Hello ODI Supporter,
News emerged this week that Meta is to start using tracking software to gather data on mouse movements, clicks and keystrokes of US employees. The company sent a memo to staff informing them of the move, which they say is ostensibly to train AI models and help build agents that can perform work tasks autonomously. A spokesperson for Meta said the data gathered would not be used for performance assessment or any other purpose, but one anonymous employee described the move as “very dystopian”, given that many workers at the company expect job cuts. More than 2,000 people have been laid off this year, and staff foresee more as the company invests heavily in AI. Meta intends to spend around $140 billion on AI in 2026, almost double what it spent last year. Legal experts in the US say the data-gathering subjects white-collar workers to the sort of real-time surveillance previously experienced only by gig workers and delivery drivers, and highlights that there is no federal limit on worker surveillance. European and UK law would likely prohibit such action.
Analysis of Freedom of Information responses from 78 English councils has shown that data breaches at the largest local authorities have increased by more than 50% over the last five years. The number of breaches reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) increased by more than 40% over the same period. Councils collectively logged 16,902 incidents, with 305 referrals to the ICO. Wiltshire Council recorded the largest rise of internally logged incidents as well as the highest total of incidents, while Bristol City Council recorded the highest number of ICO referrals. Internally recorded incidents include low-level administrative errors, such as emails sent to the wrong people. On average, the ratio between internally recorded incidents and referrals to the ICO was 50:1. A number of councils cited in the analysis said the increasing amount of reported incidents was down to improved awareness of staff and a stronger reporting culture, rather than a decline in data security.
There is still time to book for our webinar next week with Police Scotland in which they’ll explore ethics in the use of technology in the police force. It’s on Wednesday 29 April, 12:00-13:00 BST, so don’t miss out. Fresh from appearing in The Guardian this week, Dr Alan Warburton will explore his new film Image Empire on Wednesday 6 May, 13:00-14:00 BST, and tickets are still available. We’re also exploring smart data in transport on Tuesday 12 May, 16:00-17:00 BST, so join us for that too.
And finally… some sad news. The ODI and Data as Culture teams were heartbroken to hear of the unexpected and untimely passing of our artist team member Alistair Gentry. Alistair died of natural causes in March 2026. Regular followers of ODI will know Alistair through DoxBox trustbot, his five-year multidisciplinary performance project, which he created during a residency at ODI in 2018 and 2019. DoxBox was a hot pink puppet-robot hybrid that liked to chat. Alistair described it as "a pretend AI which interviews you about the services you use to tell you stories about the effects that might have on your life as a whole". A low-tech kitsch, pink, queer version of technology that raised critical questions with a lot of laughs, DoxBox itself is also an important part of the ODI family. We will miss both terribly. Sluice Magazine, which Alistair was proud to have written for every edition until his passing, will celebrate his life on Friday 1 May, 18:00-21:00 BST at Sluice HQ, 57a Redchurch Street, London E2 7DJ. If you met and enjoyed chatting with Alistair or DoxBox at any of the very many ODI events they performed at, please feel free to attend. Sluice has also set up a funeral expenses fundraiser to support Alistair's loved ones at this difficult time. Rest in peace, Alistair.
Until next time.
David and Jo
PS: Our friend Hannah Foulds, formerly of this parish and now at Applied Works, has written an article recently on cathedral thinking, and how it applies to building impact that can span generations. Check it out.
