Computers and the Coalition: Legislation on Law and Information Technology, 2010-2015
13 Pages Posted: 25 Aug 2018
Date Written: December 1, 2015
Abstract
In this contribution, written to mark the 10th anniversary of SCRIPTed and the 2015 launch of the Information Law and Policy Centre at the University of London, I look back on the record of the Coalition government (2010-2015) regarding law and information technology. The written agreement between the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties specifically emphasised the importance of technology issues on a number of occasions. Beyond these specific commitments, other issues of significance and controversy emerged during the lifetime of this Government. Although the Coalition is no more, the question of how engaged this administration was with questions of law and technology remains appropriate. In particular, future governments may well grapple with the key tension highlighted in this article; how even parties ostensibly committed to a small and open government may not be able to sustain this outlook or apply it to all legislative and administrative challenges.
Keywords: cyberlaw, United Kingdom, privacy, copyright
JEL Classification: K23, O34, O38
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation