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Minderoo Centre for Technology & Democracy

@mctd.bsky.social

Radically rethinking power relationships between digital technologies, society, and the planet | πŸ“ University of Cambridge | Sign-up to our mailing list ➑️ http://tinyurl.com/minderoocambs | Latest: https://linktr.ee/mctdcambridge

631 Followers  |  359 Following  |  196 Posts  |  Joined: 19.11.2024  |  1.8602

Latest posts by mctd.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Will AI really deliver against the hype❓

@wired.com brought together a group of senior leaders to discuss the future of AI. Our ED @ginasue.bsky.social took part in the debate, w/ @azeem.bsky.social @rory-stewart.bsky.social, exploring the political economy of AI.

➑️ www.mctd.ac.uk/the-real-mea...

07.10.2025 14:25 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Cambridge disinformation summit (2026) - Cambridge Judge Business School Connect with Cambridge Judge! Explore our full calendar of upcoming events, learn about our programmes and connect with world-class speakers.

Call for Papers now open for the

Cambridge Disinformation Summit, 8-10 April 2026.

Research on systemic risks from technology that affects information streams or the amplification or monetization of disinformation.

Hosted with @mctd.bsky.social.

Information: www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/events/cambr...

07.10.2025 05:20 β€” πŸ‘ 36    πŸ” 25    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Getting tech right is vital in Labour’s quest for β€œnational renewal” Our Policy and Impact Manager, Tom Lacy, reflects on his time at Labour Conference 2025.

Getting tech right is vital in Labour’s quest for β€œnational renewal” πŸ’­

@tomlacy.bsky.social reflects on last week's @teamlabouruk.bsky.social Conference. He reacts to announcements on tech policy, shares insights from the panels, and considers tech hype vs reality.

➑️ www.mctd.ac.uk/getting-tech...

06.10.2025 13:40 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Book Launch: Cambridge Handbook of Generative AI and the Law Join us in Cambridge for the launch of The Cambridge Handbook of Generative AI and the Law, a new anthology bridging the gap between legal concepts and real-world applications of GenAI.

Are you curious about the future of the law in the age of AI? πŸ€”

Join our convo with Prof Mimi Zou, editor of 'The Cambridge Handbook of GenAI and the Law', next week! Hosted by @annkristinglenster.bsky.social with @cambridgelaw.bsky.social and @wipo.int.

Book now ➑️ www.mctd.ac.uk/events/book-...

02.10.2025 11:06 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Can Democracy Survive AI? – Sociologica A new article in Sociologica from our Executive Director Professor Gina Neff examines the fundamental tension between AI and democratic governance.

β€œWhat AI is promising is absolute control coupled with unaccountable power. 80% of countries holding elections in 2024 had GenAI incidents involving audio messages, images, videos, and social media posts." – @ginasue.bsky.social

More in 'Can Democracy survive AI?' ➑️ www.mctd.ac.uk/can-democrac...

01.10.2025 17:28 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Is AI a friend to democracy or a potential enemy? – Gina Neff on BBC Radio Ulster Talkback Our Executive Director Professor Gina Neff appeared on today’s BBC Radio Ulster Talkback to discuss how AI will shape the future of politics and democratic governance.

Is AI a friend to democracy or a potential enemy❓

Our ED @ginasue.bsky.social was on BBC Radio Ulster this morning discussing AI as a force of centralisation and control and how the tech industry is fueling ideologies of unchecked economic growth.

Listen now 🎧 ➑️ www.mctd.ac.uk/ai-democracy...

01.10.2025 17:28 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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πŸ“’ Calling all local council staff & @cam.ac.uk #AI researchers!

Join our new #AI in Local Government Fair to hear directly from councils about their toughest challenges and explore together how AI can strengthen #publicservices.

πŸ“… Monday 24 November
➑️ Apply now: ai.cam.ac.uk/calls/ai-in-...

26.09.2025 13:11 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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George Monbiot on Blair, Starmer and the capture of democracy I spoke with the celebrated journalist and activist about β€˜junk tanks’, dark money - and how we can fight back

"Like so many of these so-called think tanks, the Tony Blair Institute dances to the tune of its funders"

Was so great to talk about Blair, Larry Ellison, Keir Stamer and corporate capture with @georgemonbiot.bsky.social on Democracy for Sale

democracyforsale.substack.com/p/george-mon...

27.09.2025 17:04 β€” πŸ‘ 353    πŸ” 126    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 8
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Inside the Tony Blair Institute A former PM, Trump's 'CEO of everything' and NHS data - what could go wrong?

Our ED @ginasue.bsky.social commented:

β€œThere is a hard sell going on here that says: these kinds of gains are inevitable. But they are not. TBI is not advocating for building capacity...they are saying: let’s outsource to our buddies.”

➑️ democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-the...

25.09.2025 15:39 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Blair and the Billionaire Insiders reveal how Larry Ellison’s money turned Blair’s institute into a tech sales and lobbying operation for Oracle

@lighthousereports.com and Democracy for Sale interviewed current and former TBI staff to spotlight growing concerns about the extent to which the interests of a US tech billionaire are being represented by Former PM Tony Blair.

➑️ www.lighthousereports.com/investigatio...

25.09.2025 15:39 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Inside the Tony Blair Institute – Gina Neff in The New Statesman Our Exedcutive Director Gina Neff spoke to The New Statesman about the Tony Blair Institute's relationship with tech billionaire Larry Ellison.

A new investigation published in The New Statesman looks at the Tony Blair Institute’s funding sources and exposes their relationship with billionaire and CTO of Oracle Larry Ellison 🚨

➑️ www.mctd.ac.uk/inside-the-t...

25.09.2025 15:39 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Inside the Tony Blair Institute Who really benefits from the former PM’s tech evangelism?

Revealed: How Tony Blair is lobbying on behalf of tech billionaire Larry Ellison

We expose former PM’s unprecedented influence over the UK govt & how this is shaped by the interests of his Institute’s largest donor & one of the world’s richest men www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

Thread

24.09.2025 09:46 β€” πŸ‘ 27    πŸ” 26    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 1
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Inside the Tony Blair Institute A former PM, Trump's 'CEO of everything' and NHS data - what could go wrong?

πŸ”΄ NEW: Larry Ellison’s Β£257m bet on Tony Blair

Our investigation with @lighthousereports.com reveals how the Tony Blair Institute has been accused of pushing the interests of tech tycoon Ellison β€” Trump’s β€œCEO of everything” β€” and his company Oracle

democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-the...

24.09.2025 11:12 β€” πŸ‘ 129    πŸ” 111    πŸ’¬ 9    πŸ“Œ 17

"Some TBI staff – including a number who left in recent years because of Ellison’s influence – say the cash injection has produced a culture that is dominated by a form of AI boosterism, and which, as they see it, amounts to lobbying for Oracle."

25.09.2025 09:50 β€” πŸ‘ 29    πŸ” 17    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Inside the Tony Blair Institute Who really benefits from the former PM’s tech evangelism?

Our investigation β€” also in today’s New Statesman - is based on months on months of research, 29 interviews with current and former TBI staff, FOI disclosures and public documents. Do have a read

www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

24.09.2025 11:12 β€” πŸ‘ 45    πŸ” 22    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 5
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Inside the Tony Blair Institute

Who really benefits from the former PM’s tech evangelism?

24.09.2025 15:09 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

If we do not assure Deaf communities hold decision-making authority at critical stages, Deaf people accessing AI-enabled public services could experience communication breakdowns, cultural misrepresentation, and developmental harm.

23.09.2025 15:54 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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BSL is Not for Sale: A Deaf-led approach to AI procurement Sign Language AI systems are being procured across public services without adequate Deaf community involvement, creating institutional risks Authors: Dr Louise Hickman, Dr Alexa Hagerty, and Rose Powe...

Read the full report (with a BSL summary) - BSL is Not for Sale - from @louhicky.bsky.social, @alexahagerty.bsky.social, and Rose Powell.

➑️ www.mctd.ac.uk/bsl-not-for-...

23.09.2025 15:54 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

If you're a policy leader, oversight body, or part of a procurement team,read our new report on British Sign Language (BSL) and AI.

We look at the deployment of AI across UK public services and make the case for Deaf-led governance that could improve how public institutions commission BSL AI tools.

23.09.2025 15:54 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Today is International Day of Sign Languages, a day commemorating the establishment of the World Federation of the Deaf and spotlighting the issues Deaf people face in their everyday lives.

This year's theme is: No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights❗

23.09.2025 15:54 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

If we do not assure Deaf communities hold decision-making authority at critical stages, Deaf people accessing AI-enabled public services could experience communication breakdowns, cultural misrepresentation, and developmental harm ‼️

23.09.2025 15:49 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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BSL is Not for Sale: A Deaf-led approach to AI procurement Sign Language AI systems are being procured across public services without adequate Deaf community involvement, creating institutional risks Authors: Dr Louise Hickman, Dr Alexa Hagerty, and Rose Powe...

Read the report (with a BSL summary!): BSL is Not for Sale

➑️ www.mctd.ac.uk/bsl-not-for-...

23.09.2025 15:49 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

If you're a policy leader, oversight body, or part of a procurement team, have a look at our recent report on BSL and AI.

We look at the deployment of AI across UK public services and make the case for Deaf-led governance that could improve how public institutions commission Sign Language AI tools.

23.09.2025 15:49 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Was so great to be a part of this forum on GenAI and the Novel - really excited to Dr @clemicollett.bsky.social's work published later this year.

It's a vital and urgent call for the UK to celebrate and sustain the creative industries - one of the finest jewels in our cultural and economic crown.

23.09.2025 07:37 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

This summer, a β€˜Forum on Generative AI and the Novel’ brought together 33 participants including novelists, publishers, literary agents, representatives from writers’ & publishers’ societies, trade unions, government, law, & academia.

22.09.2025 16:29 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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Join us for our inaugural event of the academic year!

πŸ—“οΈ Wednesday 15th October 2025
πŸ•” 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
πŸ“ SG2, Alison Richard Building, Cambridge, CB3 9DP

Register here: cghr-15oct25.eventbrite.co.uk

17.09.2025 09:32 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Is Britain ready to cope with data centres? – Gina Neff on BBC Radio 4 Today Professor Gina Neff appears on BBC Radio 4 Today to discuss US big tech's pledge to invest in the UK and the environmental cost of data centres.

Is Britain ready to cope with data centres❓

Our ED @ginasue.bsky.social was on BBC Radio 4 Today this morning talking about the environmental cost of data centres, US investment in the UK, and Nvidia's comments on natural gas and computing.

Listen to the convo 🎧 ➑️ www.mctd.ac.uk/is-britain-r...

18.09.2025 15:49 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Brasil sofre pilhagem cultural de empresas de IA, diz professor de Cambridge Para Hugo Leal, paΓ­s pode escolher entre dois caminhos

NotΓ­cia da @folha.com

"Brasil sofre pilhagem cultural de empresas de IA, diz professor de Cambridge"

Link sem paywall ⬇️

13.09.2025 00:02 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Brasil sofre pilhagem cultural de empresas de IA, diz professor de Cambridge
Para Hugo Leal, paΓ­s pode escolher entre dois caminhos
Ou se fica em posiΓ§Γ£o secundΓ‘ria ou mira na regulaΓ§Γ£o
Edu Moura
archive.ph/ZZi7P

13.09.2025 10:08 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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🌟 Cambridge Judge Business School at Cambridge Tech Week 2025!
Join us at two events this month as we bring together leading voices to challenge assumptions and shape the future of innovation.

πŸ‘‰ Find event details and register: https://loom.ly/PhawfU8
#CambridgeTechWeek #CambridgeJudge #Tech

04.09.2025 01:39 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

@mctd is following 20 prominent accounts