Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 34
We cannot meaningfully influence the global order without the cooperation and support of our partners.
Recommendation
We cannot meaningfully influence the global order without the cooperation and support of our partners. While there is an opportunity for the UK to exercise thought leadership, we cannot go it alone and should not seek to carve out a “fourth way” for the UK in global technology governance. We recommend that the FCDO leverages its diplomatic influence and wider relationships to promote mutual understanding among the world’s different regulatory blocs, to facilitate a cohesive international approach to technology governance, based on the shared values of democracy, openness and human rights.
Government Response Summary
The UK will leverage its position and strengths in technology to ensure that the global technology ecosystem aligns with our values and shape global decisions. The International Technology Strategy makes having a values-based approach to technology governance and regulation a strategic priority.
Paragraph Reference:
34
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
6.1 The UK is well placed to be an international influencer, we are home to four of the world’s top ten universities, ranked fourth in the Global Innovation Index, have highest in Europe for tech unicorns and recently surpassed a valuation of $1 trillion for our technology sector, the third highest in the world. Leveraging our position and strengths in technology, we will ensure that the global technology ecosystem aligns with our values and using our strategic advantage to shape global decisions. We want to be at the forefront of shaping international thinking around technological innovation, contributing to the development of technical standards that promote interoperability and supporting open trade. 6.2 The International Technology Strategy makes having a values—based approach to technology governance and regulation a strategic priority. Our values and principles— based approach will allow us to shape the future of technology and global governance in a way that drives global progress, delivers societal benefits and security, and enables UK businesses to innovate and prosper. 6.3 We agree that the UK should not be seeking to carve out a ‘fourth way’ in global technology governance. The Government is instead proactively engaging our partners to build coalitions that promote our interests and values internationally while protecting our ability to act domestically. In line with the NCS, we will build on existing engagement to take a more progressive and proactive approach to shaping the frameworks that govern cyberspace and global technology to promote global economic growth and security, with the UK and our partners having greater influence over the development and implementation of international governance and standards frameworks. 6.4 We will play an active and coherent role across international fora, alongside allies including those in industry and academia. We will look to increase the UK’s role in strategic, technology-focussed, multilateral organisations such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Global Partnership on AI (GPAI). We will continue to build on the success of our 2021 G7 Presidency and the UK-hosted Future Tech Forum, and will continue to work with partners to raise awareness on the importance of standards, for example by working with the British Standards Institution in partner countries, and with partners in smaller groupings that contribute to wider global initiatives. 6.5 The UK is also leading, with Estonia, a Tech for Democracy Cohort as part of the US Summit for Democracy’s Year of Action. The Cohort has brought a broad range of countries, civil society organisations and tech companies together to look at how technology can strengthen democracy. The Cohort is focussed on three main strands; combating politically motivated Internet shutdowns and restrictions; the role of new technology in supporting democracy; and how technology can support good governance.