Pro-innovation regulation of technologies review: Digital technologies

Overview

This report was presented by Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and to HM Government, as part of the Pro-innovation Regulation of Technologies Review.

Scope of the review

We have engaged extensively across government, with regulators, industry and academic experts and have identified digital technologies and applications which require a distinct regulatory approach. Our advice focuses on specific challenges for artificial intelligence and data, as well as short-term actions to address regulatory barriers for autonomous vehicles, drones, cyber security, and space and satellite technologies. A number of these proposals may require legislation to achieve. Given the cross-cutting nature of digital technologies, recommendations on regulatory changes in green industries and the life sciences will be addressed in subsequent reports.
In this review we offer recommendations in three broad areas:
a) supporting a step-change in the UK’s regulatory approach to AI;
b) facilitating greater industry access to public data to help deliver the government’s public services transformation programme and address pressing societal challenges; and
c) government signalling and leadership to focus regulator efforts on innovation in autonomous vehicles, drones, cyber security, and space and satellite technologies.
This advice complements recent reviews including the government’s Plan for Digital Regulation, Digital Strategy and the report of the independent Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform. Recommendations will support forthcoming policy including through the AI White Paper and the Emerging Technologies Regulation Review.

This content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0

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