Connected by data

Data Policy Digest

Gavin Freeguard ▪ Dec 19, 2023

Hello, and welcome to our tenth Data Policy Digest, bringing you all the latest data and AI policy developments. I don’t know about you, but after a long (if fun and interesting) year, I feel like I’m stumbling towards the finishing line - though with a steeplechase-sized hurdle, in the form of the Lords debating DPDIB today, now firmly in view.

This will be the last Digest of 2023 - thanks for reading this year, and I hope it’s been useful. My new year’s resolutions are to make it shorter and more frequent. If you want to give a friend the gift of data this Christmas, why not encourage them to subscribe?

Have a wonderful festive season and see you in 2024! (Unless you decide you would like to follow me live-tweeting the DPDIB debate…)

Building trust through civil engagement in data and AI: some lessons from Brazil

Maria Luciano ▪ Dec 14, 2023

With the UK’s Data Protection and Digital Information Bill being back in the Commons, and our concerns regarding how it misses an opportunity to build public trust in technology and give people and communities a powerful say in the matter, we have been looking to learn from other countries on ways to address these issues.

Data Protection and Digital Information Bill: what happened at Commons Report Stage?

Gavin Freeguard ▪ Dec 12, 2023

On Wednesday 29 November, the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill came back to the House of Commons for report stage and Third Reading. (You can also watch the video, or catch up on live tweeting from the Open Rights Group.) Report stage is where MPs vote on the amendments made during committee stage (back in May) – and on the 150+ pages of (mainly government) amendments that appeared a few days before the debate on the 29th. A vote on Third Reading sends the Bill to the Lords. Here’s what happened, seen through the various votes (or divisions) on the Bill.

People's Panel on AI Bulletin 6

Tim Davies ▪ Nov 17, 2023

This is a brief follow-up bulletin from the People’s Panel on AI, sharing the full summary findings report by panel facilitators Hopkins Van Mil, as well updates on next steps for the People’s Panel. You can find earlier bulletins from the People’s Panel here and in case you missed them the AI Summit week rush, the Panel’s recommendations are in Bulletin 5.

Data Policy Digest

Gavin Freeguard ▪ Nov 16, 2023

Hello, and welcome to our ninth Data Policy Digest, bringing you all the latest data and AI policy developments. We have a wrap up of the AI Summit - and fully endorse this sentiment - but there’s also a lot about to happen, Bills-wise.

If there’s something we’ve missed, something you’re up to that you’d like us to include next time or you have any thoughts on how useful the Digest is or could be, please get in touch via gavin@connectedbydata.org. We’re on Twitter @ConnectedByData and @DataReform. You can also catch up on Digest #1, Digest #2, Digest #3, Digest #4, Digest #5, Digest #6, Digest #7 and Digest #8.

People's Panel on AI Bulletin 5 - Recommendations and Review

Tim Davies ▪ Nov 3, 2023

This is the fifth People’s Panel on AI Bulletin, and our last daily update - covering the Panel’s presentation event. You can find earlier bulletins from the week here. Look out for one more update soon with the final report, and please do take a few minutes to provide your feedback through the anonymous evaluation survey.

People's Panel on AI Bulletin 4

Tim Davies ▪ Nov 2, 2023

This is the fourth bulletin from the People’s Panel on AI, sharing observations and insights from Connected by Data as an observer. You can find earlier bulletins here.

Today, the panel focus turned from exploring AI, to thinking about the ways industry, academia, government and civil society can respond.

People's Panel on AI Bulletin 3

Tim Davies ▪ Nov 1, 2023

This is the third bulletin from the People’s Panel on AI, sharing observations and insights from Connected by Data as an observer. You can find earlier bulletins here.

Today, as well as joining plenary sessions at the AI Fringe, the People’s Panel members have been engaged in lots of small-group work: from hands-on learning with generative AI tools, to one-to-one conversations with scientists at the Hopes and Fears lab.

People's Panel on AI Bulletin 2

Tim Davies ▪ Oct 31, 2023

This is the second People’s Panel on AI Bulletin. You can find earlier bulletins here. In this update, reflections from our first half-day on:

Building public trust: communication campaigns, or open conversation?
Making sense of AI: early questions from the panel
Dealing with data: questions on privacy protection and model training.

But first, a quick summary of the day.

AI Summit is dominated by Big Tech and a “missed opportunity”, civil society organisations tell Prime Minister

Adam Cantwell-Corn ▪ Oct 30, 2023

More than 100 UK and international organisations, experts and campaigners sign open letter to Rishi Sunak
Groups warn that the “communities and workers most affected by AI have been marginalised by the Summit.”
“Closed door event” is dominated by Big Tech and overly focused on speculative risks instead of AI threats “in the here and now”- PM told
Signatories to letter include leading human rights organisations, trade union bodies, tech orgs, leading academics and experts on AI

People's Panel on AI Bulletin 1

Tim Davies ▪ Oct 27, 2023

On Wednesday, the 12 members of the People’s Panel on AI met on Zoom for the first time, in a two-hour introduction and context-setting session. Next week they’ll spend four days in London engaging with the AI Fringe, to engage with experts, and follow updates from the AI Safety Summit.

Earlier, we held a briefing session to provide more background about the panel. You can find the recording here.

From Tuesday -> Friday next week we aim to share a daily bulletin with you - providing insights, updates and questions coming from panel deliberations.

Data Policy Digest

Gavin Freeguard ▪ Oct 27, 2023

Hello, and welcome to our eighth Data Policy Digest, bringing you all the latest data and AI policy developments.

If there’s something we’ve missed, something you’re up to that you’d like us to include next time or you have any thoughts on how useful the Digest is or could be, please get in touch via gavin@connectedbydata.org. We’re on Twitter @ConnectedByData and @DataReform. You can also catch up on Digest #1, Digest #2, Digest #3, Digest #4, Digest #5, Digest #6 and Digest #7.

Weeknotes are a combination of updates and personal reflection written on a routine basis