Select committee: Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 7
Third report - Encoding values: Putting tech at the heart of UK foreign policy
Published 8 Jul 2022
Paragraph 39
Addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Foreign Affairs Committee Tech and the future of UK foreign policy All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
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 and governance to counter the influence of authoritarian governments. The Government should increase its diplomatic efforts with countries who might otherwise align with models of digital authoritarianism, including by offering trade and investment opportunities in support of technologies that support democratic values and human rights. The Government should consider using funding streams such as the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) to support this work.
From: Foreign Affairs Committee, Third report - Encoding values: Putting tech at the heart of UK foreign policy (HC 170), paragraph 39, 8 July 2022
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 24 October 2022 (deadline 8 September 2022).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government states that it "agrees with the Committee's recommendations for the FCDO" on developing international technology policy, while setting out its approach mainly through the forthcoming International Technology Strategy.
- On the growing influence of private companies, it "accept[s] the Committee's assessment" and says FCDO is expanding its Tech Envoy network to increase engagement with tech companies in different regions.
- On export controls and data, it agrees that data challenges are "a national security liability" but says it does "not believe introducing disproportionate restrictions on data transfers is the right response".
- On FCDO skills, it agrees on the need to "upskill our staff" and commits that FCDO "will also establish a secondment programme with the tech sector", with no date stated.
- On metrics, it "recognise[s] the importance" of them, says performance metrics will sit in an internal implementation plan, and says FCDO "will publish in its annual report and accounts" information on international technology partnerships.