At the helm in high seas @impressorg.bsky.social 🌐 bridging media, tech, law & public interest. 📍 current hyper fixation: soup, now we are in the 'ber' months Subscribe to my free newsletter: https://lexiekirkconnellkawana.substack.com/https://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3mbxypgzbnc2kHighly recommend Lorna Woods excellent analysis of the legality of Groks "undressing" function and use https://www.onlinesafetyact.net/analysis/grok-criminal-offences-the-civil-law-and-the-online-safety-act/ Shows the limits of the law, particularly the regulators powers. Watch this space as governments the world over wrestle with abusive uses of AI tech.09 Jan 2026 07:42 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbxypgzbnc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3m6ftn6gses2iOnline safety, digital surveillance and the last dying breaths of our right to privacy... This week in Common Ground I write about age assurance tech as a trogan horse for all our rights... bit.ly/3X7feX9 https://bit.ly/3X7feX924 Nov 2025 22:08 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6ftn6gses2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3m5t4acg4rs2bFantastic event on next Tuesday for those willing or able to travel to London Join writers, actors and campaigners to discuss the Hack, phone hacking, and what's next for press reform @hackedoff.bsky.social https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-hack-what-next-tickets-1917975037969?aff=oddtdtcreator17 Nov 2025 11:21 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5t4acg4rs2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3m5lyd2bz4s2l We were waiting for this. AI developers got a nod from the UK courts on whether their AI models infringe copyrighted work. Recently, a judge threw out a passing off claim advanced by Getty Images against AI developer Stability. How do you feel about this? bit.ly/49pvBpn #AI #Copyright #AINews https://bit.ly/49pvBpn14 Nov 2025 15:22 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5lyd2bz4s2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3m4xjnfnmbs2iWe finally have the last edition of the Hack, out now! Thanks for those of you who've gone on the journey with our companion piece to ITV's the Hack. It's been a fun ride, and we know that a better media is possible @hackedoff.bsky.social @mediareformuk.bsky.social youtu.be/KnJNLrJC5Yc https://youtu.be/KnJNLrJC5Yc06 Nov 2025 12:06 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4xjnfnmbs2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3m3f2zqcc7k2fWhat u find interesting about the Pete Hesgeth new pentagon access guidelines for journalists is the mislaid notion that people can contract our of their constitutional rights... https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0ygg06pgko.amp17 Oct 2025 10:32 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3f2zqcc7k2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3m3ctli2nas26Divestment in quality media intentional or accidental? The stats support more effectiveness for brands and advertisers... So let's stop chasing eyeballs, clicks, impressions and build a digital economy that doesn't rely on exploitation. How about investing in ethical accountable media? #awc16 Oct 2025 13:13 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3ctli2nas26https://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3m2tefvoym223The fight for trustworthy and accountable journalism found a new advocate in... the Pope? 😅 https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/10/you-wont-believe-what-degrading-practice-the-pope-just-condemned10 Oct 2025 09:32 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2tefvoym223https://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3m2ogcln2ds2mEither, the Government will do nothing and the cycle of scandal and cosmetic reform will repeat. Press disinformation, intrusion and other abuses will go on, day to day, destroying peoples’ lives, distorting elections and misleading the public, but making little impact on the national policy agenda08 Oct 2025 10:22 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2ogcln2ds2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3m25wcg43dc2hHow is phone hacking connected to one of the most notorious unsolved murders in Britain? Episode 2 of #afterthehack is out now. If you're watching the Hack on ITV 9pm, this is the best companion podcast for all the insights, hot takes and more. youtu.be/hN1NgxsJbxw https://youtu.be/hN1NgxsJbxw01 Oct 2025 20:53 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3m25wcg43dc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3m24nnwd3r22vReally powerful words from Hugh Grant on the last 12 years of political failure, including the current Government, for victims of press abuse. If we want a better media we need this collusion to end.01 Oct 2025 08:46 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3m24nnwd3r22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3m24lw2p2hk2vAt the Labour Party conference this week advocating for quick wins and ready made solutions for a better media with @hackedoff.bsky.social @mediareformuk.bsky.social and @pressjustice.bsky.social01 Oct 2025 08:15 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3m24lw2p2hk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3lzpucx7frs23Started watching #theHack on ITV and want more? 'After the Hack', our recap show with @bylinetimes.bsky.social is now out! Weekly episodes on the real politics and behind the scenes goss of the phone hacking scandal, plus what action you can take to build a better media https://youtu.be/VlCYtc_IGoU?si=uXMcjRmiAhJYEs3M26 Sep 2025 06:41 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzpucx7frs23https://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3lzolvdgx3k2jIt's lack of independence, discretion to interpret public interest and blended remit over content and market controls that allows US agencies like the Federal Communications Commission to become ideologically captured by Commissioners at the top #jimmykimmel25 Sep 2025 18:37 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzolvdgx3k2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3lyp5sm3toc2vLucy Connolly and Graham Linehan are the latest high profile cases of speech being policed online. Posting hateful content and inciting violence against others without early intervention can fuel a pattern of behaviour which gives them the confidence to continue to post.13 Sep 2025 06:33 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lyp5sm3toc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3lyp5ni2swc2vscarce and inconsistent policing of hateful and abusive content online has reduced that risk and emboldened people to push the boundaries further. Lack of enforcement online has created a culture of illegality.13 Sep 2025 06:30 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lyp5ni2swc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3lyf3ddl7u22ySpoke too soon Nepal ban is lifted after tragedy during public protests https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp98n1eg443o09 Sep 2025 06:22 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lyf3ddl7u22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3lybo6csvj22eIn case you missed it Nepal just shut down access to 26 major platforms, including Meta and X for failing to meet new legal requirements. The age of platform sovereignty is ending. Global connectivity will be superseded by physical borders.07 Sep 2025 21:48 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lybo6csvj22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3lwwgbwuius2rThe House of Lords Communications Committee released a sobering report on #medialiteracy painting a picture of a nation in a literacy crisis. However the recommendations proposed are all over the place21 Aug 2025 17:03 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwwgbwuius2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3ls2b4xj3qs2gLast week I broke down how Big Tech spent 25 years dodging regulatory scrutiny with a simple playbook and turned a blind eye to illegal behaviour of its users online. This week's focus is the news publishers who became the catalyst for change. bit.ly/3G6Xztw https://bit.ly/3G6Xztw20 Jun 2025 14:35 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3ls2b4xj3qs2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3lrfpjdc47k27💭 "Identifying who is causing harm is less difficult in our contemporary centralised internet where there are fewer upstream players and many have backdoor arrangements with law enforcement." bit.ly/3TiWHoy https://bit.ly/3TiWHoy12 Jun 2025 10:26 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lrfpjdc47k27https://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3lqcfth4yn22p🚨 The inconvenient truth about social media age bans 🚨 Everyone's rushing to "protect" children by banning them from social media. Australia, Texas, Florida—it feels obvious, right? But these bans might actually make the internet LESS safe for everyone. bit.ly/4kjpPYV29 May 2025 09:30 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqcfth4yn22phttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3lpquatu5g22f💡 If news publishers no longer see the value in being indexed and ranked in search results, is there a world in which they might voluntarily withdraw from search engines like Google entirely? bit.ly/3FdYEPY https://bit.ly/3FdYEPY22 May 2025 10:00 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpquatu5g22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3lp7yr2qsyc2uGreat piece from @publicinterestnews.org.uk on Local Democracy Reporting Scheme and what #BBC could do to improve the scheme so it supports accountable independent local journalism https://www.publicinterestnews.org.uk/post/indie-news-providers-react-to-local-democracy-reporting-service-contracts-announcement15 May 2025 17:05 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lp7yr2qsyc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3lp76meaak22vThings I like about the Davie speech: -recognition of the trust crisis, news alienation and audience decline -recognition of the existential threat disinfo poses https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/may/14/bbc-tim-davie-disinformation-trust-crisis-social-fabric-uk-at-risk?CMP=share_btn_url15 May 2025 09:18 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lp76meaak22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3lp76epw2vk25💡 The subtle art of silencing doesn't need book burnings in the 21st century. It works through bureaucratic whispers, financial pressure, and systemic nudges. We need to move beyond defensive trench warfare to proactively reshape what free expression should mean. bit.ly/4deURhH https://bit.ly/4deURhH15 May 2025 09:13 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lp76epw2vk25https://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3lp5an6zdf22w5 days out from the extended deadline for Tik Tok to divest it's US business. Trump has suggested he's willing to extend again, this is an example of the not so subtle ways the state acts on our right to freedom of expression indirectly. I'm writing more about this this week.14 May 2025 14:49 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lp5an6zdf22whttps://bsky.app/profile/lexiekk.bsky.social/post/3lonvgzr6p223Fresh from the Cambridge Disinformation Summit 2025! 🧠 The big takeaway? Disinformation has evolved to unprecedented scale and sophistication. Current solutions mostly just monitor or expose—but we need to address the SOURCE. bit.ly/4k6DdPo https://bit.ly/4k6DdPo08 May 2025 12:18 +0000at://did:plc:inyc33brbpi7nnacygp6iyfx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lonvgzr6p223