The move has sparked concerns among UK tech business founders about transparency and trust in the government. Critics argue that the government lacks a coherent strategy towards data and AI, and has failed to engage stakeholders effectively. The disbandment of the CDEI advisory board comes amid ongoing issues around the Online Safety Bill and the lack of wide-ranging AI regulations, further highlighting the government's perceived lack of strategy towards regulating and cultivating innovation.
Key takeaways:
- The UK government has dismissed the independent advisory board of its Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI), which was responsible for promoting responsible use of data and AI technologies.
- The CDEI's advisory board was first appointed in June 2018 and has since provided guidance on ethical and risk-mitigating use of AI and data-driven technologies to both private and public sectors.
- The government's attitude towards the CDEI changed over time, with a former senior official stating that there was no political will to incorporate the centre’s work into the public sector.
- The dismissal of the CDEI has caused unease across the UK tech sector, with tech business founders expressing concerns about transparency and trust in the government and calling for a new era of accountability.