How can public services manage AI-driven demand? My colleague @alexparsons.bsky.social has been thinking through an approach

Mike Wood Opposition Whip (Commons), Shadow Minister (Cabinet Office) To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to uprate Freedom of Information Act cost thresholds. dChris Ward The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office The cost thresholds above which public authorities are not obliged to comply with a Freedom of Information request are set out in secondary legislation. Any changes to FOI legislation will be subject to Parliamentary scrutiny.

Response to a Parliamentary question from Mike Wood about the floated change to FOI cost limits www.theyworkforyou.com/search/?q=%2...

Reducing FOI cost limits will reduce government transparency The proposed change would narrow the scope of information rights and undermine promises of greater openness across government.

It seems we’re at the trial balloon-floating stage of restricting FOI. My colleague Alex Parsons explains what’s being suggested, and why it’s a bad idea www.mysociety.org/2026/03/19/r...

A weak case for restricting FOI, broken down by my colleague @alexparsons.bsky.social . As he says, governments that think they can't afford transparency will be amazed at the corruption and inefficiency they *can* afford in its absence. Or indeed that the next government will.

Mark working on his laptop at a mySociety retreat. Behind him, an upright piano is festooned with coloured Post-It notes.

In tribute to Mark Longair: www.mysociety.org/2026/01/15/a...

From the ukpolitics community on Reddit: AMA: mySociety (TheyWorkForYou, WriteToThem, WhatDoTheyKnow, etc.) - Monday 8th December 2025 @ 13:00 Explore this post and more from the ukpolitics community

Ever wondered about TheyWorkForYou? Whether you have a burning question or a minor query, we'll be answering the whos, whys, whens, wheres & whats in a Reddit AMA ('ask me anything') session. Kicks off on Mon 8th Dec at 1pm - www.reddit.com/r/ukpolitics... Click 'remind me' and it'll do just that!

At today’s National Emergency Briefing, Chris Packham delivered a clear message: act now. Decision-makers must step up and tackle the climate crisis before it’s too late. Add your signature to the open letter to Keir Starmer.
#climatecrisis #neb2025 #netzero

www.nebriefing.org/open-letter-keir

We prototyped a data hub for the VAWG sector, and it’s already raising important questions Around the world today, organisations and communities are recognising the 26th International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This is a moment to reflect on one of the most prevalent...

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we're sharing the work we've been doing alongside @evawuk.bsky.social. Find out about a crucial data gap that is impeding understanding of violence against women & girls: www.mysociety.org/2025/11/25/a... #EVAW

Text: ATI Masterclass: turning requests into reporting with Fiquem Sabendo TICTeC webinar Photo: The top of a sheaf of newspapers

Text: Defending democracy defenders: cybersecurity for civic tech projects TICTeC webinar Image: a glowing green padlock superimposed on a dark crowd of people.

Text: Networked auditors: crowdsourcing and communityled ATI TICTeC webinar Image: a network of coloured threads.

Gain knowledge from international experts at one of our next three TICTeC Community of Practice gatherings: free and online.

Full details of each, and links to join, in-thread below 👇

Another vote for the atomium - it's a giant chrome atom you can go inside, what's not to like :)

Text from the WhatDoTheyKnow homepage saying 'browse 1,250,876 requests to 47,172 authorities'

*Sound of trumpets* There are now more than 1.25 million public Freedom of Information requests on WhatDoTheyKnow. #FOI

We launched the site back in 2008 with two goals...

Our transparency rules need to adapt to the rise of AI As automated technology becomes more widely used by public bodies, and for a broader range of purposes, Louise Crow of mySociety outlines why governance rules and processes must keep pace As th...

Twenty five years on, key parts of the compensation scheme for post office Horizon victims are just now being put in place.

In the new era of generative AI, how do we bring issues to light and address them before they create this kind of tragedy?

www.publictechnology.net/2025/10/07/s...

Register of Interests Making it easy to keep an eye on the UK’s parliaments. Discover who represents you, how they’ve voted and what they’ve said in debates.

A new House of Commons register of interests has been released and uploaded to TheyWorkForYou https://www.theyworkforyou.com/interests

Spain 2025 OGP Global Summit 6-10 October Vitoria-Gasteiz

Going to the #OGP summit in Vitoria-Gasteiz next week? Say hello to mySociety's Chief Executive @itscrowbot.bsky.social - and don't miss our session "Designing the public participation we want in a digitized world: AI & Civic Tech" which we're running with @politicalwatch.es.

Flying pass through the new register today:

Come and work with our brilliant team! We're looking for a Business Development Manager for SocietyWorks.

Public sector public engagement on data and AI Whenever we speak to public servants who are keen to involve the public more on decisions about data and AI, an early subject to be raised is always: who’s already done it, and how did they do it? People are understandably keen to learn from what has already been tried. This blog/case study is part of a series exploring how public sector organisations involve the public, workers and civil society in decisions about data and AI, and some of the consequences when they do not. Read more about our work on public involvement in public sector data and AI.

Whenever we speak to public servants who are keen to involve the public more on decisions about data and AI, an early subject to be raised is always: who’s already done it, and how did they do it?

@gavinfreeguard.bsky.social‬ shares some examples here.

🔗 connectedbydata.org/resources/b...

This really was a great event - do watch it back if you couldn't make it!

The Freedom of Information Act at 25: What next for freedom of information? | Institute for Government The event includes proposals and discussion about how the Freedom of Information system can improve for the future.

A massive thank you to @jennacorderoy.bsky.social @benworthy.bsky.social @itscrowbot.bsky.social @lynnwyeth.bsky.social, John Edwards & Charlie Falconer (& a great audience) for a terrific and constructive discussion on FOI @instituteforgovernment.org.uk today

Watch back bit.ly/IfGFoI2025

The Freedom of Information Act at 25: What next for freedom of information? | Institute for Government The event includes proposals and discussion about how the Freedom of Information system can improve for the future.

Next Weds, I'm chairing a Freedom of Info anniversary event @instituteforgovernment.org.uk with a great line-up: @jennacorderoy.bsky.social @itscrowbot.bsky.social @benworthy.bsky.social @lynnwyeth.bsky.social John Edwards & Lord Falconer

Join us! www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/foi-ac...

A huge thanks both to the staff team and trustees and to everyone who has been a part of our work this year

This breadth of impact would not be possible for such a small team without an incredible community of partners, volunteers, collaborators and supporters

We worked with grassroots groups using Freedom of Information for the first time in their advocacy work

We shone a light on MPs’ financial interest declarations and making the case for systemic change

We informed millions of people with voting records and candidate information through TheyWorkForYou and Local Intelligence Hub in the run-up to the general election

We brought back TICTeC, our Impacts of Civic Tech Conference to convene practitioners and researchers from around the world taking on some of the biggest democratic and technological challenges facing us

I’m hugely proud of the sheer numbers of people we’ve helped through our services to make positive changes for themselves and their communities, but also of the many different ways we’ve been able to inform, empower and bring people together around those services.

Back from a lovely couple of weeks away, lovely to be able to share @mysociety.org's Impact Report, highlighting the important work we do using digital tools to enable people to take part in democratic decision making and civic life
www.mysociety.org/files/2025/0...
Highlights in thread ⬇️

Happy Birthday to @theyworkforyou.com - 21 years in, I think it's got another few hundred in it. Here's some things we've done in the last few years:

TheyWorkForYou: Hansard and Official Reports for the UK Parliament, Scottish Parliament, and Northern Ireland Assembly - done right Making it easy to keep an eye on the UK’s parliaments. Discover who represents you, how they’ve voted and what they’ve said in debates.

Happy 21st Birthday to TheyWorkForYou.com, holding our national politicians to account for their votes and their words in Parliament.