Subject: Democracy

05.06.24

Big Tech

Facebook failed to block thousands of political ads peddling false information

Concerns raised over platform’s ability to curb misinformation as major elections loom

03.05.24

Local Power

Thurrock council: Conservatives swept away in elections after overseeing financial disaster

Authority was declared bankrupt after series of ruinous business deals made under previous administration

04.04.24

Trans+ Voices

Voter ID laws blocking access to polls for trans+ people

Bureaucratic barriers and the threat of discrimination or abuse could prevent many from voting in person at the upcoming local elections

27.03.24

Big Tech

How repressive regimes use facial recognition technology

It has become theoretically possible to identify almost anyone when they are caught on video

27.03.24

Big Tech

Online gig work is feeding Russia’s surveillance machine

Tech used to repress dissent against Putin’s regime is powered by unwitting workers in global south

27.03.24

Big Tech

Paid pennies to train tools of repression: the humans behind Moscow’s state surveillance

Workers logging onto a Russian gig work platform unwittingly trained facial recognition tools used to detain activists in Moscow

24.11.23

Family Court Files

Family Court Files: inside the secretive part of the justice system

After two decades as a court reporter, a journalist is able to report for the first time on decisions that can determine children’s futures, thanks to a family courts transparency pilot

13.06.23

The Enablers

Judges may gain new powers to stop SLAPPs. Are they enough?

The protections only relate to economic crime, meaning other public interest speech on wrongdoing would not be protected by the proposed measures

30.11.22

Local Power

'Unprecedented risk': Thurrock finance chief ignored warnings about catastrophic deals

Sean Clark acted against consultants' advice on investments that have left council with largest budget gap ever reported by a local authority

29.11.22

Local Power

Thurrock council reveals £500m black hole caused by ruinous business deals

Series of catastrophic investments has left Thurrock with biggest deficit ever recorded by UK local authority

19.10.22

Local Power

Thurrock council ordered to disclose details of 'dodgy deals' worth £1bn

Tribunal decision comes after three-year battle by the council to maintain secrecy over its public investments

07.10.22

Big Tobacco

A US farmer was accused of abusing his workers. Then Big Tobacco backed his election

Reynolds American has pumped a thousands of dollars into the campaigns of a local politician with anti-union agenda

25.08.22

Big Tobacco

Pastor offered $250,000 to oppose menthol cigarette ban

Tobacco giant RJ Reynolds attempted to influence the menthol debate via Black-led organisations, which are often in desperate need of more funds

11.08.22

Thurrock council threatened with court action over missing millions

Good Law Project writes to council demanding answers about £138m in missing taxpayers' money

21.07.22

Local Power

Council defends secrecy over investments that could cost taxpayers millions

The Bureau’s requests for information about Thurrock council’s £1bn borrowing and investment strategy were rejected

15.07.22

Local Power

His companies made a deal for £138m of taxpayers’ money. Where has it gone?

A three-year investigation by the Bureau, hampered at virtually every stage by Thurrock council, can reveal apparent gaping holes in investments that threaten to cost the public hundreds of millions o...

25.04.22

Big Tobacco

Paid protesters, free lunches and backroom chats: Inside the menthol lobbying machine

Menthol cigarette makers have tried to stoke fears among Black smokers as part of a campaign against legislation at a federal, state and even city level

20.02.22

Big Tech

Facebook accused by survivors of letting activists incite ethnic massacres with hate and misinformation in Ethiopia

Fact checkers and civil society organisations describe company's virtually 'non-existent' support for their work tackling misinformation

08.12.20

Big Tech

Revealed: Mark Zuckerberg threatened to pull UK investment in secret meeting with Matt Hancock

The Facebook CEO's threat can be revealed by the Bureau after a two-year fight to make notes from the meeting in 2018 public

Facebook failed to block thousands of political ads peddling false information

Thurrock council: Conservatives swept away in elections after overseeing financial disaster

Voter ID laws blocking access to polls for trans+ people

How repressive regimes use facial recognition technology

Online gig work is feeding Russia’s surveillance machine

Paid pennies to train tools of repression: the humans behind Moscow’s state surveillance

Family Court Files: inside the secretive part of the justice system

Judges may gain new powers to stop SLAPPs. Are they enough?

'Unprecedented risk': Thurrock finance chief ignored warnings about catastrophic deals

Thurrock council reveals £500m black hole caused by ruinous business deals

Thurrock council ordered to disclose details of 'dodgy deals' worth £1bn

A US farmer was accused of abusing his workers. Then Big Tobacco backed his election

Pastor offered $250,000 to oppose menthol cigarette ban

Thurrock council threatened with court action over missing millions

Council defends secrecy over investments that could cost taxpayers millions

His companies made a deal for £138m of taxpayers’ money. Where has it gone?

Paid protesters, free lunches and backroom chats: Inside the menthol lobbying machine

Facebook accused by survivors of letting activists incite ethnic massacres with hate and misinformation in Ethiopia

Revealed: Mark Zuckerberg threatened to pull UK investment in secret meeting with Matt Hancock

Corporations

Food and Drugs

Justice

Human Rights

PR and Spin

State Scrutiny

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