Sameer Padania
@sdp.bsky.social
I work on policy and funding for public interest journalism and information ecosystems worldwide - and how to reduce information inequality.
linkedin.com/in/sameerpadania
#COYS #FRSA
linkedin.com/in/sameerpadania
#COYS #FRSA
Reposted by Sameer Padania
Facebook plans to put facial recognition in its glasses and they think we’re too stupid to fight back.
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Meta Plans to Add Facial Recognition Technology to Its Smart Glasses
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Facebook plans to put facial recognition in its glasses and they think we’re too stupid to fight back.
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Reposted by Sameer Padania
Since Trump took office, 76 Americans have sought asylum in the Netherlands. Many of them are trans people.
I spoke to some of them about why they left the US, and the difficulty of proving to Europeans that the "land of the free" is no longer safe for them.
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
I spoke to some of them about why they left the US, and the difficulty of proving to Europeans that the "land of the free" is no longer safe for them.
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
Trans people fleeing Trump’s America are caught in asylum...
Americans fearing for their lives as LGBTQ+ rights are eroded have been seeking refuge in the Netherlands. But authorities there refuse to accept that ‘the land of the free’ is no longer safe
observer.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 8:09 AM
Since Trump took office, 76 Americans have sought asylum in the Netherlands. Many of them are trans people.
I spoke to some of them about why they left the US, and the difficulty of proving to Europeans that the "land of the free" is no longer safe for them.
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
I spoke to some of them about why they left the US, and the difficulty of proving to Europeans that the "land of the free" is no longer safe for them.
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
Reposted by Sameer Padania
[The Overlap] Thomas Frank sacked? Let’s just say we know a guy (Ange Postecoglou). Stick to Football episode coming tomorrow.
February 11, 2026 at 4:54 PM
[The Overlap] Thomas Frank sacked? Let’s just say we know a guy (Ange Postecoglou). Stick to Football episode coming tomorrow.
Reposted by Sameer Padania
Rarely mentioned but about much of Ratcliffe’s business ‘success’ is based on draining public money (very common among these ‘self made tycoons’)
Eg democracyforsale.substack.com/p/ineos-set-...
Eg democracyforsale.substack.com/p/ineos-set-...
February 11, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Rarely mentioned but about much of Ratcliffe’s business ‘success’ is based on draining public money (very common among these ‘self made tycoons’)
Eg democracyforsale.substack.com/p/ineos-set-...
Eg democracyforsale.substack.com/p/ineos-set-...
Reposted by Sameer Padania
February 5, 2026 at 9:20 PM
February 11, 2026 at 11:01 AM
It’s a variation on what Boaventura de Souza Santos called #epistemicide.
US judiciary scraps climate chapter from scientific evidence manual reut.rs/4tJkEGX
US judiciary scraps climate chapter from scientific evidence manual
The U.S. federal judiciary has withdrawn a chapter from the newest edition of its reference manual on scientific evidence that addressed climate change after Republican state attorneys general argued it was biased against fossil fuel companies.
reut.rs
February 10, 2026 at 11:29 PM
It’s a variation on what Boaventura de Souza Santos called #epistemicide.
Today is Tridi the 23rd of Pluviôse in the year 234.
Pluviôse is the month of rain.
Today we celebrate couch grass.#JacobinDay
More information on couch grass
Pluviôse is the month of rain.
Today we celebrate couch grass.#JacobinDay
More information on couch grass
February 10, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Reposted by Sameer Padania
Cochrane to Frank:
a man says " i don t see any method at all sir "
ALT: a man says " i don t see any method at all sir "
media.tenor.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Cochrane to Frank:
Reposted by Sameer Padania
Frank to Cochrane:
a man covering his face with his hand with the words are my methods unsound below him
ALT: a man covering his face with his hand with the words are my methods unsound below him
media.tenor.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Frank to Cochrane:
Archive February 6, 2026
Wordle 1,693 2/6*
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Wordle 1,693 2/6*
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February 10, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Archive February 6, 2026
Wordle 1,693 2/6*
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Wordle 1,693 2/6*
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Interesting to see this discussion on #culture and #security at @britishlibrary.bsky.social, chaired by Kirsty Lang:
events.bl.uk/events/cultu...
events.bl.uk/events/cultu...
Culture as Security: How Culture Protects Us | British Library
An evening of conversation exploring the ways in which culture protects, provokes and sustains societies. Together with a distinguished panel of speakers w
events.bl.uk
February 9, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Interesting to see this discussion on #culture and #security at @britishlibrary.bsky.social, chaired by Kirsty Lang:
events.bl.uk/events/cultu...
events.bl.uk/events/cultu...
Community-owned pubs are keeping rural places alive – but @plunkettuk.bsky.social warns the government’s new business rates discount won’t address the pressures they face. Plunkett is calling for more ambitious, long-term support for community ownership.
➡️ plunkett.co.uk/government-p...
➡️ plunkett.co.uk/government-p...
Government pub support package falls short and leaves rural communities exposed
Plunkett UK has expressed disappointment at the government’s announcement of a 15% discount on pubs’ business rates bills from April.
plunkett.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 12:53 PM
Reposted by Sameer Padania
Anyone on insta who wants to thank Mathys Tel for his support of Spurs women’s team yesterday, you’ve got three hours to reply to his story…
February 9, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Anyone on insta who wants to thank Mathys Tel for his support of Spurs women’s team yesterday, you’ve got three hours to reply to his story…
It’s noon on a Monday, so it’s time for a wholesome moment. This was #sebastientellier on stage last night at Rough Trade East doing a micro-gig and signing.
FIVE HEARTS.
FIVE HEARTS.
February 9, 2026 at 12:04 PM
It’s noon on a Monday, so it’s time for a wholesome moment. This was #sebastientellier on stage last night at Rough Trade East doing a micro-gig and signing.
FIVE HEARTS.
FIVE HEARTS.
Reposted by Sameer Padania
Halt and Catch Fire Syllabus by @ashleyblewer.com
Incredible!
Incredible!
![HALT AND CATCH FIRE SYLLABUS
#01 #02 #03 #04 #05 #06 #07 #08 #09 #10 #.
#12 #13 #14 #15
image of Cameron at a desk thinking hard
README
This site features a curriculum developed around
the television series, Halt and Catch Fire
(2014-2017), a fictional narrative about people
working in tech during the 1980s-1990s.
The intent is for this website to be used by
self-forming small groups that want to create a
"watching club" (like a book club) and discuss
aspects of technology history that are featured
in this series.
There are 15 classes, for a "semester-long"
[truncated]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2wyqv44lm72vasmddeqjgy72/bafkreiewylxsixilxdwvik2kual3imngjfc62z6sx5rmnsuzmsy5rqakna@jpeg)
February 8, 2026 at 5:06 AM
Halt and Catch Fire Syllabus by @ashleyblewer.com
Incredible!
Incredible!
Reading this book in my downtime this week - excellent so far, and lots of references I’ll definitely follow up. #africa #china #siliconelsewhere
Nairobi has become a test-site for China’s techno-capital. Our book of the week maps how the city's new digital ecosystem challenges both the West-centric script of technological “catch-up” and alarmist tales of neocolonialism.
By @andretwp.bsky.social on @ucpress.bsky.social
buff.ly/Jo6qN6X
By @andretwp.bsky.social on @ucpress.bsky.social
buff.ly/Jo6qN6X
February 7, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Reading this book in my downtime this week - excellent so far, and lots of references I’ll definitely follow up. #africa #china #siliconelsewhere
I’ve followed #mediacoops in the UK & Europe for >10 years, from Dave Boyle’s Good News report, through the start of @thebristolcable.bsky.social & @theferret.scot, @mcrmeteor.bsky.social etc. There’s a rich history, research, lots of learnings (I’ve long tracked some @mediacoops.bsky.social)
1/n
1/n
February 7, 2026 at 1:57 PM
I’ve followed #mediacoops in the UK & Europe for >10 years, from Dave Boyle’s Good News report, through the start of @thebristolcable.bsky.social & @theferret.scot, @mcrmeteor.bsky.social etc. There’s a rich history, research, lots of learnings (I’ve long tracked some @mediacoops.bsky.social)
1/n
1/n
Reposted by Sameer Padania
We did a segment on it for BBC comedy The Naked Week in March last year - looping in stories by @petergeoghegan.bsky.social on Global Counsel's Qatar work - and it was all very much 'nothing to see here'.
Lots of journos have been being gaslit for a very long time
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...
Lots of journos have been being gaslit for a very long time
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...
BBC Radio 4 - Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4, The Naked Week: Ep 2. Brick Walls, Dead Wood, and Charlie.
We mourn Reform, carve a wooden Starmer, and listen in on Prince Andrew's playlist.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 12:32 PM
We did a segment on it for BBC comedy The Naked Week in March last year - looping in stories by @petergeoghegan.bsky.social on Global Counsel's Qatar work - and it was all very much 'nothing to see here'.
Lots of journos have been being gaslit for a very long time
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...
Lots of journos have been being gaslit for a very long time
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...
Reposted by Sameer Padania
Again, we all did. It was in the public domain.
New on FT website:
Downing Street has refused to say whether Sir Keir Starmer knew Palantir was a client of Peter Mandelson’s lobbying firm when they both visited the company in Washington last February — ahead of it winning a £240mn UK government contract.
www.ft.com/content/5bba...
Downing Street has refused to say whether Sir Keir Starmer knew Palantir was a client of Peter Mandelson’s lobbying firm when they both visited the company in Washington last February — ahead of it winning a £240mn UK government contract.
www.ft.com/content/5bba...
Starmer faces questions over visit to Palantir office alongside Mandelson
Former ambassador was also shareholder in lobbying group that counted US tech firm as a client
www.ft.com
February 7, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Again, we all did. It was in the public domain.
Reposted by Sameer Padania
It was great to chat to @philtinline.bsky.social for the writing of this excellent report, which gets to grips with why it is so hard for the state to actually do stuff, and features a cameo from my old team, the Open Innovation Team. Many insights in here apply to foreign policy too:
This piece is prompted by exploring where power lies and why it's so often in the wrong places for @futuregovforum.bsky.social - you can read my report, Power Failure, here:
www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/resource/pow...
www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/resource/pow...
Power Failure: A new theory of power - Future Governance Forum
British politics feels stuck. In recent years, both Conservative and Labour governments have found themselves increasingly hamstrung by a web of problematic concentrations and dispersals of power, thw...
www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 10:42 AM
It was great to chat to @philtinline.bsky.social for the writing of this excellent report, which gets to grips with why it is so hard for the state to actually do stuff, and features a cameo from my old team, the Open Innovation Team. Many insights in here apply to foreign policy too:
Reposted by Sameer Padania
We need a UK Digital Sovereignty Strategy!
Our over-reliance on foreign tech giants is a huge risk to our security and resilience when faced with Donald Trump’s ever increasing belligerence.
Companies like Palantir have no place in our critical digital infrastructure.
Our over-reliance on foreign tech giants is a huge risk to our security and resilience when faced with Donald Trump’s ever increasing belligerence.
Companies like Palantir have no place in our critical digital infrastructure.
February 6, 2026 at 5:20 PM
We need a UK Digital Sovereignty Strategy!
Our over-reliance on foreign tech giants is a huge risk to our security and resilience when faced with Donald Trump’s ever increasing belligerence.
Companies like Palantir have no place in our critical digital infrastructure.
Our over-reliance on foreign tech giants is a huge risk to our security and resilience when faced with Donald Trump’s ever increasing belligerence.
Companies like Palantir have no place in our critical digital infrastructure.
Is Might Right? Philosophical cage-fighting with Plato, Rousseau, Kant, Hobbes, & Schmitt.
(Aka excellent 1-hour discussion between @leaypi.bsky.social, Hugo Drochon, Margaret Macmillan & Angie Hobbs):
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
#philosophy #politics #power
(Aka excellent 1-hour discussion between @leaypi.bsky.social, Hugo Drochon, Margaret Macmillan & Angie Hobbs):
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
#philosophy #politics #power
Arts & Ideas - Is Might Right? - BBC Sounds
The history of an idea that's shaped political philosophy, from Plato to Carl Schmitt
www.bbc.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Is Might Right? Philosophical cage-fighting with Plato, Rousseau, Kant, Hobbes, & Schmitt.
(Aka excellent 1-hour discussion between @leaypi.bsky.social, Hugo Drochon, Margaret Macmillan & Angie Hobbs):
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
#philosophy #politics #power
(Aka excellent 1-hour discussion between @leaypi.bsky.social, Hugo Drochon, Margaret Macmillan & Angie Hobbs):
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
#philosophy #politics #power
Reposted by Sameer Padania
I am heartbroken to see that the journal First Monday is shutting down. I'm all the more grateful I got to check one off the bucket list and publish there last year. But it will be missed.
firstmonday.org/ojs/index.ph...
firstmonday.org/ojs/index.ph...
First Monday @ 30
| First Monday
firstmonday.org
February 6, 2026 at 11:20 PM
I am heartbroken to see that the journal First Monday is shutting down. I'm all the more grateful I got to check one off the bucket list and publish there last year. But it will be missed.
firstmonday.org/ojs/index.ph...
firstmonday.org/ojs/index.ph...
I gave a talk related to this sort of thing in the UK at #RemixSummit #London last week.
#epistemicsecurity #arts #culture #cities
#epistemicsecurity #arts #culture #cities
Grant Guidelines for Libraries and Museums Take “Chilling” Political Turn Under Trump
Thank GOD some other outlets are finally talking about this.
www.propublica.org/article/inst...
Thank GOD some other outlets are finally talking about this.
www.propublica.org/article/inst...
Grant Guidelines for Libraries and Museums Take “Chilling” Political Turn Under Trump
Former Institute of Museum and Library Services leaders from both political parties expressed concern that the new funding guidelines could encourage a more constrained or distorted view of American h...
www.propublica.org
February 7, 2026 at 12:01 AM
I gave a talk related to this sort of thing in the UK at #RemixSummit #London last week.
#epistemicsecurity #arts #culture #cities
#epistemicsecurity #arts #culture #cities