The use of AI in asylum decision-making is a disaster. AI hallucinated a document that led to an asylum application being denied. Applicants aren't being informed that opaque AI tools are being used in their case, nor being given the opportunity to correct errors churned out by these opaque tools.

Home Office used ‘AI hallucinated’ information to refuse asylum claim, judge suggests

Upper tribunal unable to find document cited in case and claims it is ‘analogous to relying on bogus evidence’

theguardian.com

“Burnham's priority should be to end the UK's dependency on a handful of US-based tech companies that have excessive influence over our lives," @openrightsgroup.org 🚨 Leading campaigners demand a new digital deal from Burnham

The people or Palantir: tech campaigners demand a new deal from Burnham

For too long, Britain has served Big Tech billionaires at the expense of ordinary people. We spoke to leading tech campaigners to set out a blueprint for Burnham.

citizensreunited.substack.com

enjoyed visiting @sussexdigitalhums.bsky.social for exchanges on public data cultures, rethinking data sovereignty, data against feminicide, refugee data, full stack feminism, intersectional feminist organising, decolonising the Internet, living archives & more 🌌🌕✨ jonathangray.org/2026/06/24/s...

public data cultures and rethinking data sovereignty at University of Sussex

I was recently invited to give a keynote on Public Data Cultures at a research symposium on Digital Sovereignty Across Disciplines at the Sussex Humanities Lab, University of Sussex.

jonathangray.org

A new Prime Minister is a fresh opportunity to stand up to Big Tech. We must break the excessive power that a handful of US companies have over our lives. We've joined with partner organisations to end this dependency and unlock British innovation. Read ➡️ www.openrightsgroup.org/app/uploads/...

Is it bye bye bye for Digital ID? As ORG’s @jim.killock.org.uk said, this scheme would risk “creating a digital surveillance infrastructure that will change everyone’s daily lives.” Another authoritarian assault on our rights could hit the shredder as Burnham heads to No.10. We’ll wait and see…

Burnham to scrap Starmer’s digital ID scheme in ‘reset of priorities’

Incoming PM will reallocate unspecified resources from unpopular plan to helping with cost of living

theguardian.com

Is the ICO is without a head. But its problems run deeper 🚧 The regulator has taken its hands off the wheel by failing to enforce data protection law for a long time. As the search for a new Commissioner gets underway, the ICO needs a fundamental reset that puts our rights first. Read our blog ⬇️

Wanted: Government to fix the ICO

Following the conclusion of an internal HR process, the Information Commissioner is on garden leave, before his final exit.

openrightsgroup.org

TODAY ⏰️ We've partnered with @sflcin.bsky.social and other groups in a special event. The expert panel, including ORG's James Baker, will explore how governments are shaping age assurance laws, the role of platforms and the risks to our rights and the open Internet. Watch live from 3pm BST ⬇️

What Age Assurance means for the future of digital rights, online safety and the internet at large

In collaboration with Open Rights Group, Open Net Korea, Stop Killing Games, Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Index on Censorship, this event brings toget...

youtube.com

Yesterday we hosted an event on how the UK can build Digital Sovereignty. Our panel explored open source and the Digital Commons in creating a more resilient, transparent and equitable future. Catch up on the event with @jim.killock.org.uk, @megafreda.eurosky.social and @jmaris.me. Watch now ⬇️

From Digital Dependence to Digital Sovereignty

youtube.com

Last week we sent a letter signed by 20 organisations calling for an investigation into the ICO for failings over the eVisa scheme. Despite issues with the scheme being raised from the start, the ICO hasn't taken action against the Home Office to protect migrants' data rights. We need answers.

Calls for probe into lack of action on eVisa failings that resulted in data breach

Exclusive: UK’s data regulator failing to hold the government to account for breaches, campaigners say

independent.co.uk

TODAY! Really looking forward to the discussions :)

Open Rights Group@openrightsgroup.org · 3w ago

TOMORROW ⏰️ Join our special event on how the UK can build back control over our digital infrastructure, data and tech with open source. Hear from @jim.killock.org.uk, @megafreda.eurosky.social and Jordan Maris discuss Digital Sovereignty. 🗓️ 15 July 🕧️ 6-8pm BST 💻️ Online Register now ⬇️

VPNs are safe... for now 🛡️ The government backs down on restricting this vital cybersecurity tool. Alongside the announcement of a social media curfew for 16 and 17 year olds comes a win for privacy! Plans to age-gate or restrict VPNs have been dropped, but we're not complacent to future risks.

UK 16- and 17-year-olds to be encouraged to follow midnight social media curfew

Midnight to 6am block on some apps is latest stage of Labour’s bid to protect young people from online harms

theguardian.com

Digital sovereignty, if done right, could ensure we have a thriving software ecosystem. Ecological digital sovereignty is where digital systems are diverse, interoperable, locally adaptable, and not controlled by any single point of power. ORG’s James Baker writes for @green-isles.bsky.social ⬇️

Ecological Digital Sovereignty: Monocultures to Ecosystems - Greenisles.uk

By James Baker, Platform Power and Free Expression Program Manager at the Open Rights Group. As a child, I remember journeys before screens were commonplace. Sitting with my head against the cool…

greenisles.uk

Coming up on Thursday, we've partnered with @sflcin.bsky.social for a discussion on age assurance. Find out what the global push for social media bans and age assurance systems means for our rights from an expert panel. 🗓️ 16 July 🕧️ 3-4:30pm BST 💻️ Online Register ➡️ form.sflc.in/what-age-ass...

TOMORROW ⏰️ Join our special event on how the UK can build back control over our digital infrastructure, data and tech with open source. Hear from @jim.killock.org.uk, @megafreda.eurosky.social and Jordan Maris discuss Digital Sovereignty. 🗓️ 15 July 🕧️ 6-8pm BST 💻️ Online Register now ⬇️

From Digital Dependence to Digital Sovereignty

The UK’s over reliance on a small number of foreign technology companies is putting our economy, security and democracy at risk.

openrightsgroup.org

Today we’ve joined over 20 organisations to urge the UK Government to protect children online without making the internet less secure by restricting VPNs. Child safety and security aren’t competing objectives – we need both. Read our letter ➡️ www.openrightsgroup.org/publications... #SafeAndSecure

"People’s faces being scanned without consent and being added to lists is worrying enough, but the speed which Facewatch technology now makes it possible for someone to encounter the police force in the middle of their daily shop is a really dangerous escalation." 🗣️ Sarah Lasoye for ORG.

Alarm over launch of facial recognition in UK shops that instantly alerts police

Civil liberties groups say Facewatch system in stores such as Sainsbury’s and B&M is ‘dangerous escalation’

theguardian.com

NEW: 20 civil society organisations have called for an investigation into the ICO for failing to uphold data protection law in relation to eVisas. This scheme has been plagued with breaches and accessibility issues. And the ICO has done nothing to hold the Home Office to account. Find out more ⬇️

Civil society organisations call for ICO to be investigated over eVisas

20 immigration, data protection, and human rights organisations have asked the Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee to investigate the Information Commissioner’s Office’s…

openrightsgroup.org

Could UK be moving towards Digital Sovereignty? We welcome Burnham recognising this as an issue in the potential revamp to the UK’s AI strategy. This is an area where he could deliver real economic benefits for the UK and security for our critical infrastructure by moving away from US Big Tech.

Andy Burnham’s team looks to revamp UK’s AI strategy

Focus is expected to shift to making technology work for local communities rather than US companies

ft.com

Lisa Nandy and DCMS have binned off the cesspit formally known as Twitter 🚮 We can tackle the concentrated power of social media giants by backing federated platforms like BlueSky and Mastodon. Politicians and government bodies should join, so people aren’t forced to use X or Meta to get updates.

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy quits X in protest at 'misinformation'

Lisa Nandy says her department is also leaving Elon Musk's platform, which she claims "isn't healthy for our democracy".

bbc.co.uk

Burnham could hoof Palantir out of the NHS if he becomes PM. A good start, but he needs to go further. It’s time to completely break our dependency on US tech firms. With open source tech, we don't have to start again with a new platform when changing vendors. Go big, go for Digital Sovereignty!

Burnham set to ditch Palantir from NHS

Left-wing critics have called for deal to be axed over US tech giant’s work with Israeli Defense Forces and US immigration

telegraph.co.uk

Trouble ahead for US data transfers 🧨 The US Supreme Court has overturned precedent that Presidents can't remove heads of independent agencies at will. They've taken a sledgehammer to the EU-US Data Privacy Framework on which the UK also depends. Read how it makes the free flow of data unlawful ⬇️

The end is nigh for US data transfers

The Supreme Court held that President of the United States can remove members of public offices at will.

openrightsgroup.org

What is life after Palantir? Join our special event on how the UK can build back control over our digital infrastructure, data and tech with open source. Hear from @jim.killock.org.uk, @megafreda.eurosky.social and Jordan Maris discuss Digital Sovereignty. 🗓️ 15 July 🕧️ 6-8pm BST 💻️ Online ⬇️ Sign up

From Digital Dependence to Digital Sovereignty

The UK’s over reliance on a small number of foreign technology companies is putting our economy, security and democracy at risk.

openrightsgroup.org

😖 Rowing back on the decision to block Palantir from the Met is the wrong move. Palantir should have no place in the UK's digital systems, whether it’s policing, the NHS or defence. We must completely break our dependency on US tech firms, especially a company powering ICE and war crimes in Gaza.

Sadiq Khan Backtracks on Blocking Palantir From Met Contract

Sadiq Khan has granted Palantir a 12-month pilot project with the Metropolitan police, just weeks after he blocked a £50m deal between the two.

novaramedia.com

Free expression is a human right. This includes the right to receive and impart information. Children have this right too. As Scotland's Children's Commissioner said, the social media ban “would not currently be a proportionate, effective, or enforceable way to protect children's rights".

Scotland’s children's commissioner hits out at Starmer over teen social media ban

Scotland's children's commissioner has condemned Keir Starmer’s UK social media ban, warning it lacks evidence and could drive vulnerable young people into riskier, unregulated areas of the internet…

uk.news.yahoo.com

The use of AI in asylum decisions is meant to save time and money, according to the Home Office. But it's likely the opposite. More haste means lower morale and lesser quality. This pushes more decisions into appeal and up go the costs. ORG's @jim.killock.org.uk explores the current doom-loop ⬇️

How AI in asylum decision-making drives failure and cost

The use of AI in asylum decisions is meant – according to the Home Office – to save time and money.

openrightsgroup.org

🧵NEW: For more than a decade, police in South West England have been quietly experimenting with algorithms to score thousands of people. Most of them didn't know anything about it. Over two years, me and Mark Wilding investigated the messy setup, multiple parts have now been scrapped

British Police Built a Sprawling Crime-Prediction Machine. Some Results Couldn’t Be Trusted

As UK police embrace the AI revolution, a WIRED investigation reveals the messy inside story of one region’s experiment with predictive analytics.

wired.com

More police forces are using so-called 'predictive' tech. @wired.com reveals how algorithms used by Avon & Somerset Police scored people by their 'risk' of offending from multiple databases of sensitive information. These models have been plagued with inaccuracy and 'poor predictive performance'.

British Police Built a Sprawling Crime-Prediction Machine. Some Results Couldn’t Be Trusted

As UK police embrace the AI revolution, a WIRED investigation reveals the messy inside story of one region’s experiment with predictive analytics.

wired.com

The Met Police have announced a major expansion of facial recognition 👁️ The use of this flawed and discriminatory tech still lacks oversight, putting our rights on the back foot. We should be able to walk down the street with a full expectation of privacy and not being ID’d at every step.

Met Police to expand use of drones, facial recognition and AI despite concerns

The Metropolitan Police have announced a major expansion of technology across London, including drones, live facial recognition and AI.

channel4.com

Social media bans don't work. They just make things worse. In Australia, for those teens who haven't bypassed the restrictions, their access to news has been curtailed. How does this square with giving votes to 16 year olds? Children have rights to free expression too. ORG's James Baker explains.

What's next after Starmer? A new leader means a new approach to digital policy is possible. No, essential. With andyburnham.bsky.social all but certain to step into Number 10, we've set out what needs to be reset for the benefit of our rights, our democracy and our economy. Read our advice 🧵

Dear Andy, we need a complete reset on digital policy

Andy Burnham’s likely succession to lead the current Labour government gives him the chance to reset digital policy.

openrightsgroup.org