Sophie E. Hill

@sophieehill

PoliSci PhD student @ Harvard / 🇬🇧🏳️‍🌈 / Creator of MyLittleCrony.com Signal: @sehill.11

3,276 Following4,873 Followers1,537 Posts

Bluesky

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Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 15

temperature finally dipped enough for my cats to cuddle again (paws only). nature is healing.

two cats, one grey one ginger, lying down touching paws

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 14

"They're lesbians Stacey"

famous woso tweet exchange
Stacey, commenting on photo of footballers Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis hugging: "Friendship has no boundaries!"

Reply: "They're lesbians Stacey"

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 9

Gilded Rage by Jacob Silverman -nice biographical texture on various Silicon Valley elites -the social scientist in me wanted more analytical heft (are tech bros really more angry than Gilded Age elites?) -Ron DeSantis comes up a lot? -Gender/sexuality underexplored ⭐️⭐️⭐️ #bookreview

Gilded Rage book cover (image of Elon Musk with a jagged paper style crown)

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 8

🪵 just got a delightfully fragrant box of carving wood from englishwoods.co.uk! including oak, beech, cherry, lacewood, african walnut, olive ash, lime, sweet chestnut, poplar, sycamore, and jelutong. range of sizes, all usable. #WoodSky #WhittleSky #CarvingSky

a beautiful box of wood, with various species labelled such as lacewood and beech

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 8

BBC News allowed SafeToNet founder Richard Pursey to promote his company's Harmblock technology under the guise of a "news" segment. As far as I can see, there has been no independent testing or verification of this software. How does it work? How accurate is it? What are the privacy implications?

Screenshot of Richard Pursey appearing on BBC News, embedded in linkedin post

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 8

SafeToNet has recently partnered with the Tim Tebow Foundation - set up by the American football star - another organisation that takes an explicitly Christian approach to issues like CSAM, and is also associated with International Justice Mission (IJM).

LinkedIn post
SafeloNet
SafeToNet
3,571 followers
3mo • Edited
What an incredible week in Austin Texas.
:
Sharon Pursey OBE & Richard Pursey had the privilege of participating at the Clapham
Accelerator with innovators, technologists, and investors, policy makers and survivors to introduce and raise awareness about SafeToNet and our #HarmBlock technology.
With this group we also presented to a very receptive audience of policy makers at the Texas Capitol.
Our message is clear and simple "CSAM-incompatible smart devices" is now a reality, already launched and protecting. It must now be embedded into every device. It is a moral obligation for society.

Photos from LinkedIn post of the Purseys with Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow speaking on panel with Richard Pursey

Tim Tebow Foundation Website

Image of Tebow holding hands with a young man

Text: Our Mission is to bring Faith, Hope and Loveto those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need.

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 8

SafeToNet's founders - Richard and Sharon Pursey - have been promoting their technology to US right-wing elites, including a presentation at the White House last year www.linkedin.com/posts/richar...

Linked In post

SafeToNet
SaleloNet
3,571 followers
11mo • Edited
SafeToNet's mission has reached one of the most influential rooms in the world. III
Our founders, Richard Pursey and Sharon Pursey OBE, were invited to Washington D.C. to demonstrate #HarmBlock: our on-device #Al that prevents the creation, viewing, and sharing of sexual imagery.
We can't say who they met. But we can say this...
• Smartphones can be safeguarded
A new relationship was born
• Our momentum is now transatlantic
What stood out wasn't just the hunger for real solutions, it was the growing frustration with empty promises. One tech
CEO had just left the room offering no credible plan to protect children. Another

Linked in post photos of the Purseys at the white House

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 8

SafeToNet has been repeatedly promoted by Christian NGO International Justice Mission, which has been criticized for conducting aggressive "anti-trafficking" raids that produce shocking content but don't actually help victims. www.linkedin.com/posts/ijmaus...

LinkedIn post

International Justice Mission
Australia
9,213 followers
2mo
This isn't a future fix - it's a present-day solution
From phones to smart TVs, the technology to keep children safe already exists.
Sharon Pursey OBE from SafeToNet explains how versatile this solution is, and how it can be implemented across all devices as standard.
Safe by design is possible. Now it must be required.
Join us in calling on tech companies to make safety built in, not optional.
Sign the petition: https://ijm.au/3ND60kh

BBC news story

Ghanaian children wrongly taken in raids backed by US charity
IJM
10 July 2023
Chiara Francavilla, Kwakye Afreh-Nuamah & Kyenkyenhene Boateng
BBC Africa Eye
BBC
Fatima, 11, was taken from her family's home in the middle of the night
Ghanaian children have been taken from their homes in an operation backed by one of the world's leading anti-slavery organisations, according to a BBC Africa Eye investigation.

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 8

SafeToNet was part of a consortium that won over €2 in EU funding to create a CSAM-blocking app. The project ended abruptly with no final report or deliverables, after many delays. Out of 8 partner organizations, SafeToNet was allocated over half of the budget. ec.europa.eu/info/funding...

Preventing and Reducing child sexual abuse
material use through On-device Technology
EN
Project information
Fact sheet
Participants
Deliverables
Project information
Acronym
PROTECH
Project ID
101084717

Status
Ended
Start date
28 February 2023
End date
31 May 2025
Last updated date
01 May 2026
2 283 872,15 €
Overall budget
2 055 484,94 €
EU
contribution

Screenshot of "Deliverables" section showing last addition was a "Mid term report" uploaded on 12 January 2026.

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 7

clacton... you know what to do

poster with text: LET'S CLEAN UP CLACTON
next to image of Nigel Farage's head going into the bin of Count Binface

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 7

the choice is clear

poster with text COUNT (above image of Count Binface on yellow background) vs CUNT (above image of Nigel Farage on blue background)

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 7

hi @countbinface.bsky.social please accept this unconditional gift

Poster with image of Count Binface on yellow background (arms folded, swagged out in his signature style: futuristic armour, shiny cape, giant bin head) with text:

CLACTON
Make your vote
COUNT

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 7

I think it's about influencing future decisions rather than overturning the one at hand. More effective when the fans do it for you though, they can't get booked for dissent! niesr.ac.uk/wp-content/u...

Causal effects of an absent crowd on performances and refereeing decisions during Covid-19
Alex Bryson, Peter Dolton, J. James Reade, Dominik Schreyer and
Carl Singleton
Abstract
The Covid-19 pandemic has induced worldwide natural experiments on the effects of crowds. We exploit one of these experiments that took place over several countries in almost identical settings: professional football matches played behind closed doors within the 2019/20 league seasons. We find large and statistically significant effects on the number of yellow cards issued by referees. Without a crowd, fewer cards were awarded to the away teams, reducing home advantage. These results have implications for the influence of social pressure and crowds on the neutrality of decisions.

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 4

Barbara Ehrenreich hates hydration breaks, pass it on

Image of front cover of Ehrenreich's book "Dancing in the Streets: A history of collective joy". Image of medieval peasants dancing joyfully.

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 2

7️⃣ Calla Lily Spoon 🌹🥄 My first spoon! I wanted to carve a traditional lily on the end but those individual petals would be too fragile at this scale. So I compromised on a calla lily. Basswood, with shellac + polyurethane to finish.

finished spoon with calla lily flower at end and "2026" painted on the side

finished spoon with calla lily flower at end and "2026" painted on the side (another angle)

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 2

It is completely absurd for universities to outsource their due diligence to a financial intermediary like the Charities Aid Foundation. The CAF does basic KYC checks, it cannot implement *your* institution's ethics policy!

6. A summary of the due diligence undertaken by your institution on this funding, including any reliance on checks performed by Charities Aid Foundation.
Checks carried out by CAF
7. Any records of conflict of interest declarations or assessments made by your institution in relation to this project (summary sufficient).
N/A

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 2

I submitted FOI requests to both universities, which revealed: - the researchers did not disclose the full amount (£80k vs £50k) - the universities did no due diligence of their own - the money was sent via the CAF American donor fund, which suggests the underlying donors are UK/US dual taxpayers

CAF online
5,000.00
CAF American Donor
15,000.00
CAF American Donor 30,000.00

£50,000.00
Once again, 1 am terribly sorry for the confusion.

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 2

Wiley's original investigation concluded that there was no violation of their policies. The investigation was only "reopened" when I pointed out the implications of this loophole...

Sophie Hill
To: Wiley Research Integrity
Oct 29, 2025 at 14:17
...
Thank you for your email.
So, under Wiley's research integrity policies, a scientist could accept a donation of £1 million from a fossil fuel company to write a study denying climate change, and they would not need to disclose this information as long as the donation was made "anonymously" via a charity?
I would like a definitive answer on this point since l am sure many scientists and members of the public would be very interested to learn about this.
Thanks, Sophie

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jul 2

Researchers at two Russell Group universities published scientific research funded by an "anonymous donation". But the money really came from an industry group with a clear conflict of interest 🥸 After 10 months of "investigation", Wiley has done... nothing. No retraction, no EOC, no correction.

Wiley Research Integrity
To: Sophie Hill
Jul 1 at 15:06
Dear Dr. Hill,
We regret the significant delays since our last message. We are working with the university and all other stakeholders to decide on an adequate solution to these concerns, and further delays have left this resolution hanging.
Unfortunately, we cannot provide more of a timeline for this resolution. We will however notify you once a decision has been reached.
Best wishes,
The Integrity Assurance & Case Resolution team
WILEY

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jun 26

sorry but this would never have happened to a guy called John

Foot died on 18 June 1978 in a hotel in Hong Kong, after choking on a sandwich.[2][5]

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jun 26

incredible to think that the Foot family named their first-born son DINGLE ... and the rest Hugh, John, Michael, and Christopher. diabolical parenting.

Screenshot of Sir Dingle Foot wiki summary box with title and photo.

Text: The Right Honourable Sir Dingle Foot QC
Solicitor General for England and Wales

Black and white image of Foot

Dingle Foot was educated at Bembridge School, a boys' independent school on the Isle of Wight, and at Balliol College, Oxford, where he was President of the Oxford Union in 1928. He had four brothers: Michael, a prominent figure in the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition from 1980 to 1983; John (Lord Foot), a Liberal politician; Hugh (Lord Caradon), Governor of Cyprus and British Ambassador to the United Nations and Christopher, a solicitor who joined the family firm. He also had two sisters. His nephew, Hugh's son, was the campaigning journalist Paul Foot.

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jun 24

Right. Also, as I am learning from searching historical Hansard, there was a particular debate over tax inspectors using "Gestapo" tactics in the 1970s, after high-profile raids in the Rossminster tax avoidance scandal. Some incredible quotes here: api.parliament.uk/historic-han...

The Daily Mail reported in May 1977 that a hotel owner said: "They interrogated me, my wife and my staff for hours and when I say 'Interrogated'
, I know what I am
talking about as a former policeman." A publican, whose story recently appeared in The Daily Telegraph, was also paid a visit by VAT men. He declared that they "make the Gestapo look like amateurs".
." He described the scene,
and said: "They turned out my mother's handbag. She was staying with us after a major operation, and we had to have the doctor in ... They went through things
1125
that had no possible connection with VAT, like my kid sister's diary"
•" A Cornish business man spoke of a
Gestapo-type interrogation and said: "the only difference was that the investigator did not pull out my fingernails"." According to the Western Morning News, during that investigation he was not allowed to speak to his wife or go to the toilet by himself. Indeed, officials stood one on each side while he used the toilet.
VAT seems to be the worst offender in these instances.
When several officers come together, raids can be very frightening indeed. A hairdresser, quoted in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, said: "These people came round like storm troopers and frightened my staff with their questions." In 1978, the trade magazine, The Fish Trader reported that one fish fryer had committed suicide after continuous harassment by VAT officers concerning an outstanding tax bill.

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jun 24

1917: Thousands of Soviet women march for "bread and peace", triggering a revolution 2023: Footballer honours International Women's Day with "Mum Wife Nan" shirt

Headline: Hammers makes
International Women's
Day tribute

Photo: Footballer with "Mum Wife Nan" on the back of his shirt

Date: March 2023

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jun 24

the bar is in hell

Djed Spence blanking Thomas Partey during pre-match handshakes

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jun 22

he got embarrassed about getting stuck and started doing the bashful princess di gaze "there were 3 of us in this TK Maxx bag, so it was a bit crowded"

my ginger cat sitting inside a red TK Maxx plastic bag with one of the handles around his neck. he looks down mournfully.

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jun 22

Starmer bequeaths to his successor a Britain that is stronger, fairer, and "better able to ensure the Labour party secures a second term in office". A *Britain* that is better able to ensure the Labour party secures a second term in office??

I will remain in post as Prime Minister until the contest is complete. And I will do everything I can to ensure an orderly handover of power.
I will also give my successor my full and unequivocal support, knowing that they will inherit a Britain that is far stronger and fairer than the one I inherited two years ago, better prepared for the challenges ahead, and better able to ensure the Labour Party secures a second term in officeo
I want to thank all of those friends and colleagues who have been at my side for these

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jun 22

Politicians often rely too much on the "rule of three" in speeches, but Keir Starmer is apparently bound by the lesser-known "rule of four" 🤔 e.g., - Growth, wages, investment, NHS - Workers' rights, defence, immigration, children - Reputation, trade, Ukraine, EU

An economy that is stronger, growing faster than our peers. Wages rising faster than inflation in every single month since we came to power. Investment secured, infrastructure being built. An end to austerity, with the fastest fall in NHS waiting lists for 17 years.
The biggest improvement in rights for workers and renters in a generation. The biggest uplift in defence spending since the Cold War. Small boat crossings falling, asylum hotels closing, protecting young people from social media, and half a million children being lifted out of poverty because of the choices that I made.
Our reputation in the world restored, with Britain once again standing up for decency, respect and the rule of law. Securing trade deals, standing with Ukraine, standing up for our values, and rebuilding our relationship with our allies in Europe.

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jun 22

Challenge: in under 2 minutes, can you rewrite this sentence in a more elegant way? "Every decision I've taken has been about putting the country I love first."

The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election. I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question.
And I accept that answer with good grace.
Every decision I've taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party. I have spoken to His Majesty the King this morning to inform him of my decision.

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jun 22

since I'm currently reading Farnsworth's Classical English Rhetoric I can tell you this is a VERY uninspired use of symploce (repetition at start and end)

Change promised by a Labour government.
Change fought for by a Labour government, change delivered by a Labour government.

Sophie E. Hill@sophieehill· Jun 22

and another one: "The hard work of change was with a singular purpose. Not power for power's sake but to change Britain for the better." So the hard work of change (??) was with (?) a singular purpose, which was... change?