Technology policy will be central to the next Parliament. It is vital that public decisions regarding technology are both informed and reflect the realities of the technology itself. Demos is concerned that this vital area is particularly challenging for Parliamentary legislators. Most do not come from either technology or technical backgrounds, and the landscape itself is constantly and rapidly changing.
In June 2017 Demos launched a new series of briefing papers to establish a bridge between technology companies, the media, UK politicians and a range of independent experts.
The first paper will cover the area of child sexual abuse images. Future papers in the series will include: encryption, hacking, the dark net, hate speech, cyber-bullying and personal cyber-security.
In May 2017, Demos invited Mike G, a Certified Ethical Hacker and Cyber Security Specialist, to our offices to explain what a ransomware attack is – in the wake of the global WannaCry ransomware attack, which targeted companies and organisations around the world, including NHS hospitals across the UK.
In conversation with Carl Miller, Research Director at CASM, Mike explains how organisations and individuals can protect themselves from similar attacks. A transcript of the interview can be downloaded here.
This exercise is the first in a wider programme of research seeking to establish a bridge between technology companies, the media, UK politicians, and a range of independent experts. For more information, please contact [email protected].