Ignacio Castro
@ignactro.eurosky.social
(Mostly) Internet data science.
Lecturer (aka Assistant Prof.) at QMUL and IRTF chair of RASP RG. My orthography is creative, no typos here.
Lecturer (aka Assistant Prof.) at QMUL and IRTF chair of RASP RG. My orthography is creative, no typos here.
Pinned
Ignacio Castro
@ignactro.eurosky.social
· Jan 19
If you're curious about the growth of @bsky.app, a few of us published a paper using April'24 data. Since, all stats have gone through the roof... arxiv.org/pdf/2408.12449
More than 5xusers and well beyond 300K starter packs since April 2024. How did Bluesky looked before the stampede out of X?👇 [1/n]
Reposted by Ignacio Castro
A cartoon by Patrick McKelvie. #NewYorkerCartoons
February 17, 2026 at 10:00 PM
A cartoon by Patrick McKelvie. #NewYorkerCartoons
Reposted by Ignacio Castro
The one thing left for Britain is soft power, as the country slowly fades into dumb chauvinism and stagnation.
They decided to dismantle that too.
They decided to dismantle that too.
BBC's Arabic radio service in Lebanon closed after 85 years as part of a £28.5m savings drive. 'Just months later, in October 2023, the Russian state-owned Sputnik news agency took over the frequency. Its news bulletin opened with “This is Moscow”, replacing the previous “This is London” intro.' 🙄
BBC warns Russia is taking over World Service radio frequencies
Russian propaganda is filling the void where the BBC has closed World Service radio services due to cuts
inews.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 7:14 PM
The one thing left for Britain is soft power, as the country slowly fades into dumb chauvinism and stagnation.
They decided to dismantle that too.
They decided to dismantle that too.
Reposted by Ignacio Castro
Check out the latest edition of my @financialtimes.com newsletter (1/2)
Britain's penchant for self-destruction:
as.ft.com/r/a17bbe0e-b...
With insights from @peterallen.bsky.social, Tina Fordham and Kallum Pickering
Britain's penchant for self-destruction:
as.ft.com/r/a17bbe0e-b...
With insights from @peterallen.bsky.social, Tina Fordham and Kallum Pickering
February 15, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Check out the latest edition of my @financialtimes.com newsletter (1/2)
Britain's penchant for self-destruction:
as.ft.com/r/a17bbe0e-b...
With insights from @peterallen.bsky.social, Tina Fordham and Kallum Pickering
Britain's penchant for self-destruction:
as.ft.com/r/a17bbe0e-b...
With insights from @peterallen.bsky.social, Tina Fordham and Kallum Pickering
Reposted by Ignacio Castro
"A review of the published documents reveals a pronounced double standard: tech platform employees’ names are systematically redacted, while civil society participants and commission officials remain fully identified"
February 14, 2026 at 7:37 AM
"A review of the published documents reveals a pronounced double standard: tech platform employees’ names are systematically redacted, while civil society participants and commission officials remain fully identified"
Eurosky-ing feels good
Hello! Update on eurosky[.]social accounts.
- PDS is ready with backups and observability
- We've onboarded a small number of testers to see how things are holding up
- We'll start sending invites to folks who registered in the next few days
We're doing this slowly, here's why 👇
#eurosky
- PDS is ready with backups and observability
- We've onboarded a small number of testers to see how things are holding up
- We'll start sending invites to folks who registered in the next few days
We're doing this slowly, here's why 👇
#eurosky
February 11, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Eurosky-ing feels good
Reposted by Ignacio Castro
Google are *proactively* supporting ICE by voluntarily providing data without legal requirement to do so.
Look at this list: "Google also turned over Thomas-Johnson’s IP addresses, phone numbers, subscriber numbers and identities, and credit card and bank account numbers linked to his account." 🧵
Look at this list: "Google also turned over Thomas-Johnson’s IP addresses, phone numbers, subscriber numbers and identities, and credit card and bank account numbers linked to his account." 🧵
Tech companies turning over personal data to this US administration before they are legally compelled to do so is collaboration
techcrunch.com/2026/02/10/g...
techcrunch.com/2026/02/10/g...
Google sent personal and financial information of student journalist to ICE | TechCrunch
The tech giant handed over the personal information of a journalist and student who attended a pro-Palestinian protest in 2024. This is the latest example of ICE using its controversial subpoena power...
techcrunch.com
February 11, 2026 at 8:23 AM
Google are *proactively* supporting ICE by voluntarily providing data without legal requirement to do so.
Look at this list: "Google also turned over Thomas-Johnson’s IP addresses, phone numbers, subscriber numbers and identities, and credit card and bank account numbers linked to his account." 🧵
Look at this list: "Google also turned over Thomas-Johnson’s IP addresses, phone numbers, subscriber numbers and identities, and credit card and bank account numbers linked to his account." 🧵
Reposted by Ignacio Castro
Democracy isn’t restored by good intentions defeating bad ones. Historically it returns when new binding institutions emerge that can again convert truth into constraint and participation into legitimacy
January 24, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Democracy isn’t restored by good intentions defeating bad ones. Historically it returns when new binding institutions emerge that can again convert truth into constraint and participation into legitimacy
Reposted by Ignacio Castro
Amazing chart with horrible acronyms - for the first time in my living memory, unemployment in Northern Europe and Southern Europe seems to have converged. Seemed unthinkable during the Eurozone crisis.
January 23, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Amazing chart with horrible acronyms - for the first time in my living memory, unemployment in Northern Europe and Southern Europe seems to have converged. Seemed unthinkable during the Eurozone crisis.
Reposted by Ignacio Castro
Reposted by Ignacio Castro
Today’s Daily Cartoon, by Matt Reuter. #NewYorkerCartoons
January 23, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Today’s Daily Cartoon, by Matt Reuter. #NewYorkerCartoons
Palantir. The reliable partner you trust when there are no alternatives.
Palantir helps Ukraine train interceptor drone brains
Palantir helps Ukraine train interceptor drone brains
Beleaguered country, unfortunately, has plenty of data from its conflict
Ukraine is getting a little AI help with its war against Russia. The country is giving Palantir a new level of access to critical warfighting data so its interceptor drones can become more autonomous. …
dlvr.it
January 22, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Palantir. The reliable partner you trust when there are no alternatives.
Reposted by Ignacio Castro
From the most left wing government in the EU today. Unimaginable from the perspective of Irish politics.
Spain urges EU to create joint army amid Greenland dispute
Spain is urging the EU to move towards creating a joint army for the bloc as a deterrence measure, Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said in comments to Reuters on Wednesday ahead of a day ...
www.reuters.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:12 PM
From the most left wing government in the EU today. Unimaginable from the perspective of Irish politics.
"there are 12,000 people across Minneapolis on the multi-neighborhood rapid responses. That’s 3.46 percent of the adult population of Minneapolis, and that’s people who can tolerate these giant Signal group chats with a thousand people—most can’t."
Neighborhood watch is taking on a new form in Minneapolis and other cities under occupation by federal immigration agents: ICE Watch.
These folks, who're tailing federal agents as they make arrests, are passionate, determined, and just about everywhere—and ICE is getting frustrated.
These folks, who're tailing federal agents as they make arrests, are passionate, determined, and just about everywhere—and ICE is getting frustrated.
Meet the Minneapolis neighbors standing up to ICE by the thousands
Local resistance is "growing exponentially," says Defend the 612's Andrew Fahlstrom.
www.motherjones.com
January 21, 2026 at 11:18 PM
"there are 12,000 people across Minneapolis on the multi-neighborhood rapid responses. That’s 3.46 percent of the adult population of Minneapolis, and that’s people who can tolerate these giant Signal group chats with a thousand people—most can’t."
TACO 2026 count: 1
Not even the end of the day, and as I put at evens at the start of the week, Trump walks back.
Now back to the changes to the world order that aren't Trump.
bsky.app/profile/mijr...
Now back to the changes to the world order that aren't Trump.
bsky.app/profile/mijr...
‼️ Trump walks back tariff threat. That was fast
January 21, 2026 at 7:48 PM
TACO 2026 count: 1
Reposted by Ignacio Castro
Whenever you think Europe has finally understood the existential urgency of the current political moment…
🚨 BREAKING: In a vote that could delay the EU’s trade deal with Mercosur by up to two years, the European Parliament has sent the Latin American accord for a judicial review.
Read the story: politico.eu/article/eu-m...
Read the story: politico.eu/article/eu-m...
January 21, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Whenever you think Europe has finally understood the existential urgency of the current political moment…
Reposted by Ignacio Castro
Great speech.
@mark-carney.bsky.social
“Risk management comes at a price, but that cost of strategic autonomy can also be shared. Collective investments in resilience are cheaper than everyone building their own fortresses. Shared standards reduce fragmentations”.
globalnews.ca/news/1162087...
@mark-carney.bsky.social
“Risk management comes at a price, but that cost of strategic autonomy can also be shared. Collective investments in resilience are cheaper than everyone building their own fortresses. Shared standards reduce fragmentations”.
globalnews.ca/news/1162087...
Read the full transcript of Carney’s speech to World Economic Forum - National | Globalnews.ca
Prime Minister Mark Carney gave a forceful speech in Davos, Switzerland, on the 'new world order' and how middle powers like Canada can benefit by working together.
globalnews.ca
January 20, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Great speech.
@mark-carney.bsky.social
“Risk management comes at a price, but that cost of strategic autonomy can also be shared. Collective investments in resilience are cheaper than everyone building their own fortresses. Shared standards reduce fragmentations”.
globalnews.ca/news/1162087...
@mark-carney.bsky.social
“Risk management comes at a price, but that cost of strategic autonomy can also be shared. Collective investments in resilience are cheaper than everyone building their own fortresses. Shared standards reduce fragmentations”.
globalnews.ca/news/1162087...
Reposted by Ignacio Castro
It’s part of this story exploring the impact of funding changes at @ukri.org. There are some big changes happening and the article is right that it’s a bit uncertain how it will all play out in practice. Important to flag that discovery research is maintained
www.thetimes.com/article/be92...
www.thetimes.com/article/be92...
Taxpayer-funded research will prioritise economic growth
UK Research and Innovation will back university projects that fit the government’s modern industrial strategy and probably redirect funds from ‘soft’ subjects
www.thetimes.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:25 AM
It’s part of this story exploring the impact of funding changes at @ukri.org. There are some big changes happening and the article is right that it’s a bit uncertain how it will all play out in practice. Important to flag that discovery research is maintained
www.thetimes.com/article/be92...
www.thetimes.com/article/be92...
How long will it take for euro-anger/pride to emerge and for euro-populists to ride on it?
Trump threatens 200% tariffs on French wines to get Macron on Board of Peace
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
Trump threatens 200% tariffs on French wines to get Macron on Board of Peace
By Nandita Bose and Bo EricksonWASHINGTON/PARIS, Jan 20 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to hit French wines and champagnes with 200% tariffs in an apparent effort to cajole French…
www.al-monitor.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:02 PM
How long will it take for euro-anger/pride to emerge and for euro-populists to ride on it?
A-Changing times
Some great charts in this fine piece by @lanegreene.bsky.social. Popular music is getting sadder and angstier
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
January 19, 2026 at 9:35 PM
A-Changing times
Reposted by Ignacio Castro
Reposted by Ignacio Castro
Internet of Iran continues to experience temporary partial restorations of service before reverting back to a shutdown for everyone but a few privileged individuals.
#DigitalBlackoutlran #IranRevolution2026
#DigitalBlackoutlran #IranRevolution2026
January 18, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Internet of Iran continues to experience temporary partial restorations of service before reverting back to a shutdown for everyone but a few privileged individuals.
#DigitalBlackoutlran #IranRevolution2026
#DigitalBlackoutlran #IranRevolution2026
Reposted by Ignacio Castro
1/ Donald Trump's aggressive tactics over Greenland are causing consternation among his far-right allies in Europe. With European publics overwhelmingly against surrendering Greenland, leading European far-rightists have come out in opposition to Trump's plans. ⬇️
January 17, 2026 at 6:10 PM
1/ Donald Trump's aggressive tactics over Greenland are causing consternation among his far-right allies in Europe. With European publics overwhelmingly against surrendering Greenland, leading European far-rightists have come out in opposition to Trump's plans. ⬇️
Reposted by Ignacio Castro
Reposted by Ignacio Castro
We're having an AT Proto gathering at FOSDEM, on the Friday right before, at 17h00. Come! It'll be nice and fun.
luma.com/jj7nths0
luma.com/jj7nths0
@proto @fosdem · Luma
The AT Protocol is an open, decentralized network for building social applications.
https://atproto.com/
Start your FOSDEM with a convivial evening of casual…
luma.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:16 PM
We're having an AT Proto gathering at FOSDEM, on the Friday right before, at 17h00. Come! It'll be nice and fun.
luma.com/jj7nths0
luma.com/jj7nths0
"Argentine regime willingly exploited these career concerns and placed the most pressured agents in the most repressive unit within the secret police (...) career boosting effects were most pronounced for agents with the lowest early career performance"
Perennial reminder of this excellent paper about how secret police forces are swamped with underachievers
“We don’t want clever people. We want mediocrities.”
(Ungated summary here ajps.org/2019/10/08/w...)
“We don’t want clever people. We want mediocrities.”
(Ungated summary here ajps.org/2019/10/08/w...)
January 14, 2026 at 7:22 PM
"Argentine regime willingly exploited these career concerns and placed the most pressured agents in the most repressive unit within the secret police (...) career boosting effects were most pronounced for agents with the lowest early career performance"