The Labour Party has pledged to put technology at the heart of its missions and unblock tech barriers to restart the engine of the UK economy, including toughening AI regulations and creating a national data library, if it forms the next Government after the election.
While the official launch of the party’s manifesto will take place later today, shadow science, innovation, and technology secretary Peter Kyle has already laid out its plans, telling an audience at London Tech Week on Wednesday: “Britain is uniquely positioned to benefit from new technologies like AI.”
As part of its plans, Labour wants to overhaul planning policies to enable the construction of more data centres, particularly on the green belt, bypassing local council opposition.
By reclassifying data centres as nationally significant infrastructure projects, Labour plans to tackle the current shortage and meet the growing demand for cloud computing and AI, amid claims that under the Conservatives, “the planning system has become a handbrake on businesses”.
In addition to easing planning restrictions, Labour plans to reform procurement rules, making it easier for start-ups to bid for government contracts, with Kyle claiming that SMEs have been locked out of the procurement system by micromanagement and red tape.
While there has been no word on whether Labour would ressurect the Data Protection & Digital Information Bill, it does plan to launch a Regulatory Innovation Office, designed to improve accountability and promote cross-sector innovation in regulation. In sharp contrast to the current Government, it also plans to make the voluntary AI safety rules legally binding, putting them on a “statutory footing”.
Kyle explained: “We would legislate to require the frontier AI labs to release their safety data. That’s to make sure we legislate the standards that are already in the voluntary code.
“We don’t seek to disrupt the voluntary code, but we will certainly will make sure the standards are maintained and that any new entrants into the market will know that there’s a legislative foundation that must be adhered to.”
Kyle also revealed plans for a “national data library” to centralise existing government research programmes, enhancing scientists’ and academics’ access to public sector data.
The idea, first hatched by think tank Onward, has been backed by a number of business groups and MPs. A recent report by Onward said a British data libarary would allow startups and scientists to easily access the data needed to build AI models, attracting talent and investment to Britain.
Late last month, industry body the DMA called on the next administration to make data, technology and AI the foundation for innovation, growth, and improved productivity in the UK economy.
However, the Conservative Party’s manifesto – published earlier this week – is light on detail. All it says is that “securing the UK’s position as a world leader in innovation artificial intelligence will accelerate human progress in the 21st century, just as the steam engine and electricity did in the 19th century”.
It maintains that the UK is “well positioned to spearhead this transformation and is already leading global work on AI safety”.
Related stories
Tories ditch new data reforms Bill in election manifesto
DMA calls on main parties to prioritise data, tech and AI
Cheers and boos as data reforms Bill ends up in the bin
Data reforms Bill ‘doomed’ as General Election is called
Petition against DWP spying in Data Bill nears 200,000
AI concerns fuel call for more changes to data reforms
Regulator wades into row over ‘data snooping’ by DWP
Data reforms ‘make it harder for people to get justice’
Lords back on track in double boost for data reforms
Government forced to get extension on data reforms Bill
That was then, this is now… for data protection reforms
