Sam
@smithsam.bsky.social
Believes in better data with informed privacy for all. Day job @medconfidential amongst other things. he/him http://is.gd/samblog 🧘♂️ #FILDI
Cambridge
Cambridge
Reposted by Sam
I’m realizing I might have to write a piece talking about technology created by bigots for the purposes of oppression *sucks* and can be broken with a bit of collective effort.
These people care more about appearances than things actually working.
And that ethos touches *everything* they do.
These people care more about appearances than things actually working.
And that ethos touches *everything* they do.
Flock cameras are riddled with security vulnerabilities and hard-coded credentials. Here's my analysis of today's @ddosecrets.org Flock leak micahflee.com/flock-camera...
Flock cameras are riddled with security vulnerabilities and hard-coded credentials
This morning, DDoSecrets published an exciting new dataset: Filesystem images of the partitions from an in-use Flock ALPR camera. 404 Media and Wired published a joint investigation into it. I downloa...
micahflee.com
September 16, 2026 at 10:47 PM
I’m realizing I might have to write a piece talking about technology created by bigots for the purposes of oppression *sucks* and can be broken with a bit of collective effort.
These people care more about appearances than things actually working.
And that ethos touches *everything* they do.
These people care more about appearances than things actually working.
And that ethos touches *everything* they do.
Reposted by Sam
Would have been easy to have missed this as it came out with little fanfare on Friday but this is a helpful Select Committee report on the official statistics system, which also rightly makes the case for preserving independence (rather than asserting Ministerial control)
‘In our view, the Board [of the UK Statistics Authority] was repeatedly surprised by developments that should have been visible through effective governance and risk management.’
Scathing (but fair) from the Public Administration Select Committee
committees.parliament.uk/committee/32...
Scathing (but fair) from the Public Administration Select Committee
committees.parliament.uk/committee/32...
ONS on path to improve reputation but must learn from past failures, MPs find - Committees - UK Parliament
Those responsible for overseeing production of the UK’s official statistics must learn from failures at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) in order t...
committees.parliament.uk
September 14, 2026 at 8:21 AM
Would have been easy to have missed this as it came out with little fanfare on Friday but this is a helpful Select Committee report on the official statistics system, which also rightly makes the case for preserving independence (rather than asserting Ministerial control)
Reposted by Sam
A HMRC official was sacked because he was caught on camera saying he gives wrong information to black and brown people when they call for advice in a bid to sabotage them. He was a member of the far right group Patriotic Alternative.
How many more?
How many more?
September 12, 2026 at 1:00 PM
A HMRC official was sacked because he was caught on camera saying he gives wrong information to black and brown people when they call for advice in a bid to sabotage them. He was a member of the far right group Patriotic Alternative.
How many more?
How many more?
Reposted by Sam
How could an associate professor in divinity at Cambridge be expected to know that lying is bad?
thecritic.co.uk/mone...
thecritic.co.uk/mone...
September 5, 2026 at 8:44 AM
How could an associate professor in divinity at Cambridge be expected to know that lying is bad?
thecritic.co.uk/mone...
thecritic.co.uk/mone...
static1.squarespace.com
August 25, 2026 at 9:07 AM
@lifewinning.com how many times so far? x.com/oliviaLbecke...
Olivia Becker (@oliviaLbecker) on X
Olivia Becker (@oliviaLbecker) on X
x.com
August 24, 2026 at 1:39 PM
@lifewinning.com how many times so far? x.com/oliviaLbecke...
Reposted by Sam
Am I right in thinking it is now Conservative Party policy to evict Windrush migrants from their homes?
August 7, 2026 at 9:10 AM
Am I right in thinking it is now Conservative Party policy to evict Windrush migrants from their homes?
Reposted by Sam
Nice to see and hold the physical version. For the virtual as.ft.com/r/c1054499-a...
August 8, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Nice to see and hold the physical version. For the virtual as.ft.com/r/c1054499-a...
Reposted by Sam
If I was an agency wanting to be disbanded, I would choose the moment just after a new man of the ppl PM from the NW arrived - with a defining mission to rebalance the country and make agencies accountable - to pull £ from the world renowned telescope visited by generation upon generation of NW kids
July 27, 2026 at 4:26 PM
If I was an agency wanting to be disbanded, I would choose the moment just after a new man of the ppl PM from the NW arrived - with a defining mission to rebalance the country and make agencies accountable - to pull £ from the world renowned telescope visited by generation upon generation of NW kids
Reposted by Sam
🚨 EXC: NHS England has suppressed the work of investigators carrying out dozens of national clinical audits. NHSE has stopped investigators alerting media, watered down recommendations and limited the way their reports are written, published and used: www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...
NHS accused of suppressing investigation reports on poor care
Health bosses are watering down auditors’ recommendations for improvement
www.thetimes.com
July 25, 2026 at 7:51 PM
🚨 EXC: NHS England has suppressed the work of investigators carrying out dozens of national clinical audits. NHSE has stopped investigators alerting media, watered down recommendations and limited the way their reports are written, published and used: www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...
this consultation on making self-assessment monthly might be relevant to some today
www.gov.uk/government/c...
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Timely Payments in Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA)
www.gov.uk
July 24, 2026 at 11:45 AM
this consultation on making self-assessment monthly might be relevant to some today
www.gov.uk/government/c...
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Reposted by Sam
This is what anti trans people talking about trans medicine sounds like to trans people.
Same liars.
Same lies.
Same liars.
Same lies.
CDC has updated its vaccine safety pages.
Now says: "The claim 'vaccines do not cause autism' is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism."
Whoa
#EpiSky #pediatrics #NeuroSky #PsychSky
Now says: "The claim 'vaccines do not cause autism' is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism."
Whoa
#EpiSky #pediatrics #NeuroSky #PsychSky
Autism and Vaccines
Answers to common questions about vaccine safety and autism.
www.cdc.gov
July 23, 2026 at 9:12 PM
This is what anti trans people talking about trans medicine sounds like to trans people.
Same liars.
Same lies.
Same liars.
Same lies.
Reposted by Sam
This is an important role - National Data Guardian. Advises the health and care system so people’s information is kept safe and confidential, and is shared when appropriate to achieve better outcomes for patients.
£63k for 3.5 days a week
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9039
£63k for 3.5 days a week
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9039
Appointment details – National Data Guardian – Apply for a public appointment – GOV.UK
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk
July 23, 2026 at 5:39 PM
This is an important role - National Data Guardian. Advises the health and care system so people’s information is kept safe and confidential, and is shared when appropriate to achieve better outcomes for patients.
£63k for 3.5 days a week
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9039
£63k for 3.5 days a week
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9039
Reposted by Sam
Little known to many, on the 10th June, the government released the interim report on ADHD and neurodiversity services in the UK. It came out to very little fanfare. Why?
Because it doesn't match the government & the press narrative on "an epidemic of neurodiversity diagnoses".
Because it doesn't match the government & the press narrative on "an epidemic of neurodiversity diagnoses".
July 21, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Little known to many, on the 10th June, the government released the interim report on ADHD and neurodiversity services in the UK. It came out to very little fanfare. Why?
Because it doesn't match the government & the press narrative on "an epidemic of neurodiversity diagnoses".
Because it doesn't match the government & the press narrative on "an epidemic of neurodiversity diagnoses".
Reposted by Sam
Self-employed people!
Sorry to put a downer on your Sunday, but in case you'd not seen, the Government wants us to pay our tax *monthly* like we're employees or something
With the World Cup and all the politics, I'd missed the consultation they put out last month, which is here:
1/
Sorry to put a downer on your Sunday, but in case you'd not seen, the Government wants us to pay our tax *monthly* like we're employees or something
With the World Cup and all the politics, I'd missed the consultation they put out last month, which is here:
1/
Timely Payments in Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA)
www.gov.uk
July 19, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Self-employed people!
Sorry to put a downer on your Sunday, but in case you'd not seen, the Government wants us to pay our tax *monthly* like we're employees or something
With the World Cup and all the politics, I'd missed the consultation they put out last month, which is here:
1/
Sorry to put a downer on your Sunday, but in case you'd not seen, the Government wants us to pay our tax *monthly* like we're employees or something
With the World Cup and all the politics, I'd missed the consultation they put out last month, which is here:
1/
Reposted by Sam
'Patriot News' reporter Chris Atkins (scatatkins.bsky.social)
was just kicked out of Liz Truss' CPAC conference for asking the wrong questions.
So much for free speech.
was just kicked out of Liz Truss' CPAC conference for asking the wrong questions.
So much for free speech.
July 17, 2026 at 12:02 PM
'Patriot News' reporter Chris Atkins (scatatkins.bsky.social)
was just kicked out of Liz Truss' CPAC conference for asking the wrong questions.
So much for free speech.
was just kicked out of Liz Truss' CPAC conference for asking the wrong questions.
So much for free speech.
Reposted by Sam
It’s 25 years since we lost Douglas Adams. I am happy to have been able to get a reference to him into this piece in the FT about why the humanities are essential
www.ft.com/content/fbde...
www.ft.com/content/fbde...
July 16, 2026 at 2:48 PM
It’s 25 years since we lost Douglas Adams. I am happy to have been able to get a reference to him into this piece in the FT about why the humanities are essential
www.ft.com/content/fbde...
www.ft.com/content/fbde...
Reposted by Sam
🚨Exclusive🚨
Two ministers filmed a video for a child-protection software firm that lost £17m in three years, made just *£112* in the UK in 2024 and gets 90%+ of its income from overseas subsidiaries that haven't cooperated with auditors for three years.
1/
theuglygame.wordpress.com/2026/07/15/p...
Two ministers filmed a video for a child-protection software firm that lost £17m in three years, made just *£112* in the UK in 2024 and gets 90%+ of its income from overseas subsidiaries that haven't cooperated with auditors for three years.
1/
theuglygame.wordpress.com/2026/07/15/p...
Prophets without profits
The government’s favourite provider of child protection software, SafeToNet – a perpetually loss-making firm run by recently born-again Christians – has finally filed its long-delayed accounts. The…
theuglygame.wordpress.com
July 15, 2026 at 4:11 PM
🚨Exclusive🚨
Two ministers filmed a video for a child-protection software firm that lost £17m in three years, made just *£112* in the UK in 2024 and gets 90%+ of its income from overseas subsidiaries that haven't cooperated with auditors for three years.
1/
theuglygame.wordpress.com/2026/07/15/p...
Two ministers filmed a video for a child-protection software firm that lost £17m in three years, made just *£112* in the UK in 2024 and gets 90%+ of its income from overseas subsidiaries that haven't cooperated with auditors for three years.
1/
theuglygame.wordpress.com/2026/07/15/p...
Reposted by Sam
Important role here - Chair of the Information Commission (which will replace the ICO). £120k, 3 days a week. Apply by 19 August
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9276
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9276
July 16, 2026 at 6:56 AM
Important role here - Chair of the Information Commission (which will replace the ICO). £120k, 3 days a week. Apply by 19 August
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9276
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9276
Reposted by Sam
This is the Webarchive link to the (apparently) censored-by-transphobes report by Amnesty UK.
I would suggest downloading it now before they go after that as well.
web.archive.org/web/20260709...
I would suggest downloading it now before they go after that as well.
web.archive.org/web/20260709...
July 11, 2026 at 1:40 PM
This is the Webarchive link to the (apparently) censored-by-transphobes report by Amnesty UK.
I would suggest downloading it now before they go after that as well.
web.archive.org/web/20260709...
I would suggest downloading it now before they go after that as well.
web.archive.org/web/20260709...
Reposted by Sam
And important update and UK politics primer from the Guardian
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
July 8, 2026 at 9:35 AM
And important update and UK politics primer from the Guardian
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Reposted by Sam
Reposted by Sam
Wes Streeting’s legacy - wave bye bye to your GP, who you’ll only be allowed to see if the Government AI run by Palantir lets you.
bsky.app/profile/theg...
bsky.app/profile/theg...
NHS to use AI on its app to direct patients to appropriate services
NHS to use AI on its app to direct patients to appropriate services
Update in England expected to reach about 200,000 patients over the next year as part of £10bn package to overhaul NHS systems
The NHS will begin using AI on its app to direct patients to the appropriate services, it has been announced.
The tool will be used to triage patients and to ascertain if they should be allocated a GP appointment. Some may be advised to attend a pharmacy or their local A&E department instead, depending on the severity of their condition. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
July 4, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Wes Streeting’s legacy - wave bye bye to your GP, who you’ll only be allowed to see if the Government AI run by Palantir lets you.
bsky.app/profile/theg...
bsky.app/profile/theg...