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David Durant

@bowsy.co.uk

I've been in the gov tech and transformation communitiy since 2009. I've worked for mySociety, the GLA, HackIT and GDS. I'm on the committees for GovCamp, Policy Camp, TransformGov Talks, the National Strategy Project and the UK Polyamory Association.

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David Durant@bowsy.co.uk · 4h ago

Sure, the person in the driving seat is there both for legal and safety reasons. But they also potentially act as a "blame sponge". If there's a crash then the blame can go to then for not reacting in time rather than to Uber for defective software. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

‘Leicester Square, please guv’: Self-driving taxis cleared for London streets ‘later this summer’

Wayve Uber wins first minicab licence for autonomous cabs from TfL but vehicles will have a safety driver (at first)

theguardian.com

Good Law Project@goodlawproject.org · 9h ago

The government’s transphobic code of practice is now up and running. But we’re not going to stand still and take it, we're supporting a legal challenge led by a trans person and a trans inclusive organisation. But we can only do this together. Will you join us?👇 goodlaw.social/ldco

David Durant@bowsy.co.uk · 21h ago

Without @enfielddispatch.bsky.social I'd never have known about this. It's very hard to hear good news about your local area.

Enfield Dispatch@enfielddispatch.bsky.social · last wk.

New 24/7 mental health unit opens in Enfield for people needing urgent care The new service at Chase Farm provides a dedicated alternative to accident and emergency for people experiencing a m https://enfielddispatch.co.uk/new-24-7-mental-health-unit-opens-in-enfield-for-people-needing-urgent-care/

Humanists UK@humanists.uk · yesterday

Want to go for a walk? We just launched ten #HumanistHeritage walking tours for: Birmingham, London, Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester, Northampton, Norwich, Nottingham, and Sheffield. They're self-guided, free to download, and can be done at your own pace. humanists.uk/2026/08/04/t...

Ten Humanist Heritage walking tours now available – download today!

Humanists UK has launched ten Humanist Heritage walking tours, inviting everyone to learn more about the humanist radicals who shaped modern life across the UK. The self-guided walks are free to downl...

humanists.uk

Tech Policy Press@techpolicypress.bsky.social · yesterday

Tulane's Muira McCammon documented how Google turned off reviews for 90+ ICE detention facilities, erasing accounts of conditions inside. Google says disabling ICE facility reviews was "unrelated to a government request." But McCammon argues the effect is the same: dissent rendered invisible.

As Google Scrubs ICE Detention Reviews, Platform Power Serves State Interests

Google’s content moderation choices threaten to render accounts of treatment inside federal detention centers invisible, writes Muira McCammon.

buff.ly

Enfield Dispatch@enfielddispatch.bsky.social · 2d ago

Charitable news service for blind Enfield residents hosting anniversary celebration The Enfield Talking Newspaper, believed to be the longest-running talking newspaper in the UK, is ce https://enfielddispatch.co.uk/charitable-news-service-for-blind-enfield-residents-hosting-anniversary-celebration/

Charitable news service for blind Enfield residents hosting anniversary celebration

The Enfield Talking Newspaper, believed to be the longest-running talking newspaper in the UK, is celebrating its 65th anniversary next month

enfielddispatch.co.uk

Jukesie@jukes.ie · 3d ago

In a total coincidence I've just read this great article from @peterdt847.bsky.social about the early GDS era . www.civilservicereformuk.com/single-post/... I really enjoyed it and agreed with the majority but it has a few bits that caused me to give it a bit of a side-eye

A barium meal: what the Government Digital Service’s story reveals about a Civil Service that struggles to reform itself

Source: A GDS story 2013. The first birthday of GOV.UKThe creation of the Government Digital Service in 2011 was the start of one of the boldest and most impactful reforms of the last 60 years. The GD...

civilservicereformuk.com

Jukesie@jukes.ie · 3d ago

I wrote this 10 years ago today after the second or third GDS shake-up (what is it now? 10 maybe!). digitalbydefault.com/2016/08/02/c... A lot of the wins mentioned in this post seem lost -

Benjamin Welby@bm.wel.by · 4d ago

It's a good question. Devolution was always an important ambition for JCS but you won't be surprised that my view on this is heavily informed by creating the right platform to make it happen. The best version of JCS is as a data centred ecosystem. But an ecosystem needs curating and nurturing.

Jerry Fishenden@ntouk.bsky.social · 5d ago

"The week in review" — my brief look at current hot topics ranging from devolution to artificial intelligence, and from the latest machinery of government changes to digital identity

The week in review—from devolution to digital identity

Here’s a brief summary of a few developments that caught my eye this week—from devolution to artificial intelligence, and from machinery of government changes to digital identity. Devolution …

ntouk.wordpress.com

David Durant@bowsy.co.uk · 5d ago

Alex raises an extremely good point I hadn't considered. The hollowing out of quality local journalism means less oversight of these devolved powers. Does make me wonder if we'll see a lot of self appointed local gov oversight social media influencers becoming a thing.

Alex Parsons@alexparsons.bsky.social · 5d ago

Here's the bit in the rewiring the state doc, where I think my quick take is "yes, that defines the shape of the problem" (and the role of journalists as public intermediaries in the bit that mentions the public is key to come back to)