LONDON—In response to the King’s Speech, which outlines UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s legislative agenda under the new Labour government, the Center for Data Innovation released a statement from Policy Analysts Ayesha Bhatti and Justyna Lisinska.
"The announcements made during the King's Speech today are largely in tune with the new Labour government's manifesto, and many are welcome developments for the UK’s tech sector, but they fall short of striking the right balance on innovation."
Repeated mentions of growth were highlighted as positive for the UK technology sector, with promises of greater investment in industry, skills, and new technologies. The introduction of measures to reform and build on pension investments was also noted as a promising sign for the future of the UK's technology ecosystem.
The Digital Information and Smart Data Bill aims to boost the UK’s data infrastructure and promote data sharing. This bill would introduce reforms to UK data protection that were not completed by the previous government, making it easier to comply with data protection obligations. Additionally, promises of a new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill were seen as logical following cyber-attacks on the National Health Service and Ministry of Defence. However, caution was advised until more details are released due to concerns about increased regulatory powers.
The absence of a fully-fledged AI bill was addressed with concern. "The commitment to introduce legislation that would place requirements on those developing the most powerful artificial intelligence (AI) models is troubling," stated Bhatti and Lisinska. They emphasized that no country has yet achieved a balanced legislative approach to AI regulation that ensures safe and responsible AI while maintaining a pro-innovation outlook.
To achieve sustainable growth inclusive of new technologies, it was suggested that Labour should recognize companies developing frontier AI's value in bringing investment and opportunity to UK businesses and citizens. Restrictive legislation could discourage investment in AI within the UK.
It was noted that such measures were mentioned immediately after announcing an Employment Rights Bill, indicating that addressing fears about AI as a threat to jobs might be prioritized over using AI to create better jobs in future legislation.
Overall, while some key manifesto priorities such as growth, data, and cyber plans align with Labour's vision outlined in the King's Speech, it did not fully deliver on pre-election ambitions like a standalone bill on AI or an outright ban on sexually explicit deepfakes. The statement concluded by advising caution in pursuing legislative actions for its digital agenda: "The new government should tread carefully... ensuring it moves away from the EU approach to technology regulation."
Contact: Nicole Hinojosa
