Valerie Eliot Smith

Irony alert: UK.gov Work dept hires IBM to aid AI projects Updated: Some Big Blue sky thinking needed for tech that promises employment extinction for humanity

2/2 According to The Register:
www.theregister.com/2025/10/02/u...

1/2 IRONY ALERT: the UK's Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is awarding a contract to IBM to work on AI projects.
Translation: the department for work is introducing the same tools blamed for eroding jobs.....

Yes.

2/2 My blog is at valerieeliotsmith.com
I stepped back from active advocacy 3 years ago but continue to monitor events/developments re. the #ME community, esp media handling & strategic affairs.
Decades of stigma, neglect & abuse must be addressed before we can move forward.

1/2 Today is #SevereMEDay
Despite recent events we have yet to change an entire culture, as I've detailed ad nauseam in my blog (link in 2/2 below). Only then will proper funding, research, education, health & social care start to catch up.
History matters: screenshot of a post from 10yrs ago.....

I agree but, realistically, there's not much more we can do beyond remaining vigilant.
We can never know what is discussed in private, informal situations anyway & that has always been the case.

5/5 .......Of course, where Simon is concerned, we always need to be vigilant. However, I don't think we need to be alarmed by this appointment, just maintain a watching brief - as with his previous appointments at the JAC and NHSE.
END 🧵

4/5 .....What I set out above is just the theoretical pathway of how it works. That doesn't necessarily mean the system can't be influenced/hijacked by nefarious players."........

3/5 .....He is usually recruited for his mental health expertise although, inevitably, ME always lurks uneasily in the shadows.
I always look for any signs of sinister activity. However, on the face of it, I don't see anything here at the moment.......

2/5 .....This is a general policy advisory role, not aimed at any specific area.
In recent years Simon has held several public appointments. Whilst this may be alarming to many in the #ME community, this is standard practice for someone of his age/background.......

🧵 1/5 A previous thread I wrote in response to this:

"This appointment may be unwelcome but unlikely to affect specific FOI requests to The National Archives.
FOI's are handled by the in-house team & appeals go to the Information Commissioner via an independent judicial process........

Oh I agree, Carole. I always look for any signs of sinister activity. However, on the face of it, I don't see anything here at the moment.
What I set out above is just the theoretical pathway of how it works. That doesn't necessarily mean the system can't be influenced/hijacked by nefarious players.

In recent years Simon has held several public appointments. Whilst this may be alarming to many in the #ME community, this is standard practice for someone of his age/background.
He is usually recruited for his mental health expertise although, inevitably, ME always lurks uneasily in the shadows.

This appointment may be unwelcome but unlikely to affect specific FOI requests to The National Archives.
FOI's are handled by the in-house team & appeals go to the Information Commissioner via an independent judicial process.
This is a general policy advisory role, not aimed at any specific area...

Many thanks to @kacheston.bsky.social for her excellent rapid response. I absolutely understand the dilemma around how much to reveal about personal experience when acting in a professional capacity. However, in this instance, it has added depth and meaning tothis response. Not easy. Thank you.

@bmj.com's dangerous & inconsistent approach to #ME + long Covid resembles psych propaganda more than balanced reporting (notwithstanding the "Opinion" header), especially in relation to Professor Paul Garner's long covid "journey", as described in my 2021 post valerieeliotsmith.com/2021/02/01/p...

Thanks for the mention and your kind words, Rhi. It always makes my day to hear that someone has found my work useful 😊
Hope you're doing as well as possible.

RSF downgrades global press freedom index to all-time low The global average press freedom score has fallen for the first time into RSF's "difficult" territory.

Not good:
RSF downgrades global press freedom index to all-time low: UK at no 20 & "The US, which had already dropped down to a 'problematic' overall rating, fell a further two spots from its 2024 position to 57th place, immediately behind Sierra Leone and Romania"
pressgazette.co.uk/news/rsf-mov...

My website valerieeliotsmith.com has recently experienced an increase in traffic, causing it to slow down when downloading documents.
I've been checking it periodically and it is still working but you may need to be patient & try more than once. Apologies for any inconvenience.

Link to blog home page: valerieeliotsmith.com
Link to series of posts on the "secret" files: valerieeliotsmith.com/category/the...
Link for DSS/DWP file valerieeliotsmith.com/wp-content/u...
Link for MRC file valerieeliotsmith.com/wp-content/u...

There's been some recent discussion on social media about the "secret" files on #ME. The discussions include some misinformation.
For clarification purposes: I got both files (DSS/DWP & MRC) opened up in 2012 (using FOIA 2000) & published on my blog. Still some redactions but most info is available.

Excellent letter to @gwynnemp.bsky.social from solicitors representing #LongCovid groups regarding airborne transmission of virus (pp 2 & 3 in comments).
This is a great example of how campaign groups can use proactive legal routes to advance their concerns. #ME & #mecfs communities shd take note.

.....By which I mean that "rime" is also an old spelling of "rhyme", so used in both senses by Coleridge.
Apologies - brain fog rules..... 🤔

Same here - but I think both meanings are correct, if only colloquially.

Same here, Nicky. Not impressed so far. Follows coming mostly from random strangers and/or bots.
Feeds dull/not informative beyond what I get from other sources.
I shd probably make more of an effort (having spent 17 yrs doing that elsewhere) but - dare I say it? - a little bored with it already...🤔

Just returned from a routine outpatient screening (yes, on a Sunday afternoon; not my choice).
Apparently the UK is in the middle of a "quademic". We wore masks. Not one single other person in the hospital - patient or HCP - was masked up.
How many more potentially preventable deaths will there be?

A new era of lies: Mark Zuckerberg has just ushered in an extinction-level event for truth on social media | Chris Stokel-Walker The Meta boss’s decision to get rid of the platform’s 40,000 moderators has set the stage for a fact-free four years online, says author Chris Stokel-Walker

"This is an extinction-level event for the idea of objective truth on social media – an organism that was already on life support, but was clinging on in part because Meta was willing to fund independent factchecking organisations".
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Wishing everyone peace and joy in the festive season and for coming year.

4/4 I am awaiting comment from a representative of the Charity. If one is forthcoming, I will add it here.
Thank you @lammasleaves.bsky.social @nickyproctor.bsky.social

3/4 .....a charity which avoids external scrutiny.
Opening up access to this AGM would have been a way of reassuring other community members of the ME Association's commitment to operating with transparency and in accordance with the recommendations of the Charity Commission."