Asking Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey why he doesn't talk about our digital life more | #tech
Thanks to Test Valley Lib Dems for having Only Connect’s “Man of the Year 2020” to Zoom. He is indeed a really nice guy (but then Lib Dems always are right). And for pushing my question:
You’re saying a lot about responding to Covid changes, but why aren’t you saying more about the single biggest change i.e. digital transformation, e.g. social media regulation (on care theme), promoting start-ups (on growth).
I took the liberty of filming his 4m response, happy to share privately.
Here’s my summary of what Mr. Davey had to say:
- hate speech is terrible
- young people are online lots but getting on housing ladder more important
- I’m an optimist
Can’t say I was super impressed by his knowledge of digital life.
With Labour & Tories both sliding basic/patriotic, Libs have an opportunity to become the thinking person’s party.
I’m not sure I’d elect a technocrat who don’t understand tech though!
Mr. Davey’s focus on caring society is admirable, but unless the internet becomes more humane, then it doesn’t matter if the man on the street smiles at you if you get vile abuse on screens we spend our home life on now.
My suggestion to LD Strategy is:
Identify social media misinformation as the swing factor in the 2016 Referendum.
Now that you’ve rightly accepted that vote’s result, refocus on defending future votes from the assault of online misinformation, by leading efforts to:
- Force social media companies to act as publishers of information
- Promote more competition in the industry, through both effective taxation & championing innovative competitors creating humane tech
Would be fun to see Ed going head-to-head with (now Facebook “VP Global Affairs”) Nick Clegg over this issue!
Layla Moran’s on tonight. I read she is the first MP to use the phrase ‘pansexual’ to describe her sexuality - so we can surmise she has spent some time on the internet !
Perhaps she will fare better on this topic.
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