Swee Leng Harris
@sweeleng.bsky.social
Law, policy & tech expert. Melbourne born, London based
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
🚨 Brussels, today 🚨 Ursula! Fight for Europe – not for Trump’s tech bros.
Today, as the EU caves to pressure from Trump & Big Tech, campaigners in Brussels call on @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu to stand up for Europe and enforce our digital laws ✊#StandUpUrusla
Today, as the EU caves to pressure from Trump & Big Tech, campaigners in Brussels call on @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu to stand up for Europe and enforce our digital laws ✊#StandUpUrusla
November 19, 2025 at 10:01 AM
🚨 Brussels, today 🚨 Ursula! Fight for Europe – not for Trump’s tech bros.
Today, as the EU caves to pressure from Trump & Big Tech, campaigners in Brussels call on @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu to stand up for Europe and enforce our digital laws ✊#StandUpUrusla
Today, as the EU caves to pressure from Trump & Big Tech, campaigners in Brussels call on @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu to stand up for Europe and enforce our digital laws ✊#StandUpUrusla
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
Fascinating. Microsoft emailed me to say it was raising the price of Microsoft 365, but when i went to cancel it offered me me the old price — without all the AI bullshit.
It’s forcing AI on everyone and making them pay more for it, then only telling them they don’t have to if they try to cancel.
It’s forcing AI on everyone and making them pay more for it, then only telling them they don’t have to if they try to cancel.
July 19, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Fascinating. Microsoft emailed me to say it was raising the price of Microsoft 365, but when i went to cancel it offered me me the old price — without all the AI bullshit.
It’s forcing AI on everyone and making them pay more for it, then only telling them they don’t have to if they try to cancel.
It’s forcing AI on everyone and making them pay more for it, then only telling them they don’t have to if they try to cancel.
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
Have you heard of the Meta Pixel? It's a little widget that can be embedded in any website to send data about your browsing back to Meta
Unless you have a specific browser plug-in, you'll never know it's there, but it helps Meta to know A LOT about you
Unless you have a specific browser plug-in, you'll never know it's there, but it helps Meta to know A LOT about you
July 2, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Have you heard of the Meta Pixel? It's a little widget that can be embedded in any website to send data about your browsing back to Meta
Unless you have a specific browser plug-in, you'll never know it's there, but it helps Meta to know A LOT about you
Unless you have a specific browser plug-in, you'll never know it's there, but it helps Meta to know A LOT about you
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
“the ‘strangers’ line was wrong – it wasn’t what he believes, it’s just not the sort of thing he would say.”
An odd position to hold about a thing you *literally* said.
And then sent people out for days to defend you saying.
The Dissociative PM.
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
An odd position to hold about a thing you *literally* said.
And then sent people out for days to defend you saying.
The Dissociative PM.
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
Starmer’s deep regret for ‘island of strangers’ speech
Even as he was reading out the words declaring that Britain was in danger of becoming an “island of strangers”, Keir Starmer felt uncomfortable. He almos...
observer.co.uk
July 1, 2025 at 7:46 AM
“the ‘strangers’ line was wrong – it wasn’t what he believes, it’s just not the sort of thing he would say.”
An odd position to hold about a thing you *literally* said.
And then sent people out for days to defend you saying.
The Dissociative PM.
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
An odd position to hold about a thing you *literally* said.
And then sent people out for days to defend you saying.
The Dissociative PM.
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
If you feel like the 'token' woman, Black person, person with a disability… remember - it’s not a reflection of who you are, but of your environment.
Being the only woman in a workplace of 100 men doesn’t diminish your worth. You’ve earned your place, and you belong there.
Being the only woman in a workplace of 100 men doesn’t diminish your worth. You’ve earned your place, and you belong there.
June 9, 2025 at 10:01 AM
If you feel like the 'token' woman, Black person, person with a disability… remember - it’s not a reflection of who you are, but of your environment.
Being the only woman in a workplace of 100 men doesn’t diminish your worth. You’ve earned your place, and you belong there.
Being the only woman in a workplace of 100 men doesn’t diminish your worth. You’ve earned your place, and you belong there.
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
This relevant petition has 100,000+ signatures & will be debated in Parliament at the beginning of June. I urge those in the UK to write to their MPs ahead of this debate, to ask that they attend & to voice your support: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
#AbortionRights #UKAbortionRights
#AbortionRights #UKAbortionRights
May 18, 2025 at 8:53 AM
This relevant petition has 100,000+ signatures & will be debated in Parliament at the beginning of June. I urge those in the UK to write to their MPs ahead of this debate, to ask that they attend & to voice your support: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
#AbortionRights #UKAbortionRights
#AbortionRights #UKAbortionRights
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
Over 10,000 people have emailed Meta asking them to stop using their personal data 👀
Will you join them?
action.goodlawproject.org/meta-this-ti...
Will you join them?
action.goodlawproject.org/meta-this-ti...
Meta: this time it’s personal
Take 2 mins to write to Meta now!
action.goodlawproject.org
May 18, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Over 10,000 people have emailed Meta asking them to stop using their personal data 👀
Will you join them?
action.goodlawproject.org/meta-this-ti...
Will you join them?
action.goodlawproject.org/meta-this-ti...
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
With a politically-controlled central medical record they could ask the Government who would be obliged to hand the data over bsky.app/profile/pete...
"Police have been issued guidance on how to search women’s homes for abortion drugs and check their phones for menstrual cycle tracking apps after unexpected pregnancy loss"
"...police could bypass legal requirements for a court order to obtain medical records..."
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
"...police could bypass legal requirements for a court order to obtain medical records..."
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Police could search homes and phones after pregnancy loss | The Observer
New national guidance suggests officers look for menstrual tracking apps or abortion drugs
observer.co.uk
May 18, 2025 at 7:55 AM
With a politically-controlled central medical record they could ask the Government who would be obliged to hand the data over bsky.app/profile/pete...
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
Thought this was about the US.
Nope.
Nope.
"Police have been issued guidance on how to search women’s homes for abortion drugs and check their phones for menstrual cycle tracking apps after unexpected pregnancy loss"
"...police could bypass legal requirements for a court order to obtain medical records..."
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
"...police could bypass legal requirements for a court order to obtain medical records..."
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Police could search homes and phones after pregnancy loss | The Observer
New national guidance suggests officers look for menstrual tracking apps or abortion drugs
observer.co.uk
May 18, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Thought this was about the US.
Nope.
Nope.
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
What an insane position to have gotten himself into www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Senior faith leaders urge Starmer to tone down migration rhetoric
Exclusive: Christian, Muslim and Jewish representatives write to prime minister after ‘island of strangers’ speech
www.theguardian.com
May 16, 2025 at 4:19 PM
What an insane position to have gotten himself into www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
Amazing news that the Home Office has apparently worked out how to bring hundreds of thousands of native UK workers into the care industry
May 11, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Amazing news that the Home Office has apparently worked out how to bring hundreds of thousands of native UK workers into the care industry
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
I cannot state this strongly enough: If you are upset about the way this government is treating trans people and immigrants, and you have a Labour MP, for God sake write to them.
May 13, 2025 at 9:39 AM
I cannot state this strongly enough: If you are upset about the way this government is treating trans people and immigrants, and you have a Labour MP, for God sake write to them.
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
My Dad died 15 months ago & spent last year of his life in a London nursing home. He was bed bound, blind, deaf, with dementia and various health issues.
Almost all his carers & nurses were non UK born and they were all brilliant. They treated my mother like family (and still do to this day) 1/3
Almost all his carers & nurses were non UK born and they were all brilliant. They treated my mother like family (and still do to this day) 1/3
May 13, 2025 at 9:56 AM
My Dad died 15 months ago & spent last year of his life in a London nursing home. He was bed bound, blind, deaf, with dementia and various health issues.
Almost all his carers & nurses were non UK born and they were all brilliant. They treated my mother like family (and still do to this day) 1/3
Almost all his carers & nurses were non UK born and they were all brilliant. They treated my mother like family (and still do to this day) 1/3
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
gif of man removing latex mask of Keir Starmer, Mission: Impossible style, to reveal Nigel Farage.
how do I make this?
how do I make this?
May 13, 2025 at 5:15 PM
gif of man removing latex mask of Keir Starmer, Mission: Impossible style, to reveal Nigel Farage.
how do I make this?
how do I make this?
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
The same Tony Blair has been paid to advise oil rich autocratic states including Azerbaijan, UAE and Kazakhstan
This should be included in *every* story about his net zero comments
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
This should be included in *every* story about his net zero comments
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Tony Blair calls for radical reset of climate change policies in major intervention
Former PM warns climate policy has become disconnected from ‘political, public, and economic reality’ and claims COP is struggling to ‘deliver change at the speed required’
www.independent.co.uk
April 30, 2025 at 8:50 AM
The same Tony Blair has been paid to advise oil rich autocratic states including Azerbaijan, UAE and Kazakhstan
This should be included in *every* story about his net zero comments
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
This should be included in *every* story about his net zero comments
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
The Tory Leader tried to portray herself as a champion of women, but I paid tribute to all who have worked to protect single-sex spaces and the dignity of trans people.
The judgement clarifies that single sex spaces can refuse trans women, I asked if they were obliged to do so.
The judgement clarifies that single sex spaces can refuse trans women, I asked if they were obliged to do so.
April 24, 2025 at 7:56 AM
The Tory Leader tried to portray herself as a champion of women, but I paid tribute to all who have worked to protect single-sex spaces and the dignity of trans people.
The judgement clarifies that single sex spaces can refuse trans women, I asked if they were obliged to do so.
The judgement clarifies that single sex spaces can refuse trans women, I asked if they were obliged to do so.
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
An open letter to the Equality and Human Rights Commission from the Culture Sector, in solidarity with Trans, Nonbinary and Intersex communities. Sign your name here: tinyurl.com/ehrcletter Please share widely, and if you are not able to sign for your organisation, please share with someone who can
April 28, 2025 at 8:44 AM
An open letter to the Equality and Human Rights Commission from the Culture Sector, in solidarity with Trans, Nonbinary and Intersex communities. Sign your name here: tinyurl.com/ehrcletter Please share widely, and if you are not able to sign for your organisation, please share with someone who can
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
The EU have fined Meta €200 million for forcing users to take personalised ads OR pay a subscription fee, an unfair choice.
We're campaigning for a 3rd way. And you can take 2 mins to tell Meta to stop sending you targeted ads 👇
action.goodlawproject.org/meta-this-ti...
We're campaigning for a 3rd way. And you can take 2 mins to tell Meta to stop sending you targeted ads 👇
action.goodlawproject.org/meta-this-ti...
Meta: this time it’s personal
Take 2 mins to write to Meta now!
action.goodlawproject.org
April 23, 2025 at 3:46 PM
The EU have fined Meta €200 million for forcing users to take personalised ads OR pay a subscription fee, an unfair choice.
We're campaigning for a 3rd way. And you can take 2 mins to tell Meta to stop sending you targeted ads 👇
action.goodlawproject.org/meta-this-ti...
We're campaigning for a 3rd way. And you can take 2 mins to tell Meta to stop sending you targeted ads 👇
action.goodlawproject.org/meta-this-ti...
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
Today, we fined Apple €500 million & Meta €200 million for breaching the Digital Markets Act.
Apple restricts developers from steering consumers to offers outside the App store.
Meta doesn't let users choose a service that uses less personal data.
These are the first DMA fines.
europa.eu/!9RDQmk
Apple restricts developers from steering consumers to offers outside the App store.
Meta doesn't let users choose a service that uses less personal data.
These are the first DMA fines.
europa.eu/!9RDQmk
April 23, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Today, we fined Apple €500 million & Meta €200 million for breaching the Digital Markets Act.
Apple restricts developers from steering consumers to offers outside the App store.
Meta doesn't let users choose a service that uses less personal data.
These are the first DMA fines.
europa.eu/!9RDQmk
Apple restricts developers from steering consumers to offers outside the App store.
Meta doesn't let users choose a service that uses less personal data.
These are the first DMA fines.
europa.eu/!9RDQmk
Thoughtful post colonial analysis of recent judicial decisions on trans rights, contrasting the UK Supreme Court reasoning with the Court of Justice of the EU. Love the explanation of data protection as the principle that “a person should be empowered to be the primary author of their own life”.
April 21, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Thoughtful post colonial analysis of recent judicial decisions on trans rights, contrasting the UK Supreme Court reasoning with the Court of Justice of the EU. Love the explanation of data protection as the principle that “a person should be empowered to be the primary author of their own life”.
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
New Gist: Trans rights are Data rights
An unusually long Gist on the data protection implications of the UK Supreme Court's decision to define what is the meaning of the word 'woman' in a single UK Act.
(Also: the CJEU, colonialism, Joyce's Ulysses and Sinn Féin)
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-tra...
An unusually long Gist on the data protection implications of the UK Supreme Court's decision to define what is the meaning of the word 'woman' in a single UK Act.
(Also: the CJEU, colonialism, Joyce's Ulysses and Sinn Féin)
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-tra...
The Gist: Trans rights are Data rights
A UK court has made a decision defining genders which has put it at odds with a less noticed, more important, decision from the CJEU. This is the Gist.
www.thegist.ie
April 21, 2025 at 10:12 AM
New Gist: Trans rights are Data rights
An unusually long Gist on the data protection implications of the UK Supreme Court's decision to define what is the meaning of the word 'woman' in a single UK Act.
(Also: the CJEU, colonialism, Joyce's Ulysses and Sinn Féin)
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-tra...
An unusually long Gist on the data protection implications of the UK Supreme Court's decision to define what is the meaning of the word 'woman' in a single UK Act.
(Also: the CJEU, colonialism, Joyce's Ulysses and Sinn Féin)
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-tra...
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
This is very good and worth reading in full
![The Scottish Government pointed out to the court that the legislators were specifically thinking about trans people when they brought in the regime for gender recognition certificates. There was even an explanatory note in the Gender Recognition Act 2004 pointing out that the legislator's specific intent was to make it so the earlier 1975 Act would have its meaning changed.
I think the court's response to this unhappy counter-example, after harping on about legislative intent in the 1975 Act, is one of the most breathtaking pieces of judicial handwaving I've encountered.
"the Scottish Ministers drew the court’s attention to para 27 of the Explanatory Notes. The notes give as an example of the effect of section 9(1), that a trans man with a GRC would be entitled to protection from discrimination as a woman under the SDA 1975. In our view, this is a good illustration of why the use to which the courts should put explanatory notes is limited to the context of the legislation and the mischief to which its provisions are aimed: see Lord Steyn in R (Westminster City Council) v National Asylum Support Service [2002] UKHL 38, [2002] 1 WLR 2956, para 5 and the passages from R (O) cited earlier. There is nothing in the notes to suggest that the department had undertaken the kind of detailed analysis of the effect of such a change on the operation of provisions of the SDA 1975, as amended by the 1999 Regulations, that we have undertaken in the following sections of this judgment before giving that as an example of the effect of section 9(1)." - Paragraph 81 (emphasis added)
When the legislators of a repealed law from 50 years ago were not considering trans people in their drafting and definitions of a man and a women, then we spent paragraph after paragraph on it. When a specific piece of legislation explicitly acknowledged an intent to define a gender marker inclusively, the court dismisses the legislators clearly stated intent, on the basis that hadn't thought enough abou…](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:z3yvvuxviuv3xt2s56sscjwa/bafkreidk7nuxajyr6tyyycy2sk3scwp34dmq6khc5lq2wupacbmjgmjitu@jpeg)
April 21, 2025 at 1:01 PM
This is very good and worth reading in full
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
📢 You have the right to object to targeted ads on Instagram and Facebook.
@sweeleng.bsky.social , Tech Policy Consultant, tells you how in less than 40 seconds using this simple tool 👇
action.goodlawproject.org/meta-this-ti...
@sweeleng.bsky.social , Tech Policy Consultant, tells you how in less than 40 seconds using this simple tool 👇
action.goodlawproject.org/meta-this-ti...
April 19, 2025 at 10:03 AM
📢 You have the right to object to targeted ads on Instagram and Facebook.
@sweeleng.bsky.social , Tech Policy Consultant, tells you how in less than 40 seconds using this simple tool 👇
action.goodlawproject.org/meta-this-ti...
@sweeleng.bsky.social , Tech Policy Consultant, tells you how in less than 40 seconds using this simple tool 👇
action.goodlawproject.org/meta-this-ti...
Reposted by Swee Leng Harris
Submitted a request to use my right to object to Meta using personal data about me for direct marketing following Tanya O'Carrol's recent court victory and apparently it presents some "complex issues" that may take up to another 2 months
April 18, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Submitted a request to use my right to object to Meta using personal data about me for direct marketing following Tanya O'Carrol's recent court victory and apparently it presents some "complex issues" that may take up to another 2 months