John Sheridan
@johnlsheridan.bsky.social
I’m a Civil Servant, with a keen interest in many things including computers, data, law, digital preservation and archives. You’ll find me at The National Archives, helping to look after the digital archive, web archive, legislation.gov.uk etc.
Reposted by John Sheridan
For people who care about that sort of thing, the membership of the National Data Library Expert Advisory Group has been published today - including me www.gov.uk/government/g...
National Data Library Expert Advisory Group
Information about the National Data Library (NDL) Expert Advisory Group including its role and members.
www.gov.uk
February 5, 2026 at 12:57 PM
For people who care about that sort of thing, the membership of the National Data Library Expert Advisory Group has been published today - including me www.gov.uk/government/g...
Reposted by John Sheridan
Good news - we have a new ERC-funded 4-year PhD Studentship at the University of Edinburgh, based in Philosophy and our Centre @technomoralfutures.bsky.social, supervised by Dr Emily Sullivan; the project applies philosophy of science to assessing ML's epistemic & social value. Apply by 16 March!
ERC PhD studentship: The Ethics and Philosophy of Science of Machine Learning | Scholarships and Student Funding | Student Administration
This is a four-year ERC funded PhD studentship (starting in September 2026).
registryservices.ed.ac.uk
February 5, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Good news - we have a new ERC-funded 4-year PhD Studentship at the University of Edinburgh, based in Philosophy and our Centre @technomoralfutures.bsky.social, supervised by Dr Emily Sullivan; the project applies philosophy of science to assessing ML's epistemic & social value. Apply by 16 March!
Reposted by John Sheridan
Need to read this more carefully, but at first glance it appears thoughtful and helpful.
Certainly more helpful than, on the one hand, ill-informed boosterism from tech bros and, on the other, 'AI should never be used by archivists!' absolutism.
Certainly more helpful than, on the one hand, ill-informed boosterism from tech bros and, on the other, 'AI should never be used by archivists!' absolutism.
AI Preparedness Guidelines for Archivists — Archives & Records Association
www.archives.org.uk
February 3, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Need to read this more carefully, but at first glance it appears thoughtful and helpful.
Certainly more helpful than, on the one hand, ill-informed boosterism from tech bros and, on the other, 'AI should never be used by archivists!' absolutism.
Certainly more helpful than, on the one hand, ill-informed boosterism from tech bros and, on the other, 'AI should never be used by archivists!' absolutism.
Reposted by John Sheridan
It is all so baffling. So much time and money distracted by overconfident notions.
February 1, 2026 at 10:33 AM
It is all so baffling. So much time and money distracted by overconfident notions.
Reposted by John Sheridan
The other thing is the frankly laughable idea that we need to improve our understanding of consciousness in order to verify that probability machines talking to one another in English are not creating consciousness. Of course they aren't!! Why would they be? Why are these claims taken seriously?
February 1, 2026 at 10:31 AM
The other thing is the frankly laughable idea that we need to improve our understanding of consciousness in order to verify that probability machines talking to one another in English are not creating consciousness. Of course they aren't!! Why would they be? Why are these claims taken seriously?
Reposted by John Sheridan
OpenClaw / Moltbook is a pretty nightmarish development given not only the security risks but the likelihood of complex emergent behaviours arising from communicating agents.
It's not awareness. It's murmuration.
It's not awareness. It's murmuration.
February 1, 2026 at 1:03 PM
OpenClaw / Moltbook is a pretty nightmarish development given not only the security risks but the likelihood of complex emergent behaviours arising from communicating agents.
It's not awareness. It's murmuration.
It's not awareness. It's murmuration.
Reposted by John Sheridan
I am so tired of all the things that we said would happen, and were routinely ignored or dismissed by tech bros and neoliberals for saying would happen, continuing to happen, in exactly the way that we said they would happen.
Seems like one of those issues that should greatly concern everyone regardless of their politics.
January 30, 2026 at 12:16 AM
I am so tired of all the things that we said would happen, and were routinely ignored or dismissed by tech bros and neoliberals for saying would happen, continuing to happen, in exactly the way that we said they would happen.
Reposted by John Sheridan
I've written a piece for the @econ-observatory.bsky.social on the history of GDS. Notably, why you need change both top down and bottom up incentives if you're aiming to help a large, federated organisation adopt radical change.
JUST PUBLISHED – The UK government’s digital transformation: how did it come about?
By Tom Loosemore @tomski.com
By Tom Loosemore @tomski.com
The UK government’s digital transformation: how did it come about? - Economics Observatory
GOV.UK is intended to be the single point of online access for UK government information and services. The project leader in the Government Digital Service recounts the transformation in the early…
buff.ly
January 29, 2026 at 1:46 PM
I've written a piece for the @econ-observatory.bsky.social on the history of GDS. Notably, why you need change both top down and bottom up incentives if you're aiming to help a large, federated organisation adopt radical change.
Reposted by John Sheridan
Morning folks - for all the people at Govcamp who were asking me about the National Data Library here is an actual, official update with some specifics...for the first time I think 🎉
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
National Data Library: progress update, January 2026
www.gov.uk
January 26, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Morning folks - for all the people at Govcamp who were asking me about the National Data Library here is an actual, official update with some specifics...for the first time I think 🎉
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by John Sheridan
We are running a conference on 'Power and participation in public tech' and registration is now open to all.
📆 Friday 6th March
🕰️ 10:00 - 17:00
🏢 Manchester, UK
🔗 connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
(1/X)
📆 Friday 6th March
🕰️ 10:00 - 17:00
🏢 Manchester, UK
🔗 connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
(1/X)
Power and participation in public tech
This conference is for anyone interested in how to achieve better outcomes in the delivery of digital, data and AI work in the public sector through the involvement of the public, communities and workers. Come if you’re a public servant trying to engage or involve the public in your work on technology. Come if you’re working in civil society, in the union movement, or with grassroots groups, trying to be heard. Come to share what you’re up to, and to learn from others; leave with new insights, ideas, and connections.
connectedbydata.org
January 24, 2026 at 12:00 PM
We are running a conference on 'Power and participation in public tech' and registration is now open to all.
📆 Friday 6th March
🕰️ 10:00 - 17:00
🏢 Manchester, UK
🔗 connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
(1/X)
📆 Friday 6th March
🕰️ 10:00 - 17:00
🏢 Manchester, UK
🔗 connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
(1/X)
Reposted by John Sheridan
I remember back in the 2010s announcing to the world - or at least the pub - my thoughts on websites and robots. ONE DAY, I shouted, THE ONLY VISITORS TO YOUR STUPID WEBSITE WILL BE BOTS
January 22, 2026 at 5:38 PM
I remember back in the 2010s announcing to the world - or at least the pub - my thoughts on websites and robots. ONE DAY, I shouted, THE ONLY VISITORS TO YOUR STUPID WEBSITE WILL BE BOTS
Reposted by John Sheridan
Ah. It wasn’t in a pub. It was a BBC R&D blog post. Same difference I suppose
www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/resear...
www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/resear...
www.bbc.co.uk
January 22, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Ah. It wasn’t in a pub. It was a BBC R&D blog post. Same difference I suppose
www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/resear...
www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/resear...
Enormous thanks to the organisers of #ukgc26 and to the sponsors. The event is a highlight of my year, every year - I’m leaving with fresh insights, reflections and book recommendations! Such brilliant and lovely people.
January 17, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Enormous thanks to the organisers of #ukgc26 and to the sponsors. The event is a highlight of my year, every year - I’m leaving with fresh insights, reflections and book recommendations! Such brilliant and lovely people.
Reposted by John Sheridan
Exciting news guys. Our Procedure Browsable Space (TM) now comes with a legislation lookup URL. Simply plug in the legislation.gov.uk URI of an Act and you'll get taken post haste to a list of instruments currently before Parliament enabled by that Act
api.parliament.uk/procedure-br...
api.parliament.uk/procedure-br...
Localism Act 2011 - work packages before Parliament
Work packages for instruments enabled by Localism Act 2011 currently before Parliament.
api.parliament.uk
January 16, 2026 at 10:55 AM
Exciting news guys. Our Procedure Browsable Space (TM) now comes with a legislation lookup URL. Simply plug in the legislation.gov.uk URI of an Act and you'll get taken post haste to a list of instruments currently before Parliament enabled by that Act
api.parliament.uk/procedure-br...
api.parliament.uk/procedure-br...
Reposted by John Sheridan
A huge thank you to www.madetech.com, our Diamond sponsor this year!
Your support helps make UKGovCamp possible and keeps it community-led and accessible for people working to improve government.
@madetech.bsky.social
Your support helps make UKGovCamp possible and keeps it community-led and accessible for people working to improve government.
@madetech.bsky.social
Made Tech - Technology made better
We provide Digital, Data and Technology services to help organisations make a positive impact – fast.
www.madetech.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:04 PM
A huge thank you to www.madetech.com, our Diamond sponsor this year!
Your support helps make UKGovCamp possible and keeps it community-led and accessible for people working to improve government.
@madetech.bsky.social
Your support helps make UKGovCamp possible and keeps it community-led and accessible for people working to improve government.
@madetech.bsky.social
Reposted by John Sheridan
Come & work with me! Senior Archivist (Military Records Project) at The National Archives (UK). £39.5k pa. Apply by Sunday 25 January. #ArchivesJobs
www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi...
www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi...
January 12, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Come & work with me! Senior Archivist (Military Records Project) at The National Archives (UK). £39.5k pa. Apply by Sunday 25 January. #ArchivesJobs
www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi...
www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi...
Reposted by John Sheridan
Special offer! Buy the 2nd edition of "Maps: Their Untold Stories" from The National Archives' bookshop at a bargain price of £20. It has very good pictures. #MapMonday
shop.nationalarchives.gov.uk/collections/...
shop.nationalarchives.gov.uk/collections/...
January 12, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Special offer! Buy the 2nd edition of "Maps: Their Untold Stories" from The National Archives' bookshop at a bargain price of £20. It has very good pictures. #MapMonday
shop.nationalarchives.gov.uk/collections/...
shop.nationalarchives.gov.uk/collections/...
I’ve just finished reading @shannonvallor.bsky.social’s book “AI Mirrror” over Christmas and it’s brilliant.
No better way to see my book pictured!
Read "The AI Mirror" by @shannonvallor.bsky.social this year. Instead of writing a review, I'm just going to share a couple of key quotes from the book. Happy New Year!
January 4, 2026 at 11:05 AM
I’ve just finished reading @shannonvallor.bsky.social’s book “AI Mirrror” over Christmas and it’s brilliant.
Feeling poorly this weekend. Presently listening to recordings of Schubert’s string quartet, No 14, Death and the Maiden. Composed just over two hundred years ago, it is an indescribably beautiful work.
January 3, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Feeling poorly this weekend. Presently listening to recordings of Schubert’s string quartet, No 14, Death and the Maiden. Composed just over two hundred years ago, it is an indescribably beautiful work.
Reposted by John Sheridan
Why did the explanatory notes form a support group? They needed a safe space to talk about feeling overlooked!
... And if you think that joke is terrible, wait for the CIAJ's 2026 Legislative Drafting Conference! Our program (draft, subject to change) is now available in preview.
... And if you think that joke is terrible, wait for the CIAJ's 2026 Legislative Drafting Conference! Our program (draft, subject to change) is now available in preview.
December 29, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Why did the explanatory notes form a support group? They needed a safe space to talk about feeling overlooked!
... And if you think that joke is terrible, wait for the CIAJ's 2026 Legislative Drafting Conference! Our program (draft, subject to change) is now available in preview.
... And if you think that joke is terrible, wait for the CIAJ's 2026 Legislative Drafting Conference! Our program (draft, subject to change) is now available in preview.
Christmas at Mum’s, so of course we’re watching the Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show, this year from 1975.
December 25, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Christmas at Mum’s, so of course we’re watching the Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show, this year from 1975.
Reposted by John Sheridan
Dear fellow parliament nerds, I am pleased to report that my book "Unparliamentary" can now be pre-ordered :-)
I'm so excited I might have used some unparliamentary language when they told me :-P utppublishing.com/doi/book/10....
I'm so excited I might have used some unparliamentary language when they told me :-P utppublishing.com/doi/book/10....
Unparliamentary - University of Toronto Press
Tales from Canada’s Colourful Parliamentary Past
utppublishing.com
December 24, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Dear fellow parliament nerds, I am pleased to report that my book "Unparliamentary" can now be pre-ordered :-)
I'm so excited I might have used some unparliamentary language when they told me :-P utppublishing.com/doi/book/10....
I'm so excited I might have used some unparliamentary language when they told me :-P utppublishing.com/doi/book/10....
Rafael Behr writes so well: “The bullishness of the tech fraternity is a heady mix of old-fashioned hucksterism, plutocratic megalomania and utopian ideology”
‘A synthetic pseudo-reality mediated by the sycophantic mechanical offspring of narcissistic Silicon Valley oligarchs.’ @rafaelbehr.bsky.social in splendidly growly form about our potential future under A.I. Merry Christmas everyone!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
When the AI bubble bursts, humans will finally have their chance to take back control | Rafael Behr
The US economy is pumped up on tech-bro vanity. The inevitable correction should prompt a global conversation, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
www.theguardian.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Rafael Behr writes so well: “The bullishness of the tech fraternity is a heady mix of old-fashioned hucksterism, plutocratic megalomania and utopian ideology”
This self published book by Hal Prince is excellent. Highly recommended if you have an interest in this kind of thing.
November 7, 2025 at 8:21 PM
This self published book by Hal Prince is excellent. Highly recommended if you have an interest in this kind of thing.
Reposted by John Sheridan
A couple of weeks ago Jeni Tennison appeared in front of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee.
In this clip she is responds to a question about whether the Government is currently 'doing the work' to enable to public to embrace technology.
📺 www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hO...
In this clip she is responds to a question about whether the Government is currently 'doing the work' to enable to public to embrace technology.
📺 www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hO...
October 31, 2025 at 7:00 AM
A couple of weeks ago Jeni Tennison appeared in front of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee.
In this clip she is responds to a question about whether the Government is currently 'doing the work' to enable to public to embrace technology.
📺 www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hO...
In this clip she is responds to a question about whether the Government is currently 'doing the work' to enable to public to embrace technology.
📺 www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hO...