Weeknotes New term, new weeknotes practice. Perhaps. The power of imagination Outside of my work at Connected by Data I’ve been working on a paper on Emerging Technology and the Social Contract that we’ll be sharing a first draft of at the World Bank’s Global Forum on Coalitions for Reform in a few weeks time. One of the reasons I took on the assignment, was the brief to write about the opportunities emerging technologies hold, rather than focussing only on critique, which has felt like...| connectedbydata.org
What I’ve been doing It’s been over a month since I last published weeknotes so I’ve been doing quite a bit. This week specifically I’ve been “clearing the decks”. I’m off for two weeks on a ‘familymoon’ and am very excited about the adventures we’ll have. I had two weeks off for my wedding but of course there was lots to do and people to see then so this is the first two weeks holiday I’ve had in a long time (certainly the first since COVID). I’ve got all the regular ...| Connected by data
On 9th June the Prime Minister announced a skills drive on AI focussed technical/functional skills for students and workers, with the announcement centred on industry collaborations, and economic impacts of AI. Drawing on inputs from a meeting of the Charity AI Taskforce, and from the Data & AI Civil Society Network, and with feedback from contributors listed below, we drafted an open letter to call for a greater focus of investment and action on scaling and sustaining comprehensive critical ...| Connected by data
What I’ve been doing It’s been about ten working days since my last weeknotes and that period started with my work from home situation being distracted by someone climbing around on my roof cleaning the gutters (not a euphemism and much needed but also quite a distraction). The rest of last week was largely internal meetings and checking in on project progress - good progress is the overall status. Wednesday was a community of practice session so I was notetaking and found the inputs very...| Connected by data
What I’ve been doing Having been interested in the cyber attack on the British Library (still experiencing impacts) and more lately M&S I was doing some extra thinking around risk. I then saw a timely reminder from a freelance communications manager I respect who basically said - if it can happen to large national businesses, it can happen to you. I think it’s easy to think that cyber attackers wouldn’t care about the smaller scale organisations that I am involved with (including Connec...| connectedbydata.org
AI systems are increasingly being used in the delivery of public services. They can significantly impact the quality, value for money, and accountability of these services, and the achievement of wider policy goals. While some may be developed in-house, many digital and AI systems are, and will continue to be, procured. Procurement processes are a powerful lever for achieving the well-being goals set out in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, as well as delivering fair work...| connectedbydata.org
Communities are affected daily in both positive and negative ways by data governance decisions made by local and national governments. These arise through interactions with public services such as health and care; schooling; policing and justice; tax and benefits, as well as in more pervasive ways through government’s collection and dissemination of data, statistics and evidence to inform policymaking.| connectedbydata.org
Tim attended a roundtable at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office organised by the SAFE AI project. Amidst a context of unprecedented crisis for the humanitarian system, facing growing demand, devastating cuts to funding and programmes, and erosion in respect for international humanitarian law and norms, the round table explored the additional challenge of humanitarian sector responses to AI. I was asked to provide a few minutes of input during discussions on Power & Participatory...| connectedbydata.org
Data and AI are changing our world… community led campaigns can reshape how. We are running a community data campaigns cohort with five wonderful groups. Together we will be exploring through monthly shared learning sessions, access to 1-to-1 advice, and bespoke expert input ways to advance community led campaigns on data.| connectedbydata.org
CONNECTED BY DATA were commissioned by Public Voices in AI to facilitate a People’s Advisory Panel supporting their year long project, following our success with the People’s Panel on AI.| connectedbydata.org
An op-ed written by the PVAI People’s Advisory Panel The upcoming government spending review is likely to place a big emphasis on the potential of AI to update public services, and yet less than 25% of the population feel their views and values are represented in current decisions being made about AI. As a group of citizens from all walks of life, engaged over the last year in exploring how the public could, and should, have a voice shaping a responsible AI future, we believe that needs to ...| connectedbydata.org
I’m going to try something new with writing week notes at the start of the week. Working part-time means finding Friday capacity for week-notes always feels tricky; but looking back at last week gives a better chance for reflection. Power to Shape AI Last week started with some outreach for the Power to Shape: CSO Voices on AI online engagement I’ve been supporting Clever Together Futureproof to run, along with the Data Tank. It’s a two-week online dialogue exploring how civil society o...| connectedbydata.org
What I’ve been doing I’ve been reading ‘Sensing an Ending’ produced by Stewarding Loss who help organisations think about a good ending. As Connected by Data was only ever conceived to be a maximum five year campaign we’re starting our thinking about what a good ending looks like for us so I’m doing some reading around that. The balance is caring for our people and our field, continuing to have impact right up until the end, celebrating what we’ve achieved and ensuring there is ...| connectedbydata.org
Recently I’ve had the privilege of convening a couple of public advisory panels for large-scale research and evaluation programmes, including the Connected by Data Public Voice in AI (PVAI) People’s Advisory Panel. In both cases the panels led to tangible improvements in the programmes they were advising, but running these sessions was not without its challenges. Here I share some reflections on how to work well with a public advisory panel.| connectedbydata.org
What I’ve been doing I had a really lovely Easter break (I took a couple of extra days ahead of the long weekend) and ate lots of chocolate. The week after I was the only team member working most the week so I had to resist the urge to be at my desk re-enacting Bridget Jones… It has been a productive couple of weeks since Easter. I completed the ‘project stand up’ for phase two of our Mohn Westlake Foundation funded work including updating the website. Also updated the website with a ...| connectedbydata.org
The People’s Panel on AI brought together representative members of the public to attend, observe and discuss key events at the AI Fringe, which was held alongside the UK Government’s AI Safety Summit at the beginning of November 2023. Through a deliberative process facilitated by Hopkins Van Mil the People’s Panel on AI produced a public report giving their verdict on AI and their recommendations to government, industry, civil society and academia for further action.| connectedbydata.org
It has been a few weeks since I’ve done a weeknotes in this style so here we go. What I’ve been doing Mainly I’ve been wrapping up projects and standing up a new one that kicked off on 1 April (though it is phase two of a previous project). I’ve provided our accountant with all the information for our end of year accounts and have been drafting the annual report. We had another good community of practice session yesterday and I’ve been writing up those notes. What I need to take car...| connectedbydata.org
As part of our project on ‘Giving communities a powerful say in public sector data and AI projects’, we’re interested in supporting practitioners – particularly in the public sector – who are engaging the public on data and AI. To that end, we convene up a community of practice.| connectedbydata.org
For weeknotes this week, some field notes from completing a survey from the Office for National Statistics. Field notes from completing the ONS Shape Tomorrow My household had an invite this week to complete the ONS ‘Shape Tomorrow’ Survey which explains that it covers “a range of topics, including work, unemployment, retirement, education, health and caring”. Besides the census, I think it’s the first ONS Survey I’ve been invited to complete in a long time - so it was interesting...| connectedbydata.org
I wanted to use my Weeknotes this week to reflect on the logistics and operations of supporting a public participation practice. At CONNECTED BY DATA we’ve run two such processes in the last 18 months that were different and similar and I’ve learnt some stuff that I want to record (to remind myself) but also in case it helps others too. Three day intensive deliberation in person Firstly, the People’s Panel on AI was a three day deliberative process based around the AI Summit in London. ...| connectedbydata.org
Quite a bit for last weeks belated weeknotes…. Unconference Insights Last Thursday we had the first edition of Engaging people on data and AI: An unconference on giving people and communities a powerful say on public sector technologies aptly held in a residents association building in Pimlico. The day was packed with interesting discussions on public sector tech, and public engagement, although it was notable how even with many public engagement practitioners in the room, the discourse oft...| connectedbydata.org
Unconferences are participant-driven meetups that focus on sharing, learning and community building. This unconference was for people (particularly inside the public sector) who are interested in ensuring that public, community and worker voices are heard in decisions about data, digital and AI.| connectedbydata.org
A couple of months ago I attended my first proper unconference (covered in these Weeknotes). I learned lots and learned more through chats with Harry Harrold (who is capital L lovely by the way and runs UK Charity Camp). Today Connected by Data delivered its first unconference, and I think it was a good one. Unconferences are inherently hard to judge because the principles of an unconference (some call them rules) state that whoever turns up are the right people, whatever happens was meant to...| connectedbydata.org
Over March 2025 we’re mapping out organisations and projects across the globe that are giving communities a voice in the governance of digital technology in public or private sectors as part of a rapid research project for the Open Government Partnership.| connectedbydata.org
The accessibility (or not) of our web content We, as an organisation, but also as individuals want to be as accessible and inclusive as we can. We want to do this in how we are as a team, a workplace, a convener and in all our work with partners. We are doing well in some areas (for example we’ve had positive feedback from members of the public where we’ve facilitated their engagement with data and AI discussions) but we also listen to feedback about areas where we’re not doing so well....| connectedbydata.org
SOMETHING STIRS! Hello, and welcome to our 29th Data Policy Digest, bringing you all - well, some of - the latest data and AI policy developments. You may remember that we put the Digest on pause while we seek sustainable funding for it. Those efforts are ongoing (and please let us know if you have any feedback). But given just how much has been going on, we thought it was worth putting out a slimmed-down version (no, really, it actually is) to help you catch up on what’s been happening on ...| connectedbydata.org
A strategic approach to the adoption of AI in the public sector should focus investments in places that will make a difference. Saving money is one of the big priorities for this government, so where should it target AI to realise those ambitions?| connectedbydata.org
What I’ve been doing Last week I was in London supporting the running of a Design Lab about the Official Statistics Code of Practice in partnership with the Office for Statistics Regulation. Honestly, I had no idea either existed before we started doing this piece of work. I also spent time clipping the talks from the online element of the Participatory AI Research & Practice Symposium (an independent event on the fringe of the AI Action Summit in Paris this week) that Tim compeered the wee...| connectedbydata.org
As part of our work on the Community Campaigns on Data: Campaigners Toolkit we have identified a series of case studies that provide an insight into how data is a key component of campaigns.| connectedbydata.org
As part of our work on the Community Campaigns on Data: Campaigners Toolkit we have identified a series of case studies that provide an insight into how data is a key component of campaigns.| connectedbydata.org
A little over a week ago, on 18 January 2025, I attended UK Gov Camp in London. This is a large, well established unconference (more on that in a bit) that focuses on the public sector so I’d heard about it in all my public sector roles even before this job. I’ve attended a smattering of ‘unconferences’ in the past but none as large or as true to the concept as this. A unconference is a space where kind of anything goes. There’s no agenda and no invitations / selection of who attend...| connectedbydata.org
As part of our work on the Community Campaigns on Data: Campaigners Toolkit we have identified a series of case studies that provide an insight into how data is a key component of campaigns.| connectedbydata.org
Hello, and welcome to our 28th Data Policy Digest, bringing you all the latest data and AI policy developments. And Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and a relaxing break from all things data and AI (with the exception of Wallace and Gromit’s terrific take on technology). Some big Data Policy Digest news to kick off your 2025: this will be the last edition in this form with Connected by Data. The Digest, along with our other Data and AI Civil Society Network activity, wa...| connectedbydata.org
What I’ve been doing The first full week back has been busy with different plates spinning. The team finalised (and submitted) our funder grant report for the Mohn Westlake Foundation and the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust. We’ve identified some new grant opportunities that we’re going to discuss a little more next week. We’re seeking organisational 360 feedback as part of our end of year review and planning a strategic roadmap development session with the team working alongside our Boa...| connectedbydata.org
We believe effective data governance should be: collective, democratic, participatory, deliberative and powerful. But what should organisations collecting, using or stewarding data, and the communities that data affects, do in order to achieve this? And how can we show that the often dry topic of data governance is something that demands creative and critical engagement? We’ve been running a multi-stage design lab to explore the creation of a serious game (or games) that can help individual...| connectedbydata.org
The UN High Level Advisory Board on Artificial Intelligence is calling for new institutional arrangements to support the governance of AI that can deliver against the principle that AI should be governed “for all, by all”. In parallel, the Coalition for a Global Citizens Assembly have launched plans for a permanent Global Citizens’ Assembly, to address humanity’s greatest challenges. How could a Global Citizens Assembly on AI work? That’s the question we’ve explored, producing an ...| connectedbydata.org
Tim has spent the last 20 years working at the intersection of technology, participation and governance as both a researcher and practitioner. From piloting digital tools bringing youth voice into local decisions, to developing data standards that enable community scrutiny of billions of dollars of public spending, or writing about the political dynamics of open data initiatives, his work has explored how shared social challenges need participatory, collaborative and collective responses.| connectedbydata.org
The last few weeks have been a bit of a blur: hosting our design lab on resources for community campaigns on data, attending the All Tech is Human Resposible Tech London mixer (where I got to catch up with both CbD Fellows, and community campaigns), pulling together a first draft of the Options Global Citizens Assembly on AI ahead of a conference next week, looking ahead to plans for sharing the paper in New York in September, running an online play-test of The Good Governance Game, joining t...| connectedbydata.org
Lots of things moving forward this week. A prototype set of cards for the Governance Game are with the printers (thanks to sterling work from Jess, Virgil and Emily) hopefully ariving in time for me to test them out with participants of the British Retail Consortium Summer School on 5th June, where I’ll be taking part as contributor on data and AI governance. At our team co-working day on Monday we reviewed the draft of the cards, and updated the branding of the resource (I little realised ...| connectedbydata.org
Hello, and welcome to our twelfth Data Policy Digest, bringing you all the latest data and AI policy developments. Rest assured, this is one DPD that won’t use AI to swear at you. (Though may have you swearing at AI.)| connectedbydata.org
What can I say by way of a Connected by Data ‘year note’? As I reflect on 2023, the theme I keep coming back is that of connections. A lot of our work is about human connections. Personally, I’ve had some great opportunities this year to reconnect with old friends and colleagues, at RightsCon, a workshop on the Global Data Barometer, at the OGP Summit, and the Berkman-Klein Center’s 25th Anniversary celebrations: catching up with the journeys that we’ve each been on, exploring inter...| connectedbydata.org
Some end-of-the-year reflections from a very interesting year. Lots of learning Looking back, seeing how things happen in life is always interesting. I’ve been working with data protection in Brasil since 2016, engaging with the 10-year legislative process that created the country’s general data protection law and even some GDPR compliance in the private sector. Nonetheless, as someone who has been fascinated with democratic theory and participation since my first year in college, I was a...| connectedbydata.org
I started 2023 in another role, another organisation. In a sector I’d worked in for almost ten years and felt confident in my topic, role and remit. I was excited, inspired and frankly grabbed, by the opportunity to join CONNECTED BY DATA when it unexpectedly crossed my path (I can’t recall how) and I am still thankful that Jeni, Jonathan and Tim liked what they saw enough to give me the job. Eight months later and I’m still on the learning curve but I’m listening, learning and 2024 w...| connectedbydata.org
Right, time for a few reflections on a busy year. Strategically I’m seeing a lot more calls now for the democratisation of / public voice in the development of data and AI systems – see the chairs’ summaries of the roundtables at the AI Safety Summit for example – but still a massive gap between an understanding this should happen, and the concrete practical and policy steps that would be needed to make it a reality. So I think our focus on campaigning to turn these vague intentions i...| connectedbydata.org
Hello, and welcome to our tenth Data Policy Digest, bringing you all the latest data and AI policy developments. I don’t know about you, but after a long (if fun and interesting) year, I feel like I’m stumbling towards the finishing line - though with a steeplechase-sized hurdle, in the form of the Lords debating DPDIB today, now firmly in view. This will be the last Digest of 2023 - thanks for reading this year, and I hope it’s been useful. My new year’s resolutions are to make it sh...| connectedbydata.org
Hello, and welcome to our ninth Data Policy Digest, bringing you all the latest data and AI policy developments. We have a wrap up of the AI Summit - and fully endorse this sentiment - but there’s also a lot about to happen, Bills-wise. If there’s something we’ve missed, something you’re up to that you’d like us to include next time or you have any thoughts on how useful the Digest is or could be, please get in touch via gavin@connectedbydata.org. We’re on Twitter @ConnectedByData...| connectedbydata.org
Hello, and welcome to our eighth Data Policy Digest, bringing you all the latest data and AI policy developments. If there’s something we’ve missed, something you’re up to that you’d like us to include next time or you have any thoughts on how useful the Digest is or could be, please get in touch via gavin@connectedbydata.org. We’re on Twitter @ConnectedByData and @DataReform. You can also catch up on Digest #1, Digest #2, Digest #3, Digest #4, Digest #5, Digest #6 and Digest #7.| connectedbydata.org