Robin Berjon
@robin.berjon.com
Putting human agency back into technology. Brussels, 🇪🇺.
• tech, governance, science, politics, philosophy, infrastructure, cats, terrible puns
• blog: https://berjon.com/
• fmr W3C, NYT, ScienceAI, Protocol Labs
• he/him/Ishmael
• Signal robin.77
• tech, governance, science, politics, philosophy, infrastructure, cats, terrible puns
• blog: https://berjon.com/
• fmr W3C, NYT, ScienceAI, Protocol Labs
• he/him/Ishmael
• Signal robin.77
Pinned
Robin Berjon
@robin.berjon.com
· Feb 25
Digital Sovereignty
Digital sovereignty has a bad reputation. In internet governance circles, sovereignty is considered awkward enough to be referred to by as the "s-word." It is often associated with misguided attempts ...
berjon.com
Digital sovereignty is almost entirely an infrastructure problem, and it's a tough one. How can we understand the problem and start outlining strategies? Read on to find out!
berjon.com/digital-sove...
berjon.com/digital-sove...
Reposted by Robin Berjon
"Rules set by Google were more important than the rules set by the GDPR" so true @robin.berjon.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:16 PM
"Rules set by Google were more important than the rules set by the GDPR" so true @robin.berjon.com
The @ec.europa.eu's strategy for DMA success:
1. Tech monopolies must comply.
2. Industry must build alternatives.
3. Users must switch.
So, no plan for the Commission to actually do anything?
1. Tech monopolies must comply.
2. Industry must build alternatives.
3. Users must switch.
So, no plan for the Commission to actually do anything?
November 10, 2025 at 2:24 PM
The @ec.europa.eu's strategy for DMA success:
1. Tech monopolies must comply.
2. Industry must build alternatives.
3. Users must switch.
So, no plan for the Commission to actually do anything?
1. Tech monopolies must comply.
2. Industry must build alternatives.
3. Users must switch.
So, no plan for the Commission to actually do anything?
Reposted by Robin Berjon
The second von der Leyden's term continues to be an unmitigated disaster on all fronts...
This would be funny if it weren't so tragic.
I've only looked at the "simplification" rules for data protection and they seem to be written by someone who doesn't understand the regulations in the first place.
It's not about disagreeing, irrespective of goals they're incompetent. 🧵
I've only looked at the "simplification" rules for data protection and they seem to be written by someone who doesn't understand the regulations in the first place.
It's not about disagreeing, irrespective of goals they're incompetent. 🧵
In 2026 will continue simplifying ↓
Over a half of our legislative proposals will focus on making EU laws easier to apply and implement faster.
Over a half of our legislative proposals will focus on making EU laws easier to apply and implement faster.
November 10, 2025 at 10:52 AM
The second von der Leyden's term continues to be an unmitigated disaster on all fronts...
This is a great story and you should go grab a copy if you can!
Well, it's happened. Burning Men is a physical artefact, out in the world.
On Saturday I went to John Sandoe Books in Chelsea to see it and get my author copies. Was not prepared for all the FEELINGS
If you're in London, pop in and get a free copy with your Christmas haul. It's ... smoking..!
On Saturday I went to John Sandoe Books in Chelsea to see it and get my author copies. Was not prepared for all the FEELINGS
If you're in London, pop in and get a free copy with your Christmas haul. It's ... smoking..!
November 10, 2025 at 10:53 AM
This is a great story and you should go grab a copy if you can!
Reposted by Robin Berjon
If you're unfamiliar with @globalvoices.org just check out our site for a sense of the articles we publish: globalvoices.org
Just this morning we have (🧵):
Just this morning we have (🧵):
At @globalvoices.org, we offer ad-free multilingual community journalism from around the world FOR FREE! But with all the funding cuts, we are struggling to keep publishing this vital information for you. We are just over $400 short of being at one-third of our goal for November - can you help?
Donate · Global Voices
Support freedom of expression for everyone, everywhere, by donating to Global Voices.
globalvoices.org
November 10, 2025 at 10:30 AM
If you're unfamiliar with @globalvoices.org just check out our site for a sense of the articles we publish: globalvoices.org
Just this morning we have (🧵):
Just this morning we have (🧵):
Reposted by Robin Berjon
The GDPR amendments are the worst thing the Commission has come up with in the last 10 years, even worse than ChatControl. If this is how they plan to (t)roll this mandate, I'd rather the Commission not do anything at all on digital.
November 9, 2025 at 9:13 PM
The GDPR amendments are the worst thing the Commission has come up with in the last 10 years, even worse than ChatControl. If this is how they plan to (t)roll this mandate, I'd rather the Commission not do anything at all on digital.
This is art.
November 10, 2025 at 10:46 AM
This is art.
Reposted by Robin Berjon
New:
The current “AI race” media frenzy, whether framed as productivity revolution, Chinese competition, or AGI salvation, is either largely myth-making or missing the most crucial point.
So let me challenge that frenzy with a different story.
1/
open.substack.com/pub/protagon...
The current “AI race” media frenzy, whether framed as productivity revolution, Chinese competition, or AGI salvation, is either largely myth-making or missing the most crucial point.
So let me challenge that frenzy with a different story.
1/
open.substack.com/pub/protagon...
The AI Race to Reboot Feudalism
Let's be honest about why they gamble everything
open.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:47 PM
New:
The current “AI race” media frenzy, whether framed as productivity revolution, Chinese competition, or AGI salvation, is either largely myth-making or missing the most crucial point.
So let me challenge that frenzy with a different story.
1/
open.substack.com/pub/protagon...
The current “AI race” media frenzy, whether framed as productivity revolution, Chinese competition, or AGI salvation, is either largely myth-making or missing the most crucial point.
So let me challenge that frenzy with a different story.
1/
open.substack.com/pub/protagon...
Reposted by Robin Berjon
Scientists and scholars in AI and its social impacts call on von der Leyen to retract #AIHype statement.
@olivia.science
@abeba.bsky.social
@irisvanrooij.bsky.social
@alexhanna.bsky.social
@rocher.lc
@danmcquillan.bsky.social
@robin.berjon.com
& many others have signed
www.iccl.ie/press-releas...
@olivia.science
@abeba.bsky.social
@irisvanrooij.bsky.social
@alexhanna.bsky.social
@rocher.lc
@danmcquillan.bsky.social
@robin.berjon.com
& many others have signed
www.iccl.ie/press-releas...
Scientists call on the President of the European Commission to retract AI hype statement
Experts in AI call on the President of the European Commission to retract unscientific AI hype statement she made in the budget speech.
www.iccl.ie
November 10, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Scientists and scholars in AI and its social impacts call on von der Leyen to retract #AIHype statement.
@olivia.science
@abeba.bsky.social
@irisvanrooij.bsky.social
@alexhanna.bsky.social
@rocher.lc
@danmcquillan.bsky.social
@robin.berjon.com
& many others have signed
www.iccl.ie/press-releas...
@olivia.science
@abeba.bsky.social
@irisvanrooij.bsky.social
@alexhanna.bsky.social
@rocher.lc
@danmcquillan.bsky.social
@robin.berjon.com
& many others have signed
www.iccl.ie/press-releas...
This would be funny if it weren't so tragic.
I've only looked at the "simplification" rules for data protection and they seem to be written by someone who doesn't understand the regulations in the first place.
It's not about disagreeing, irrespective of goals they're incompetent. 🧵
I've only looked at the "simplification" rules for data protection and they seem to be written by someone who doesn't understand the regulations in the first place.
It's not about disagreeing, irrespective of goals they're incompetent. 🧵
In 2026 will continue simplifying ↓
Over a half of our legislative proposals will focus on making EU laws easier to apply and implement faster.
Over a half of our legislative proposals will focus on making EU laws easier to apply and implement faster.
November 9, 2025 at 1:59 PM
This would be funny if it weren't so tragic.
I've only looked at the "simplification" rules for data protection and they seem to be written by someone who doesn't understand the regulations in the first place.
It's not about disagreeing, irrespective of goals they're incompetent. 🧵
I've only looked at the "simplification" rules for data protection and they seem to be written by someone who doesn't understand the regulations in the first place.
It's not about disagreeing, irrespective of goals they're incompetent. 🧵
Reposted by Robin Berjon
Read @robin.berjon.com on cloud infrastructure
Europe must embrace a “break-and-build” strategy:
“break” entrenched monopolies and
“build” its own digital infrastructure and addressing on a sector-by-sector basis
@projectsyndicate.bsky.social prosyn.org/5baiDt6?refe...
Europe must embrace a “break-and-build” strategy:
“break” entrenched monopolies and
“build” its own digital infrastructure and addressing on a sector-by-sector basis
@projectsyndicate.bsky.social prosyn.org/5baiDt6?refe...
How Many More Cloud Scares Does Europe Need?
Robin Berjon urges the EU to dismantle the entrenched US monopolies that are undermining the goal of tech sovereignty.
prosyn.org
November 9, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Read @robin.berjon.com on cloud infrastructure
Europe must embrace a “break-and-build” strategy:
“break” entrenched monopolies and
“build” its own digital infrastructure and addressing on a sector-by-sector basis
@projectsyndicate.bsky.social prosyn.org/5baiDt6?refe...
Europe must embrace a “break-and-build” strategy:
“break” entrenched monopolies and
“build” its own digital infrastructure and addressing on a sector-by-sector basis
@projectsyndicate.bsky.social prosyn.org/5baiDt6?refe...
They're attacking us. It means we're winning. Not winning enough yet, but winning.
So let's keep pushing.
So let's keep pushing.
omg.
Meta clearly trying to polarize the issue of digital sovereignty by running this in the Hub.
Meta clearly trying to polarize the issue of digital sovereignty by running this in the Hub.
November 9, 2025 at 9:11 AM
They're attacking us. It means we're winning. Not winning enough yet, but winning.
So let's keep pushing.
So let's keep pushing.
Ok, that's the album I didn't know I needed.
Florence Welch making an album inspired by Buffy Season 6 in the Year of the Lord 2025 is true elder millennial shit
a woman says see what i did there in yellow text
ALT: a woman says see what i did there in yellow text
media.tenor.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Ok, that's the album I didn't know I needed.
Because we all learnt from the Buffybot episodes that men who do that are cool and lovable, right?
November 8, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Because we all learnt from the Buffybot episodes that men who do that are cool and lovable, right?
Reposted by Robin Berjon
🚨New Paper!🚨
Do you love authenticity? @ledaberio.bsky.social and I argue that maybe you shouldn't!
We think that everything would be better if we all just got over the idea of true selves and were cooler with the fact that we all contain multitudes.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Do you love authenticity? @ledaberio.bsky.social and I argue that maybe you shouldn't!
We think that everything would be better if we all just got over the idea of true selves and were cooler with the fact that we all contain multitudes.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Challenges to Narrating a Multitudinous Self: Towards a Better Ethics of Code-switching - Topoi
We motivate and lay out the broad contours of a research program, namely that of developing a systematic ethics of code-switching. Such an ethics will articulate the values and norms that should gover...
link.springer.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:55 PM
🚨New Paper!🚨
Do you love authenticity? @ledaberio.bsky.social and I argue that maybe you shouldn't!
We think that everything would be better if we all just got over the idea of true selves and were cooler with the fact that we all contain multitudes.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Do you love authenticity? @ledaberio.bsky.social and I argue that maybe you shouldn't!
We think that everything would be better if we all just got over the idea of true selves and were cooler with the fact that we all contain multitudes.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Robin Berjon
congrats to everyone for thinking this through before signing very big contracts to put it on every student’s device at the school or university you run
OVER A MILLION USERS
DISCUSS SUICIDE WITH CHATGPT
EVERY *WEEK*
what the fuck are we DOING here
DISCUSS SUICIDE WITH CHATGPT
EVERY *WEEK*
what the fuck are we DOING here
Panera’s moderately caffeinated lemonade was loosely associated with 2 deaths before it was taken off market.
This article alone has 4 examples of ChatGPT encouraging young people to commit suicide, and OpenAI’s own public stats estimate over a million users discuss suicide with ChatGPT each week.
This article alone has 4 examples of ChatGPT encouraging young people to commit suicide, and OpenAI’s own public stats estimate over a million users discuss suicide with ChatGPT each week.
November 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
congrats to everyone for thinking this through before signing very big contracts to put it on every student’s device at the school or university you run
Reposted by Robin Berjon
This captures my feelings towards the current Commission so accurately! Except it's even worse because the EPP thinks deregulation is the way forward. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
"We thought AI would only approach human reasoning around 2050. Now we expect this to happen already next year." — Ursula von der Leyen
November 7, 2025 at 4:14 PM
This captures my feelings towards the current Commission so accurately! Except it's even worse because the EPP thinks deregulation is the way forward. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Reposted by Robin Berjon
I'll try and find time to sprinkle some memes (and outtakes) from @robin.berjon.com's and my talk if you didn't make it to the FAR END of montjuic this morning:
November 7, 2025 at 1:28 PM
I'll try and find time to sprinkle some memes (and outtakes) from @robin.berjon.com's and my talk if you didn't make it to the FAR END of montjuic this morning:
Reposted by Robin Berjon
Three Moves to Stop Broligarchy (Break, Build, Enforce) by
Cori Crider and Robin Berjon
mzf.st/15
hands down one of the most refreshing talks at MozFest
Cori Crider and Robin Berjon
mzf.st/15
hands down one of the most refreshing talks at MozFest
November 7, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Three Moves to Stop Broligarchy (Break, Build, Enforce) by
Cori Crider and Robin Berjon
mzf.st/15
hands down one of the most refreshing talks at MozFest
Cori Crider and Robin Berjon
mzf.st/15
hands down one of the most refreshing talks at MozFest
I'm considering getting this on a t-shirt 😁
November 7, 2025 at 11:57 AM
I'm considering getting this on a t-shirt 😁
"We thought AI would only approach human reasoning around 2050. Now we expect this to happen already next year." — Ursula von der Leyen
November 7, 2025 at 10:49 AM
"We thought AI would only approach human reasoning around 2050. Now we expect this to happen already next year." — Ursula von der Leyen
Reposted by Robin Berjon
"If we let the bad people get a trillion dollars a year that we're not getting, they're going to kick our ass every single time": @robin.berjon.com's case in a #MozFest talk with @coricrider.com for breaking Google's hold on the digital-advertising market--which EU regulators seem poised to do.
November 7, 2025 at 9:25 AM
"If we let the bad people get a trillion dollars a year that we're not getting, they're going to kick our ass every single time": @robin.berjon.com's case in a #MozFest talk with @coricrider.com for breaking Google's hold on the digital-advertising market--which EU regulators seem poised to do.
Reposted by Robin Berjon
Strong start to the weekend from @robin.berjon.com.
Strong plugs for anti-trust and democratically directed public internet infrastructure!
#MozFest
Strong plugs for anti-trust and democratically directed public internet infrastructure!
#MozFest
November 7, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Strong start to the weekend from @robin.berjon.com.
Strong plugs for anti-trust and democratically directed public internet infrastructure!
#MozFest
Strong plugs for anti-trust and democratically directed public internet infrastructure!
#MozFest
Data collection at scale is a national security issue. This trading is happening even with GDPR protections.
And yet the Commission is advocating changes that would remove such data from the scope of the regulation.
And yet the Commission is advocating changes that would remove such data from the scope of the regulation.
cyberinsider.com/precise-loca...
This #databrooker business must be stopped.
FYI @carissaveliz.bsky.social
This #databrooker business must be stopped.
FYI @carissaveliz.bsky.social
Precise Locations of EU Officials Retrieved Through Data Brokers
Phone location data, collected under the guise of ad tracking, can be used to precisely track the movements of millions in the EU.
cyberinsider.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Data collection at scale is a national security issue. This trading is happening even with GDPR protections.
And yet the Commission is advocating changes that would remove such data from the scope of the regulation.
And yet the Commission is advocating changes that would remove such data from the scope of the regulation.