Judith Townend
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jtownend.bsky.social
Judith Townend
@jtownend.bsky.social
Sussex-based socio-legal researcher / Reader in Digital Society & Justice. media and information access and governance / public interest journalism / access to justice / social justice / sanctuary and migration rights
Reposted by Judith Townend
The final straw – the Information Commissioner's Office has decided NOT to investigate the Afghan data leak. It's time to investigate them!

Over 70 organisations and experts back ORG's call for an inquiry into the regulator's chronic failure to enforce data law.

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Civil liberties groups call for inquiry into UK data protection watchdog
Campaigners including Good Law Project describe ICO ‘collapse in enforcement activity’ after Afghan data breach
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:19 AM
useful insights into AI uses in policing, and what the Scottish police does/doesn't do, based on law and governance. Key point: police as a public body will never keep pace with private sector - does not receive funding available to corporate sector
We delighted to announce that this year’s ILPC Annual Lecture will be delivered by Dr Brian Plastow, the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner. The Lecture will launch the proceedings of the ILPC Annual Conference 2025.

🗓️20-21 November 2025.

Register now!👇
ials.sas.ac.uk/events/ilpc-...
November 20, 2025 at 11:46 AM
attending this today, 10 years since we organised the very first one! congratulations to @nniloideain.bsky.social and all for a rich programme of research & policy work in the years since. Looking forward to the day
Only 2 days to go!

Join us on Wednesday for a timely discussion on the themes and findings of the book - EU Data Privacy Law and Serious Crime.

@ials.bsky.social @nniloideain.bsky.social
We are pleased to announce a new event - 'Better Regulation’ of Data Retention and Human Rights? EU Data Privacy Law, Serious Crime, and National Security

🗓️ 15 October 2025, 5:30pm-6:30pm, in-person at IALS

Book your place now! 👇
ials.sas.ac.uk/events/bette...

@nniloideain.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 11:15 AM
bravo @jessicashurson.bsky.social on impressive convening of today's Online Safety Act 2023 event at University of Sussex, v much enjoyed the discussions and diversity of perspectives. Thanks to other supporting colleagues & all the presenters too.
June 6, 2025 at 3:55 PM
today at Sussex Law School, Sussex Centre for Law and Technology, a day of papers and discussion devoted to the Online Safety Act 2023, and its future www.sussex.ac.uk/research/cen...
Research and Policy Seminar: The Future of the Online Safety Act
The Sussex Centre for Law and Technology (SCLT) invites you to our one-day hybrid seminar: The Future of the Online Safety Act 2023.
www.sussex.ac.uk
June 6, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Ending the day at Green Templeton College yesterday, after many rich discussions with court observers and legal/policy specialists on the nature and challenges of doing open justice, through court observation and reporting.
June 5, 2025 at 8:42 PM
happening this time next week. Still places available, I believe - or you can register for a live-stream.
Please share!

Public lecture - Mr Justice Nicklin - Open Justice: Fit for Purpose - Wednesday 4 June 2025 17:00 to 19:00
Location: Green Templeton College, University of Oxford
Speaker: The Honourable Mr Justice Nicklin

Register here: www.gtc.ox.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
Open Justice: Fit for Purpose - Green Templeton College
Details Date: June 4 Time: 05:00 pm - 07:00 pm Event Category: Lectures and Seminars
www.gtc.ox.ac.uk
May 28, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by Judith Townend
In The Guardian in print and online today speaking about the catalyst that triggered me to write Logging Off, and changed my life forever. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
May 28, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Please share!

Public lecture - Mr Justice Nicklin - Open Justice: Fit for Purpose - Wednesday 4 June 2025 17:00 to 19:00
Location: Green Templeton College, University of Oxford
Speaker: The Honourable Mr Justice Nicklin

Register here: www.gtc.ox.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
Open Justice: Fit for Purpose - Green Templeton College
Details Date: June 4 Time: 05:00 pm - 07:00 pm Event Category: Lectures and Seminars
www.gtc.ox.ac.uk
May 2, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Join us Sussex Digital Humanities Lab on 19 June for a conversation about the human cost of the digital world with @adelewalton.bsky.social, journalist & author www.sussex.ac.uk/research/cen... pls register for in-person/remote attendance www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/logging-of...
Logging Off
In the 30 years since we’ve been online, we've created connections, crossed boundaries and discovered new worlds, but at what cost?
www.sussex.ac.uk
April 1, 2025 at 10:58 AM
V. much enjoying this fast paced keynote on psychological inoculation against misinformation, though a little nervous to live-report any of it, till I've checked the citations at source #bennettinst
March 28, 2025 at 5:53 PM
As yet, no direct discussion on role of the news media/social media in political disenchantment & neglected areas, I'm curious to know if the panel would support public policy interventions to support local media - and in what form #bennettinst
March 28, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Now onto "tackling political disenchantment in ‘forgotten about’ places: what should governments try now?" Prof Andrés Rodríguez-Pose starts off, describing the crisis/crises we're in; why/how people are in revolt #bennettinst
March 28, 2025 at 3:58 PM
onto post-lunch third panel #bennettinst, on building a productive society. First concept: the 4 day week, advocated for by sociologist Brendan Burchell. coming from business, interestingly, and proving successful
March 28, 2025 at 2:13 PM
pleased to be here today, esp for later sessions on political disenchantment and misinformation: www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/wp-content/u...
March 28, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Reposted by Judith Townend
This article by Sussex university’s vice chancellor about how the Office for Students seemingly oversaw its investigation into worries about free speech at Sussex is… quite something.

www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
The Kafkaesque investigation into our university looks like political scapegoating
The Office for Students' so-called investigation into the University I represent was flawed and politically motivated. The implications for the hig...
www.politicshome.com
March 26, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Some responses to the Judicary's Transparency & Open Justice Board call for engagement on proposed objectives. If you have a submission to add, pls let me know courtobservers.org/2025/03/04/r... / Thanks: @seethrujustice.transparencyproject.org.uk @kitzingercelia.bsky.social @maggotlaw.bsky.social
Responses to the Judiciary’s Transparency & Open Justice Board Proposed Objectives
Back in December, the Judiciary’s Transparency and Open Justice Board asked for views on its proposed objectives (which had been promised in the earlier Terms of Reference for the Board). Mem…
courtobservers.org
March 4, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Reposted by Judith Townend
Finally sat down with my copy of the @queerjudgments.bsky.social book, and accidentally lost several hours of my Sunday in the process. Highly recommended! #queer #academicsky #lawsky #booksky
February 23, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Reposted by Judith Townend
Join us at the new Sussex Centre for Law and Technology for a research and policy seminar on the Online Safety Act! The seminar is partly funded by the @bileta.bsky.social Research Seminar Awards.

📍 Sussex uni and online
🗓️ Friday 6 June 2025
Call for papers: www.sussex.ac.uk/schools/law-...
Research and Policy Seminar: The Future of the Online Safety Act 2023 - Call for Papers
We invite academics (including postgraduate researchers), practitioners,policy researchers to submit papers on any aspect of the Online Safety Act.
www.sussex.ac.uk
February 14, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Transparency updates from the family court: rule changes to allow more reporting from the family courts and the naming of the judges in the Sara Sharif family court proceedings. Links to coverage and commentary: courtobservers.org/2025/01/31/t...
Transparency updates from the family court
(1) What was introduced as the Reporting ‘Pilot’ in 2023 is now a permanent change in family courts, to allow more reporting by journalists and legal bloggers. Within a few months, reporting will b…
courtobservers.org
January 31, 2025 at 10:58 AM
At last! The Government has published a summary of responses to its 2023 open justice consultation: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/679a5a... It's a summary - no recommendations or conclusions of the MOJ's own at this stage. 131 responses, mix of backgrounds, including individual court users
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
January 30, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Reposted by Judith Townend
*Very* excited about this - an unconference on public involvement/engagement in public sector decisions on data & AI!

We also have the latest online meeting of our community of practice on that topic (with speakers from LOTI and @involveuk.bsky.social) on 12 Feb connectedbydata.org/events/2025-...
January 23, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Judith Townend
The government is considering whether to reverse a legal presumption that played a key role in Post Office scandal.
rozenberg.substack.com/p/computer-s...
Computer says nothing
Should we reverse the presumption that machines tell the truth?
rozenberg.substack.com
January 21, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Reposted by Judith Townend
Start HERE for a thread of all our live-posts of the anonymous judge appeal. We will try to post in a continuous thread. We'll do our best to cover everything accurately, & to use exact words when possible but may need to summarise. The hearing starts at 10.30 today (Tues) and is listed for 2 days.
January 14, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Reposted by Judith Townend
2024 was another busy one for us.

We've been working locally, nationally and globally for communities to have a powerful say in decisions about data and AI, to help create a just, equitable & sustainable world.

Here are some highlights... 🧵 (1/8)
January 6, 2025 at 5:00 PM