03 Jan What will the Government do for Tech and Digital in 2025?
Law firm Taylor Wessing researched what the new Labour Government’s Tech and Digital Policy for 2025 and what you can expect to see.
AI legislation for the UK
New AI legislation was announced in the King’s Speech. The aim being to “establish the most appropriate legislation to place requirements on those working to develop the most powerful AI models”. It appears that any proposed legislation would be less comprehensive than the EU’s AI Act. The Secretary of State for DSIT, is to publish the government’s AI Plan by the end of the year.
Tech will be central to improving public services
Many of Labour’s tech-related policy initiatives are focused on using tech to optimise public services, in particular the NHS.
2025 should see the implementation of Labour’s manifesto commitments to use AI to improve the public sector more widely. Also, modernise HMRC to help prevent tax avoidance and to use digital technologies to improve government. The use of AI to transform diagnostic services, and support the development of data-driven public services through the National Data Library.
Online safety will continue to be a focus
Labour has said it will explore further measures to keep everyone safe online, especially when using social media. It is considering banning social media for under-16s and banning phones in schools
Data will be even bigger
With plans to facilitate B2B, B2C and B2G data sharing, the government are considering smart data schemes along the lines of Open Banking. This is to be implemented in other consumer and business sectors, with the aim of enabling innovation and competition.
As well as reform of the UK data protection and ePrivacy regimes, cyber security legislation should also be introduced in 2025. This will bring the UK’s cyber security regime to protect critical infrastructure more in line with EU’s practices.
Data requires processing power and the government intends to remove planning barriers to data centres. This is part of its digital infrastructure plans (which also cover 5G and gigabit broadband roll-out). It has designated data centres as critical national infrastructure. In October the government announced over £25bn of investment in UK data centres since taking office. More investment is likely to continue with more UK data centres built, alongside efforts to curb associated environmental impacts.
Consumers will get enhanced protections
Reforms relating to fake online reviews and action on late payments, and so giving consumers enhanced rights and protections should be introduced in 2025.
The secondary ticketing market is under review. The govenernment will review how dynamic pricing is being used in different sectors across the economy. Whether this brings commercial and consumer benefits or creates challenges for consumers and competition. Also expect to see gambling reforms in 2025, plans have been firmed up to introduce a statutory gambling levy and online slot stake limits.
To read the full article about the Government’s Tech and Digital policy, go here