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Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats:Covering the constituencies of Twickenham and Richmond Park |
Julian Huppert writes… Digital Policy in a Coalition Government
April 22, 2011 10:45 AM
• [Apr 211] Julian Huppert* writes: HERE'S a $64,000 question: how can we possibly expect decent digital policy to be made when too many of our politicians are technologically illiterate, and when our main political institution itself refuses to change with the times? . . a survey in 2009 found, perhaps surprisingly, that 92 % of MPs use email, while 83 % have a personal website of some kind . . However, in terms of using more dynamic social networking tools such as Twitter and Facebook to interact with constituents and with the public at large, MPs continue to be far behind the curve. Tweetminster, the website which aggregates official MP Twitter accounts, currently has a total of 247 MPs - just 38 % of all MPs - and that does not even account for those who use Twitter as just another way to link to press releases or constituency events.
The overall impression is one of MPs who are constantly transmitting information, but do not open up channels for people to respond. As someone who was already a heavy user of Twitter before I was elected, it has largely been simple for me to continue to canvas opinion and generate debate since last May. The access one can gain to industry experts, academics and researchers is invaluable, as are the many and varied suggestions from all corners of the globe when asked for ideas for Parliamentary questions!
. . There are any number of questions that remain unanswered at a political level. The vexed issue of net neutrality, for instance, is one that has continued to prove difficult for government Ministers to address; Ed Vaizey, the Minister for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries, even gave a speech which was interpreted by one side as signalling open season on traffic management, and by the other as a reiteration of the importance of neutrality. He then issued a textbook Whitehall clarification: that is, one that muddied the waters yet further.
The debate over net neutrality goes to the heart of digital policy. Is it genuinely liberal to allow competition on the basis of existing service providers offering different packages based on traffic management which favours one company over another? Or is it, instead, better to provide what is often called a level playing field - where traffic flows at the same speed, whatever the content and whoever owns and operates the website?
Ultimately, we need to take a liberal view of the internet and digital policy, rather than a conservative, authoritarian and punitive one. The emergency motion on the Digital Economy Act recognised this need and called for a Liberal Democrat policy working group to be set up to look into precisely these issues. As the Chair of that working group, I am confident that we will come forward with considered, serious and liberal proposals for the future of the digital economy.
And, finally, as a Coalition backbencher, I also look forward to bringing those proposals to bear on the future policy of this government over the next four years. As the deficit is gradually tackled, and the economy is brought back towards an even keel, it will be an exciting opportunity to shape the future of society. A genuinely liberal environment for digital businesses, entrepreneurs and creatives will help us to grasp that opportunity.
* Liberal Democrat MP for Cambridge and chairing the party's Information Technology and Intellectual Policy Working Group.
• Julian Huppert writes… Digital Policy in a Coalition Government [Lib Dem Voice Apr 21]
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