Katy Vaughan
@drkatyvaughan.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Law @Swansea Uni.
Member of CYTREC, VOX-Pol, Christchurch Call Advisory Network.
Legal Ed, Counter-Terrorism, Human Rights, Digital Rights.
Member of CYTREC, VOX-Pol, Christchurch Call Advisory Network.
Legal Ed, Counter-Terrorism, Human Rights, Digital Rights.
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
Since we’re in the mood for strict accuracy in broadcast news, worth noting that a rival channel had a pundit - unchallenged - say asylum seekers in hotels committed 44% of sexual offences in one county, seemingly because she cannot understand basic maths.
A national newspaper journalist went on a British TV channel to claim police stats showed asylum-seekers committed 44% of sex crimes in Dorset.
This shocking claim was treated as fact by the channel which promoted the clip on social media where it was amplified by AI.
Except... it's bollocks.
This shocking claim was treated as fact by the channel which promoted the clip on social media where it was amplified by AI.
Except... it's bollocks.
November 9, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Since we’re in the mood for strict accuracy in broadcast news, worth noting that a rival channel had a pundit - unchallenged - say asylum seekers in hotels committed 44% of sexual offences in one county, seemingly because she cannot understand basic maths.
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
The BBC's senior leadership resigning en masse over one dodgy edit in one programme, simply because the right wing press demands it, tells you everything you need to know about where the power really lies in that relationship
November 9, 2025 at 8:04 PM
The BBC's senior leadership resigning en masse over one dodgy edit in one programme, simply because the right wing press demands it, tells you everything you need to know about where the power really lies in that relationship
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
It's only a problem for the #OnlineSafetyAct if (a) the OSA was meant to catch all uses of AI chatbots in the first place (it wasn't) and (b) we think that extending 'regulation by regulator' is a good way of addressing the issue. Predictably, that model is already floundering in its current tasks.
As Prof Lorna Woods tells @bbclaurak.bsky.social in her piece on risks of #ai #chatbots, the #onlinesafetyact is "clear but doesn't match the market ...
the problem is it doesn't catch all services where users engage with a chatbot one-to-one." 1/2 ⬇️
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....
the problem is it doesn't catch all services where users engage with a chatbot one-to-one." 1/2 ⬇️
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....
Mothers say AI chatbots encouraged their sons to kill themselves - BBC News
In her first UK interview Megan Garcia speaks to Laura Kuenssberg about the death of her teenage son.
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org
November 9, 2025 at 1:21 PM
It's only a problem for the #OnlineSafetyAct if (a) the OSA was meant to catch all uses of AI chatbots in the first place (it wasn't) and (b) we think that extending 'regulation by regulator' is a good way of addressing the issue. Predictably, that model is already floundering in its current tasks.
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
Security means different things for different people. Check out our surveillance self-defense guides for protesters, researchers, LGBTQ youth, human rights defenders, and more. ssd.eff.org/module-cate...
Security Scenarios
Tagline
ssd.eff.org
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Security means different things for different people. Check out our surveillance self-defense guides for protesters, researchers, LGBTQ youth, human rights defenders, and more. ssd.eff.org/module-cate...
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
The full transcript of Zohran Mamdani's acceptance speech is very much worth reading in full. Even if you don't agree with your politics, it's very beautifully put together.
archive.is/8VqQJ
[this is a useable link to the NYT transcript]
archive.is/8VqQJ
[this is a useable link to the NYT transcript]
November 5, 2025 at 11:34 AM
The full transcript of Zohran Mamdani's acceptance speech is very much worth reading in full. Even if you don't agree with your politics, it's very beautifully put together.
archive.is/8VqQJ
[this is a useable link to the NYT transcript]
archive.is/8VqQJ
[this is a useable link to the NYT transcript]
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
UK government loses attempt to block judicial review of Palestine Action ban (nb the merits of the challenge are not decided yet)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Government loses bid to block appeal against Palestine Action ban
Palestine Action's co-founder said the government's attempt to avoid judicial scrutiny had 'backfired spectacularly'.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 17, 2025 at 4:05 PM
UK government loses attempt to block judicial review of Palestine Action ban (nb the merits of the challenge are not decided yet)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
Read my two letters to the #UK:
1. Protests: I call for a review of the legal framework and the reconsideration of provisions in the Crime & Policing Bill that could restrict freedom of assembly.
2. Trans people: I warn against exclusion&zero-sum approaches
👇#HumanRights
www.coe.int/en/web/commi...
1. Protests: I call for a review of the legal framework and the reconsideration of provisions in the Crime & Policing Bill that could restrict freedom of assembly.
2. Trans people: I warn against exclusion&zero-sum approaches
👇#HumanRights
www.coe.int/en/web/commi...
United Kingdom: Commissioner addresses human rights issues in policing of protests and the situation of trans people - Commissioner for Human Rights - www.coe.int
Strasbourg 14/10/2025
www.coe.int
October 14, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Read my two letters to the #UK:
1. Protests: I call for a review of the legal framework and the reconsideration of provisions in the Crime & Policing Bill that could restrict freedom of assembly.
2. Trans people: I warn against exclusion&zero-sum approaches
👇#HumanRights
www.coe.int/en/web/commi...
1. Protests: I call for a review of the legal framework and the reconsideration of provisions in the Crime & Policing Bill that could restrict freedom of assembly.
2. Trans people: I warn against exclusion&zero-sum approaches
👇#HumanRights
www.coe.int/en/web/commi...
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
UK fines 4chan over noncompliance with Online Safety Act therecord.media/4chan-fined-...
UK fines 4chan over noncompliance with Online Safety Act
Britain's communications regulator took another step in a process that could lead to internet service providers being required to block access to 4chan.
therecord.media
October 14, 2025 at 9:42 AM
UK fines 4chan over noncompliance with Online Safety Act therecord.media/4chan-fined-...
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
"A prominent anti-DEI campaigner appointed by Meta in August as an adviser on AI bias has spent the weeks since his appointment spreading disinformation about shootings, transgender people, vaccines, crime, and protests."
"A prominent anti-DEI campaigner appointed by Meta in August as an adviser on AI bias has spent the weeks since his appointment spreading disinformation about shootings, transgender people, vaccines, crime, and protests."
Meta AI adviser spreads disinformation about shootings, vaccines and trans people
Critics condemn Robby Starbuck, appointed in lawsuit settlement, for ‘peddling lies and pushing extremism’
www.theguardian.com
October 12, 2025 at 6:04 PM
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
"A prominent anti-DEI campaigner appointed by Meta in August as an adviser on AI bias has spent the weeks since his appointment spreading disinformation about shootings, transgender people, vaccines, crime, and protests."
"A prominent anti-DEI campaigner appointed by Meta in August as an adviser on AI bias has spent the weeks since his appointment spreading disinformation about shootings, transgender people, vaccines, crime, and protests."
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
Conor Gearty died a month ago yesterday. He was deeply committed to human rights law without idealising it. He recognised its power & value while acknowledging its limitations (& those of the people engaging with it). He was also an exceptional lawyer. This is a fitting final piece in the @lrb.co.uk
October 12, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Conor Gearty died a month ago yesterday. He was deeply committed to human rights law without idealising it. He recognised its power & value while acknowledging its limitations (& those of the people engaging with it). He was also an exceptional lawyer. This is a fitting final piece in the @lrb.co.uk
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
If you want to start taking steps to enhance your digital security, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are some simple concepts and tips. ssd.eff.org/en/playlist...
Want a security starter pack?
Start from the beginning with a selection of simple steps.
Surveillance impacts all of us, no matter where we live or what we do. While some of us might be directly affected, others may simply want to know what measures they can take to protect their communications and data from...
ssd.eff.org
October 7, 2025 at 9:04 PM
If you want to start taking steps to enhance your digital security, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are some simple concepts and tips. ssd.eff.org/en/playlist...
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
New paper out with the CoE exploring how and how quickly terrorists adopt new technologies. It identifies factors inhibiting or encouraging new tech adoption - with two case studies on virtual assets and drones - and analyses the impact of new tech on terrorism in Europe rm.coe.int/report-on-th...
rm.coe.int
October 7, 2025 at 1:16 PM
New paper out with the CoE exploring how and how quickly terrorists adopt new technologies. It identifies factors inhibiting or encouraging new tech adoption - with two case studies on virtual assets and drones - and analyses the impact of new tech on terrorism in Europe rm.coe.int/report-on-th...
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
Reason we had 60,000 people in hotels in mid-2024 was the combination of
* ban asylum claims & stop processing from Spring 2023
* promise rapid removals of everyone who arrived from March 7th 2033, but suspend most returns deals by ceasing processing
* have no way to remove 99% beyond Rwanda bluff
* ban asylum claims & stop processing from Spring 2023
* promise rapid removals of everyone who arrived from March 7th 2033, but suspend most returns deals by ceasing processing
* have no way to remove 99% beyond Rwanda bluff
Kuenssberg: “Where would the 150,000 people you plan to deport each year actually go?”
Badenoch: “I’m tired of irrelevant questions.”
The Tories have an idiot in charge, one who doesn’t know NI voted Remain or why deportation deals even matter. #ukpolitics
Badenoch: “I’m tired of irrelevant questions.”
The Tories have an idiot in charge, one who doesn’t know NI voted Remain or why deportation deals even matter. #ukpolitics
October 5, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Reason we had 60,000 people in hotels in mid-2024 was the combination of
* ban asylum claims & stop processing from Spring 2023
* promise rapid removals of everyone who arrived from March 7th 2033, but suspend most returns deals by ceasing processing
* have no way to remove 99% beyond Rwanda bluff
* ban asylum claims & stop processing from Spring 2023
* promise rapid removals of everyone who arrived from March 7th 2033, but suspend most returns deals by ceasing processing
* have no way to remove 99% beyond Rwanda bluff
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
The instinct of this government is ever further restrictions on civil liberties. It is authoritarian at its core, and at this stage needs to be opposed by anyone who at all considers themselves a progressive.
NEW: Home Office announces planned new anti-protest powers, mainly aimed at pro-Gaza protests like those for Palestine Action. Police will be able to consider the "cumulative impact" of repeated protests and potentially order that they be relocated.
October 5, 2025 at 7:49 AM
The instinct of this government is ever further restrictions on civil liberties. It is authoritarian at its core, and at this stage needs to be opposed by anyone who at all considers themselves a progressive.
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
The government want more coercive powers for the state against protests, and the main opposition party wants more coercive powers for the state against migrants.
Our political-media culture continues in a loop where the response to every perceived problem is yet more coercive powers for the state.
Our political-media culture continues in a loop where the response to every perceived problem is yet more coercive powers for the state.
October 5, 2025 at 7:31 AM
The government want more coercive powers for the state against protests, and the main opposition party wants more coercive powers for the state against migrants.
Our political-media culture continues in a loop where the response to every perceived problem is yet more coercive powers for the state.
Our political-media culture continues in a loop where the response to every perceived problem is yet more coercive powers for the state.
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
Until someone, and Greens are probably doing the best at attempting this right now, breaks the cycle and says "hang on, maybe we could implement something positive and make the case for it instead" we are going to end up with policies based purely on what "flagpatriot1234" likes on social media.
October 5, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Until someone, and Greens are probably doing the best at attempting this right now, breaks the cycle and says "hang on, maybe we could implement something positive and make the case for it instead" we are going to end up with policies based purely on what "flagpatriot1234" likes on social media.
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
Apple must continue to refuse the demand to create a backdoor into iCloud. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...
The UK Is Still Trying to Backdoor Encryption for Apple Users
The Financial Times reports that the U.K. is once again demanding that Apple create a backdoor into its encrypted backup services. The only change since the last time they demanded this is that the
www.eff.org
October 4, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Apple must continue to refuse the demand to create a backdoor into iCloud. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...
Do you trust that the new Hillsborough Law can stop public officials from lying to the public?
See our new video on the Hillsborough Law in Parliament and follow for real-time updates:
youtube.com/watch?v=MCoS...
#HillsboroughLaw #CentreForPeoplesJustice #CFPJ
See our new video on the Hillsborough Law in Parliament and follow for real-time updates:
youtube.com/watch?v=MCoS...
#HillsboroughLaw #CentreForPeoplesJustice #CFPJ
Hillsborough Law in Parliament - The journey begins
YouTube video by Centre for Peoples Justice
youtube.com
September 26, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
It’s vital that we don’t allow the transphobic far-right to hijack the important issue of mass shootings by falsely accusing a marginalized group, accelerating the spread of hate and targeted violence, while doing nothing to resolve the actual issue at hand.
September 20, 2025 at 7:19 PM
It’s vital that we don’t allow the transphobic far-right to hijack the important issue of mass shootings by falsely accusing a marginalized group, accelerating the spread of hate and targeted violence, while doing nothing to resolve the actual issue at hand.
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
The Gun Violence Archive, which tracks this, lists five mass shootings by transgender or nonbinary people since January 2013. That’s less than 0.1% of the mass shootings in that period.
September 20, 2025 at 7:19 PM
The Gun Violence Archive, which tracks this, lists five mass shootings by transgender or nonbinary people since January 2013. That’s less than 0.1% of the mass shootings in that period.
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
In the wake of Charlie Kirk's murder, President Trump says he intends to designate Antifa as a "domestic terrorist organisation".
We've tried to explain Antifa's views and activism, and examine if Trump has the legal power to designate the group.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We've tried to explain Antifa's views and activism, and examine if Trump has the legal power to designate the group.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
What is Antifa and why is Donald Trump targeting it?
President Trump says he will designate Antifa as a terror group, but legal experts have questioned whether this is possible.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 18, 2025 at 6:45 PM
In the wake of Charlie Kirk's murder, President Trump says he intends to designate Antifa as a "domestic terrorist organisation".
We've tried to explain Antifa's views and activism, and examine if Trump has the legal power to designate the group.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We've tried to explain Antifa's views and activism, and examine if Trump has the legal power to designate the group.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
A United Nations commission of inquiry has concluded that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
September 16, 2025 at 10:27 AM
A United Nations commission of inquiry has concluded that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
This government would not abuse such powers, they (no doubt rightly) tell us - but the supply of "good chaps" may not be endless. Now more than ever, it is Parliament's job to ensure that oppressive powers are no broader than they need to be, and subject to proper safeguards. /5
September 8, 2025 at 10:00 PM
This government would not abuse such powers, they (no doubt rightly) tell us - but the supply of "good chaps" may not be endless. Now more than ever, it is Parliament's job to ensure that oppressive powers are no broader than they need to be, and subject to proper safeguards. /5
Reposted by Katy Vaughan
My latest blog post is a detailed invitation to join a research network devoted to critical pedagogies of race and imperialism in law. In it, I outline who its organisers are, the reasons why we have set up the network,and what we hope to achieve in it. All welcome!
folukeafrica.com/invitation-t...
folukeafrica.com/invitation-t...
Invitation to join a Critical Research Network on Pedagogies of Race and Empire
For some time, several colleagues and I have been thinking of how to consolidate and build on the work that we have been doing individually in translating our anti-colonial and anti-racist research…
folukeafrica.com
September 8, 2025 at 12:37 PM
My latest blog post is a detailed invitation to join a research network devoted to critical pedagogies of race and imperialism in law. In it, I outline who its organisers are, the reasons why we have set up the network,and what we hope to achieve in it. All welcome!
folukeafrica.com/invitation-t...
folukeafrica.com/invitation-t...