Louise Crow

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.

Indeed! :)

We have some real superstar speakers on using access to information to help tackle climate change - if you want to change laws, make front page news and make a difference, you should join us and get inspired! 27th May, a 1 hour online session

Good news for Monday morning - we're launching a new vote information platform 🗳️

Interesting piece @jamestplunkett.bsky.social , thank you! If you haven’t already found them, you might find @glichfield.bsky.social and @dsquareddigest.bsky.social writings about the beginnings of the new and analysis of the old systems and institutions, respectively

Text: DIGITAL SERVICE MANAGER for user-facing operational support of mySociety's online services. WE ARE HIRING mysociety.org/about/careers Image: Hands on a laptop, from which various icons are emerging

Data protection, media law, online communities, and Freedom of Information: if that sounds like your niche, you might be just the person we're looking for as mySociety's new Digital Service Manager. See the details and apply here: apply.workable.com/mysociety/j/... #charityjobs #FOI #dataprotection

The latest register of MPs interests has been released and loaded onto TheyWorkForYou. See the information and spreadsheets we publish here www.theyworkforyou.com/interests/

The committee wants views on the following: What feasible adjustments (deliverable in the short to medium term ahead of Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster) to the current physical estate would make Parliament more accessible to MPs, staff and visitors with disabilities. How should the House of Commons collect and share information about the reasonable adjustments individual MPs require, to better support access to all services? What aspects of House of Commons procedure and practice pose a barrier to MPs with disabilities? What steps are already in place to address them and what more could be done? How can information about what is happening in the House of Commons and how the House of Commons works be communicated in a more accessible way to A) MPs and their staff; B) the public? What specific changes to parliamentary language, activity and behaviour would make it easier to understand what is happening in the House of Commons, and how the House of Commons works?

Modernisation committee has a new call for evidence around the accessibility of Parliament and Parliamentary work committees.parliament.uk/call-for-evi...

Makes me wonder if ‘progressive enhancement’ is a good analogy - i.e. don’t use AI in ways that supplant basic functionality and make it worse.

- Actually poor at answering questions
- Poor accessibility
- No option to browse reduces user agency
- Roundtripping searches to a commercial API in another jurisdiction

Thanks for sharing - feels useful at this point in AI adoption to go through and articulate what's bad about this. My (somewhat ordered) list:
- Government website shouldn't ever give incorrect information - worse than a straightforward log

Project Boost A training programme for experts influencing environmental politics

🚀🌍 Project Boost, Green Alliance's development programme for influencing environmental politics, is running a session on when, how and why to use The Climate Coalition and @mysociety.org 's Local Intelligence Hub. 🧠🌱🏛️

🗣️ @zarino.co.uk
🗓️ 13 March, 10am

Learn more and request access:

Screenshot from an Eventbrite page - Project Boost: How to… utilise the Local Intelligence Hub.

If you're a climate campaigner or activist, do join mySociety's Zarino Zappia for this free online event on March 14. You'll discover how to use Local Intelligence Hub to ensure you're directing your efforts at the places where they'll have the most impact.

Has your local authority declared a Nature Emergency? Has your local authority declared a Nature Emergency? – Find out with a new service from the Woodland Trust, Climate Emergency UK, and mySociety! The UK nations are among the most nature-depleted in ...

Has your council declared a nature emergency? Find out on this new site:

www.mysociety.org/2025/03/04/h...

launched in a collaboration between us, the Woodland Trust and @climateemergencyuk.bsky.social

#natureemergency #climateaction #nature #woodland