Britain’s Labour government feels the heat over Palantir contracts The U.S. data company is taking fresh flak in the U.K. — as the country’s reliance on U.S. tech firms shoots up the political agenda.

Labour's Palantir problem goes beyond just one company — and it's a weakness that parties like Greens say they plan to exploit.

www.politico.eu/article/brit...

Palantir lands biggest ever UK defense deal The £240 million contract with the Ministry of Defence has renewed a debate about Britain’s dependence on American technology.

Yet another huge contract, awarded without any competitive bidding process, to Wes Streeting's favourite NHS supplier, the Hard Right US surveillance tech specialists Palantir, for military decision making capability.

Palantir lands biggest ever UK defense deal The £240 million contract with the Ministry of Defence has renewed a debate about Britain’s dependence on American technology.

A technology company with close ties to the Trump administration has cemented its role analyzing data for the U.K.’s military — despite an ongoing standoff between the two governments over trade and digital regulations.

Via @jbambridge.bsky.social

www.politico.eu/article/pala...

Inspired by Zoe, I looked up use of the word "guardrail" and it confirmed by suspicion — hardly anyone used that horrible word until late 2022, and now it's used constantly.

UK could offer celebs protection from AI clones New ‘personality right’ comes as UK creative industries lobby hard against copyright shake-up that would help AI firms.

NEW: Government will say it will explore a new "personality right" to protect artists from AI-generated competition as a sweetener in copyright consultation due early next week.

But unlikely to assuage creative sector anger over move towards an opt out regime.

www.politico.eu/article/uk-c...

This week, I reported that the only role in government dedicated to police use of tech has sat empty since August.

Home Office suggesting it plans to name a successor - but delay is concerning as LFR rollout continues.

Minister has said government accepts need for a deeper look at LFR.

The term “Securonomics” hasn’t appeared in a Labour speech since May. It was absent from the Budget and Rachel Reeves’ conference address. The policy has shifted with the rhetoric.

www.economist.com/britain/2024...

There’s a lot more I wish I could have got stuck in to, including pressing TechUK for practical examples of this holding back AI adoption, the rationale for opt-out vs opt-in, and to what extent it points to wider questions about liability - but a major intervention nonetheless.

For @politico.eu Morning Tech UK I spoke to @techuk.bsky.social who for the first time set out their plan to solve the AI copyright issue.

Lords committee explicitly says the UK government should reject an EU-style opt-out system for AI scraping — even though that's exactly where it seems to be headed (as I first reported, not the FT, as the committee's footnotes seems to think 😇)

Excellent dive into Labour’s positioning on China from Sam, @glanktree.bsky.social and @estwebber.bsky.social

Patrick Vallance confirms POLITICO’s scoop from more than a month ago - government to publicly consult on AI and copyright proposals “shorty”.

Via @llauriec.bsky.social confirming previous reporting by me and Vince.

Matt Clifford: the UK tech adviser whose influence has drawn sceptics British venture capitalist has advised successive Tory and Labour governments

Lots that people might disagree with Clifford on but he’s at least been pretty consistent in his views (and certainly not an AI doomer). If there are questions to ask, it’s why Labour couldn’t find someone else to lead their review other than the last government’s guy.

www.ft.com/content/6a30...

Tech billionaire Elon Musk could soon be hauled before the UK parliament to answer for his platform X’s part in stoking the riots that tore through the country this summer.

🔗 www.politico.eu/article/elon...