Dr Keighley Perkins

#NowReading

🧵 7/7

The key argument is that language policy in New Zealand remains reactive & fragmented. Rather than responding to each issue in isolation, the article calls for a comprehensive, evidence-based national language strategy.

#langsky #languagepolicy

🧵 6/7

At the same time, New Zealand’s linguistic landscape is changing rapidly. Census data shows strong growth in languages spoken by migrant communities, highlighting both the challenges & opportunities of increasing diversity.

#langsky #linguistics #language #languagepolicy

🧵 5/7

Research cited in the article suggests that workplace safety & communication are not determined solely by test scores.

#langsky #linguistics #language #languagepolicy

🧵 4/7

Language requirements are being used simultaneously to address workplace safety, labour market needs & long-term integration, but the rules across visa categories are inconsistent.

#langsky #linguistics #language #languagepolicy

🧵 3/7

The article illustrates this through a recent dispute involving bus drivers & immigration language requirements.

This example reflects a wider policy tension.

#langsky #linguistics #language #languagepolicy

🧵 2/7

The debate highlights a broader issue: New Zealand still lacks a coherent national language policy, despite becoming increasingly multilingual.

#langsky #linguistics #language #languagepolicy

🧵 1/7

The proposed English Language Bill, which would formally designate English as an official language in Aotearoa, has been widely criticised as largely symbolic. In practical terms, it would do little to change how language is used in everyday life.

#langsky #linguistics #languagepolicy

The debate NZ should really be having about language policy The recently introduced English Language Bill will change little, but highlights a deeper issue. NZ still lacks a coherent framework for language policy.

Debates about language policy have returned to the political spotlight in New Zealand, but a new article suggests the discussion raises much deeper questions than a single bill.

🔗 tinyurl.com/4fhp8vd8

🧵👇

#langsky #linguistics #language #languagepolicy

🧵 6/6

The broader takeaway is that technical design choices matter. Solutions that are transparent, narrowly scoped & privacy-preserving can help address serious online harms without undermining the security infrastructure millions of people rely on.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms

🧵 5/6

The technology will also be open-sourced, allowing other VPN providers, ISPs & cloud services to adopt similar measures.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childprotection #childsafeguarding

🧵 4/6

By applying targeted DNS-level controls based on independently verified data, the system prevents access to known criminal websites while maintaining ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy & avoiding deep packet inspection.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childprotection #childsafeguarding

🧵 3/6

This matters because discussions about encryption & safety are often framed as a trade-off: either protect strong privacy protections or weaken them to tackle online harm. The approach taken here challenges that assumption.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childprotection

🧵 2/6

Crucially, the system has been built to operate without compromising user privacy. It works by blocking domains identified in the IWF’s verified dataset, rather than inspecting user traffic or logging browsing activity.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childprotection #childsafeguarding

🧵 1/6

Together they have developed a tool called OpenBoundary, designed to block access to websites known to host child sexual abuse material across ExpressVPN’s network.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childprotection #childsafeguarding

IWF applauds ExpressVPN initiative to tackle dedicated child sexual abuse websites New Internet Watch Foundation Member develops purpose-built tool that effectively balances online privacy and online safety

A new partnership between the @iwf.org.uk & ExpressVPN highlights an important development in the ongoing debate around online safety, encryption and privacy.

🔗 tinyurl.com/msntys9j

🧵👇

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childprotection #childsafeguarding

Understanding the needs of media users in Wales: New survey uncovers striking gaps in public knowledge of devolved powers and party leaders ahead of May’s Senedd election — Researching the impartialit... With just over two months until the Senedd election, a new Cardiff University/YouGov survey has revealed widespread public confusion about the responsibilities of the Welsh Government, with many peopl...

New Cardiff University/YouGov research reveals major gaps in public understanding of devolved powers, Welsh political leaders and the new Senedd voting system - just months before the May 2026 election.

What we found 👇

www.enhancingimpartiality.com/blog/knowled...

🧵 6/6

When audiences depend heavily on UK-wide news sources, accurately identifying which government is responsible for a policy area becomes essential for ensuring voters can make informed decisions.

#Senedd #Seneddelection #devolvedissues

🧵 5/6

When respondents were shown examples of news stories and social media posts, many assumed issues applied across the UK when they related only to England or to devolved governments.

#Senedd #Seneddelection #devolvedissues

🧵 4/6

The study links these knowledge gaps to Wales’s information environment. Many people rely primarily on UK-wide news outlets, where Welsh politics often receives limited coverage & do not always clearly distinguish between devolved & UK-wide policy responsibilities.

#Senedd #Seneddelection

🧵 3/6

Another striking finding concerns the new voting system for the 2026 Senedd election. Only 7% of respondents correctly identified the Closed List system, while a majority said they simply did not know.

#Senedd #Seneddelection #devolvedissues

🧵 2/6

The research also points to low recognition of Welsh political leaders. While Welsh Labour leader Eluned Morgan was recognised by a majority of respondents, awareness of other party leaders was much lower.

#Senedd #Seneddelection #devolvedissues

🧵 1/6

The findings reveal widespread confusion about who is responsible for key policy areas.

Even in higher-profile areas such as health, education & transport, around a third of people were either incorrect or unsure.

#Senedd #Seneddelection #devolvedissues

Understanding the needs of media users in Wales: New survey uncovers striking gaps in public knowledge of devolved powers and party leaders ahead of May’s Senedd election — Researching the impartialit... With just over two months until the Senedd election, a new Cardiff University/YouGov survey has revealed widespread public confusion about the responsibilities of the Welsh Government, with many peopl...

With just over two months until the 2026 Senedd election, new research, based on a representative YouGov survey of people in Wales, highlights significant gaps in public understanding of Welsh politics.

🔗 tinyurl.com/2tb3v4xx

👇🧵

#Senedd #Seneddelection #devolvedissues

State of HATE 2026: It Could Happen Here WELCOME TO OUR State of HATE 2026 report – the most comprehensive and analytical guide to the far right in Britain today.This year’s report carries a stark warning. The far right is bigger, bolder, an...

🚨 OUT TODAY: State of HATE 2026

Our annual deep dive into the British far right.

The groups. The networks. The money. The rhetoric. The public mood.

🔎 Explore the report:
hopenothate.org.uk/state-of-hat...

🧵 6/6

While challenges remain — accuracy varies, & most systems still require surgical implants — the trajectory is clear. AI is helping to unlock forms of communication that were previously inaccessible.

#langsky #AI #linguistics #neuroscience #BCIs

🧵 5/6

Others are reconstructing images & even elements of music from brain scans, offering deeper insight into how the brain processes visual & auditory information.

#langsky #AI #linguistics #neuroscience #BCIs

🧵 4/6

Researchers are also pushing beyond words. New systems can capture intonation, pitch & rhythm, allowing for more expressive speech.

#langsky #AI #linguistics #neuroscience #BCIs

🧵 3/6

What makes this breakthrough possible is machine learning. The algorithms are trained to recognise patterns in neural activity associated with phonemes — the building blocks of language — much like a voice assistant recognises sound patterns.

#langsky #AI #linguistics #neuroscience #BCIs

🧵 2/6

Other trials involving people with ALS have achieved real-time speech decoding at increasing levels of speed & accuracy, moving closer to natural conversation.

#langsky #AI #linguistics #neuroscience #BCIs