No tracking. No cookies
Subscriptions
SubscriptionsCategory: Tech, Data and Algorithms
-
SAGEGATE – Part Three: Cummings and Johnson Defied Scientific Advisors by Lifting Restrictions Without Robust Track and Trace
The third part of Nafeez Ahmed’s investigation shows how public health was sacrificed to ideology as the lockdown was eased
-
Hidden COVID-19 Data is Vote Leave Government’s Political Weapon
With lockdown restrictions being eased, how can people make ‘common sense’ decisions around the Coronavirus risk in their area if accurate data is being kept from them?
-
‘A Hard Rain’: Johnson, Gove and Cummings Drive Britain Towards Elective Dictatorship
David Hencke reports on the radical moves to undermine parliamentary democracy by Boris Johnson’s chief advisor and the Cabinet Office Minister
-
Automated Social Control: the Biases of the Algorithms
Almaz Ohene reports on how real-life structures of oppression are being replicated online through automated moderation and censorship
-
The Radicalisation of Katie Hopkins
In the week her Twitter account was suspended, Otto English looks back on how the mainstream media and the tabloid press paved Katie Hopkins’ path to the extremes
-
Hubris and Technology Triumphalism in the Government’s £12m COVID-19 Contact Tracing App
Paul Dempsey shows how ‘big data’ cannot replace ‘no data’ and that the UK’s centralised plan to combat the Coronavirus was flawed at the outset
-
Another Great British World-Beating Fiasco
David Hencke reports on how much money has been wasted on the Government’s NHSX tracing app, which it has now ditched to follow one being used by other countries for some time
-
Will Facebook Finally Choose to Protect Rohingya Muslims From Further Genocide?
CJ Werleman reports on a case being brought against the social media giant by The Gambia to uncover who was involved in Myanmar’s mass murder of its Muslim minority
-
COVID-19 has Brought Our Slow-Moving Democratic Crisis Front and Centre
Kyle Taylor shares the recommendations of a new report focused on solutions to keep democratic processes going during crises such as the Coronavirus outbreak.
-
Dominic Cummings’ Whitehall Revolution is Underway
David Hencke reports on how the scandal-hit No. 10 chief advisor has already begun his long-term promise to use Big Tech models to disrupt the British state.
-
‘Tommy Robinson’ and the Hundred-Year-Old Racist Rape Meme
Stephen Yaxley-Lennon’s former producer explains why sexual fears of non-white foreigners are being used to aggravate racial tensions in the UK.
-
Five Things Dominic Cummings Could Have Over Boris Johnson
With the Government mounting an unprecedented defence of the unelected chief advisor, Peter Jukes tries to work out what makes him so indispensable.
-
In this Age of Untruth BBC Journalists Are Being Taken for a Ride
Former BBC producer Patrick Howse considers the different approaches of Laura Kuenssberg and Emily Maitlis and what this tells us about the state of the public service broadcaster.
-
Ruling from the Shadows: Why Dominic Cummings Poses a Threat to the Country
The track record of the Prime Minister’s chief advisor – under fire for breaking lockdown rules – has proved him to be anything but transparent, writes Iain Overton.
-
Government Silent On Involving Credit Firm in COVID-19 Testing
Stephen Delahunty reports on concerns about credit agencies being used by health bodies when processing patient data.
-
‘Dear World, What A Strange Place You Have Become’
18-year-old student Daisy Davidson explains the thinking behind a website she set up to chronicle people’s feelings of the Coronavirus crisis around the world.
-
£8bn NHS Health Data Plan: Tech Arm Set Up Without Oversight Official Watchdog Reveals
David Hencke reports on revelations from the National Audit Office over massive IT spending and the unaccountable role of NHSX.
-
WHITEHALL ANALYTICA – THE AI SUPERSTATE: Part 2 – Is COVID-19 Fast-Tracking a Eugenics-Inspired Genomics Programme in the NHS?
Nafeez Ahmed explores the troubling implications and assumptions of the Government’s AI-driven gene programme
-
WHITEHALL ANALYTICA – THE AI SUPERSTATE: Part 1 – The Corporate Money Behind Health Surveillance
The first part of Nafeez Ahmed’s major investigation into the money, men and motivation behind a massive move into medical data.
-
The Coronavirus Crisis: Beware the Hawks and Vultures Cashing In On Public Health
Azfar Shafi examines how the conflation of security and public health, as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, has the potential to hollow out our public services to an extent not seen before.
-
The Coronavirus Crisis: Can the Government be Trusted to Get Tracker App Right?
With the UK faltering out of lockdown, former MP Paul Farrelly looks at searching questions the Government faces over trust and competence as it rolls out its home-grown COVID-19 Tracker App.
-
The Media Needs to Stop Pretending Elon Musk is a Wise Sage rather than a Grifter
CJ Werleman explores the Tesla CEO’s contribution to discussions around the Coronavirus crisis and why his need for personal recognition in such times is dangerous.
-
WHITEHALL ANALYTICA: NHSX Contact Tracing App — Management Outsourced to Private Company and to be Accessed Overseas
David Hencke explores COVID-19 contracts worth £8m handed out by the UK Government for its controversial centralisation of personal data.
-
The Coronavirus Crisis: The ‘Little England’ App Can Be No Replacement for COVID-19 Testing
Dr John Ashton, a former director of public health, provides his regular update on the UK’s Government’s Coronavirus response and the need for real local testing and tracing.
-
WHITEHALL ANALYTICA: Vote Leave Firm Tied to Cambridge Analytica ‘Configured’ NHSX Contact Tracing App
Nafeez Ahmed reveals how concerns around privacy and trust in the UK Government’s centralised COVID-19 tracing system are matched by doubts about its effectiveness.
-
Is it Safe? The Immuni App: Digital Surveillance during the Coronavirus Pandemic
Jacopo Iacoboni of La Stampa reports on how concerns about anonymisation, data sharing and procurement haunt Italy’s COVID19 tracking app.
-
The Coronavirus Crisis: Patrolling Hearts and Minds? A ‘Red Alert’ Surveillance Warning to the World
Steve Shaw reports on how concerns are already being raised about the introduction of new intrusive surveillance regimes being installed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
-
Palantir Coronavirus Contract Did Not Go to Competitive Tender
David Hencke reveals that the UK Government’s COVID-19 contract with the data surveillance firm owned by Donald Trump-backer Peter Thiel was approved under an obscure statutory instrument.
-
Six Important Facts About Coronavirus Disinformation
Samantha North reveals on how COVID-19 propaganda is being monetised and exploited to promote political polarisation.
-
The Coronavirus Crisis: Disinformation Rings True As Our Pandemic of Untruth Continues
Musa Okwonga explores why conspiracy theories are finding such an audience and what this exposes about the worrying state of our democracy and the social contract.
-
The Coronavirus Crisis: ‘Global Surveillance in Response to COVID-19 Surpassing 9/11’
Campaigners warn that it would be short-sighted for governments to allow efforts to save lives in the COVID-19 outbreak to destroy fundamental rights in societies.
-
Twitter Cannot Keep Hiding Behind Blanket Anonymity
Why are social media companies so reluctant to accept the harm caused by allowing users to set up anonymous accounts?
-
The Fantasies of Video Game Cities Can’t Escape Real Social Contradictions
Jon Bailes looks at why even video games – as fantasies – can’t seem to consciously address the antagonisms of our political, economic and social lives.
-
A Good Day to Bury Bad News: US Justice Department Drops Charges over Russia’s 2016 Election Interference
Caroline Orr reports on how charges against indicted Putin Ally Yevgeny Prigozhin were abandoned just as the coronavirus pandemic in the US set a deadly new record.
-
Journalism Under Threat: ‘In the Battle for Truth, You have to say who Lies’
Fiona O’Connor reports on the threats being faced by women journalists around the world and how one of the loudest voices against the Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte is standing firm.
-
The Dangerous Duo of Trump and Putin Weaponising Coronavirus Disinformation
CJ Werleman reports on conspiracy theories that the US is behind the outbreak of COVID-19, the President’s spreading of disinformation and Vladimir Putin’s interests in adding his trolls into the mix.
-
Is Russia Working with Myanmar’s Military to Incite Hatred of the Rohingya?
Stephen Komarnyckyj reports on social media activity supporting the repression of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar.
-
Online Harms – Ending Anonymity will Hurt More
John Lubbock argues that the UK Government can’t help trying to end anonymity and invade privacy. So how will OfCom regulate social media?
-
Sanders Versus Trump: Why Russian Intervention Will be Worse in 2020
With Donald Trump facing re-election in the US and the Labour leadership for up grabs in the UK, Stephen Komarnyckyj looks at how Vladimir Putin is trying to further disrupt politics in both countries.
-
Online Harms Bill: Our Democracy is at Stake and the Government Isn’t Serious About Tackling it
Kyle Taylor on the irresponsible omission in the Government’s new Online Harms White Paper — the protection of democracy.
-
Speaking Another Language: A Social Media Tale
Otto English takes us on a journey through the history of the English language, the exceptionalism of Empire and the furious and curious of Twitter.
-
The Weaponising of ‘Woke’
James Melville argues that ‘wokeness’ is the latest concept to be hijacked by the right-wing to make a stand against equality, democracy and justice.
-
Apple is Aiding China’s Repression
Stephen Delahunty looks at how the tech giant is facilitating the Communist country’s crackdown on free speech and pro-democracy movements.
