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David Mascord

@davidmascord

Freelance trainer in journalism, media law, business writing. Part-time university lecturer in law for journalists, media & communications. I live in the New Forest, Hampshire, UK.

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Latest posts by David Mascord @davidmascord

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A tax barrister sued me personally for Β£8m for libel after we linked him to a tax avoidance scheme.

Today the High Court struck out the claim, granted summary judgment, and ruled it was a SLAPP. The judgment is highly critical.

11.03.2026 12:58 πŸ‘ 1705 πŸ” 322 πŸ’¬ 72 πŸ“Œ 26
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How to use FOI to develop good journalism habits Freedom of Information (FOI) requests are not only one of the best ways to get original and exclusive stories that set your reporting apart β€” they’re also a good way to develop core journalis…

Freedom of Information requests are not only one of the best ways to get original and exclusive stories that set your reporting apart β€” they’re also a good way to develop core journalism habits like curiosity, scepticism, and creativity. Here’s how:

onlinejournalismblog.com/2026/03/02/h...

02.03.2026 20:01 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Magnificent. Make sure you click on the "1 more reply" link to make sure you read the whole thread. You will not regret it.

10.01.2026 10:50 πŸ‘ 193 πŸ” 62 πŸ’¬ 6 πŸ“Œ 2
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Copyright and artificial intelligence statement of progress under Section 137 Data (Use and Access) Act

Full government report: www.gov.uk/government/p...

15.12.2025 13:05 πŸ‘ 83 πŸ” 13 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

Headline idea:
β€˜No Sweat’ says Andrew As He Drops Royal Titles.

18.10.2025 06:56 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Screenshot of an Express article; it says: Robert Jenrick lists 30 'activist judges' he vows to axe in war on UK's open border

In a bold move, Robert Jenrick is set to unveil a controversial plan targeting what he calls 'activist' judges, at the Conservative Party conference.

Screenshot of an Express article; it says: Robert Jenrick lists 30 'activist judges' he vows to axe in war on UK's open border In a bold move, Robert Jenrick is set to unveil a controversial plan targeting what he calls 'activist' judges, at the Conservative Party conference.

I say this with the bluntness it requires: they will get people murdered if this continues. This is not just populism anymore either: it’s completely unhinged and a deliberate choice that does endanger lives. I am not saying this lightly at all.

07.10.2025 07:19 πŸ‘ 960 πŸ” 428 πŸ’¬ 52 πŸ“Œ 38

I’ve never felt so disheartened. My small business means everything to me and I want to keep going.
Please have a look at my website. Buy things, commission me or repost.
www.gailmyerscough.co.uk
Thank you.

08.09.2025 08:18 πŸ‘ 242 πŸ” 297 πŸ’¬ 20 πŸ“Œ 39

They’ve missed out on the opportunity to cast Gavin & Stacey actor Larry Lamb as Larry Lamb.

21.08.2025 10:52 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Wired and Business Insider remove 'AI-written' freelance articles Wired and Business Insider have removed freelance articles over concerns they were written by AI under a fake name.

Wired and Business Insider have removed features written by a freelance journalist after concerns they are likely AI-generated.

Freedom of expression non-profit Index on Censorship is also in the process of taking down a magazine article by the same author pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/d...

21.08.2025 09:36 πŸ‘ 19 πŸ” 11 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 3
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Dozens more Afghan relocation data breaches uncovered by BBC The MoD admits 49 data breaches at the unit handling applications from Afghans seeking safety in the UK.

Dozens more Afghan relocation data breaches uncovered by BBC

21.08.2025 05:54 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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How one crazy idea became an epic town-wide book festival A wild idea in a pandemic sparked a nomadic fringe book festival – this time in a town without a bookshop

No rules. No big sponsors.
Just a wild idea, a lot of grit, and a love of books.

This is how a festival was born – and it starts Saturday...

Jackie Carreira has the story

08.08.2025 06:13 πŸ‘ 16 πŸ” 9 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

The Supreme Court has quashed the conviction of Tom Hayes for conspiracy to defraud. He was accused of conspiring to manipulate the LIBOR, key benchmark interest rates used in financial markets. In 2015, he was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment, later reduced to 11 years on appeal.

23.07.2025 09:14 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
Daily Star:
World to come to an end with
'Big Crunch' and 'humans will burn in cosmic hell'.

Daily Star: World to come to an end with 'Big Crunch' and 'humans will burn in cosmic hell'.

At last, some good news.

22.07.2025 15:51 πŸ‘ 1840 πŸ” 208 πŸ’¬ 139 πŸ“Œ 36
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BBC threatens AI firm with legal action over unauthorised content use It is first time that the BBC has taken such action regarding alleged scraping of its content for AI.

BBC threatens legal action against AI company
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

20.06.2025 14:03 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Could a dead person be elected to #Parliament?
Yes - or at least this was the case in May 1728, when Sidney Wortley Montagu was declared the winning candidate in the disputed 1727 general election return for Peterborough, even though he had died six months earlier.
#HistParl

19.06.2025 10:27 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 7 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 2
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17.06.2025 14:54 πŸ‘ 418 πŸ” 174 πŸ’¬ 18 πŸ“Œ 48

American archivists: y'all need to up your social media game! πŸ—ƒοΈ

10.06.2025 13:01 πŸ‘ 28 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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UK ministers delay AI regulation amid plans for more β€˜comprehensive’ bill Law expected to include safety and copyright issues but delay likely to raise concerns about ongoing lack of regulation Proposals to regulate artificial intelligence have been delayed by at least a year as UK ministers plan a bumper bill to regulate the technology and its use of copyrighted material. Peter Kyle, the technology secretary, intends to introduce a β€œcomprehensive” AI bill in the next parliamentary session to address concerns about issues including safety and copyright. Continue reading...

UK ministers delay AI regulation amid plans for more β€˜comprehensive’ bill

07.06.2025 18:06 πŸ‘ 30 πŸ” 9 πŸ’¬ 5 πŸ“Œ 3
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MI5 misled watchdog about neo-Nazi spy case after lying in court The regulator rewrote a draft report which had contradicted MI5’s false evidence, the BBC can reveal.

β€œThe revelation means that MI5 has effectively given false evidence in this case to every organisation or court which is supposed to have access to the Security Service's secrets and is responsible for holding it to account” www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

07.06.2025 07:43 πŸ‘ 107 πŸ” 25 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 3
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This is still not an AI case Look, it is an AI case, and I might come back to that part, but for now I think we need to focus on the bigger β€˜not-AI’ picture. Not least because saying AI is not reliable and one shou…

Ayinde, quick summary of the non AI bits … lawyerwatch.wordpress.com/2025/06/06/t...

06.06.2025 16:29 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
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Telegraph withdraws banker school fees story after being deceived by source Fake Telegraph article about rich banker struggling to afford school fees was result of deception by a source.

Exclusive: Telegraph was deceived by source in case of "faked" story about Β£345k per year banking couple who had to cut down on Waitrose shops to fund school fees pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/n...

07.06.2025 06:39 πŸ‘ 91 πŸ” 33 πŸ’¬ 24 πŸ“Œ 30
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Freedom of Information in the news – week ending 30/8/2024 – #FOIFriday - Words + Numbers Sending an Freedom of Information request is great. Not having to send one because the information you want is already available is also great. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has put together some tips for requesters for searching for the information they want before they send a request - to hopefully save them a 20

Sending an #FOI is great.

Not having to send one because the info is already available. Also great.

The ICO has some tips for finding what you want. If not, you could send a request like these:

05.06.2025 09:17 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Why Ofcom wants to plug a legal loophole around politicians presenting news What do audiences really think about impartiality in news presenting?

theconversation.com/why-ofcom-wa...

23.05.2025 16:14 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Meta lawsuit poses first big test of AI copyright battle Tech giant faces lawsuit from US authors over use of material from shadow library LibGen

Meta lawsuit poses first big test of AI copyright battle

https://www.ft.com/content/b1f4965f-6ea6-4afd-968b-76bb2f7acfc4

01.05.2025 04:00 πŸ‘ 35 πŸ” 17 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

The next few days are going to be tough as we wait to find out the results of the local elections.

I’m super proud of the dedicated team at @hopenothate.org.uk who expose candidates, mobilise our supporters and speak directly to voters.

Give them a follow: go.bsky.app/Eh5ysHL

30.04.2025 17:27 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Ministers have drawn up concessions on copyright changes in an attempt to appease artists and creators before a crucial vote in parliament next week, the Guardian has learned.

The government will promise to carry out an economic impact assessment of its proposed copyright changes and to publish reports on issues including transparency, licensing and access to data for AI developers.

The concessions are designed to mollify concerns in parliament and in creative industries about the government’s proposed shake-up of copyright rules.

Ministers have drawn up concessions on copyright changes in an attempt to appease artists and creators before a crucial vote in parliament next week, the Guardian has learned. The government will promise to carry out an economic impact assessment of its proposed copyright changes and to publish reports on issues including transparency, licensing and access to data for AI developers. The concessions are designed to mollify concerns in parliament and in creative industries about the government’s proposed shake-up of copyright rules.

UK ministers to amend data bill amid artists' concerns over AI and copyright theguardian.com/music/2025/a...

Bill bills.parliament.uk/bills/3825/p...

Report stage is next week. These amendments don't sound consequential, and are unlikely to shut anybody up, but Β―\_(ツ)_/Β―

#DUABill #genAI #IPlaw

30.04.2025 19:17 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
linkedin post screenshot:

Ken Cheng - I want to connect with you, emotionally)

Al will never be able to write like me. Why? Because | am now inserting random sentences into every post to throw off their language learning models. Any Al emulating me will radiator freak yellow horse spout nonsense. 1 wiite all my emails, That's Not My Baby and reports like this to protect my data waffle iron 40% off. 1 suggest all writers and artists do the same Strawberry mango Forklift. The robot nerds will never get the better of Ken Hey can | have whipped cream please? Cheng. We can tuna fish tango foxtrot defeat Al. We just have to talk like this. All. The. Time. Piss on carpet

linkedin post screenshot: Ken Cheng - I want to connect with you, emotionally) Al will never be able to write like me. Why? Because | am now inserting random sentences into every post to throw off their language learning models. Any Al emulating me will radiator freak yellow horse spout nonsense. 1 wiite all my emails, That's Not My Baby and reports like this to protect my data waffle iron 40% off. 1 suggest all writers and artists do the same Strawberry mango Forklift. The robot nerds will never get the better of Ken Hey can | have whipped cream please? Cheng. We can tuna fish tango foxtrot defeat Al. We just have to talk like this. All. The. Time. Piss on carpet

unfollowing everyone on linkedin except this guy

23.04.2025 06:35 πŸ‘ 45353 πŸ” 11528 πŸ’¬ 700 πŸ“Œ 968
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β€˜Immediate red flags’: questions raised over β€˜expert’ much quoted in UK press News outlets pull articles featuring β€˜psychologist and sex adviser’ Barbara Santini amid doubts over her credentials

NEW: She’s one of the most widely quoted psychologists, but her pronouncements have begun disappearing from the internet.

Could her persona be an elaborate hoax?

As AI progresses, journalists face a β€œwake up call” over checking their sources.

This story follows top @pressgazette.co.uk work:

19.04.2025 08:23 πŸ‘ 101 πŸ” 39 πŸ’¬ 13 πŸ“Œ 15
A light blue diagram depicting the sea, with the water's surface at the top, and just below it is an outline of the Mary Rose, with the depth (12m, 40ft or 6.7 fathoms). There is a line showing the seabed, which takes a rapid dive into the vertical...

A light blue diagram depicting the sea, with the water's surface at the top, and just below it is an outline of the Mary Rose, with the depth (12m, 40ft or 6.7 fathoms). There is a line showing the seabed, which takes a rapid dive into the vertical...

On the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we thought we'd answer a question that's often asked,

"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"

Allow our scaled diagram to explain...

15.04.2025 08:21 πŸ‘ 13264 πŸ” 5390 πŸ’¬ 217 πŸ“Œ 1331