How could the UK government’s new digital policy affect the Fediverse? As one of the Fediverse’s leading UK based projects, we thought we’d take a look.
Data on the Fediverse shows that the network is primarily a North American and European project, with a healthy Japanese annex. On server count the UK languishes below Finland and Russia with just 44 servers, compared to 754 in France.
Political instability in France and the recent EU elections will probably matter more to the Fediverse than the ones in the UK. The Netherlands is leading state interest in the Fediverse and funding for many projects comes ultimately from Horizon Europe, Europe’s massive state backed R&D fund.
But, a new, stable government in the UK may create opportunities for change as priorities are reassessed, as opposed to the continuities and chaos in Europe.
The Labour Party’s policy is structured around five core missions that cut across government departments. This means technology & digital policy emerges in support of the missions, rather than as an end in itself.
With massive economic and social issues facing the new government, it is unsurprisingly light on specific tech policy. “AI” is mentioned a few times as an opportunity, but “social media” just once and “internet” is completely absent.
Pulling the threads together, here’s what it means in practice:
Social media
In its one mention, social media is associated with poor mental health in children and an “increase in extreme misogynistic content…driving a culture of violence against women”.* The government pledges to build on the recent Online Safety Act, which had a tortuous journey through Parliament. The framing of this as an issue of health and opportunity rather than industry and economy is interesting.
High tech for high growth
The government’s laser focus on economic growth spotlights shiny, high tech sectors like AI & life sciences. Planning reform explicitly will accelerate construction of labs and data centres, alongside investment in core infrastructure like 5G.
New regulator
A new Regulatory Innovation Office will keep pace with the ever changing tech sector. Again, growth is the priority with a pledge to accelerate development and approval timelines. As it is 2024 the Office’s focus will be on AI and the government promises to shepherd “the safe development and use of AI models”, starting with banning NSFW deep fakes.**
Levelling playing field on tax
Tax inequalities between companies that do business online vs. the real world, and Big Tech’s notorious tax arrangements are cited as issues that need addressing.
Personnel
All this will fall under the remit of Peter Kyle, who is widely regarded as capable and has a background in charity.
For social media, Sir Chris Bryant MP, who memorably clashed with Boris Johnson as chair the Committee for Standards, is a junior minister providing a bridge between DSIT and the Department for Media, Culture and Sport.
What can we expect?
Taken together, the government vibe is a mix of optimism for the economic potential of the tech sector but an awareness of the negative impacts it can bring if unrestrained.
The mission frameworks indicate a holistically minded approach to government, rather than a set of policy silos. Other priorities such as tackling violence against women & girls, which has a high profile champion in the Home Office, cyber security and democratic reform could end up having big impacts on the shape of cyberspace in the UK.
This moment of change offers a new opportunity. The Fediverse could find an open ear if it can tap into the new government’s more sceptical view of Big Tech and social media, and present itself as a possible alternative. Getting into the conversation early and initiating dialogue about the open social web as the Regulatory Innovation Office is being built ought to be a key objective of public advocacy in the UK.
The full 2024 manifesto of the UK Labour Party can be found here.
*p. 35
**p. 103