Question Time Panel at 'Learning from History', BCS, 17 February 2022 The Archives of IT (AIT) held a two-hour seminar on 17 February 2022 in collaboration with the British Computer Society (BCS) and the Computer Conservation Society (CCS). It was entitled ‘Learning from History: Reflections on the past and future of the British IT Industry’. … Continue reading History Lessons: 250 Years of the IT Industry in Britain
Britain
Social Media Could Have Prevented the UK’s Post Office Scandal
Over seven hundred (736) ‘sub-postmasters’ were charged – many if not most unjustly – with criminal offenses from 2000-2013 because of discrepancies in their accounts, leading to charges of theft, fraud, and false accounting (Meddings 2021). Had they been siphoning money from their accounts? We have learned that many of these discrepancies were due to the … Continue reading Social Media Could Have Prevented the UK’s Post Office Scandal
Jettison the Digital Nanny State: Digitally Augment Users
My last blog argued that the UK should stop moving along the road of a duty of care regime, as this will lead Britain to become what might be called a 'Digital Nanny State', undermining the privacy and freedom of expression of all users. A promising number of readers agreed with my concerns, but some asked … Continue reading Jettison the Digital Nanny State: Digitally Augment Users
Britain’s Digital Nanny State
The way in which the UK is approaching the regulation of social media will undermine privacy and freedom of expression and have a chilling effect on Internet use by everyone in Britain. Perhaps it is because discussion of a new approach to Internet regulation occurred in the midst of the public’s focus on Brexit, this … Continue reading Britain’s Digital Nanny State
Addressing the Quality of Broadcast Coverage of Politics in Britain
As an American living in the UK, who is not a journalist, I’ve long looked at broadcast journalism in Britain as a model for the US to emulate. Over time, however, my confidence in the UK’s coverage has declined. Rather than simply complain, let me offer a few observations and suggestions. Most recently, after weeks of … Continue reading Addressing the Quality of Broadcast Coverage of Politics in Britain
Has Brexit Broken Parliament? No. This is Democracy!
The frustration of so many people over the machinations of the UK Parliament during the debates and votes over Brexit is understandable. So it is not surprising to see article after article, and opinion pieces piled on one another about how parliament, if not democracy itself, is broken. The GuardianJournal on 16 March notes: ‘Brexit … Continue reading Has Brexit Broken Parliament? No. This is Democracy!
Brexit: No Advice from this American
After working over 12 years in the UK, I was frequently amused by visiting academics from the USA (my home), who would start giving me advice about everything from the university to the UK and Europe virtually as they were walking off the plane. So I am resisting my natural US-instinct to weigh in on … Continue reading Brexit: No Advice from this American