David Babbs

Cricket, gardening, folk + electronic music, tech policy

Used to run 38 Degrees. Now a consultant on campaigns/politics/digital/strategy

[David Babbs @davidbabbs]

The first modern efforts in the UK to regulate the design of physical spaces were brought in by the government led by Herbert Asquith, in 1909. Here I suggest we consider what the equivalent could look like for virtual spaces.

[openDemocracyUK @openDemocracyUK]

Should it really be up to you and me to police the Twitter trolls, asks @davidbabbs?
Who does the current free-for-all hit most?
And are there grounds for optimism that platforms and governments will act more decisively in 2020?
https://t.co/WhSKaAeZ6a #CleanUpTheInternet

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

Our submission to Ofcom's OSA transparency consultation sets out why Ofcom should require detailed and specific information from social media platforms re fake and anonymous accounts - and makes some suggestions for what that information should include:

https://t.co/oIdQQG1iFH

[Richard Pearshouse @RPearshouse]

Yesterday the EU Commission proposed a substantial delay in the implementation of its landmark anti-deforestation law.

The European Parliament and Council should oppose this delay + remind President von der Leyen of the urgency need to push ahead: @hrw

https://t.co/8mYdyqWDGd

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

New report: "Rocket boosters for extremism - how social media fuelled recent far-right disorder in the UK, and some suggestions for how to prevent similar
occurrences in the future"
https://t.co/8kbaJQBDTF

[David Babbs @davidbabbs]

@ZaryaSteel @GBNEWS @InternetClean Our research suggests this should make it harder to misuse anonymity (e.g. by pretending you're someone you're not in order to scam them or spread disinformation; or by hiding behind anonymity to send threats) without banning it

[David Babbs @davidbabbs]

@ZaryaSteel @GBNEWS 100% agree there are many legit reasons for being anonymous on social media. What @InternetClean is suggesting is that everyone should have a *choice* to verify, be able to see who is and isn't, and a *choice* to avoid anonymous accounts - https://t.co/5v3vUfiA0D

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

Clean Up The Internet's founder @Kinsellas sets out how tackling harm from fake and anonymous social media accounts would contribute to several of the new Labour Government priority "missions" - and why failing to could create obstacles to delivery.
https://t.co/V5d3BWObmp

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

Brilliant guest post from @deathtospinach, author of "Keanu Reeves is not in love with you" and scourge of romance fraudsters - explaining why fraudsters love fake social media accounts, and why the platforms (and @ofcom) must do more to stop them
https://t.co/Ag7uDbtM4N

[Stephen Kinsella @Kinsellas]

It's a real honour to appear on this list, and to see @LawforChangeUK get recognition for its work.

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

"Without sufficiently clear and robust guidance, we fear more of the same delay, obfuscation, platitudes and half-measures which have characterised platforms’ (in)action to date."

@Kinsellas's recommendations for Ofcom's user verification guidance 👇

https://t.co/UAIhnKgOKt

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

"The problem of influence operations targeting elections remains significant, and the extensive use of fake accounts remains core to how these influence operations work"

@Kinsellas on how soc med user verification could help protect election integrity

https://t.co/UNVpWDFz0I

[Andy Burrows @_andyburrows]

Great summation from @davidbabbs of why @Ofcom’s #OnlineSafetyAct draft codes risks failing to disrupt the scale of preventable illegal harm that Parliament envisaged, potentially for the first few years after taking effect

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

"So far Ofcom has done a better job of analysing the risk factors which enable illegal harms to proliferate on social media than it has of making recommendations to prevent them"

Initial analysis of Ofcom's illegal harms consultation from @davidbabbs

https://t.co/JAwkGhrjgc

[Law for Change @LawforChangeUK]

Law for Change is proud to support the rights of Huddersfield Sharps Bedrooms fitter David Lockwood after being denied holiday pay and Statutory Sick Pay by the company

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

"In 2023 we finally made some decisive steps towards establishing the regulatory framework to force social media platforms to clean up their acts"

Clean Up The Internet's founder, @Kinsellas, looks back on the past year.

https://t.co/BwZigPqr3l

[David Babbs @davidbabbs]

@MrBrendanCox count me in

[Hackney Council @hackneycouncil]

🗳️ It’s election day & time to vote for your new Hackney mayor

🕙 Polling stations are open until 10pm

🆔 Have your ID ready to show staff
👥 Wear a face covering? We’ll have to check who you are behind privacy screens

Voting guide: https://t.co/6LWGqMXh2E

[Mike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy]

I don't want Palantir anywhere near our NHS data...

...and neither should you.

Share everywhere and sign below. 👇👇

https://t.co/FXmftvwbrl

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

We recently submitted evidence to the Home Affairs Committee inquiry into fraud. We explain why the ability to create and operate fake social media accounts is a key tool for fraudsters - and what could be done about it.

https://t.co/kDJQGZVA2p

[David Babbs @davidbabbs]

@PaulHowellMP @RishiSunak This is disingenuous, no one was proposing to do this. Tackling climate change is important, and the UK has long benefited from all the main parties taking a grown-up approach. Such a shame for you to abandon this and start whipping up division

[David Babbs @davidbabbs]

"Crucially, getting rid of the Net Zero target was deeply unpopular with wavering 2019 Conservative voters: 22% say it would increase their likelihood of voting for a party if they dropped the Net Zero pledge, but 39% say it would decrease it."
https://t.co/w5cUUZZZGT