Heather Burns

We are people of enormous power and influence over the web. I empower digital professionals to use that power wisely. As a tech policy and regulation specialist, I educate the makers of the web on the policy issues which impact their work, inspire communities to participate constructively in the regulatory sphere, and represent the tech sector in the advocacy processes which shape the web.

Safeguarding children’s privacy – the right way

When I retired from open source projects in February, I did so with more than a little curiosity about what new opportunities would come up to fill the void. That’s how life works, after all. Here is the first one.

Read moreSafeguarding children’s privacy – the right way

The biggest threat to children’s privacy

Yesterday I had the misfortune of discovering an appalling violation of children’s privacy rights: a piece of keylogging stalkerware being sold as a “safeguarding” tool for parents, packaged in a hysterical scare story about sexting.

Read moreThe biggest threat to children’s privacy

Conference talk: WordPress’s role in a changing web

I delivered the following talk this morning at WordCamp Vienna 2020. Entitled “WordPress’s role in a changing web”, I wanted to explain how fragile the open web is becoming, share a case study in how to keep it open, and spell out why the time for the WordPress project to act is now.

Read moreConference talk: WordPress’s role in a changing web

The Startup Manifesto

Manifesto cover image

Manifesto cover imageI was delighted to contribute to The Entrepreneurs Network and Coadec’s joint 2019 General Election manifesto, where we set forth our policy ideas for the next government. My contributions, as always, were around internet regulation.

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Because I always look impressive in blockquotes

Last week I was interviewed by Samuel Stolton at EURACTIV for his weekly Digital Brexit bulletin. We discussed where UK tech policy is currently standing as we prepare to leave the UK (whenever that is).

Read moreBecause I always look impressive in blockquotes

About that WordPress autoupdates thing.

There was a call for comments ahead of this weekend’s scheduled panel discussion at WCUS on the autoupdates plan. I’ve been asked to respond to it from my perspective, so I will.

Read moreAbout that WordPress autoupdates thing.

The Online Harms framework just got a lot darker

Something distressing happened this week in the Commons chamber, and the Prime Minister wasn’t even there.

Read moreThe Online Harms framework just got a lot darker

What you need to know about a No Deal Brexit

I didn’t think we’d be here, but here we are. In my capacity as a Policy Fellow at COADEC, the tech policy body for the UK’s tech startups, I have written a plain-English guide for tech and digital businesses to use to prepare for a No Deal Brexit. While the guidance is aimed at startups and scaleups, the advice is applicable to all tech businesses regardless of where they are on their journey.

Read moreWhat you need to know about a No Deal Brexit

So You’re Acquiring a Privacy-Invasive Social Network!

In the midst of the buzz about Automattic acquiring Tumblr, some of us took pains to point out that we literally can’t see anything on Tumblr blogs, nor would we want to – not at the cost of playing Verizon/Oath’s privacy head games.

Read moreSo You’re Acquiring a Privacy-Invasive Social Network!