Matt Davies
@halcyene.bsky.social
Data/AI policy @adalovelaceinst.bsky.social
(Political) philosophy of tech @lsegovernment.bsky.social @lsepoltheory.bsky.social
Views my own 🔮✨
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
(Political) philosophy of tech @lsegovernment.bsky.social @lsepoltheory.bsky.social
Views my own 🔮✨
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Pinned
Matt Davies
@halcyene.bsky.social
· Sep 18
The UK’s £31bn tech deal with the US might sound great – but the government has to answer these questions | Matt Davies
The big firms making these pledges are not charities. We know there will be a quid pro quo; we just don’t know what it is yet, says Matt Davies of the Ada Lovelace Institute
www.theguardian.com
The headlines — £31bn in investment, new jobs, faster medical treatments — sound almost too good to be true. What are we giving up in return?
Me in @theguardian.com on today's US-UK Tech Deal:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Me in @theguardian.com on today's US-UK Tech Deal:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Matt Davies
A piece I wrote about the manufactured ‘impartiality’ panics that greeted Tim Davie’s arrival just over 5 years ago, when GB News was still a glint in Robbie Gibbs’ eye www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
William Davies · Short Cuts: Woke Conspiracies
A British equivalent of Fox News, wherever it may come from, would have its own distinctive character – less...
www.lrb.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:12 PM
A piece I wrote about the manufactured ‘impartiality’ panics that greeted Tim Davie’s arrival just over 5 years ago, when GB News was still a glint in Robbie Gibbs’ eye www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Reposted by Matt Davies
Legal experts, former government ministers and an ex-MI6 director criticise the process used to ban Palestine Action.
An independent commission said the definition of terrorism was too broad and parliamentary oversight and judicial scrutiny was needed.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
An independent commission said the definition of terrorism was too broad and parliamentary oversight and judicial scrutiny was needed.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Legal experts and politicians criticise process used to ban Palestine Action
Independent commission says definition of terrorism relied on by ministers is too broad and more parliamentary oversight is needed
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Legal experts, former government ministers and an ex-MI6 director criticise the process used to ban Palestine Action.
An independent commission said the definition of terrorism was too broad and parliamentary oversight and judicial scrutiny was needed.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
An independent commission said the definition of terrorism was too broad and parliamentary oversight and judicial scrutiny was needed.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Journalists keep repeating the BBC is biased "in favour of trans rights". But:
1. Trust in BBC/wider media amongst LGBTQ+ people is low—scant evidence of pandering.
2. Transphobia largely a UK-US derangement. Should a global news org "both sides" rights on which there is a settled intl consensus?
1. Trust in BBC/wider media amongst LGBTQ+ people is low—scant evidence of pandering.
2. Transphobia largely a UK-US derangement. Should a global news org "both sides" rights on which there is a settled intl consensus?
November 10, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Journalists keep repeating the BBC is biased "in favour of trans rights". But:
1. Trust in BBC/wider media amongst LGBTQ+ people is low—scant evidence of pandering.
2. Transphobia largely a UK-US derangement. Should a global news org "both sides" rights on which there is a settled intl consensus?
1. Trust in BBC/wider media amongst LGBTQ+ people is low—scant evidence of pandering.
2. Transphobia largely a UK-US derangement. Should a global news org "both sides" rights on which there is a settled intl consensus?
Reposted by Matt Davies
I agree with @arusbridger.bsky.social about BBC governance. Although v hesitant about another rearrangement, the single corporate-style board is massively flawed, not least because there needs to be some distance for the governors/board members from editorial decisions
Michael Prescott and Sir Robbie Gibb both bailed out of journalism years ago, and enjoy lucrative careers in corporate PR. And now they are the arbiters of BBC editorial standards. Go figure www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
The BBC has bigger impartiality problems than its coverage of Trump
It is the BBC’s entire governance structure–rather than individual stories–that should cause most concern
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:46 AM
I agree with @arusbridger.bsky.social about BBC governance. Although v hesitant about another rearrangement, the single corporate-style board is massively flawed, not least because there needs to be some distance for the governors/board members from editorial decisions
Reposted by Matt Davies
Oh no! Who’s going to snap at the doormen now?
New York millionaires: threatening to flee the city since 2009
November 7, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Oh no! Who’s going to snap at the doormen now?
Reposted by Matt Davies
Can't say how thrilled I am that this grant will allow @welpita.bsky.social @uditbhatia.bsky.social and I to properly investigate popular government at a moment when representative governments are increasingly captured by oligarchic elites
Congratulations to @brunoleipold.com for securing a Synergy Grant from @erc.europa.eu! 👏🏽
Bruno will collaborate on a 6-year project titled the Popular Government in Global Perspective project, which seeks to challenge the way we think about #democracy.
www.lse.ac.uk/news/lse-aca...
Bruno will collaborate on a 6-year project titled the Popular Government in Global Perspective project, which seeks to challenge the way we think about #democracy.
www.lse.ac.uk/news/lse-aca...
Research | ERC Synergy Grant | Democracy | Government
Dr Bruno Leipold is one of four principal investigators on the Popular Government in Global Perspective project, an ambitious six-year research endeavour which argues that the world's dominant form of...
www.lse.ac.uk
November 6, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Can't say how thrilled I am that this grant will allow @welpita.bsky.social @uditbhatia.bsky.social and I to properly investigate popular government at a moment when representative governments are increasingly captured by oligarchic elites
Reposted by Matt Davies
Evidence that being "gender critical" has nothing to do with listening to women. Women have made it clear that trans women are welcome in the ladies' pond at Hamstead Heath, and now a small group of transphobes is going to court to override them.
🏊♀️The women who swim at Kenwood Ladies Pond have already made their decision.
In 2024, almost 900 members voted to keep their trans-inclusive policy - a policy that has worked peacefully since 2019.
Now, a small campaign group is seeking to overturn that democratic decision through the courts.
1/5
In 2024, almost 900 members voted to keep their trans-inclusive policy - a policy that has worked peacefully since 2019.
Now, a small campaign group is seeking to overturn that democratic decision through the courts.
1/5
November 7, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Evidence that being "gender critical" has nothing to do with listening to women. Women have made it clear that trans women are welcome in the ladies' pond at Hamstead Heath, and now a small group of transphobes is going to court to override them.
Reposted by Matt Davies
I'm on @macrodosepod.bsky.social alongside great peeps, for an episode on war, climate crisis, and the economy.
My own remarks focus on the rise of state capitalism with a military-imperial twist, at the very heart of US empire
open.spotify.com/episode/4un1...
@campolis.bsky.social
My own remarks focus on the rise of state capitalism with a military-imperial twist, at the very heart of US empire
open.spotify.com/episode/4un1...
@campolis.bsky.social
October 24, 2025 at 10:47 AM
I'm on @macrodosepod.bsky.social alongside great peeps, for an episode on war, climate crisis, and the economy.
My own remarks focus on the rise of state capitalism with a military-imperial twist, at the very heart of US empire
open.spotify.com/episode/4un1...
@campolis.bsky.social
My own remarks focus on the rise of state capitalism with a military-imperial twist, at the very heart of US empire
open.spotify.com/episode/4un1...
@campolis.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Davies
The "why do you care so much about the NY mayoral election" takes strike me as pretty obtuse. The world's sole superpower is being taken over by fascists, and this was part of the struggle to define what the opposition to that will look like. That obviously has major implications for all of us?
November 5, 2025 at 10:06 AM
The "why do you care so much about the NY mayoral election" takes strike me as pretty obtuse. The world's sole superpower is being taken over by fascists, and this was part of the struggle to define what the opposition to that will look like. That obviously has major implications for all of us?
Reposted by Matt Davies
“Data centers are like warehouses filled with machines and cables, and there's little need for workers”
November 5, 2025 at 5:14 PM
“Data centers are like warehouses filled with machines and cables, and there's little need for workers”
Reposted by Matt Davies
Zohran Mamdani: "I am Muslim. I am a democratic-socialist. And most damning of all, I refuse to apologize for any of this."
November 5, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Zohran Mamdani: "I am Muslim. I am a democratic-socialist. And most damning of all, I refuse to apologize for any of this."
Reposted by Matt Davies
In the intro issue of New Left Review, Stuart Hall noted, “The humanist strengths of socialism—which are the foundations for a genuinely popular socialist movement—must be developed in cultural and social terms, as well as in economic and political.“
Zohran Kwame Mamdani‘s campaign got the point!
Zohran Kwame Mamdani‘s campaign got the point!
November 5, 2025 at 12:53 AM
In the intro issue of New Left Review, Stuart Hall noted, “The humanist strengths of socialism—which are the foundations for a genuinely popular socialist movement—must be developed in cultural and social terms, as well as in economic and political.“
Zohran Kwame Mamdani‘s campaign got the point!
Zohran Kwame Mamdani‘s campaign got the point!
Reposted by Matt Davies
Do not, under any circumstances, go short ontology.
November 4, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Do not, under any circumstances, go short ontology.
Reposted by Matt Davies
New book supported by the @nuffieldfoundation.org on what philosophy can contribute to public life. Contributors include @jowolff.bsky.social @tariqmodood.bsky.social @lornographic.bsky.social @martinoneill.bsky.social @profclarechambers.bsky.social
www.nuffieldfoundation.org/research/our...
www.nuffieldfoundation.org/research/our...
“The point is to change it”: Essays on philosophy in public life - Nuffield Foundation
This volume is focused on how philosophers might help us to think about big public themes.
www.nuffieldfoundation.org
November 3, 2025 at 9:11 AM
New book supported by the @nuffieldfoundation.org on what philosophy can contribute to public life. Contributors include @jowolff.bsky.social @tariqmodood.bsky.social @lornographic.bsky.social @martinoneill.bsky.social @profclarechambers.bsky.social
www.nuffieldfoundation.org/research/our...
www.nuffieldfoundation.org/research/our...
Reposted by Matt Davies
How might philosophical thinking shape research, policy, and public debate?
“The point is to change it”: Essays on Philosophy in Public Life, explores this question by bringing together perspectives from 21 leading philosophers across the UK, US, and Europe. 🧵
Read essays: bit.ly/philosophyesays
“The point is to change it”: Essays on Philosophy in Public Life, explores this question by bringing together perspectives from 21 leading philosophers across the UK, US, and Europe. 🧵
Read essays: bit.ly/philosophyesays
November 3, 2025 at 11:08 AM
How might philosophical thinking shape research, policy, and public debate?
“The point is to change it”: Essays on Philosophy in Public Life, explores this question by bringing together perspectives from 21 leading philosophers across the UK, US, and Europe. 🧵
Read essays: bit.ly/philosophyesays
“The point is to change it”: Essays on Philosophy in Public Life, explores this question by bringing together perspectives from 21 leading philosophers across the UK, US, and Europe. 🧵
Read essays: bit.ly/philosophyesays
Reposted by Matt Davies
Delighted and grateful to @halcyene.bsky.social to have a short piece in this excellent collection. What a great initiative, all open access. Check it out below
"The point is to change it" — a volume of new essays from 21 leading academics exploring the role of philosophy in public life — launches today!
Contributors include @tariqmodood.bsky.social, @martinoneill.bsky.social, @jowolff.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social and more.
Click below to read 👇🦉
Contributors include @tariqmodood.bsky.social, @martinoneill.bsky.social, @jowolff.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social and more.
Click below to read 👇🦉
Essays on philosophy in public life - Nuffield Foundation
www.nuffieldfoundation.org
November 3, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Delighted and grateful to @halcyene.bsky.social to have a short piece in this excellent collection. What a great initiative, all open access. Check it out below
"The point is to change it" — a volume of new essays from 21 leading academics exploring the role of philosophy in public life — launches today!
Contributors include @tariqmodood.bsky.social, @martinoneill.bsky.social, @jowolff.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social and more.
Click below to read 👇🦉
Contributors include @tariqmodood.bsky.social, @martinoneill.bsky.social, @jowolff.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social and more.
Click below to read 👇🦉
Essays on philosophy in public life - Nuffield Foundation
www.nuffieldfoundation.org
November 3, 2025 at 9:47 AM
"The point is to change it" — a volume of new essays from 21 leading academics exploring the role of philosophy in public life — launches today!
Contributors include @tariqmodood.bsky.social, @martinoneill.bsky.social, @jowolff.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social and more.
Click below to read 👇🦉
Contributors include @tariqmodood.bsky.social, @martinoneill.bsky.social, @jowolff.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social and more.
Click below to read 👇🦉
Reposted by Matt Davies
People are misled by low false positive/negative rates for some AI applications but these can mean large numbers of high-impact cases that are costly to resolve. The rate matters but also the actual size of the denominator - and the impact of error.
Somebody at HMRC needs to be canned for this idiotic ‘fraud-detection’ idea. And I fear future use of AI in welfare cases might well produce this kind of story regularly (as they have in Nevada for example).
UK woman who booked Oslo flight but did not fly loses child benefit ‘because she emigrated’
Exclusive: HMRC told Lisa Morris-Almond there was no record of her return to UK, but she did not take the trip
www.theguardian.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:11 PM
People are misled by low false positive/negative rates for some AI applications but these can mean large numbers of high-impact cases that are costly to resolve. The rate matters but also the actual size of the denominator - and the impact of error.
Reposted by Matt Davies
if I were a VC I would interview potential employees just on their ability to categorize AI startups as [potentially legit] / [impossible] / [nonsensical] / [tractable but dystopian]
October 28, 2025 at 8:44 PM
if I were a VC I would interview potential employees just on their ability to categorize AI startups as [potentially legit] / [impossible] / [nonsensical] / [tractable but dystopian]
Reposted by Matt Davies
🎉 Join us in London to launch the Green Planning Commission — rethinking the politics & practice of planning for a democratic & decarbonised future
🎙️ Carolina Alves, @brusselermel.bsky.social, Richard Kozul-Wright & @mathewlawrence.bsky.social
🪑 Sarah Nankivell
🔗 www.eventbrite.com/e/launch-the...
🎙️ Carolina Alves, @brusselermel.bsky.social, Richard Kozul-Wright & @mathewlawrence.bsky.social
🪑 Sarah Nankivell
🔗 www.eventbrite.com/e/launch-the...
October 28, 2025 at 2:21 PM
🎉 Join us in London to launch the Green Planning Commission — rethinking the politics & practice of planning for a democratic & decarbonised future
🎙️ Carolina Alves, @brusselermel.bsky.social, Richard Kozul-Wright & @mathewlawrence.bsky.social
🪑 Sarah Nankivell
🔗 www.eventbrite.com/e/launch-the...
🎙️ Carolina Alves, @brusselermel.bsky.social, Richard Kozul-Wright & @mathewlawrence.bsky.social
🪑 Sarah Nankivell
🔗 www.eventbrite.com/e/launch-the...
Reposted by Matt Davies
📣THREAD: It’s surprising to me that so many people were surprised to learn that Signal runs partly on AWS (something we can do because we use encryption to make sure no one but you–not AWS, not Signal, not anyone–can access your comms).
It’s also concerning. 1/
It’s also concerning. 1/
PSA: we're aware that Signal is down for some people. This appears to be related to a major AWS outage. Stand by.
October 27, 2025 at 10:38 AM
📣THREAD: It’s surprising to me that so many people were surprised to learn that Signal runs partly on AWS (something we can do because we use encryption to make sure no one but you–not AWS, not Signal, not anyone–can access your comms).
It’s also concerning. 1/
It’s also concerning. 1/
Reposted by Matt Davies
its not that i actually expected this to mention #infinitedetail, but y’know…the same publication made it their SF book of the year…? www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Could the internet go offline? Inside the fragile system holding the modern world together
Behind every meme and message is creaking, decades-old infrastructure. Internet experts can think of scenarios that could bring it all crashing down …
www.theguardian.com
October 26, 2025 at 8:00 PM
its not that i actually expected this to mention #infinitedetail, but y’know…the same publication made it their SF book of the year…? www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Matt Davies
There's been endless talk about an AI bubble, but less about exactly how, why, and how much it's a bubble. So I turned to the framework put forward by scholars Brent Goldfarb and David A. Kirsch, authors of "Bubbles and Crashes," for assessing tech bubbles.
Spoiler: On a scale of 1 to 8, AI is an 8
Spoiler: On a scale of 1 to 8, AI is an 8
AI Is the Bubble to Burst Them All
I talked to the scholars who literally wrote the book on tech bubbles—and applied their test.
www.wired.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:58 PM
There's been endless talk about an AI bubble, but less about exactly how, why, and how much it's a bubble. So I turned to the framework put forward by scholars Brent Goldfarb and David A. Kirsch, authors of "Bubbles and Crashes," for assessing tech bubbles.
Spoiler: On a scale of 1 to 8, AI is an 8
Spoiler: On a scale of 1 to 8, AI is an 8
Reposted by Matt Davies
I ran a simulated social media experiment with 1450 Republicans to test different fact-checking interventions.
AI produced the largest decrease in engagement with Trump misinformation, outperforming independent fact-checkers and doing so far more consistently than Community Notes.
AI produced the largest decrease in engagement with Trump misinformation, outperforming independent fact-checkers and doing so far more consistently than Community Notes.
AI fact-checks may be the best way to reduce Republicans’ engagement with online political misinformation finds Isolde Hegemann of @lsegovernment.bsky.social
blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...
blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...
AI fact-checks may be the best way to reduce Republicans’ engagement with online political misinformation | USAPP
AI fact-checking can be more effectiveds in reducing the likelihood that Republican social media users will share false information online.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
October 22, 2025 at 10:02 AM
I ran a simulated social media experiment with 1450 Republicans to test different fact-checking interventions.
AI produced the largest decrease in engagement with Trump misinformation, outperforming independent fact-checkers and doing so far more consistently than Community Notes.
AI produced the largest decrease in engagement with Trump misinformation, outperforming independent fact-checkers and doing so far more consistently than Community Notes.
Reposted by Matt Davies
Another parable from George Osborne's Britain
October 25, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Another parable from George Osborne's Britain