Owen Boswarva

@owenboswarva

A mix of stuff: mainly #opendata, #FOI, #dataprotection, #geospatial, #openweb, #genAI, #techpolicy. Half-formed thoughts posted for my own amusement. Still on X/Twitter at @owenboswarva. Sites www.owenboswarva.com (with blog) + www.datadaptive.com. He/him

2214 Siguiendo2622 Seguidores4098 Publicaciones

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Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· 27d

OpenAI, the US company behind ChatGPT, has been refused the trademark "OPENAI" by the European Union's General Court – basically because the public generally understands the word "open" to mean freely accessible dpa-international.com/economics/ur... #genAI #IPlaw #opensource #openwashing

The EUIPO found that the word "open" would be understood by the relevant public as meaning freely accessible, while the combination with "AI" (artificial intelligence) would be interpreted as referring to products based on openly accessible artificial intelligence.

OpenAI had argued that the word "open" has multiple possible meanings and that "OPENAI" is a coined term without a fixed meaning. The company also cited comparable trademark registrations previously granted by the EUIPO and registrations in more than 30 other countries, including the United Kingdom and Singapore.

The court rejected these arguments. It ruled that the combination of words was not an unusual linguistic combination in English. Furthermore, registrations in other jurisdictions were not binding under EU trademark law.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· 27d

I've never understood who these people are who want to preview datasets in the browser, though it seems to be a common feature in these platforms. But data dictionaries as standard are very welcome (if you can get the subject matter experts to write them). #govtech #opendata #datapolicy

The service includes a built-in data table. This lets you preview data directly in your browser without downloading the whole dataset first. You can sort, filter and export data to explore it more quickly.

Datasets will include a data dictionary explaining what each variable means and how it should be interpreted.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· 28d

The Scottish Government's "new home for open data about Scotland" will launch in public beta in late summer: Getting ready for beta: inside data.gov.scot blogs.gov.scot/digital/2026... update from the Digital Directorate data.gov.scot #govtech #datapolicy

To deliver a better experience for users and data publishers, we are building a service made up of four connected applications:

● data.gov.scot – the Scottish Government’s public service for finding, accessing and using open data about Scotland.
● data publisher application – where public sector data publishers can publish their data on data.gov.scot. Using this app, they can add, edit, review and publish their data and metadata.
● content management system – an Umbraco implementation used by the Open Data team to manage content across the service.
● data management system – a CKAN implementation used to catalogue, manage and provide access to data.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· 28d

Job – Information Commission Chair apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9276 UK role, headquarters in Manchester, but perhaps they'll parachute somebody in from the Commonwealth again (third time lucky) Non-execs appointed ico.org.uk/about-the-ic... #dataprotection + occasional #FOI

Information Commission Chair Campaign Launch

Alongside these appointments, DSIT has also today launched a campaign to recruit the Chair of the Information Commission. The successful candidate will lead the Board, working alongside the Chief Executive and other members to set the strategic direction of the Information Commission, ensuring it continues to protect individuals' personal data while supporting responsible innovation and economic growth.

Applications close on 19th August 2026. Further information is available here.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· 28d

UK Government is planning to rip up the RPSI regs and put an end to the 'Open by Default' policy that underpins free re-use of public sector data: Call for evidence: marginal cost restriction www.gov.uk/government/c... Data Valuation Framework www.gov.uk/government/p... #FOI #opendata #datapolicy

There are multiple potential approaches to enabling public bodies to charge above marginal costs for a wider range of data assets. These include creating a new legal category of data assets that are required to generate revenue to cover a substantial part of the costs relating to their collection, production, reproduction or dissemination. Doing so would automatically exempt any data assets that are assessed as meeting criteria to be designated into this category from the marginal cost restriction via existing RPSI provisions. Another approach could be creating a new legal category of data assets that would not be subject to RPSI by amending the Regulations to exclude this category from its application. Such an approach would differ from the former approach by excluding data assets designated into this category from all of RPSI’s provisions.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· 29d

UK rail minister is "keen on open data" hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2026-0... (Railways Bill debate from last week) What a nerd #raildata #transportdata #opendata

The noble Lord, Lord Moylan, is right: I am keen on open data. It is important that GBR will share open data. As the noble Lord, Lord Dixon of Jericho, said, open data is vital. I am very sympathetic to the development of alternative websites, but it is equally important that we rationalise the 14 that we already have, which either are in or will come into public ownership. If noble Lords listened to the noble Baroness, Lady Grey-Thompson, they will have heard about the inconsistency in approaches to ticketing, particularly for people who need help and are disabled. That is one of the things that we propose to remedy.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· 29d

Children's circumvention behaviours online www.gov.uk/government/p... report commissioned by UK Government, about how the little tikes are getting around age checks (including use of VPNs) Time for another poorly conceived policy intervention? #OnlineSafetyAct #censorship #childrights #techpolicy

VPN use

● Around a quarter of children use a VPN, and use rises sharply with age. Nearly 6 in 10 (58%) have heard of VPNs. A quarter (26%) say they have used one in their lifetime and around a fifth (22%) have used one in the last 3 months. Lifetime use rises from 17% of 11- to 12-year-olds to 31% of 16- to 17-year-olds.

● Among children who have used a VPN, use is frequent. Around two-thirds (64%) use one at least weekly.

● Children's reasons for using a VPN are focused on privacy and content. The most common reasons are to keep their activity private (30%), to access certain websites, apps or games (27%) and to watch videos from other countries (25%). Around a fifth of VPN users (22%) say they use one specifically to reach age-restricted websites, apps or games, which equates to 7% of all children saying they use a VPN to reach age-restricted websites, apps or games.

● Most children who use a VPN feel safer for doing so, and value their privacy highly. Eight in 10 VPN users (81%) say it makes them feel safer online. Privacy matters to 86% of all children, rising to 90% among lifetime VPN users and falling to 84% in non-VPN users.

● Parents are often involved in children’s VPN use. Of the 26% who have used a VPN in their lifetime, 22% had been helped by a parent to set it up, and 43% of child VPN users say a parent pays for it, while 36% say their VPN is free.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 13

Latest #openaddresses from local government: South Ribble Borough Council, in the North West of England, has released its Council Tax address list as open data www.owenboswarva.com/blog/post-ad... (no download yet) More addresses as and when #FOI #UKhousing #localgov #proptech #opendata

Screenshot of geocoded South Ribble Borough Council address data visualised in Leaflet with background mapping from OpenStreetMap

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 12

Okay but if they break up Cabinet Office where will we incubate the dilettantes

The independent Institute for Government (IfG) think tank also supports breaking up the Cabinet Office and creating a 'Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet'.

Commenting on Burnham's plans for a 'No 10 North', IfG associate director Hannah Keenan said of 10 Downing Street: "It has been horribly underpowered for too long. Now, this isn't going to fix it …

"You need to do much more fundamental reforms to the centre of government. You still have an enormous Cabinet Office that is quite amorphous and too large and unfocused and doesn't really support the prime minister properly – what are you doing with that?

"But it is fine and good to bolster the power of No 10."

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 12

Aberdeen University has posted a statement on Twitter/X distancing itself from a staff member who said on Bluesky she hoped Ann Widdecombe suffered a "painful death" www.thenational.scot/news/2627310... + www.gaudie.co.uk/wpress/index... Surely that's the wrong way round #whicholdwitch #bekind

A statement posted on Twitter/X said: "The University is aware of social media posts made by a member of staff regarding the death of Ann Widdecombe and is reviewing this as a matter of priority.

"The comments that have been shared are entirely the individual’s own and do not represent the views of the University of Aberdeen.

"Complaints into any member of staff are handled confidentially through our established processes."

The Gaudie student newspaper contacted Herbert on Saturday following the posts.

She replied: "I don't want to see anyone murdered, but I'm still glad she is dead."

She added that Widdecombe had made "the lives of ordinary people hell".

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 10

Is the UK Government Web Archive capturing Liz Kendall's Substack posts for the public record? Just wondering uksovereignai.substack.com/p/24-months What's a GOV·UK for eh

Critically for Britain, this next phase of embodied AI isn't something that can be built in an office in Kings Cross. It requires real industrial skill, complex machinery and links into intricate supply chains. This phase of AI should see far more of the investment, and ultimately benefits, spread across our country and with a much stronger connection to place, renewing the cities and regions that have led in previous technological waves, if we give them the powers to seize it.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 10

While a VPN is normally sufficient for circumvention, I understand blocking by local ISPs could present some difficulties for UK-based anons who want to actually post on 4chan boards – because the platform generally blocks posting from commercial VPNs and proxy IP ranges to prevent spam and abuse

Lawyer Myles Jackman, who specialises in sexual liberties and obscenity law, said the case lays bare one of the practical weaknesses of the OSA - that the UK regulator has "no right imposing fines on US domiciled companies that they have no right to collect".

"The UK government has no jurisdiction over the American Constitution," he said, adding that Ofcom could decide to issue enforcement proceedings in the US as they have threatened but that they would “seem destined to fail".

He believes in order to retain "credibility" Ofcom will be left no choice but to block 4chan on UK internet service providers (ISPs), making the site inaccessible to users in the country. But he points out this will be easy to work around for those with VPNs.

More widely, he suggests the 4chan fight will become a "test case" for how effective such legislation can be, as well as having a "disastrous" impact on foreign tech investment in the country.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 10

A giant hamster, a £520k fine, and a battle for regulation: What happens next in Ofcom's fight with 4chan? www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home... Ofcom www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet... Recent post by Preston Byrne prestonbyrne.com/2026/06/16/f... #OnlineSafetyAct #censorship #openweb #techpolicy

In response, Ofcom said they are willing to work with local law enforcement and courts to pursue debts abroad and have "initiated work" to pursue the funds owed.

On Thursday, the latest deadline set by Ofcom will pass, and 4chan remains clear that it has no intention of paying the regulator.

Legal experts say Ofcom is now likely to move to block 4chan in the UK in a bid to "send a message", but that any action is likely to be "practically unworkable" because such blocks are easily circumvented by virtual private networks (VPNs). Meanwhile, 4chan has said that risking a block is a price it is prepared to pay.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 10

One Year Later, How the Online Safety Act is Destroying the Sex Work Community www.polyesterzine.com/features/one... by Maedb Joy #ageverification #socialmediaban #deplatforming #openweb #techpolicy

It is one year on since the Online Safety Act was implemented in full force, and as imagined, the impact is devastating. From being unable to advertise online causing a lack of visibility, and being presented little other option than soliciting in the street, to Instagram accounts disappearing overnight with no way to reinstate – sex workers' lives and livelihoods are at stake.

It isn’t just the sex work community that is feeling the effect of the legislation change. Queer people, feminist organisations, sex worker led businesses and events are all being affected.

“Elements of the Online Safety Act, such as age verification, have reinforced platforms' tendency to protect themselves from legal risk and public backlash by age-gating content about queerness and sex even when it complies with their guidelines," says Dr. Carolina Are.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 10

Wikimedia Foundation Challenges UK Online Safety Act Regulations wikimediafoundation.org/news/2026/07... update from @wikimediafoundation.org #Wikipedia #censorship #openweb #techpolicy

UPDATE — On 10 July 2026, the Wikimedia Foundation was notified by Ofcom that Wikipedia is not currently deemed a Category 1 service under the Online Safety Act (OSA). However, as part of that announcement, Ofcom informed the Foundation that Wikipedia will remain on a "watch list" of platforms that do not currently qualify as Category 1 services, but that could become Category 1 at any point in the future, should Ofcom choose to reassess its decision.

While the Foundation is relieved by Ofcom's agreement that Wikipedia is not a Category 1 service, future Category 1 designation remains an existential threat to Wikipedia, open knowledge, and the privacy and safety of the global community of volunteers who create the information on the site. Without any clear and sustainable limits to categorization, Wikipedia remains vulnerable should Ofcom choose to reassess its decision. The Foundation will continue to advocate for safeguarding public-interest spaces like Wikipedia, asking for a careful re-scoping of the OSA and its Categorization Regulations.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 10

UK regulator Ofcom has released its Online Safety Act target list I mean "register of service categorisations" www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet... Nice bit of prevarication: Wikipedia is an "emerging Category 1 service" #openweb #techpolicy

The published register of categorised services sets out which services are categorised and are therefore subject to additional duties under the Online Safety Act. There are three categories of service …

A service is added to the register where they meet any one or more of the Category 1, Category 2A and Category 2B threshold conditions. The threshold conditions are set out in the Online Safety Act 2023 (Category 1, Category 2A and Category 2B Threshold Conditions) Regulations 2025.

Category 1 threshold conditions are met by a regulated user-to-user service where, in respect of the user-to-user part of that service, it:
● has an average number of monthly active United Kingdom users that exceeds 34 million, and uses a content recommender system; or
● has an average number of monthly active United Kingdom users that exceeds 7 million, uses a content recommender system, and provides a functionality for users to forward or share regulated user-generated content on the service with other users of that service.

Category 2A threshold conditions are met by a regulated search service or a combined service where, the search engine:
● has an average number of monthly active United Kingdom users that exceeds 7 million, and
● is not a search engine which (i) only enables a user to search only selected websites or databases in relation to a specific topic, theme or genre of search content, and (ii) is facilitated by means of a relevant arrangement.

Category 2B threshold conditions are met by a regulated user-to-user service where, in respect of the user-to-user part of that service, it:
● has an average number of monthly active United Kingdom users that exceeds 3 million, and
● provides a functionality for users to send direct messages to other users of the same service which is designed so that messages cannot be encountered by any other users of that service unless further action is taken by the user who sent the message or a user who received the message.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 10

A typical non-answer from the UK Government on the subject of the Postcode Address File questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques... HT @markpackuk.bsky.social While PAF is "privately-owned" by Royal Mail, it is compiled mostly from local government data #opendata #openaddresses #freethePAF

Screenshot of UK House of Lords written question UIN HL1690, tabled on 6 July 2026 and answered on 9 July 2026:

Question
Lord Pack, Liberal Democrat

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Ofcom regarding its regulation of the Royal Mail's terms of access to the Postcode Address File in the last 12 months; and what was the outcome of those discussions.

Answer
Lord Leong, Labour

The Postcode Address File is a privately-owned dataset. Ofcom's regulations require Royal Mail to provide access to the Postcode Address File on reasonable terms.

Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Ofcom in its capacity as the independent regulator of postal services. If there were matters relevant to the Postcode Address File, they would be discussed in this forum.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 10

Latest #openaddresses from local government: Eastleigh Borough Council, in the South East of England, has released its Council Tax address list as open data www.owenboswarva.com/blog/post-ad... (with link to download page) More addresses next week #FOI #UKhousing #localgov #proptech #opendata

Screenshot of geocoded Eastleigh Borough Council address data visualised in Leaflet with background mapping from OpenStreetMap

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 10

Open rail data could unlock £500 million annual revenue boost www.railmagazine.com/news/open-ra... (Britain) Independent Rail Retailers report: More Passengers, More Revenue independentrailretailers.co.uk/ads/ RARS www.raildeliverygroup.com/rars2-member... #raildata #transportdata #opendata

Under the proposed ADS model, the industry would transition to a decentralised open-data framework similar to Transport for London's network.

This would see retailers process complex search queries locally allowing apps and websites to use flexible airline-style tools like rolling price calendars, true price comparison services, and flexible destination searches.

Under the plans proposed in the report, the central RARS infrastructure would be preserved solely to validate and finalise transactions at the point of sale.

Crucially, the report argues, the shift would relieve the processing burden on the central system and potentially save money in taxpayer subsidies.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 9

Ofcom has fined the (unidentified?) provider of fapello £630,000; opened an investigation into Bit Hive, provider of eporner; and expanded its investigation into the (unidentified?) provider of a hentai archive, kemono.cr www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet... #OnlineSafetyAct #censorship #monopolymoney

Ofcom, doing its bit for nominative determinism:

George Lusty, Director of Enforcement at Ofcom, said: "Age checks are no longer optional for porn sites in the UK. They are a cornerstone of our laws to protect children from content they should not be seeing. Providers also need to know that if they don't supply accurate information to us on time, when we request it, they should expect to face enforcement action, including fines."

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 9

Latest #openaddresses from local government: Wealden District Council, in the South East of England, has released its Council Tax address list as open data www.owenboswarva.com/blog/post-ad... (no download yet) Another council tomorrow #FOI #UKhousing #localgov #proptech #opendata

Screenshot of geocoded Wealden District Council address data visualised in Leaflet with background mapping from OpenStreetMap

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 8

UK tech secretary Liz Kendall says former Information Commissioner John Edwards is "preparing to serve legal papers on one of the women at the ICO who raised concerns about his behaviour" www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026... Kendall's evidence to Commons SITC today parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...

Kendall said of the woman Edwards is said to be taking legal action against: "By reporting her concerns, she supported the independent investigation that upheld multiple allegations made against him. And I have reached out, as best I can, and said they need to know that they will always be listened to without being put at personal risk. Quite frankly, I'm appalled by that behaviour."

The ICO said it could not comment for legal reasons.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 8

Disappointed to learn Google will no longer be updating the desktop version of Google Earth support.google.com/earth/thread... 15+ years ago GE was central to my workflow for disseminating risk maps in a corporate environment: simple enough for users + free licensing + not too much pushback from IT

We're continuing to make Google Earth on web and mobile (Android | iOS) the best place for people to get helpful geospatial insights. While you can continue using the legacy Google Earth Pro desktop app, it will no longer be available for new downloads beginning on June 25, 2027. We encourage using web and mobile for the best Google Earth experience.

Google Earth on web includes the desktop app's most popular features, in addition to the latest updates like historical Street View, advanced measurement, a robust environment data catalog, project sharing and editing and AI-powered capabilities.

Recommended next steps:
If you're currently using Google Earth Pro on desktop and would like to keep using it, there's nothing you need to do. If you'd like to use your KML/KMZ and ‘My Places’ files in Google Earth on web and mobile, you can find a step-by-step guide here. Be sure to check our release notes for regular improvements and new features coming to Google Earth on web and mobile.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 8

Rupert Lowe MP has shares >£70,000 in SafeToNet Ltd, the "online child safety software developer" associated with the UK Government's push to mandate installation of nudity-blocking software on mobile phones members.parliament.uk/member/5158/... HT Alex Parsons #childrights #censorship #techpolicy

Screenshot of extract from Register of Members' Financial Interests entry for Rupert Lowe MP:

7. Shareholdings
Registrable threshold for this shareholding interest
(ii) Other shareholdings, valued at more than £70,000
Name of the company or organisation SAFETONET Ltd
Nature of business Online child safety software developer
Date registered 31 July 2024

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 8

Smart Data: multi-sector call for evidence www.gov.uk/government/c... from DBT, asking for use cases etc Sectors include property and retail. Tell the UK Government to use its #smartdata powers to mandate #opendata licensing of RM's Postcode Address File (PAF)? #datapolicy #proptech #openaddresses

Under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUAA), the government now has powers to require firms to participate in Smart Data schemes. These schemes enable the secure sharing of business data – such as a firm's standard product and pricing details – and, at a customer's
request, customer data, such as information about the goods and services provided to the customer by the firm. The customer may be a consumer or a business, and the data must be held by a trader. The scope of these powers applies only where data arises from a trader–
customer relationship.

The government is supporting progress towards possible schemes across multiple sectors, including Banking, Finance, Energy, Property, Retail, Digital Markets, Transport, Telecoms and Agri-food. Together, these schemes are building a wider Smart Data ecosystem that drives
best practice, enables interoperability and supports new services that fuel innovation, competition, and growth.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 8

Latest #openaddresses from local government: Chorley Council, in the North West of England, has released its Council Tax address list as open data www.owenboswarva.com/blog/post-ad... (no download yet) Another council tomorrow #FOI #UKhousing #localgov #proptech #opendata

Screenshot of geocoded Chorley Council address data visualised in Leaflet with background mapping from OpenStreetMap

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 7

UK drivers left out of pocket as petrol stations failing to report live fuel prices www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home... based on PA analysis Fuel Finder scheme www.gov.uk/government/c... Why are they not doing the #opendata, is the social contract broken

Approximately 570 sites have failed to provide any petrol price information whatsoever, despite the mandate being in place for over five months.

Among those stations that have submitted data, 1,751 had not updated their petrol prices for more than a week, while 96 of these had gone at least a month without providing fresh information.

Simon Williams of the RAC said it is "not plausible that so many haven’t changed prices in a week, let alone a month”, adding that “most retailers receive new fuel supply at least once a week".

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 6

Civil Justice Council consultation highlights concerns over use of AI to prepare witness statements www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/information-... Use of AI in preparing court documents – update on consultation findings www.judiciary.uk/related-offi... (England and Wales) #legaltech #genAI

Strong consensus on core areas

There is a high degree of alignment across respondents that, for legal professionals preparing pleadings, advocacy documents, skeleton arguments and similar documents, no additional formal requirements relating specifically to AI are currently necessary. Professional responsibility frameworks are considered sufficient to govern appropriate use.

Areas for further consideration

The principal area of ongoing consideration is the use of AI in the preparation of witness statements. Consultation responses reflect differing views on whether additional safeguards or disclosure requirements are needed.

A consistent theme across responses is the importance of preserving the authenticity, integrity and personal recollection of the witness. Concerns have been raised about the potential for AI tools to reshape, embellish or otherwise influence evidence in ways that may not be immediately apparent.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 6

Latest #openaddresses from local government: Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, in the South East of England, has released its Council Tax address list as open data www.owenboswarva.com/blog/post-ad... (no download) Another council tomorrow #FOI #UKhousing #localgov #proptech #opendata

Screenshot of geocoded Reigate and Banstead Borough Council address data visualised in Leaflet with background mapping from OpenStreetMap

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva· Jul 5

Portsmouth councillor 'breached data rules to help promote Reform and a city restaurant', regulator finds www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/politic... #localgov #dataprotection