The 2024 UK General Election is the first where the new Prime Minister must have a plan for AI and other high stakes technologies.
The government will need a vision for how computing will transform the lives of everyone in the UK, as well as the economy.
The crucial role of technology in public services from NHS to taxation to defence means digital leaders have more opportunities to benefit society than ever before.
But the Post Office Horizon IT scandal showed the cost of systemic failure to meet the highest standards of accountability and responsibility in how computing is used.
If the people making decisions about technology are focussed on ethics, education and equity, it will be the key to closing the aspiration gap and realising dreams.
As the professional body for computing, BCS believes that:
- Anyone with a significant role in information technology should prove their accountability by being professionally registered. This includes leaders who use technology in critical national infrastructure like health, defence and other public services.
In practice, that commitment means becoming Chartered, just as we expect for accountants or engineers.
- Every child and adult deserves access to a world class computing and digital literacy education. The digital divide is a modern measure of inequality that the next government must address for the UK to remain globally competitive.
- Closing the gender gap in information technology can solve many of its issues around trust, bias and safety – over 500,000 women are ‘missing’ from the profession. Thousands of people aged 50 and over, and people with disabilities, are also under-represented in the digital sector. This matters because we will only create systems that work for everyone in society if they are created by teams that reflect all of society.
If politicians act on these priorities, the UK will harness the power of emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing, safely, sustainably and responsibly, opening up opportunities for every part of the UK.
The details:
ONE: Technology professionals should be Chartered to build public trust
The UK needs its information technology sector to be responsible to its citizens.
UK information technology professionals (including leaders who makes decisions about technology should):
- be professionally registered – everyone with the potential to do so should be supported to achieve Chartered IT Professional (CITP) status.
- That means being held to independent standards of ethics, competence and accountability.
Board level decisions on the deployment of tech, including AI, must be informed by IT professionals. Risks and opportunities are missed when this is not the case.
Organisations should be required to publish safe, ethical and inclusive policies on their use of technology (including AI) in any relevant systems.
IT professionals should feel supported to access safe whistleblowing channels to call out unethical practice.
An annual Statement of Ethical IT, similar to current declarations under the Modern Slavery Act, would provide the transparency the public deserves and clarity for industry and international partners.
TWO: Every child deserves a computing and digital literacy qualification
Teaching computing in schools is vital to the UK’s competitiveness on the world stage and to every child’s future. We know parents believe this too.
Yet – most teenagers drop computing aged 14, just when they should be learning the skills for life and work.
Alongside the Computer Science GCSE we need:
- An applied computing GCSE – this should teach practical ways in which computing can be used safely and responsibly in society and business, rather than focus on theory.
- A broad digital literacy qualification, equivalent to the GCSE, available to everyone.
An understanding of the principles of AI, its benefits and limitations should be taught to children from the age of 11.
These plans are already backed by the House of Lords 11-16 Education Committee (Dec 2023).
To help teachers deliver this, we need to make sure digital skills including AI are part of their training qualifications and that includes headteachers.
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source: https://www.bcs.org/articles-opinion-and-research/the-computing-revolution-how-the-next-government-can-transform-society-with-ethics-education-and-equity-in-technology/
