State action to regulate social media is unproblematic in principle, but deeply problematic in practice – and the law of unintended consequences applies.
The Government’s tendency to take more responsibility, rather than devolving it to local networks, is at the root of many of the scheme’s problems.
Singapore, Australia and other countries experienced difficulties; the important thing is learning from these and improving matters.
Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom joined the USA in condemning moves to shut down free and fair elections in Hong Kong.
The difficulties the Government has had with Apple and its contact tracing app demonstrates the need to break up power in big tech.
The Health Secretary criticises the tech giant for not cooperating with “democratically elected governments”.
The core of the problem seems to be that both its own system and the Google/Apple alternative pose substantial problems.
The ideas of that decade are still with us, staggering around like a zombie in a garish “Global Hypercolor” t-shirt.
They seem no less relevant this morning than they were yesterday – and are unlikely to be answered this afternoon.
The proposals he will announce this evening can’t simply be taken on trust by voters.
Although NHSX’s approach involves a degree of centralisation, it is important to remember that the identifiers uploaded to the server will remain anonymous.
We need to illustrate how the wonders of today’s world would never have been created by an all-powerful state.
Free enterprise has huge benefits. But more than that, it is intensely democratic, open and diverse – breaking down monopolies, hierarchies and outdated practices.
We were told that we needed the EU to get trade deals agreed that would help us. Now look at what’s happened.
There is no prospect for reform unless Britain votes to leave and forces a new agenda on Europe’s elites.