#public-debate-and-transparency

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UK politics
fromIndependent
55 minutes ago

Fionnan Sheahan: The Dail reform dorks are coming after your TD - beware of geeks bearing grift

Capping the number of TDs may undermine essential elements of the political system.
Law
fromwww.theguardian.com
15 hours ago

I always considered social media evil': big tobacco whistleblower on tech's addictive products

Jeffrey Wigand compares social media companies' practices to the tobacco industry's targeting of children and negligence regarding addiction and harm.
Privacy professionals
fromIndependent
1 day ago

Gearoid O'Sullivan: Would you be happy to have details of your tax affairs paraded in public?

New rules threaten taxpayer privacy by limiting the right to private hearings in the appeals process.
fromInvestigative Post
2 days ago

Investigative Post event on reforming Buffalo and NY government.

John Kaehny has written and successfully lobbied for the passage of state and New York City laws related to government transparency and accountability, including the first open data law in the world in 2012.
NYC politics
#california
Media industry
fromLos Angeles Times
19 hours ago

Commentary: For more than 30 years - day in, day out - he's chronicled California. One paragraph at a time

Rough & Tumble, founded by Jack Kavanagh, is California's longest-running unbiased news aggregator, focusing on trust and simplicity.
Environment
fromHigh Country News
4 days ago

The government-funded coverup under our noses - High Country News

The Bureau of Land Management plans extensive drilling in central California, threatening ecosystems and public health in areas like the Irish Hills.
US Elections
fromLos Angeles Times
3 days ago

Californians say democracy is in peril, state should enact voting rights protections, poll shows

Two-thirds of California voters believe democracy is under attack, with strong support for a state Voting Rights Act following recent Supreme Court decisions.
Right-wing politics
fromTruthout
2 days ago

No Kings Must Mean No War: Foreign Policy Is Least Democratic Space in Politics

The majority of Iranian Americans oppose the war on Iran, despite media portrayal of pro-monarchy sentiments.
Roam Research
fromenglish.elpais.com
1 day ago

How to measure bad smells: the citizen science that is challenging the stench of rotten eggs and cabbage soup

Different methods exist to scientifically measure odors, but they often fail to assess the discomfort caused to individuals at a distance.
fromwww.mediaite.com
1 day ago

Fox News Host Has a Direct Question for Republican Lawmaker: What Exactly Does Congress Do These Days?'

Rep. Chip Roy stated, 'We aren't getting the job done. Part of that is because we are bound by this big, broken, fake filibuster of 60 votes. But part of it is you gotta have the willpower to do it.'
US politics
fromFast Company
21 hours ago

Why AI-powered city cameras are sounding new privacy alarms

The expansion of automatic license plate readers as a source of deep concern is evident as government authorities seek ways to target immigrant and transgender communities.
Privacy technologies
European startups
fromSilicon Canals
1 day ago

Compliance startup Delve removed from Y Combinator portfolio after anonymous whistleblower posts spark investor exodus - Silicon Canals

Delve has been removed from Y Combinator's portfolio due to serious allegations regarding its business practices and compliance misrepresentation.
Education
fromPR Daily
2 days ago

Why writing skills matter more than AI for the next generation of communicators - PR Daily

Karen Freberg emphasizes the importance of experiential learning and clarity in writing for effective communication in a rapidly changing industry.
US Elections
fromLos Angeles Times
1 day ago

House Democrats to hold California 'shadow hearings' on midterm election security

California Democrats are holding hearings to defend state election systems against Trump's fraud allegations and threats of intervention.
Photography
fromThe Phoblographer
2 days ago

Our Staff is All Human. Can Other Publications Say the Same?

Phoblographer aims to reduce reliance on big photo retailers and banner ads by promoting a subscription model for sustainability.
SF politics
fromsfist.com
2 days ago

Supervisor Jackie Fielder's Absence From Board of Supervisors Follows Investigation Into Leaked Memo

Jackie Fielder's office is under investigation for leaking a confidential memo regarding the controversial RESET Center approved by the Board of Supervisors.
#social-media
Digital life
fromExchangewire
5 days ago

Regulating Social Media: Where do we go from here?

Social media platforms are designed for addiction, prompting global legislative actions to restrict children's access.
Environment
fromEarth911
2 days ago

Earth911 Inspiration: Show Up for Planet Earth

Make Earth Day 2026 a pivotal response to environmental damage from recent U.S. policy reversals.
Brooklyn
fromGothamist
2 days ago

Nonprofit at the center of federal corruption probe still has a $94M city contract

BHRAGS Home Care Corp faces federal bribery and embezzlement charges while holding a $94 million city contract set to begin this summer.
fromTechCrunch
2 days ago

Anthropic ramps up its political activities with a new PAC | TechCrunch

Anthropic's political activities have ramped up as the company continues to be enmeshed in a nasty legal battle with the Defense Department. The dispute erupted earlier this year over the government's use of Anthropic's AI models and what guidelines (if any) should exist for that usage.
Artificial intelligence
fromLos Angeles Times
3 days ago

Equity advocate turned defendant: Former head of S.F. human rights commission accused of corruption

Sheryl Davis is accused of steering millions of dollars to Collective Impact, a San Francisco-based nonprofit she previously ran as executive director, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday by the San Francisco District Attorney's Office.
Non-profit organizations
Fundraising
fromFast Company
2 days ago

How giving starts progress and leadership scales it

Volatility and accountability are transforming philanthropy, requiring leadership to drive impactful change.
Left-wing politics
fromSlate Magazine
2 days ago

Can You Name That Political Memoir? A Slate Quiz.

Political memoirs from current and former officials reflect personal experiences and ambitions, often blending blandness with moments of controversy and career revival.
NYC parents
fromPsychology Today
3 days ago

Is Mandated Reporting Racist? What Families Must Know

Low reporting standards and systemic racism lead to unjust CPS reports, disproportionately affecting Black and Brown families.
New York City
fromThe New Yorker
3 days ago

Zohran Mamdani's Pick to Help "Fundamentally Change" the Way New Yorkers Relate to City Government

Tascha Van Auken aims to transform New Yorkers' relationship with city government through the Mayor's Office of Mass Engagement.
Marketing
fromForbes
3 days ago

To Get Powerful Publicity, Build A Narrative Strategy

Building a clear, consistent narrative strategy is essential for organizations to connect with stakeholders and achieve sustainable success.
fromElectronic Frontier Foundation
1 week ago

Digital Hopes, Real Power: From Revolution to Regulation

66% of internet users live where political or social sites are blocked, and 78% are in countries where people have been arrested for online posts. New social media regulations have emerged in dozens of countries in the past year alone.
World politics
Digital life
fromwww.theguardian.com
4 days ago

Australia's teen social media ban is a flop. But there's no joy in I told you so' | Samantha Floreani

The Australian teen social media ban has failed, with 70% of children still online and no reduction in cyberbullying or abuse.
fromPhilosophynow
4 days ago
Philosophy

The Collective City

Islamic philosophy invites plurality and coexistence, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and the acceptance of error in understanding.
California
fromStreetsblog
6 days ago

No Kings Rallies Throughout California - Streetsblog California

Record attendance of 8 million at No Kings rallies across the U.S., with significant participation in California's major cities.
Remote teams
fromTheregister
6 days ago

Security contractor blew the whistle on shabby support crew

Brad, a security contractor, faced challenges with antivirus alerts while working in a labor hire company's office without proper IT support.
Social media marketing
fromeuronews
1 week ago

Governments pressured to stop 'enshitification' as internet worsens

The Norwegian Consumer Council's viral video highlights concerns over 'enshitification,' the decline in quality of digital platforms.
#democracy
#reform-uk
UK politics
fromBusiness Matters
1 day ago

Reform UK becomes first British political party to launch its own podcast

Reform UK launches a podcast to provide behind-the-scenes access to Nigel Farage and party activities, marking a first for British political parties.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 days ago

Drip feed of Reform UK controversies puts party's policy drive in shade

Reform UK faces significant internal issues, including high attrition rates and controversial statements from candidates.
UK politics
fromBusiness Matters
1 day ago

Reform UK becomes first British political party to launch its own podcast

Reform UK launches a podcast to provide behind-the-scenes access to Nigel Farage and party activities, marking a first for British political parties.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 days ago

Drip feed of Reform UK controversies puts party's policy drive in shade

Reform UK faces significant internal issues, including high attrition rates and controversial statements from candidates.
#privacy
#pam-bondi
US politics
fromAbove the Law
2 days ago

Colbert Mocks Bondi's Firing With The Only Document More Redacted Than DOJ's - Above the Law

Pam Bondi's firing is linked to her handling of the Epstein files, prompting comedic commentary from Stephen Colbert.
US politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
2 days ago

Nancy Mace Not Letting Pam Bondi Off the Hook for Epstein Testimony: She's Required by Law'

Pam Bondi's ousting as attorney general raises questions about her handling of Jeffrey Epstein files and her upcoming deposition.
US politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
3 days ago

Oversight Dems Calls for Bondi to Testify Before Congress

Pam Bondi is called to testify before Congress regarding her handling of the Epstein files after being ousted as attorney general.
NYC politics
fromCity Limits
2 days ago

Councilmember Investigated Over Possible Bribes In Shelter Contracting, And What Else Happened This Week in Housing

Councilmember Farah Louis is under federal investigation for allegedly steering shelter contracts in exchange for benefits.
US Elections
fromKqed
3 days ago

California Media Seek Access to Secret Warrants in Sheriff's Ballot Seizure Case | KQED

Sheriff Bianco obtained warrants to investigate ballot discrepancies in Riverside County, but the investigation is currently on hold due to legal challenges.
SF politics
fromMission Local
3 days ago

S.F. Ethics Commission will weigh in on Lurie-Trump phone records

Mayor Daniel Lurie faces scrutiny for not disclosing records of his call with President Trump regarding federal agent deployment.
Media industry
fromPoynter
3 days ago

An AI company set out to fix news deserts. Instead, it copied local journalists' work - Poynter

Nota is shutting down its local news sites due to multiple instances of plagiarism in its articles.
Law
fromPoynter
4 days ago

Like journalists, prosecutors shaped a distorted view of crime. They can help fix it, too. - Poynter

Prosecutors and journalists both contribute to misleading public perceptions of crime, but prosecutors possess crucial data to tell a more accurate story.
London politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
4 days ago

Your Party to focus local election efforts on backing independent candidates

Your Party is targeting urban areas with large Muslim populations to support independent candidates and community groups against Labour.
#nyc-community-boards
New York City
fromwww.amny.com
4 days ago

NYC community boards: What to know about these civic groups, how they operate and why there's a reform push

NYC Community Boards are essential for civic engagement, allowing residents to voice opinions and influence local governance.
NYC politics
fromwww.amny.com
3 days ago

NYC Council members would have more control in establishing community boards, per new bill

A new bill proposes that NYC Council members appoint half of community board members to enhance local representation.
New York City
fromwww.amny.com
4 days ago

NYC community boards: What to know about these civic groups, how they operate and why there's a reform push

NYC Community Boards are essential for civic engagement, allowing residents to voice opinions and influence local governance.
NYC politics
fromwww.amny.com
3 days ago

NYC Council members would have more control in establishing community boards, per new bill

A new bill proposes that NYC Council members appoint half of community board members to enhance local representation.
Digital life
fromDigiday
6 days ago

In graphic detail: The long road to accountability for social media platforms

Big tech giants are now held accountable for harming children, marking a significant shift in social media regulation.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 days ago

Reform to launch new podcast after run-ins with media

The Independent provides accessible journalism on critical issues without paywalls, while Reform UK launches a podcast for behind-the-scenes political insights.
US politics
fromwww.npr.org
2 days ago

As DOJ prepares to share state voter data with DHS, a key privacy officer resigns

The DOJ is acquiring sensitive voter registration data, raising privacy concerns, as a key privacy officer resigns amid ongoing legal challenges.
Law
fromwww.mediaite.com
3 days ago

Lawyers Warned Top Democratic PAC They May Have Misled Congress' on Illegal Foreign Donations Explosive NYT Report Reveals

ActBlue may have misled Congress about its foreign donation screening, raising legal risks and potential criminal liability.
SF politics
fromLos Angeles Times
4 days ago

Contributor: Investigate the AI campaigns flooding public agencies with fake comments

Artificial intelligence is being exploited to create fake grassroots opposition against clean air regulations, undermining public health initiatives.
Privacy professionals
fromwww.aljazeera.com
2 days ago

Ten years since Panama Papers: What did they reveal, did anything change?

The Panama Papers leak revealed extensive offshore financial networks used by the global elite, involving over 11.5 million documents from Mossack Fonseca.
SF politics
fromPadailypost
5 days ago

Candidate defends party registration

Jim Irizarry claims he mistakenly registered with a far-right party, while opponent David Canepa argues it was intentional and questions Irizarry's qualifications.
Social justice
fromTruthout
2 weeks ago

Why Libraries Matter in a Fascist Moment

Public libraries are vital infrastructure enabling free access to knowledge, gathering spaces, and shared intellectual life that authoritarianism seeks to eliminate.
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago

Campaigners celebrate after new town plans dropped

Campaigner Aysha Hawcutt stated that residents were 'not anti-homes', but believed the Adlington plan was 'the wrong proposal in the wrong place'. She expressed pride in the community's resilience against the development threats.
London politics
Philosophy
fromThe Nation
2 weeks ago

In Defense of Being Performative

Democracy requires citizens to actively perform civic engagement; dismissing performative politics misunderstands that democratic participation is inherently performative and essential for democratic survival.
US politics
fromLos Angeles Times
2 days ago

'Amateur hour at the U.S. attorney's office': L.A. prosecutors face more losses in protest cases

Prosecutors faced significant challenges in two separate trials for assault on federal officers in Los Angeles, with one case potentially dismissed due to discovery issues.
Privacy professionals
fromThe Verge
3 days ago

Pinterest said he violated laid-off colleagues' privacy. Now he's going public

A former Pinterest engineer claims he was unjustly fired for sharing a tool that revealed employee layoffs.
US politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
3 days ago

Eric Swalwell Addresses Claim That Pam Bondi Was Fired for Leaking Info to Him

Rep. Eric Swalwell denied claims that Attorney General Pam Bondi leaked information to him regarding an investigation into his past.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
4 days ago

Mayor resigns over social media posts about Golders Green arson

The mayor of Bath resigned after sharing controversial posts about an antisemitic arson attack, leading to his suspension and public apology.
Philosophy
fromApaonline
3 weeks ago

Why We Need a Formal, Mandatory, and Remunerated "Citizen Lobby"

Post-Cold War optimism about democracy and internet freedom has been undermined by geopolitical tensions, neoliberalism, nationalism, and corporate influence that concentrate power among the already wealthy.
Media industry
fromFast Company
2 weeks ago

Why societal change and technology may be key to Americans regaining trust in the news media

New models for news dissemination are needed to restore trust and adapt to younger consumers' habits.
SF politics
fromFast Company
2 weeks ago

Does the public comment system have an AI problem?

AI-powered advocacy tools may be generating fake public comments to influence government policy decisions, raising concerns about the authenticity of citizen input in regulatory processes.
Philosophy
fromApaonline
3 weeks ago

Secrecy, Democracy, Necessity

Executive officials justify secrecy through claims of protecting decision-making integrity and national security, but such necessity arguments alone cannot legitimize secret governance in democracies.
US politics
fromemptywheel
2 weeks ago

Accountability - emptywheel

Accountability for Trump and his administration is essential to prevent him from scapegoating Muslims for failures resulting from his Iran conflict decisions.
Privacy professionals
fromDataBreaches.Net
1 month ago

Hacktivists claim to have hacked Homeland Security to release ICE contract data - DataBreaches.Net

Hacktivists claiming to be 'Department of Peace' breached DHS and leaked contracts between the agency, ICE, and over 6,000 companies including defense and tech firms.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

The Guardian view on violent online rhetoric: all politicians have a duty to set a civil tone | Editorial

Politicians must exercise judgment before sharing social media content, as false posts and violent rhetoric endanger public figures and discourage political participation.
Privacy technologies
fromWIRED
1 month ago

How to Organize Safely in the Age of Surveillance

Grassroots organizing requires careful tradeoffs between openness and security to protect participants from extensive government surveillance and corporate data cooperation.
Philosophy
fromApaonline
1 month ago

What Accountability-Seeking Protest Can Tell Us About Democracy

Different kinds of political protest pursue distinct aims; accountability-seeking protest aims to hold actors responsible and can reinforce democratic community bonds.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Accountability In An Age Of Unaccountability - Above the Law

Legal system turmoil: arrests, Epstein file fallout, judicial misconduct, and mounting ethical breaches requiring disbarment of dishonest administration lawyers.
fromNonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.
1 month ago

Philanthropy Must Defend the Right to Bear Witness | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.

"Are you okay?" These were Alex Pretti's last words, said to a woman after ICE agents had tackled and pepper-sprayed her. Videos from bystanders show Pretti holding up a phone, attempting to document what was happening before he himself was pepper-sprayed, wrestled to the ground, and killed by those officers. He lost his life not for committing violence, but for documenting it, and stepping in to protect someone facing it.
US politics
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