Digital governance in a complex and uncertain world

GOVERNANCE is about the decisions we take collectively as a society, and achieving the common good is a noble ideal to work towards. As much as we would like the decision-making process to be representative of – and the results fair to – everyone in society, this ideal is very hard to reach.

The challenges of good governance are no less acute in the digital age. There are very few tried and tested formulas of good digital governance; no ready playbooks to adapt. Our task is further complicated by rapid change in the sophistication and use of technologies, as well as the global nature of their reach. Everything we do remains very much a “minimum viable product”.

In 2018, the UK published its Online Harms White Paper, which contained recommendations for regulating online platforms to address harmful material such as child sexual-abuse material and terrorist content. Ironically, there were as many criticisms of inadequacy as there were of over-reach.