Dan Howl
@danhowl.bsky.social
Head of Policy and Public Affairs, BCS | former Labour Party staffer | #AVFC | https://danhowl.substack.com | www.linkedin.com/in/dan-howl/
Great to hear from the Minister for AI & Online Safety, Kanishka Narayan MP last night at Labour Tech, discussing not least the importance of tech sovereignty.
Thanks to Lewis Bailey (@lewisbailey.org), Adam Allnutt @adamallnutt.bsky.social)and the rest of the team for putting on a great event.
Thanks to Lewis Bailey (@lewisbailey.org), Adam Allnutt @adamallnutt.bsky.social)and the rest of the team for putting on a great event.
January 14, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Great to hear from the Minister for AI & Online Safety, Kanishka Narayan MP last night at Labour Tech, discussing not least the importance of tech sovereignty.
Thanks to Lewis Bailey (@lewisbailey.org), Adam Allnutt @adamallnutt.bsky.social)and the rest of the team for putting on a great event.
Thanks to Lewis Bailey (@lewisbailey.org), Adam Allnutt @adamallnutt.bsky.social)and the rest of the team for putting on a great event.
Very interesting polling out today - Starmer very well placed when compared to named alternatives.
This is far more relevant than looking at the simple polls on Starmer’s (relative) unpopularity in a vacuum - you can’t vote for ‘Not Starmer’.
This is far more relevant than looking at the simple polls on Starmer’s (relative) unpopularity in a vacuum - you can’t vote for ‘Not Starmer’.
Who would make the best PM?
Starmer 36% vs Farage 29%
Starmer 28% vs Badenoch 28%
Starmer 21% vs Polanski 19%
Badenoch 31% vs Farage 21%
Badenoch 28% vs Davey 25%
Badenoch 28% vs Polanski 22%
Davey 33% vs Farage 27%
Davey 23% vs Starmer 19%
Davey 20% vs Polanski 15%
Polanski 28% vs Farage 27%
Starmer 36% vs Farage 29%
Starmer 28% vs Badenoch 28%
Starmer 21% vs Polanski 19%
Badenoch 31% vs Farage 21%
Badenoch 28% vs Davey 25%
Badenoch 28% vs Polanski 22%
Davey 33% vs Farage 27%
Davey 23% vs Starmer 19%
Davey 20% vs Polanski 15%
Polanski 28% vs Farage 27%
January 12, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Very interesting polling out today - Starmer very well placed when compared to named alternatives.
This is far more relevant than looking at the simple polls on Starmer’s (relative) unpopularity in a vacuum - you can’t vote for ‘Not Starmer’.
This is far more relevant than looking at the simple polls on Starmer’s (relative) unpopularity in a vacuum - you can’t vote for ‘Not Starmer’.
Reposted by Dan Howl
7 million people in the UK used X daily in May 2025 (down from 9 million two years earlier) for an average of 6 minutes a day (down from 10 minutes two years earlier)
Government ministers are misinformed so dramatically overestimate/exaggerate its reach & usage compared to other media
Government ministers are misinformed so dramatically overestimate/exaggerate its reach & usage compared to other media
January 9, 2026 at 6:35 PM
7 million people in the UK used X daily in May 2025 (down from 9 million two years earlier) for an average of 6 minutes a day (down from 10 minutes two years earlier)
Government ministers are misinformed so dramatically overestimate/exaggerate its reach & usage compared to other media
Government ministers are misinformed so dramatically overestimate/exaggerate its reach & usage compared to other media
“In the UK, the social media site recorded a 58.3% fall in revenues from £69.1m in 2023 to £28.9m last year
Pre-tax profits plunged from £2.2m to £767,000 year-on-year.”
Pre-tax profits plunged from £2.2m to £767,000 year-on-year.”
January 9, 2026 at 9:05 PM
“In the UK, the social media site recorded a 58.3% fall in revenues from £69.1m in 2023 to £28.9m last year
Pre-tax profits plunged from £2.2m to £767,000 year-on-year.”
Pre-tax profits plunged from £2.2m to £767,000 year-on-year.”
One of the most powerful Trade Unions in the US is proposing a wealth tax on billionaires in California.
A one off 5% tax on those worth more than $1Bn.
That's ~200 people who hold $2 trillion in wealth.
It's supported by the representative for Silicon Valley but opposed by Governor Gavin Newson.
A one off 5% tax on those worth more than $1Bn.
That's ~200 people who hold $2 trillion in wealth.
It's supported by the representative for Silicon Valley but opposed by Governor Gavin Newson.
January 9, 2026 at 3:31 PM
One of the most powerful Trade Unions in the US is proposing a wealth tax on billionaires in California.
A one off 5% tax on those worth more than $1Bn.
That's ~200 people who hold $2 trillion in wealth.
It's supported by the representative for Silicon Valley but opposed by Governor Gavin Newson.
A one off 5% tax on those worth more than $1Bn.
That's ~200 people who hold $2 trillion in wealth.
It's supported by the representative for Silicon Valley but opposed by Governor Gavin Newson.
The Grok issue was so dangerous because so many users on Twitter didn’t sign up to be on that kind of site.
Millions of people signed up over the years to engage with friends, follow celebrities and be part of something normal.
And now they’re being exposed to content that can cause real harm.
Millions of people signed up over the years to engage with friends, follow celebrities and be part of something normal.
And now they’re being exposed to content that can cause real harm.
If a new app was produced which had, as its core features, the generation of sexual deep fake images of children and calls for a violent global far-right revolution, then not only would it be swiftly banned, but you wouldn't have a single mainstream politician willing to associate themselves with it
January 9, 2026 at 2:38 PM
The Grok issue was so dangerous because so many users on Twitter didn’t sign up to be on that kind of site.
Millions of people signed up over the years to engage with friends, follow celebrities and be part of something normal.
And now they’re being exposed to content that can cause real harm.
Millions of people signed up over the years to engage with friends, follow celebrities and be part of something normal.
And now they’re being exposed to content that can cause real harm.
It’s good to see (some) European solidarity today.
My solitary Substack was about why Britain should look to Europe, not just California for tech answers.
Beyond Silicon Valley:
substack.com/@danhowl/not...
My solitary Substack was about why Britain should look to Europe, not just California for tech answers.
Beyond Silicon Valley:
substack.com/@danhowl/not...
Beyond Silicon Valley:
Why Starmer should look to Europe, not just California, to secure Britain’s digital future.
substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 5:32 PM
It’s good to see (some) European solidarity today.
My solitary Substack was about why Britain should look to Europe, not just California for tech answers.
Beyond Silicon Valley:
substack.com/@danhowl/not...
My solitary Substack was about why Britain should look to Europe, not just California for tech answers.
Beyond Silicon Valley:
substack.com/@danhowl/not...
Really good piece in The Times today from our CEO on the Grok nudification issue.
Excellent op-ed in the Times today from the BCS's Sharron Gunn on the #Grok scandal. ⬇️ www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
January 6, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Really good piece in The Times today from our CEO on the Grok nudification issue.