Ben Farrand
@benfarrand.bsky.social
Prof in Law & Emerging Technologies. Interactions between law, geopolitics and technology governance. Currently writing about EU Digital Sovereignty. Probably just here to post synthwave and talk about microchips.
CJEI: no, no, don’t you see, surveillance IS privacy!
December 2, 2025 at 3:03 PM
CJEI: no, no, don’t you see, surveillance IS privacy!
Reposted by Ben Farrand
Reposted by Ben Farrand
🧵🚨
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.
Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
1/11
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.
Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
1/11
UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation
Seven in ten Britons say it is important for top scientific institutions to be independent in exclusive new polling.
www.ucl.ac.uk
October 9, 2025 at 3:47 PM
🧵🚨
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.
Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
1/11
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.
Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
1/11
Reposted by Ben Farrand
Thrilled to share my new short-form piece with the BISA ISET WG 🚀
My piece explores how AI governance needs to move past rigid, one-size-fits-all frameworks and embrace more adaptive, context-sensitive pathways.
Grateful to @mybisa.bsky.social and @benfarrand.bsky.social for this opportunity
My piece explores how AI governance needs to move past rigid, one-size-fits-all frameworks and embrace more adaptive, context-sensitive pathways.
Grateful to @mybisa.bsky.social and @benfarrand.bsky.social for this opportunity
Out now! A fantastic new BISA International Studies and Emerging Technologies Working Group short-form article 🎉
'Beyond frameworks: Alternative pathways for AI governance in a fragmented world' by Alp Cenk Arslan, PhD 📚
Read here 👉 https://ow.ly/uzcN50X5sVi
Ben Farrand
'Beyond frameworks: Alternative pathways for AI governance in a fragmented world' by Alp Cenk Arslan, PhD 📚
Read here 👉 https://ow.ly/uzcN50X5sVi
Ben Farrand
October 2, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Thrilled to share my new short-form piece with the BISA ISET WG 🚀
My piece explores how AI governance needs to move past rigid, one-size-fits-all frameworks and embrace more adaptive, context-sensitive pathways.
Grateful to @mybisa.bsky.social and @benfarrand.bsky.social for this opportunity
My piece explores how AI governance needs to move past rigid, one-size-fits-all frameworks and embrace more adaptive, context-sensitive pathways.
Grateful to @mybisa.bsky.social and @benfarrand.bsky.social for this opportunity
Reposted by Ben Farrand
Out now! A fantastic new BISA International Studies and Emerging Technologies Working Group short-form article 🎉
'Beyond frameworks: Alternative pathways for AI governance in a fragmented world' by Alp Cenk Arslan, PhD 📚
Read here 👉 https://ow.ly/uzcN50X5sVi
Ben Farrand
'Beyond frameworks: Alternative pathways for AI governance in a fragmented world' by Alp Cenk Arslan, PhD 📚
Read here 👉 https://ow.ly/uzcN50X5sVi
Ben Farrand
October 2, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Out now! A fantastic new BISA International Studies and Emerging Technologies Working Group short-form article 🎉
'Beyond frameworks: Alternative pathways for AI governance in a fragmented world' by Alp Cenk Arslan, PhD 📚
Read here 👉 https://ow.ly/uzcN50X5sVi
Ben Farrand
'Beyond frameworks: Alternative pathways for AI governance in a fragmented world' by Alp Cenk Arslan, PhD 📚
Read here 👉 https://ow.ly/uzcN50X5sVi
Ben Farrand
Reposted by Ben Farrand
Last chance to sign up! ⏰
Sign up to join the new International Studies and Emerging Technologies WG convenors as they introduce themselves, give a short presentation and set the agenda for this year! 🎉
Register here 👉 buff.ly/4nl02IH
@benfarrand.bsky.social
Sign up to join the new International Studies and Emerging Technologies WG convenors as they introduce themselves, give a short presentation and set the agenda for this year! 🎉
Register here 👉 buff.ly/4nl02IH
@benfarrand.bsky.social
What does the von der Leyen II Commission hold for EU digital sovereignty?- International Studies and Emerging Technologies Working Group (ISET) | BISA
- International Studies and Emerging Technologies Working Group (ISET) Working Group
buff.ly
September 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Last chance to sign up! ⏰
Sign up to join the new International Studies and Emerging Technologies WG convenors as they introduce themselves, give a short presentation and set the agenda for this year! 🎉
Register here 👉 buff.ly/4nl02IH
@benfarrand.bsky.social
Sign up to join the new International Studies and Emerging Technologies WG convenors as they introduce themselves, give a short presentation and set the agenda for this year! 🎉
Register here 👉 buff.ly/4nl02IH
@benfarrand.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Farrand
Make sure you sign up to join the new International Studies and Emerging Technologies WG convenors as they introduce themselves, give a short presentation and set the agenda for this year! 🎉
Register here 👉 buff.ly/qBpUNff
@benfarrand.bsky.social
Register here 👉 buff.ly/qBpUNff
@benfarrand.bsky.social
What does the von der Leyen II Commission hold for EU digital sovereignty?- International Studies and Emerging Technologies Working Group (ISET) | BISA
- International Studies and Emerging Technologies Working Group (ISET) Working Group
buff.ly
September 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Make sure you sign up to join the new International Studies and Emerging Technologies WG convenors as they introduce themselves, give a short presentation and set the agenda for this year! 🎉
Register here 👉 buff.ly/qBpUNff
@benfarrand.bsky.social
Register here 👉 buff.ly/qBpUNff
@benfarrand.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Farrand
Clean Industrial Deal… or Dirty Industrial Deal? The so-called #CID may sound green — but it’s not clean and definitely not climate-friendly. Born out of heavy polluter lobbying, it weakens rules and funnels public money to big industry, while ignoring real climate solutions.
August 26, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Clean Industrial Deal… or Dirty Industrial Deal? The so-called #CID may sound green — but it’s not clean and definitely not climate-friendly. Born out of heavy polluter lobbying, it weakens rules and funnels public money to big industry, while ignoring real climate solutions.
Reposted by Ben Farrand
@benfarrand.bsky.social & Dr Mike Bourne are the new International Studies and Emerging Technologies WG conveners! 🌟
They are calling for expressions of interest! Presenting work, writing small articles and discussing your work-in-progress 🎉
Find out more here 👉
They are calling for expressions of interest! Presenting work, writing small articles and discussing your work-in-progress 🎉
Find out more here 👉
New conveners and call for expressions of interest- International Studies and Emerging Technologies Working Group (ISET) | BISA
- International Studies and Emerging Technologies Working Group (ISET) Working Group
buff.ly
August 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
@benfarrand.bsky.social & Dr Mike Bourne are the new International Studies and Emerging Technologies WG conveners! 🌟
They are calling for expressions of interest! Presenting work, writing small articles and discussing your work-in-progress 🎉
Find out more here 👉
They are calling for expressions of interest! Presenting work, writing small articles and discussing your work-in-progress 🎉
Find out more here 👉
Slightly diminish a band:
Jane’s Craving
Jane’s Craving
Slightly diminish a band:
Perturbed Against the Machine
Perturbed Against the Machine
Slightly diminish a band:
Mild Chilli Pepper
Mild Chilli Pepper
August 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Slightly diminish a band:
Jane’s Craving
Jane’s Craving
‘I’m not owned, I’m not owned’ I continue to insist as I slowly shrink tariffs on corncobs.
April 9, 2025 at 6:43 PM
‘I’m not owned, I’m not owned’ I continue to insist as I slowly shrink tariffs on corncobs.
You’re charging me $5 dollars for drinking the coffee I bought? No, you’re paying ME $5 dollars so I can drink that coffee. Also I’m charging you for that mug.
April 9, 2025 at 5:21 AM
You’re charging me $5 dollars for drinking the coffee I bought? No, you’re paying ME $5 dollars so I can drink that coffee. Also I’m charging you for that mug.
Whether this is the ‘death of globalisation’ ultimately depends on how you understand globalisation. 🧵
April 7, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Whether this is the ‘death of globalisation’ ultimately depends on how you understand globalisation. 🧵
So, seems as good a time as any to announce it, if you’re interested in the EU’s digital sovereignty agenda and how it has shaped technology regulation, my book ‘Geopolitical Union: Europe’s Attempt to Regain Control of Technology Regulation’ is under contract with Cambridge University Press!
March 16, 2025 at 6:51 AM
So, seems as good a time as any to announce it, if you’re interested in the EU’s digital sovereignty agenda and how it has shaped technology regulation, my book ‘Geopolitical Union: Europe’s Attempt to Regain Control of Technology Regulation’ is under contract with Cambridge University Press!
Maybe I should start using this thing. Got a lot to say about digital sovereignty, and I guess this is as good a place as any to talk about it.
a cartoon batman is holding his hand to his face and says " hmm "
Alt: a cartoon batman is holding his hand to his face and says " hmm "
media.tenor.com
February 14, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Maybe I should start using this thing. Got a lot to say about digital sovereignty, and I guess this is as good a place as any to talk about it.
Reposted by Ben Farrand
Delighted to find out that not everyone is tired of reading about European strategic autonomy in security & defence: Monika Sus and I wrote about this (open access) in @europeansecurity.bsky.social and it's become the most-read article over the past year www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
(Not) Coming of age? Unpacking the European Union’s quest for strategic autonomy in security and defence
Russia’s large-scale aggression against Ukraine brought back the debate about the European Union’s strategic autonomy ambitions in security and defence. The notion had slipped off the EU’s radar fo...
www.tandfonline.com
January 14, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Delighted to find out that not everyone is tired of reading about European strategic autonomy in security & defence: Monika Sus and I wrote about this (open access) in @europeansecurity.bsky.social and it's become the most-read article over the past year www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Ben Farrand
I present the full delegations for the UK-EU PPA
PDF version: bit.ly/UshGraphic135
Some comments in order
1/
PDF version: bit.ly/UshGraphic135
Some comments in order
1/
December 12, 2024 at 3:59 PM
I present the full delegations for the UK-EU PPA
PDF version: bit.ly/UshGraphic135
Some comments in order
1/
PDF version: bit.ly/UshGraphic135
Some comments in order
1/
Reposted by Ben Farrand
🚨🚨 A new report by @thecitp.bsky.social shows that #Brexit deals £3bn blow to UK food exports as British food sales to the EU have fallen by almost a fifth since the end of the Brexit transition period. Grim #brexitdisaster 🧵
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Brexit hits UK food exports by £3bn as Starmer urged to strike deal with Brussels
British food sales to the EU have fallen by almost a fifth since the end of the Brexit transition period, a new report shows
www.independent.co.uk
December 4, 2024 at 7:30 AM
🚨🚨 A new report by @thecitp.bsky.social shows that #Brexit deals £3bn blow to UK food exports as British food sales to the EU have fallen by almost a fifth since the end of the Brexit transition period. Grim #brexitdisaster 🧵
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Random thought of the day: does an interest in cyberpunk engender an interest in cybersecurity, or does an interest in cybersecurity engender an interest in cyberpunk?
a robot with a flashlight and a sticker that says ' warning '
Alt: a robot with a flashlight and a sticker dancing like a hunting cat, as a cyborg responds in kind
media.tenor.com
December 4, 2024 at 8:53 AM
Random thought of the day: does an interest in cyberpunk engender an interest in cybersecurity, or does an interest in cybersecurity engender an interest in cyberpunk?
Optimist: The cup is half full
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
Law and technology scholar: cups may appear neutral but their contents are anything but, so we must regulate the structure of these cups according to our preferred liquids
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
Law and technology scholar: cups may appear neutral but their contents are anything but, so we must regulate the structure of these cups according to our preferred liquids
November 25, 2024 at 12:54 PM
Optimist: The cup is half full
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
Law and technology scholar: cups may appear neutral but their contents are anything but, so we must regulate the structure of these cups according to our preferred liquids
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
Law and technology scholar: cups may appear neutral but their contents are anything but, so we must regulate the structure of these cups according to our preferred liquids
Reposted by Ben Farrand
Can someone please do a starter pack of 🇪🇺 watchers and include me on it? ☺️😃🤷🏾🙈. I'll do it if I have to 😝
November 12, 2024 at 10:28 AM
Can someone please do a starter pack of 🇪🇺 watchers and include me on it? ☺️😃🤷🏾🙈. I'll do it if I have to 😝
Reposted by Ben Farrand
🚨🚨 "In today's let the never-ending misery continue", Jack Simpson and Angela Giuffrida has a depressing #brexitreality report on how EU plant exporters are turning backs on UK over post-Brexit border checks due to delays and trading costs.🧵 www.theguardian.com/business/202...
EU plant exporters turning backs on UK over post-Brexit border checks, says trade group
Trading relationships at ‘breaking point’ because of delays and costs, garden centres and nurseries warn
www.theguardian.com
September 25, 2024 at 12:46 PM
🚨🚨 "In today's let the never-ending misery continue", Jack Simpson and Angela Giuffrida has a depressing #brexitreality report on how EU plant exporters are turning backs on UK over post-Brexit border checks due to delays and trading costs.🧵 www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Ben Farrand
🚨Heavy but very powerful read by extremely brave Dr Dániel András Karsai claiming the right to end his life "like the trees" standing and with "dignity instead of enduring meaningless suffering".
November 3, 2023 at 5:51 PM
🚨Heavy but very powerful read by extremely brave Dr Dániel András Karsai claiming the right to end his life "like the trees" standing and with "dignity instead of enduring meaningless suffering".