A leading British think tank believes the country needs a new watchdog to keep tech companies in check, as it claims Britons are “recalibrating” their relationship with technology.
Doteveryone, led by Last Minute founder Martha Lane-Fox, recommended the formation of an independent organization called the Office for Responsible Technology. Doteveryone interim CEO Catherine Miller hopes it will “lead a concerted, coordinated and urgent effort to create a regulatory landscape fit for the digital age and ensure the benefits of technology are evenly shared in a post-pandemic world.”
The recommendation was made as part of Doteveryone’s “People, Power and Technology: The 2020 Digital Attitudes Report.” Among the study’s key findings, is that a growing number of people feel the Internet is working better for them that for society as a whole.
Fifty-eight percent of the report’s respondents believe the tech industry is under-regulated. Over a quarter claimed to have reported a problem online, with no result.
“The current societal shift is an opportunity to shape a fairer future where technology works for more people, more of the time,” adds Miller. In addition to the watchdog, it recommends government reaching users where they are, and with targeted and understandable language. It also believes tech companies should make reporting easier and proportional.
“We call on the Government to support coordination for civil society organizations helping people to address the impacts of technology-driven harms on their lives,” Miller adds.