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.

Practical approaches for people power in data and AI governance

Tim Davies ▪ Oct 22, 2023

Challenge 9 of the Open Gov Challenge calls for a focus on digital governance: strengthening transparency and public oversight of AI and data protection frameworks.

It is abundantly clear that, as uses of data and AI continue to grow in power - both in the public and private sectors - that protecting and extending democratic control over these technologies requires a concerted effort.

People's Panel on AI Progress Update

Tim Davies ▪ Oct 21, 2023

Join us for a 30 minute briefing on the People’s Panel on Friday 29th October at 09:30am and/or register for daily updates in Summit week

One month ago, after listening to an episode of the Facilitating Public Deliberation podcast on Citizen’s Juries and the Oregon Citizens Initiative Review I put together and shared around a rough concept note to propose a deliberative citizen’s review of the upcoming AI Safety Summit and AI Fringe. The idea is simple: if the impacts of AI are going to be felt by everyone, then we need more than just industry, government or elite institutional voices to be shaping the debate.

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