#GovComms
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owenboswarva.bsky.social
UK Officials Said AI Would Add £400 Billion to the Economy. That Figure Mainly Came From Google www.wired.com/story/uk-off...

Recent written answer from the UK's minister for AI boosterism, Kanishka Narayan MP questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...

#AIpolicy #techpolicy #govcomms
UK House of Commons written question UIN 32092, tabled on 9 October 2026 and answered on 26 October 2026: Dr Ben Spencer Conservative, Runnymede and Weybridge Commons To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what the evidential basis is for the statement in the AI Opportunities Action Plan that AI adoption could add £400 billion to the economy by 2030; and if he will publish the underlying analysis. Answer Kanishka Narayan Labour, Vale of Glamorgan Commons The £400 billion figure was drawn from a publicly available 2023 report commissioned by Google and produced by Public First, which estimated that generative AI tools could create over £400 billion in value for the UK economy by 2030. The underlying analysis is already publicly available. The Government has since made a more recent assessment. AI adoption and data investment could add 0.4 to 1.3 percentage points to the UK’s productivity growth. These estimates are hugely uncertain, but this would be the equivalent of adding £55-140 billion to UK GVA in 2030. The central adoption estimate is £120 billion.
November 5, 2026 at 11:05 AM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
Palantir AI tech unused or little used by 29 NHS trusts said to be benefiting from it www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

@medact.bsky.social campaign www.medact.org/2024/resourc...

#FOI #NHSdata #patientdata #datasharing #techpolicy #govcomms
The contrast between the number of hospitals the NHS claims realise benefits from Palantir's technology and the statements of the hospitals themselves emerged from more than 100 freedom of information requests. NHS England states on its website that 137 trusts are "live" with the FDP, but of those described as "realising benefits", 29 responded that they were either not using the system or its apps. Epsom and St Helier said it was "not using FDP at the moment", Kent and Medway said the trust "has been focused on other priorities … the FDP is not currently live", Mersey Care said they had "not yet gone live with the FDP", Nottingham University Hospitals said "no implementation timeline has been agreed", and University Hospitals of North Midlands said: "FDP is not live. We do not intend to roll it out in the future."
November 2, 2026 at 12:15 PM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
The UK's Cabinet Office says the activation of the Emergency Alert capability in August was "issued at no cost to the taxpayer" questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...

Context: Wildfire phone alert was 'entirely appropriate', government says www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#govcomms #vfm
Screenshot of UK Housing Commons written question UIN 21331, tabled on 28 August 2026 and answered on 6 October 2026: Question Alex Burghart Conservative, Brentwood and Ongar Commons To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 24 January 2024, to Question 10668, on Emergencies: Mobile Phones, what is the additional or marginal cost to the public purse of issuing a nationwide Emergency Alert. Answer Dan Jarvis Labour, Barnsley North Commons The Cabinet Office is committed to delivering value for money to the public. There is no additional or marginal cost of issuing a nationwide Emergency Alert; the most recent activation of the Emergency Alert capability on 14 August was issued at no cost to the taxpayer.
October 6, 2026 at 3:54 PM
drphd2k7.bsky.social
#Civicengagement event
In-person
Tow Center for #DigitalJournalism
Columbia University
www.eventbrite.com/e/nyc-influe...

#democracy #civiceducation #civicseducation #GovernmentCommunications #GovComms #socialmedia #NewYorkCity #NYC
NYC influencers and the Future of Civic Engagement
Join us for a conversation with influencers, government officials and academics about our findings.
www.eventbrite.com
October 6, 2026 at 2:31 AM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
Social media users end up on government list for speaking out against Prevent metro.co.uk/2026/09/25/s...

UK Government monitoring X for people who publicly criticise Prevent www.rightsandsecurity.org/government-m...

Related ICO decision ico.org.uk/action-weve-...

#FOI #govcomms
Social media posts criticising government policy are being monitored and investigated by officials, Metro can reveal. Negative X and Reddit posts from unsuspecting Brits attacking the UK's anti-terror programme Prevent were added to a database of critical online comments. Metro has obtained a list of nearly 80 critical posts found and logged by the Standards and Compliance Unit (StaCU), which oversees Prevent, between March 2024 and February 2025. One campaign group whose tweet was recorded in the database said the revelations raised 'serious questions about freedom of expression and the right to dissent and protest' in the UK.
September 25, 2026 at 9:51 AM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
Same difference committees.parliament.uk/publications...

#techpolicy #govcomms
Extract from a letter sent by UK AI minister Kanishka Narayan MP in reply to Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Commons Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee: I am happy to confirm that I did not send a letter to my Cabinet colleagues on AI regulation last week, but I did publish an op-ed in the Times. I have included a copy of this article with this letter for your information and ease, which sets out the Government’s approach to AI regulation.
September 23, 2026 at 4:47 PM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
"We understand you must feel like giving up – please do!"

#FOI #govcomms
The ICO is receiving record volumes of complaints and is currently assigning cases for investigation approximately nine months after their date of initial receipt. Unfortunately due to the number of cases we are receiving and the resources available to us to manage this, we do not expect this situation to improve in the near future. If you can't wait, we understand. You can withdraw this complaint at any time, just let us know.
September 1, 2026 at 9:01 AM
darrentodream.bsky.social
I’m looking for more PR and Comms folks to talk strategy and tactics with!

I get so jealous seeing people in the private sector do fun things and I try so hard to make public health GovComms sexy.
November 17, 2024 at 2:56 PM
namesbluemedia.bsky.social
💬 Government Communicators: Join the Conversation!

The new members-only NAGC Online Community Discussion Board is live!

🔗:
cdn.ymaws.com/nagc.com/res...

#NAGC #GovComms #GovernmentCommunications #PublicSector #CommunityCollaboration
cdn.ymaws.com
February 24, 2026 at 6:32 PM
namesbluemedia.bsky.social
The NAGC Board has adopted a 5-year Strategic Plan to drive growth & innovation in government communications.

🔹 Enhancing member engagement & retention
🔹 Ensuring sustainable growth & operational excellence
🔹 NAGC as a leader in GovComms education

#NamesBlueMedia #GovernmentCommunications #NAGC
February 27, 2025 at 3:30 AM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
I see that the UK's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has quietly un-retweeted Lisa Nandy MP's final tweet from July 2nd, in which the Culture Secretary said she and her Department were leaving X

#techpolicy #govcomms
Screenshot of tweet by Lisa Nandy MP @lisanandy from July 2nd 2026: I've decided to leave this platform and my Department will too. A platform originally designed for free speech and expression now favours abuse and misinformation over meaningful debate. It isn't healthy for our democracy or our communities and I don't want to support it.
August 14, 2026 at 6:18 PM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
If I follow this correctly, DCMS ministerial briefs have been announced on X by somebody from techUK. DCMS itself continues to boycott X, but the platform is apparently still a better source for the latest official info than GOV·UK – where DCMS hasn't yet published the briefs?

#techpolicy #govcomms
gavinfreeguard.com Gavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.com · Aug 11
According to @dsonic.bsky.social over on The Other Place (h/t a civil society colleague), the DCMS ministerial briefs have been announced

Steph Peacock (who shadowed data/digital infrastructure in opposition) gets GDS, not Ian Murray (who had been minister for GDS while at DSIT)
A screenshot of a tweet by Doniya Soni-Clark which reads: Confirmed DCMS briefs! Ian Murray MP, Minister of State Responsible for: • Media (including BBC Charter Review) • Online harms and misinformation • Creative industries • Telecommunications, digital infrastructure and Ofcom • International Stephanie Peacock MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Responsible for: • Sports • Ceremonials • Tourism • Office for the Impact Economy • Government Digital Service (Digital Products & Digital Transformation) • Place - overview of DMCS’s overall impact and presence in communities and responsibility for place based programmes including the allocation of arts funding in Arts Everywhere and Town and City of Culture. Baroness Twycross, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Responsible for: • Heritage, including world and living heritage • Covid commemoration • Appointments • ALBs (general oversight and reform) • Honours • Corporate Minister A screenshot of a tweet by Doniya Soni-Clark (continued) which reads: Ruth Mackenzie, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Responsible for: • Arts Council and sponsorship • Museums and cultural property (including the museums funding in Arts Everywhere) • Libraries Vicky Foxcroft, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Responsible for: • Youth • Civil Society • Gambling • National Lottery • Digital Inclusion and Skills Baroness Lloyd, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State - Minister for Space, Cyber and Regulatory Reform joint with BSIT Responsible for: • National Cyber Security • Government Cyber Security • Spectrum Negotiations (with Minister Murray. POs will provide further guidance)
August 11, 2026 at 5:44 PM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
Good to see Andy Burnham has brought forward the ban on subscription traps but what is he doing about the size of Mars bars

#ripoffBritain #costofliving #govcomms
August 10, 2026 at 1:53 PM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
I think your wider point is correct i.e. the papers in general haven't given the story much play. The Mirror is close to Labour and had the "exclusive" of an article from the PM, so that front page is mainly an output of the govcomms push I think.
August 6, 2026 at 2:44 PM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
DSIT, closing down its account today, has told X users to follow DCMS for the latest updates

Except DCMS currently isn't posting, because it "left the platform" earlier this month following a decision by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy MP

#govcomms #joinedupgovernment
Screenshot of post on X/Twitter from Department for Science, Innovation and Technology @SciTechgovuk: Following a Machinery of Government change, @scitechgovuk's responsibilities have transferred to @biztradegovuk, @DCMS and @cabinetofficeuk. This account has closed. Please follow them for the latest updates and visit http://GOV.UK for more information. Last edited 1:43 PM · Jul 21, 2026
July 21, 2026 at 6:13 PM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
I don't really see how DCMS, as the UK Government's new "digital" department and with responsibility for information resilience and online harms, can continue to avoid putting out communications on X (unless it also manages to organise a cross-government moratorium)

#techpolicy #govcomms
July 21, 2026 at 3:32 PM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
"We can currently only archive: ● YouTube ● Flickr ● Instagram" www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/webarchive/a...

I guess Liz Kendall's thoughts on embodied AI will be lost in time, like tears in rain

#govcomms #AIjokes
July 10, 2026 at 5:31 PM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
Air conditioning isn't banned in UK homes, contrary to "media coverage" mhclgmedia.blog.gov.uk/2026/06/25/a...

I note the UK Government is happy to call out social media platforms by name when they promote disinformation, but more reticent when it's the Telegraph or GB News

#netzero #govcomms
There has been media coverage this week suggesting that air conditioning is banned in homes. This is incorrect. Air conditioning can be installed in both existing and new homes. In most cases, planning permission is not required to install it for a small home if it would not materially affect the appearance of the building from outside. However, there is no blanket rule. People should speak with their local council to check the rules, and councils should take a common-sense approach. There are other measures in place to make sure people's homes are cool.
June 26, 2026 at 10:58 AM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
Plans for prominence of trusted news sources on social media alongside measures to reform Public Service Media in the UK www.gov.uk/government/n... press release from DCMS

Green paper and public consultation www.gov.uk/government/c...

#techpolicy #socialmedia #newsmanagement #govcomms
Today (23 June) the government has published a Green Paper, Watch this Space: A new strategic direction for UK media, to consult on options to require social media companies and video sharing platforms to make sure that news content from public service media (PSM), which includes the BBC, ITV, STV, Channel 4, S4C and 5, and other trustworthy providers, is prominent and easy to find on their platforms. It could include, for example, a range of national and local news publishers all being more likely to be at the top of people’s social media feeds when they search for news. This will be key for helping to tackle mis- and disinformation, particularly during times of social unrest or crisis.
June 23, 2026 at 10:03 AM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
Ministers to make YouTube and Meta boost prominence of UK news www.ft.com/content/7f14... (£)

Green paper + consultation in the works

#techpolicy #socialmedia #govcomms
UK ministers plan to force social media and video platforms such as YouTube and Meta to make public service news content more prominent, setting the stage for a fresh battle with Big Tech over online misinformation and illegal content. The government is expected to consult on rules to boost the news channels and content of public service broadcasters such as the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 as early as this month, several people close to the talks told the FT. The measures would attempt to address concerns that trusted British news is being buried by foreign algorithms that drive viewing habits.
June 22, 2026 at 6:38 PM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
Tech secretary Liz Kendall has now also blogged on socials about the resignation of the UK's Information Commissioner, John Edwards www.linkedin.com/posts/liz-ke...

#FOI #dataprotection #govcomms
Screenshot of Linkin post by Liz Kendall: UPDATE ON THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER ▶️ John Edwards resigned from his post as the Information Commissioner and Chair of the Information Commission earlier today, following an independent investigation that upheld multiple allegations made against him. ▶️ I have seen evidence of the vulgar and highly sexualised language that was used in his interactions with his staff and am extremely concerned that he continues to describe these incidents as misplaced humour, including on his social media post announcing his resignation. Such conduct does not belong in the workplace, least of all exhibited by the leader of an organisation. ▶️ Multiple women shared testimony to the investigator on feeling offended, shocked and uncomfortable following interactions with Mr Edwards. I am deeply grateful to all who came forward to share their experiences as part of this investigation. Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
June 19, 2026 at 9:43 PM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
Praise for DSIT from Kirsty Innes, previously Director of Technology at Labour Together

Well-deserved, organic

#govcomms #techpolicy
Screenshots of tweets on X/Twitter from Kirsty Innes @kmei_: True. Quote James Wise @Jameswise Jun 10 In the midst of an intense week in UK tech ( and globally ) it’s worth remembering that the Department for Technology in the UK (DSIT) didn’t exist just 3 years ago. At the start of '23, we didn't have anyone in Cabinet whose sole role was to help Govt navigate what is now one Kirsty Innes @kmei_ Jun 11 AND, something that is excellent about DSIT is that it is one of few departments set up to resolve trade-offs in-house. It cares about tech as a vector of growth, AND as a security threat to nation. It cares about freedom of speech, AND safety online. Kirsty Innes @kmei_ Jun 11 It produces policy that tries to reconcile competing objectives BEFORE it gets to Cabinet, something not all ministries are incentivised to do (looking askance at you @hmtreasury and @ukhomeoffice, amongst others)
June 13, 2026 at 7:43 AM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
New UK Government policy announced on X/Twitter, not on GOV·UK

Interesting isn't it

#govcomms #techpolicy
Screenshot of Home Office @ukhomeoffice tweet 9:50 AM · Jun 8, 2026 Big Tech companies like Apple and Google have been given three months to activate built in safeguards on smartphones and tablets to detect and block nude images for children. This will prevent predators from exploiting and abusing victims through their devices, as well as stopping children accessing pornography. If companies do not act within three months, the government will bring forward legislation to force them to activate the technology. This will include fines for companies and, as a last resort, we are exploring criminal liability for tech bosses who fail to comply. 91% of online child sexual abuse reports recorded in 2024 contained self‑generated content. Children as young as five are being groomed, manipulated and coerced by online predators into creating and sharing explicit images. Predators then use these images to blackmail children into creating more extreme content and, in the most horrific cases, children have committed suicide on livestream or engaged in self‑harm. These features are not about surveillance or policing people's phones - they are about protecting our children from vile predators. Over‑18s will still be able to view adult content by providing proof of age. There is no data collection, no monitoring and no reporting. The device will simply block harmful content across all apps and services. This will make Britain the first country in the world where it is impossible for children to take, share or view naked pictures on their devices.
June 8, 2026 at 12:15 PM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
AI, health, defence …

Have UK ministers all read the same business book, and is it a good idea to use the language of gambling to describe investments of public money?

#govcomms #bigbets
Screenshot of quotes from DSIT's UK Compute Roadmap (April 2026), DHSC's 10 Year Health Plan for England (July 2025), and a speech by defence minister Luke Pollard MP (March 2026), each using the phrase "big bets"
June 7, 2026 at 9:53 AM
owenboswarva.bsky.social
Bedford Borough Council criticised over AI-generated restaurant campaign image www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/bedford-boro...

#localgov #govcomms #genAI

Fair point made by the council though
A Bedford Borough Council spokesperson defended the use of the image, saying AI was only used "sparingly". They said: "We only use AI images sparingly, but in this instance, there is no obvious photo showing football icons (such as the 1966 World Cup side) in Bedford town centre alongside John Bunyan and/or any other famous Bedfordians. "Andy Johnson did make the stand-by list for the 2006 squad, though.
May 24, 2026 at 7:20 PM