Technology
What promises and perils does the internationalisation of digital government bring with it? In November 2018, the Digital 7 (D7) group of countries grew to nine. As politically and demographically diverse as Estonia to South Korea, a common identity as digital government 'leaders' nonetheless binds together the D9 member states into a collaborative and growing network. Digital government teams from the US to the Middle East meanwhile emulate the creativity of the early years of the UK Government Digital Service, borrowing ideas and code. In parallel, China is reportedly exporting its model of digital government along the so-called 'digital Silk Road' and beyond. Digital government, in its many iterations, has become a form of soft power. What circumstances provide the conditions for these new forms of international policy and technology transfer? Is digital government really a more politically 'neutral' and globally replicable policy area than others, as some digital practitioners suggest? And what is at stake in the creation of a set of digital products and ethics across borders? This episode of Tech States features a live panel discussion with Graham Floater (DCMS), Robyn Scott (Apolitical), Tom Loosemore (Public Digital), Aaron Maniam (Oxford) and Tanya Filer (Cambridge).