Matthew Linares

Matthew Linares is Technical and Publishing Manager and Editor of digitaLiberties at openDemocracy. He leads on openDemocracy's CopySwap media network project.
He writes and organises around technology and society at: Thought and projects.

The AI Panopticon: How Big Tech and the State are Watching You | With Jim Killock

"My ultimate vision... was to achieve by means of AI and technology, what Jeremy Bentham tried to do with his panopticon." — UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. When the

By Matthew Linares, Jim Killock and In Solidarity Podcast

/ 20 Mar 2026

The AI Panopticon: How Big Tech and the State are Watching You | With Jim Killock

Los bots pueden matar la internet que conocemos

En las últimas semanas, el sitio web de openDemocracy se cayó varias veces por acción de un ejército de bots. No somos el único medio afectado

By Matthew Linares

/ 3 Mar 2026

Iniciativas como AI Labyrinth utilizan “contenido generado por IA para ralentizar, confundir y agotar los recursos de los ras

AI bots may lead to the end of the internet as we know it

In recent weeks, openDemocracy’s website has been repeatedly brought down by an army of bots. We’re not the only ones

By Matthew Linares

/ 20 Feb 2026

AI bots may lead to the end of the internet as we know it

In recent weeks, openDemocracy’s website has been repeatedly brought down by an army of bots. We’re not the only ones

By Matthew Linares

/ 20 Feb 2026

Can we trust the BBC on Israel-Gaza? These media experts don’t think so

As many question BBC’s coverage, three academics tell openDemocracy why they don't think the broadcaster is impartial

By Des Freedman, Matthew Linares, Mike Berry and Dina Matar

/ 17 Jan 2025

Can we trust the BBC on Israel-Gaza? These media experts don’t think so

Online dangers of UK government assault on encryption

The government’s technical ineptitude bodes badly in the data age. Here’s what the Online Safety Act could mean

By Matthew Linares

/ 12 Dec 2023

Online dangers of UK government assault on encryption

Censored cash: Fundraising when the powerful want to stop you

Fundraising can be a weak point for political campaigners, from hemp advocates to free Russian media

By Matthew Linares

/ 4 Oct 2022

Censored cash: Fundraising when the powerful want to stop you

Money systems are being rebuilt – who’s in control?

Organisations like openDemocracy and our reader community can participate in shaping what monetary forms prevail

By Matthew Linares

/ 8 Mar 2021

Money systems are being rebuilt – who’s in control?

Five reasons to worry about ‘spy tech’ firm Palantir handling your NHS data

Since the British government won't tell us, we can only guess what they’re up to…

By Adam Bychawski and Matthew Linares

/ 4 Mar 2021

Five reasons to worry about ‘spy tech’ firm Palantir handling your NHS data

User comments are critical to debate. Should we pay for them?

We are testing payment options that let readers reward authors and commenters. This could bring a new economics of the internet – join the experiment.

By Matthew Linares

/ 18 Feb 2021