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Select Committee · Foreign Affairs Committee

Tech and the future of UK foreign policy

Status: Closed Opened: 8 Mar 2021 Closed: 24 Oct 2022 8 recommendations 2 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry will focus on how the FCDO should be supporting the UK’s response to the opportunities and challenges presented by new and emerging technologies, including through new forms of diplomatic engagement and building globally shared understandings of standards, rules and norms for the responsible development and use of new technologies. Read the call for … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third report - Encoding values: Putting tech at the heart o… HC 170 8 Jul 2022 10 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

5 items
1 Recommendation Third report - Encoding values: Putting… Accepted

The growing influence of private companies in global technology governance, and on the norms and...

The growing influence of private companies in global technology governance, and on the norms and rules that shape our societies, has profound implications for the future role and identity of the nation-state. The Government has yet to demonstrate that it has seriously considered its role and influence within this new … Read more

Government response AI summary
The Government accepts the need to engage with non-government entities and recognises the important role that tech companies play in our society. The FCDO will engage with private companies and relevant multinational bodies and Minister Norman is the FCDO Minister responsible for Technology.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
4 Recommendation Third report - Encoding values: Putting… Accepted

We recommend that the FCDO prioritises engaging with product teams and technologists, rather than only...

We recommend that the FCDO prioritises engaging with product teams and technologists, rather than only policy teams, to gain a clearer understanding of the activities of companies that are developing and implementing new technologies, as well as helping to influence the activities of these companies. The Department will need to … Read more

Government response AI summary
The FCDO will engage further with the technology sector, upskill staff, and leverage expertise from other departments like DCMS. It will expand its Tech Envoy network in priority locations to engage with companies and establish a secondment programme with the tech sector.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
5 Recommendation Third report - Encoding values: Putting… Accepted

The UK’s position on technology standards vis-à-vis the US and EU remains unclear and the...

The UK’s position on technology standards vis-à-vis the US and EU remains unclear and the Government’s stance on many elements of the Transatlantic Trade and Technology Partnership remain ambiguous. The UK therefore risks becoming Encoding values: Putting tech at the heart of UK foreign policy 31 a rule-taker rather than … Read more

Government response AI summary
The UK Government has articulated its position on data protection, privacy, and data sharing through the National Data Strategy and the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill. The International Technology Strategy will be a key document which builds on existing strategies and policy by setting …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
7 Recommendation Third report - Encoding values: Putting… Accepted

There is a strong case for the Government to establish deeper partnerships with “digital deciders”...

There is a strong case for the Government to establish deeper partnerships with “digital deciders” such as India, Singapore and Brazil. There is scope for the FCDO to have more dialogue with these countries and to form partnerships around the value of an open and global approach to tech rules … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that partnerships and collaborations are central to their approach, and they will continue to seek new partnerships that foster cooperation and greater alignment with our values. They highlight existing cyber dialogues and capacity building efforts with various countries, including India, Singapore, and …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
8 Conclusion Third report - Encoding values: Putting… Accepted

The integration of technology within UK foreign policy should reflect the intrinsic links between the...

The integration of technology within UK foreign policy should reflect the intrinsic links between the UK’s domestic capabilities and its global influence. The Government’s recent measures to encourage growth and support start-ups within the UK technology sector are welcome, but they have been undermined by the Government’s previous reticence to … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states it is clear on intent to grow the UK’s Science and Technology ecosystem and describes the National Security and Investment Act (NSI) which allows the government to identify and intervene in acquisitions.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
1 Mar 2022 Chris Jones · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Professor Charlotte Watts · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Rt Hon Amanda Milling View ↗
11 Jan 2022 Balthasar Staehelin · International Committee of the Red Cross, John Hughes · Twitter, Miranda Sissons · Meta, Sarah Spencer · International Committee of the Red Cross View ↗
2 Nov 2021 David Sullivan · Digital Trust & Safety Partnership, Jason Pielemeier · Global Network Initiative, Joe Westby · Amnesty International, Katie O'Donovan · Google UK View ↗
7 Sep 2021 Anne-Marie Engtoft Larsen · Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark, Martijn Rasser · Center for a New American Security (CNAS), Tobias Feakin · Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ulrike Franke · European Council on Foreign Relations View ↗
29 Jun 2021 Ashish Jaiman · Microsoft, Harriet Moynihan · Chatham House, Hugh Milward · Microsoft, Ria Thomas · Polynia Advisory, Toomas Ilves View ↗

Who gave evidence

20 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Anne-Marie Engtoft Larsen · Tech Ambassador Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark 1
Ashish Jaiman · Director of Technology Operations Microsoft 1
Balthasar Staehelin · Director for Digital Transformation and Data International Committee of the Red Cross 1
Chris Jones · Director, Delivery and Analysis Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office 1
David Sullivan · Executive Director Digital Trust & Safety Partnership 1
Harriet Moynihan · Senior Research Fellow at the International Law P… Chatham House 1
Hugh Milward · UK Vice President of Corporate Affairs Microsoft 1
Jason Pielemeier · Deputy Director Global Network Initiative 1
Joe Westby · Deputy Director, Amnesty Tech Amnesty International 1
John Hughes · Global Head of Geopolitical and Economic Public P… Twitter 1
Katie O'Donovan · Public Policy Manager Google UK 1
Martijn Rasser · Director, Technology and National Security Program Center for a New American Security (CNAS) 1
Miranda Sissons · Global Director of Human Rights Meta 1
Professor Charlotte Watts · Chief Scientific Adviser and Director for Researc… Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office 1
Ria Thomas · Managing Director Polynia Advisory 1
Rt Hon Amanda Milling — 1
Sarah Spencer · Digital Specialist Consultant and Digital Threats… International Committee of the Red Cross 1
Tobias Feakin · Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technol… Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 1
Toomas Ilves — 1
Ulrike Franke · Senior Policy Fellow European Council on Foreign Relations 1

Correspondence

3 letters
DateDirectionTitle
6 Jul 2022 — Correspondence from the Tech Envoy & HM Consul General to San Francisco on his …
24 Nov 2021 To cttee Letter from Google following their appearance before the Committee on 2 Novembe…
28 Jul 2021 — Correspondence from Microsoft following up on their appearance before the Commi…