Government announces plan to cut complexity from digital policies

The government has today announced a new plan that aims to reduce red tape and cut down on “cumbersome and confusing” policy.

The plan, called Plan for Digital Regulation, sets out practical proposals to support a more streamlined regulatory landscape. This includes options to improve information sharing between regulators to reduce duplicate requests on industry and looking at whether additional duties for digital regulators to consult and cooperate with each other are needed. 

The government said its aim is to free businesses to come up with new ideas, grow their firms and create new jobs and prosperity.

“How we govern digital technologies is one of the most pressing issues of our age. Today we are setting out a pro-growth vision to shape the future,” said Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden. “Our principles-based approach will ensure innovation is embedded in any new regulation, and we will look to reduce red tape to enable our vibrant tech sector to thrive.”

Three guiding principles

The new plan sets out three guiding principles policymakers must follow and states that the government should only regulate when absolutely necessary and do so in a proportionate way.

In the government’s words, policymakers should:

• Actively promote innovation. “Policymakers must back innovation wherever they can by removing unnecessary regulation and burdens and considering non-regulatory measures such as technical standards first.”

• Achieve ‘forward-looking and coherent outcomes’. “Digital technologies are evolving fast and transforming traditional sectors across the economy, so policymakers must make sure new regulation complements, rather than contradicts, existing and planned legislation.”

• Exploit opportunities and address challenges in the international arena. “Digital technologies are borderless and policymakers must take a global view. They must always consider the international dynamics of proposed regulation – from our existing international obligations including trade deals, expected future agreements, and the impact of regulations developed by other nations.”

“Creating a framework for digital regulation that promotes innovation is a global challenge. If the UK can get this right, we can drive discussions at the international level and build on our reputation as a leading digital economy,” said techUK CEO Julian David.

 “The Plan for Digital Regulation is a strong start and shows the government’s commitment to creating a coordinated, proportionate and innovation-focused regulatory system.

The government said it is working closely with the recently-established Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF), a voluntary forum comprising the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and Ofcom.

The digital sector contributed £151 billion to the UK economy in 2019 and employs more than two million people.