The UK government has been heavily criticized for the way it is attempting to control the way in which people use the internet -- blocking porn, unfettered surveillance and so on. The snooper's carter in particular has been the subject of much disapproval, and in an apparent bid to avoid further complaints, the government is now crowdsourcing ideas for internet policies.
In an article entitled UK Digital Strategy - the next frontier in our digital revolution (a document replete with language and references akin to an elderly parent talking about some aspect of modern culture they don't quite understand), Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey explains that he is looking for "ideas from public and industry on the UK's digital strategy".
Being government-written, it is rather self-aggrandizing in tone, with the minister trying to take partial credit for the explosion in the digital economy. Vaizey points to the opening up of government-held data sources so they can be used by apps and services, but says "we need to work hard to make sure we continue to take advantage of the benefits digital transformation has to offer, as an economy and as a society".
There's an unpleasant tone of one-upmanship when he says "other countries are hot on our heels but we want the UK to be synonymous with digital". This suggests that the UK is in some way at the forefront of a digital revolution, when in fact it lags behind many other countries in Europe and around the world -- just look to the average broadband connection speeds that are available, for instance.
Good job we have a Digital Economy Minister, eh?
But Vaizey is out of ideas; he doesn't know what to do next. In 2016 he plans to unveil a five-year plan in the form of the Digital Strategy for the UK (his capitalization, not mine), but he needs help. Even he seems to realize that padding out his document with essentially meaningless puff-phrases like "unlocking digital growth" is pointless. The many hundreds of words he ejaculates could be condensed down to "we want to be better, but don’t know what to do".
This is perfectly illustrated by the plan "to deliver superfast broadband to 95 percent of the UK by the end of 2017" -- with no hint of how it will be achieved, or what happens for the remaining 5 percent. Details, mere details! "We're planning to make it a legal right for every home and business in the UK to request fast broadband". Quite why the right to ask for something needs to be enshrined in law is anybody's guess, but asking certainly doesn't mean getting -- surely you know that by now!
Vaizey wants so desperately to sound like he knows what he's talking about and that he knows what’s going on. "It's estimated around 90% of all jobs over the next 20 years will require some level of digital skills", he prophesizes. Estimated by whom? What is a "digital skill"? Who defined this?
The usual scary monsters get a mention too:
As more of our lives are conducted online, the need to keep ourselves safe from criminals and terrorists increases. But we mustn't let these real dangers prevent us from accessing all the benefits of a digital economy. That’s why we're spending £1.9 billion over the next five years through the National Cyber Security Programme.
Wow (sarcasm). An average of under £380 million per annum, which will almost certainly be spent on over-priced contracts from ministers' chum. That sort of money will disappear overnight, and vanish without a trace.
In case you hadn’t guessed by now, the government doesn’t really know what it's doing, particularly when it comes to the world of technology. Vaizey round things off by saying:
Come 2020, undoubtedly the UK landscape will have changed to be firmly in the digital age. But how do you want to shape that? Government has ideas and ambitions but as Tech City UK back in 2010 shows, the ideas are out there. So challenge us - push us to do more. Let's show the rest of the world how it's done.
On the one hand it's somewhat reassuring that people are being asked how we should move forward. On the other, it's disconcerting to hear just how clueless the minister charged with driving things forward is. He's a man from another age. New blood is needed. That's not going to happen any time soon, so let the government know what you think. You're invited to email idea to digitalstrategy@culture.gov.uk.
You've only got until 19 January, so be quick (although it would be nice to think that ideas sent in after this date wold not simply be ignored!).
Photo credit: Maksim Kabakou / Shutterstock
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