Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
@ianbrown.tech
💻 regulation (🔑 #privacy 🗳)
⛷🚴🏻♂️🥾🗺 🇮🇨🇪🇸🇪🇺🏳️🌈🌻
Visiting Prof @fgvoficial.bsky.social 👨🏫
Formerly DCMS Principal Scientific Officer/Prof. Information Security & Privacy @oii.ox.ac.uk
Tech News @1br0wn.eupolicy.social.ap.brid.gy
⛷🚴🏻♂️🥾🗺 🇮🇨🇪🇸🇪🇺🏳️🌈🌻
Visiting Prof @fgvoficial.bsky.social 👨🏫
Formerly DCMS Principal Scientific Officer/Prof. Information Security & Privacy @oii.ox.ac.uk
Tech News @1br0wn.eupolicy.social.ap.brid.gy
Pinned
Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
@ianbrown.tech
· Jul 22
📸 Fedi-news! You can follow my new @pixelfedapp.bsky.social photo-sharing account at @1br0wn.pixelfed.social.ap.brid.gy (thanks to the always-awesome @ap.brid.gy)!
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
An age-old French nightmare — that of growing German military might — is resurfacing in a new form.
As Berlin inevitably becomes the EU’s dominant military power, our expert @mijrahman.bsky.social explains how strategic autonomy is now in Germany’s hands:
@politico.eu
As Berlin inevitably becomes the EU’s dominant military power, our expert @mijrahman.bsky.social explains how strategic autonomy is now in Germany’s hands:
@politico.eu
European strategic autonomy is in German hands
As Berlin inevitably becomes the EU's dominant military power, its billions could either build or blur Macron's vision of European defense.
www.politico.eu
October 5, 2025 at 2:30 PM
An age-old French nightmare — that of growing German military might — is resurfacing in a new form.
As Berlin inevitably becomes the EU’s dominant military power, our expert @mijrahman.bsky.social explains how strategic autonomy is now in Germany’s hands:
@politico.eu
As Berlin inevitably becomes the EU’s dominant military power, our expert @mijrahman.bsky.social explains how strategic autonomy is now in Germany’s hands:
@politico.eu
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
What a terrible take. As someone who engaged at a policy level with the ePrivacy Directive (& its predecessor 97/66EC), the ePD didn’t ’plaster the online world with pop-ups’. Privacy invading & eroding business models are responsible for that - biz could have chosen a different path
In a bid to slash red tape, the European Commission wants to eliminate one of its peskiest laws: a 2009 tech rule that plastered the online world with pop-ups requesting consent to cookies.
Europe’s cookie law messed up the internet. Brussels wants to fix it.
The European Commission wants to take a bite out of privacy rules that force websites to run cookie banners.
ow.ly
September 22, 2025 at 8:28 AM
What a terrible take. As someone who engaged at a policy level with the ePrivacy Directive (& its predecessor 97/66EC), the ePD didn’t ’plaster the online world with pop-ups’. Privacy invading & eroding business models are responsible for that - biz could have chosen a different path
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
Great thread from Kevin on the airport cyber attacks - “corporate centipede” and “welcome to 1998” being my favourites
ENISA - the EU’s cyber security agency - now saying it’s ransomware
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
ENISA - the EU’s cyber security agency - now saying it’s ransomware
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
September 22, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Great thread from Kevin on the airport cyber attacks - “corporate centipede” and “welcome to 1998” being my favourites
ENISA - the EU’s cyber security agency - now saying it’s ransomware
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
ENISA - the EU’s cyber security agency - now saying it’s ransomware
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
"In a landmark study, OpenAI researchers reveal that large language models will always produce plausible but false outputs, even with perfect data, due to fundamental statistical and computational limits."
www.computerworld.com/article/4059...
www.computerworld.com/article/4059...
OpenAI admits AI hallucinations are mathematically inevitable, not just engineering flaws
In a landmark study, OpenAI researchers reveal that large language models will always produce plausible but false outputs, even with perfect data, due to fundamental statistical and computational limi...
www.computerworld.com
September 21, 2025 at 12:50 PM
"In a landmark study, OpenAI researchers reveal that large language models will always produce plausible but false outputs, even with perfect data, due to fundamental statistical and computational limits."
www.computerworld.com/article/4059...
www.computerworld.com/article/4059...
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
I wrote a similar piece in Slate last year--granted, it was pre-election but the specter for what an authoritarian regime could do with the massive police surveillance apparatus at its fingertips has been hanging over us for awhile.
September 21, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I wrote a similar piece in Slate last year--granted, it was pre-election but the specter for what an authoritarian regime could do with the massive police surveillance apparatus at its fingertips has been hanging over us for awhile.
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
My new piece in @the-independent.com on the UK's tech prosperity deal:
The deal does not only leave the UK even more dependent on US tech companies, it also once again shows how out of step the country is with tech sovereignty debates in the rest of Europe.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/starm...
The deal does not only leave the UK even more dependent on US tech companies, it also once again shows how out of step the country is with tech sovereignty debates in the rest of Europe.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/starm...
Starmer’s tech deal is a national security gamble – and ties us too closely to Trump
The rest of Europe is working hard to move away from dependence on US technology – particularly when it comes to AI, writes Katja Bego. But the UK is moving the other way for quick cash and false prom...
www.independent.co.uk
September 21, 2025 at 10:39 AM
My new piece in @the-independent.com on the UK's tech prosperity deal:
The deal does not only leave the UK even more dependent on US tech companies, it also once again shows how out of step the country is with tech sovereignty debates in the rest of Europe.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/starm...
The deal does not only leave the UK even more dependent on US tech companies, it also once again shows how out of step the country is with tech sovereignty debates in the rest of Europe.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/starm...
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
jesus christ. transport regulators need to get their acts together.
September 20, 2025 at 11:55 AM
jesus christ. transport regulators need to get their acts together.
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
Although of course disappointing to see that MI6 haven’t done their homework - it’s Tor, not TOR @torproject.org
www.bbc.com/news/article... if this seems a bit odd, it’s useful to know that for a long time the most popular site on the so-called Dark Web was Facebook! Lots more about this in my book - Tor: From the Dark Web to the Future of Privacy available here mitpress.mit.edu/978026254818...
MI6 launches dark web portal to attract spies in Russia
Outgoing MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore said potential agents in Russia and around the world will be targeted by the UK spy agency.
www.bbc.com
September 19, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Although of course disappointing to see that MI6 haven’t done their homework - it’s Tor, not TOR @torproject.org
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
New: Google will meet the EU’s deadline to propose changes to its advertising technology business after a near-€3 billion fine — but won’t include the full breakup the EU and industry rivals have previously pushed for: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Google Readies EU Offer After €3 Billion Fine, Skips Full Split
Google will meet the European Union’s deadline to propose changes to its advertising technology business after a near-€3 billion ($3.5 billion) fine — but won’t include the full breakup the EU and…
www.bloomberg.com
September 19, 2025 at 2:31 PM
New: Google will meet the EU’s deadline to propose changes to its advertising technology business after a near-€3 billion fine — but won’t include the full breakup the EU and industry rivals have previously pushed for: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
excited to share that we are following through on our earlier commitments and putting together an independent+neutral organization to house the DID PLC system, includes the directory service
Creating an Independent Public Ledger of Credentials (PLC) Directory Organization | Bluesky
The Bluesky Social app is built on an open network protocol that refers to each user by a unique Decentralized Identifier, or DID (a W3C standard). The most popular supported DID method was developed ...
docs.bsky.app
September 19, 2025 at 9:31 AM
excited to share that we are following through on our earlier commitments and putting together an independent+neutral organization to house the DID PLC system, includes the directory service
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
Why is it here to stay? I have seen no scientific evidence that shows that this is legitimate policing, but I have seen evidence of harms that it is causing and no serious debate on societal and democratic impact in the future policinginsight.com/feature/opin...
Policing facial recognition is here to stay, risks included: What we need is a more honest debate
The recent use of live facial recognition (LFR) by the Metropolitan Police at Notting Hill Carnival brought the new technology back under the spotlight; Dr Asress Gikay, Senior Lecturer in AI…
policinginsight.com
September 19, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Why is it here to stay? I have seen no scientific evidence that shows that this is legitimate policing, but I have seen evidence of harms that it is causing and no serious debate on societal and democratic impact in the future policinginsight.com/feature/opin...
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
A friendly reminder that use of Clearview AI's tech is highly restricted if not banned in many parts of the world like the EU, UK, Canada, and Australia. It's been repeatedly fined for contravening these country's laws.
www.404media.co/ice-spends-m...
www.404media.co/ice-spends-m...
ICE Spends Millions on Clearview AI Facial Recognition to Find People ‘Assaulting’ Officers
A new contract with Clearview AI explicitly says ICE is buying the tech to investigate "assaults against law enforcement officers."
www.404media.co
September 19, 2025 at 2:09 PM
A friendly reminder that use of Clearview AI's tech is highly restricted if not banned in many parts of the world like the EU, UK, Canada, and Australia. It's been repeatedly fined for contravening these country's laws.
www.404media.co/ice-spends-m...
www.404media.co/ice-spends-m...
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
It's also dismaying that ICANN, which (cl)aims to be globally inclusive, admits it's catering to the US admin's anti-DEI stance. This, despite many calls over the years that it move from USA to a jurisdiction like Switzerland, with a legal framework specifically supporting independent int'l orgs.
www.icann.org
September 19, 2025 at 2:41 AM
It's also dismaying that ICANN, which (cl)aims to be globally inclusive, admits it's catering to the US admin's anti-DEI stance. This, despite many calls over the years that it move from USA to a jurisdiction like Switzerland, with a legal framework specifically supporting independent int'l orgs.
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
A good reminder why the current US administration's anti-DEI stance - & US-based Big Tech's widespread adoption of that - means it's more important than ever to nurture the development of tech & tech companies outside the US, so tech truly can meet the needs of a diverse world.
Social media ban trial data reveals racial bias in age checking software: just how inaccurate is it?
Young people from Indigenous and Asian backgrounds are more likely to be miscategorised as over the age limit and older people as underaged, analysis finds
www.theguardian.com
September 19, 2025 at 2:24 AM
A good reminder why the current US administration's anti-DEI stance - & US-based Big Tech's widespread adoption of that - means it's more important than ever to nurture the development of tech & tech companies outside the US, so tech truly can meet the needs of a diverse world.
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
"If the EU ends up legislating [about encryption] on a technically incorrect basis, we could be left with a law that neither protects children nor citizens' right to privacy – but instead makes everyone more vulnerable" @moltke.bsky.social writes. www.dr.dk/nyheder/vide...
ANALYSE: Derfor holder Hummelgaards udsagn om kryptering ikke
Justitsminister Peter Hummelgaard (S) hævder, at man kan lave undtagelser i kryptering, og at Apple og Meta kan, men nægter at hjælpe med at fjerne overgrebsmateriale med børn. Begge udsagn modsiges a...
www.dr.dk
September 19, 2025 at 8:10 AM
"If the EU ends up legislating [about encryption] on a technically incorrect basis, we could be left with a law that neither protects children nor citizens' right to privacy – but instead makes everyone more vulnerable" @moltke.bsky.social writes. www.dr.dk/nyheder/vide...
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
If you had been in Brussels and paid between 800-1200 EUR you might have heard that 👇
September 18, 2025 at 6:25 AM
If you had been in Brussels and paid between 800-1200 EUR you might have heard that 👇
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
DCC 2026 -- our annual competition conference bringing together researchers, policy experts and practitioners -- is accepting paper submissions until October 13. Get those fingers typing ...
🚨Antitrust & digital competition are in the news almost daily – from decisions issued in cases against Google search and ad tech to DMA enforcement actions involving Apple and Meta and new private litigation in multiple jurisdictions. 👇
September 18, 2025 at 4:01 PM
DCC 2026 -- our annual competition conference bringing together researchers, policy experts and practitioners -- is accepting paper submissions until October 13. Get those fingers typing ...
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
We need much more stringent rules about when it is acceptable to film people (and we also need the tech execs pushing these products to be brutally exiled from society)
can't really begin to explain the extent to which I do Not want to be filmed without my knowledge by someone wearing smart glasses while out and about
good video hands-on with meta's smart glasses. i've been skeptical on smart glasses for a while, but it looks like the hardware side of this is finally becoming feasible? plus, in a world where kids list "creator" as their dream job, POV video recording is v attractive youtu.be/5cVGKvl7Oek?...
September 18, 2025 at 12:02 PM
We need much more stringent rules about when it is acceptable to film people (and we also need the tech execs pushing these products to be brutally exiled from society)
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
I covered the protests in London against Trump for @wired.com. Protesters aren't convinced by the AI deal from US tech giants: They want to know what the UK is giving them in exchange for up to $45bn in investment and where the power for data centers will come from www.wired.com/story/climat...
Anti-Trump Protesters Take Aim at ‘Naive’ US-UK AI Deal
Thousands marched in London to protest President Donald Trump’s second state visit. Among them were many environmental activists unhappy with Britain’s new AI deal with the US.
www.wired.com
September 18, 2025 at 11:12 AM
I covered the protests in London against Trump for @wired.com. Protesters aren't convinced by the AI deal from US tech giants: They want to know what the UK is giving them in exchange for up to $45bn in investment and where the power for data centers will come from www.wired.com/story/climat...
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
NEW: Criminals are using "SMS blasters"—a version of cell-site simulators used by police to surveil phones in a certain area—to flood people nearby the devices with scam texts. @mattburgess1.bsky.social reports www.wired.com/story/sms-bl...
Cybercriminals Have a Weird New Way to Target You With Scam Texts
Scammers are now using “SMS blasters” to send out up to 100,000 texts per hour to phones that are tricked into thinking the devices are cell towers. Your wireless carrier is powerless to stop them.
www.wired.com
September 18, 2025 at 1:21 PM
NEW: Criminals are using "SMS blasters"—a version of cell-site simulators used by police to surveil phones in a certain area—to flood people nearby the devices with scam texts. @mattburgess1.bsky.social reports www.wired.com/story/sms-bl...
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
In Moldova, authorities estimate the Kremlin will spend €100m — €31 per registered voter — to influence the outcome. In the Czech Republic, Kremlin-linked outlets are pumping out more content each day than the country’s major news outlets combined.
Moscow's interest in this autumn's Czech and Moldova elections
In Moldova, authorities estimate the Kremlin will spend €100m — €31 per registered voter — to influence the outcome. In the Czech Republic, Kremlin-linked outlets are pumping out more content each day than the country’s major news outlets combined.
euobserver.com
September 18, 2025 at 1:14 PM
In Moldova, authorities estimate the Kremlin will spend €100m — €31 per registered voter — to influence the outcome. In the Czech Republic, Kremlin-linked outlets are pumping out more content each day than the country’s major news outlets combined.
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.
Let’s be clear about what happened to Jimmy Kimmel
Trump’s most brazen attack on free speech yet.
www.yahoo.com
September 18, 2025 at 2:10 PM
After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.
Reposted by Ian Brown 👨🏻💻
Jaguar Land Rover joins the list of high-profile cyber-attack victims, with production and services disrupted. Is it time to rethink our approach? 🚨
Prof @ciaranm.bsky.social argues operational resilience–not just data breaches–is the real frontline.👇
Prof @ciaranm.bsky.social argues operational resilience–not just data breaches–is the real frontline.👇
Jaguar Land Rover to M&S: our cyber policy blind spot
In the wake of a cyber attack that has halted Jaguar Land Rover’s computer systems and production lines, Ciaran Martin, Professor of Practice in the Management of Public Organisations, argues that…
ow.ly
September 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Jaguar Land Rover joins the list of high-profile cyber-attack victims, with production and services disrupted. Is it time to rethink our approach? 🚨
Prof @ciaranm.bsky.social argues operational resilience–not just data breaches–is the real frontline.👇
Prof @ciaranm.bsky.social argues operational resilience–not just data breaches–is the real frontline.👇