The growing case to protect FOI www.mysociety.org/2026/04/08/t...
Great summary by @juliacushion.bsky.social of responses to recent threats to freedom of information
We, @mysociety.org & others are exploring what an FOI Network could look like
Next online workshop: Wed 15 April luma.com/y12euvs2
Sound!
And vision! www.mysociety.org/transparency...
Our next event!
🚨 6PM, WED 29th April 🚨
At the MoJ or online.
Lisa Trickey and Rebekah Wilson, LGA : State of digital Local Government and LG2040: The State of Things to Come
Jonathan Slater, Visiting Professor at King’s College London and QMUL
luma.com/7nu2j853
Please share! Thanks 🙏
Fix the plumbing => fix the planning!
Had a great conversation with @mikerose.co.uk and Colm Britton about their work with MHCLG on digital planning - and the role of data standards, underlying infrastructure, openness, community and much more besides
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...
Today!
How might an FOI Network encourage the protection and expansion of Freedom of Information in the UK?
Building on the success of FOI Fest (www.mysociety.org/transparency...), that's the question we'll be looking to answer at an online workshop next Wednesday, 1 April.
Join us! luma.com/erlh5p2b
And sign up for the @transformgovtalks.bsky.social newsletter here: transformgov-talks.kit.com/b6dac7cdd5
Who knows, there might be an(other) exciting event announcement soon...
Video etc here medium.com/@transformgo...
Next event: London/online, Wed 29 April, with:
- Lisa Trickey & @bekwilson.bsky.social @local.gov.uk on digital local govt & LG2040: The State of Things to Come
- Jonathan Slater @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social @qmul.bsky.social
Join us! luma.com/7nu2j853
Oliver Bruff from the Ada Lovelace Institute presents at TransformGov Talks at the Ministry of Justice. He is stood to the right of a green TransformGov Talks banner and the left of a projector screen. The backs of audience members' heads can be seen as they sit around two long tables, watching and listening.
A huge thank you to last night's excellent @transformgovtalks.bsky.social presenters:
- Oliver @adalovelaceinst.bsky.social on AI transcription in social care www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/report/scrib...
- Owen @infocommission.bsky.social on Better Records Together ico.org.uk/about-the-ic...
Happy @transformgovtalks.bsky.social week!
Join us for 6pm this Wednesday, online or at the MoJ in London SW1
👇
Bumper freedom of information thread for your delectation and delight (and disquiet):
- Links to great FOI Fest videos, a month on
- A couple of big FOI stories in the FT this week
- Details of the first FOI Network online event (join us!)
There are 2 more sessions to come - one will look at the (very real) challenge of the rising volume of requests. Sign up at www.mysociety.org/transparency... for updates
And in the meantime, read @alexparsons.bsky.social on why lowering cost limits isn't the answer www.mysociety.org/2026/03/19/r...
What better time for an online workshop from the FOI Network on...
How might an FOI Network encourage the protection and expansion of Freedom of Information in the UK?
Join us online at midday on Wednesday 1 April to discuss luma.com/erlh5p2b
There have been a couple of big FOI stories from @lucyfisher.ft.com in the FT this week:
- 'Suspicions grow that China is exploiting FOI laws to gather UK security data' www.ft.com/content/2f51...
- 'UK considers FOI clampdown as requests soar' www.ft.com/content/2c34...
So...
@mysociety.org's @itscrowbot.bsky.social closed the day with some further information about the FOI Network, which we're delighted to support with mySociety and others www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-Ak...
Sign up for the mailing list here: www.mysociety.org/transparency...
Our second keynote was Scottish FOI Commissioner, David Hamilton www.youtube.com/watch?v=2umv...
He was joined by @itscrowbot.bsky.social, Carole @cfoiscot.bsky.social, @benworthy.bsky.social & @alexparsons.bsky.social for a discussion on what's next for FOI www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s-i...
And:
- Maurice @campaignfoi.bsky.social on cost limits www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI1U...
- @mrosenbaum.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jjH...
- @juliacushion.bsky.social @garethrees.bsky.social on @whatdotheyknow.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRAN...
Q&A www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aNP...
Want to perfect *your* use of FOI? Enjoy skills sessions from:
- @georgegreenwood.bsky.social with 10 tips www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vu7...
- @benworthy.bsky.social on academic research www.youtube.com/watch?v=87oQ...
- We also heard from Lucas Amin (not recorded) substack.com/@lucasamin
And:
- @gabrielgeiger.bsky.social on @lighthousereports.com's award-winning work on algorithms www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX_u...
- Carole @cfoiscot.bsky.social on supporting NGOs to use FOI www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KOh...
- And the BBC's Alex Homer (not recorded) on www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We had great lightning talks:
- Eleanor Shaikh on Post Office Horizon www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKw9...
- Isaac @climateemergencyuk.bsky.social on climate scorecards www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXIn...
- @andreaspavlou.bsky.social @opengovpartnership.org with a global look www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZkE...
The ICO's Warren Seddon was our first keynote, with an honest appraisal of the current state of things www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3Rz...
He was joined by @jennacorderoy.bsky.social @rosewhiff.bsky.social & Maurice @campaignfoi.bsky.social on what 21yrs of FOI has done www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg_S...
It’s exactly a month since FOI Fest – a great day of discussion on all things freedom of information.
If you missed it, videos are now available www.mysociety.org/transparency...
After @gavinfreeguard.com's intro, we had a video from Info Commissioner, John Edwards www.youtube.com/watch?v=icFP...
Two weeks today!
Sign up for the latest @transformgovtalks.bsky.social with:
@laragroves.bsky.social, @adalovelaceinst.bsky.social on www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/report/scrib...
Owen from the ICO on ico.org.uk/about-the-ic...
In person (central London) or online 👇
I've just supported 'National Conversations' from @transform.wales & @foundationsofthedigitalstate.com, a project to deliver a bookshelf of essential reads on digital government to every newly elected members of the Scottish Parliament and Senedd
Join me here: nationalconversations.org
There's also a great summary here: mysociety.org/2026/02/26/f...
We'll have more information soon about the FOI Network - sign up for updates at www.mysociety.org/transparency...
Whether you're spending your weekend delving into the finer points of freedom of information or not, have a good one!
Something for the weekend: Catch up on #FOIFest!
@mysociety.org have just published slides and recordings from our brilliant conference last week
Agenda www.mysociety.org/transparency...
YouTube playlist www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3Rz...
Join the next @transformgovtalks.bsky.social on 25 March, with:
- @laragroves.bsky.social, @adalovelaceinst.bsky.social, on www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/report/scrib...
- Owen Prendeville, ICO, on ico.org.uk/about-the-ic...
Sign up in person or online! luma.com/8i84tnwy
Thoroughly enjoyed hearing from @liamhawkes.bsky.social, Violette and @jamestplunkett.bsky.social last night - thank you for being brilliant!
medium.com/@transformgo...
More here: medium.com/@jamestplunk...