have befuddled observers -- Trump's fawning praise of Zohran Mamdani, Kirill Dmitriev's latest success at manipulating Trump advisors, and Marjorie Taylor Greene's departure --...
www.emptywheel.net
November 23, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Marcy's take is much better and ties together the three most confusing things going on!
Reposted by William Perrin
Reposted by William Perrin
"Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations."
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations."
November 22, 2025 at 1:31 PM
"Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations."
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations."
Reposted by William Perrin
CDC has switched sides in the war on infectious disease, now taking the side of the diseases
CDC has overhauled its website to assert that “the claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim”
November 20, 2025 at 6:23 PM
CDC has switched sides in the war on infectious disease, now taking the side of the diseases
Reposted by William Perrin
BREAKING: Reform UK's former Welsh leader and close Nigel Farage associate, Nathan Gill, sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison for repeatedly taking bribes to spread pro-Russian propaganda
November 21, 2025 at 12:52 PM
BREAKING: Reform UK's former Welsh leader and close Nigel Farage associate, Nathan Gill, sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison for repeatedly taking bribes to spread pro-Russian propaganda
Reposted by William Perrin
🚨 BREAKING: Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform UK in Wales, gets 10.5 years for Russia-linked #bribery offences.
⚖️ This is the first time a British politician has ever been convicted of bribery.
👉 Follow us for more from the courtroom later today.
⚖️ This is the first time a British politician has ever been convicted of bribery.
👉 Follow us for more from the courtroom later today.
📹 Zainab Saleem, Spotlight's Legal Fellow, will be down at the Old Bailey today for the sentencing of #NathanGill, the former Reform UK leader in Wales who pleaded guilty to 8️⃣ #bribery charges in September. Here Zainab outlines the case and explains why it matters for UK democracy.
November 21, 2025 at 12:53 PM
🚨 BREAKING: Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform UK in Wales, gets 10.5 years for Russia-linked #bribery offences.
⚖️ This is the first time a British politician has ever been convicted of bribery.
👉 Follow us for more from the courtroom later today.
⚖️ This is the first time a British politician has ever been convicted of bribery.
👉 Follow us for more from the courtroom later today.
Reposted by William Perrin
He just tweeted it out
An X user asks Elon Musk why they’re seeing tweets from left-wing lawmakers.
Musk: “Because we are failing very badly with the recommendations algorithm. Doing my best to address this.”
Musk: “Because we are failing very badly with the recommendations algorithm. Doing my best to address this.”
November 21, 2025 at 12:50 PM
He just tweeted it out
great stuff
The first in a set of posts with some thoughts about Public Service Broadcasting in the context of Charter Review. This one is on a platform for UK content and rules on due prominence All comments/views welcome.
open.substack.com/pub/ianmoss/...
open.substack.com/pub/ianmoss/...
A platform for UK content and prominence for UK broadcasting.
Earlier this year I spoke with people across broadcasting and media policy — officials, advisors, industry figures — to gauge early thinking on the BBC Charter Review due to conclude in 2026 and to tr...
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:05 PM
great stuff
Reposted by William Perrin
Cryptocurrency backed by Farage donor is used for Russian war effort, investigators say
Tether tokens found to facilitate scheme that enables sanctions evasion and launders money for the Kremlin
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Tether tokens found to facilitate scheme that enables sanctions evasion and launders money for the Kremlin
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Cryptocurrency backed by Farage donor is used for Russian war effort, investigators say
Tether tokens found to facilitate scheme that enables sanctions evasion and launders money for the Kremlin
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Cryptocurrency backed by Farage donor is used for Russian war effort, investigators say
Tether tokens found to facilitate scheme that enables sanctions evasion and launders money for the Kremlin
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Tether tokens found to facilitate scheme that enables sanctions evasion and launders money for the Kremlin
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by William Perrin
What I've been noticing lately in convos with students is that they *despise* the AI-slopification of everything as much or even more than I do. And yet our universities & their admin seem to believe that students for some reason want it integrated into everything. THEY DON'T.
“To be sat there with this material in front of you that is just really not worth anyone’s time, when you could be spending that time actually engaging with something worthwhile, is really frustrating,” he said.
‘We could have asked ChatGPT’: students fight back over course taught by AI
Staffordshire students say signs material was AI-generated included suspicious file names and rogue voiceover accent
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:38 PM
What I've been noticing lately in convos with students is that they *despise* the AI-slopification of everything as much or even more than I do. And yet our universities & their admin seem to believe that students for some reason want it integrated into everything. THEY DON'T.