THE TASO TECH TRACKER

Question: Overall, do you think technology has generally made society better or worse, or has it made no difference?

People generally believe that tech has made society better. This is unsurprising. Whether it’s maps, or email, or video calling family abroad, tech has a huge and positive impact.

However, a significant minority remain concerned about the impact that technology has on society. While there is a consistent number of people who express concerns, those figures grow in line with the news agenda. For example, Elon Musk’s dramatic first month in charge of Twitter in November 2022 was also the month where we recorded most concern about the possible impact of tech in wider society.

These figures show that it remains important for tech firms to make positive, proactive arguments that outline the benefits they deliver to people across the country. But it also shows that concerns amongst the British public can be magnified by policy, regulatory or media pressure, demonstrating the importance of addressing fears head on.

Question: Do you think large online tech firms, such as social media companies and search engines, have too much or too little influence over society in general, or is the current balance about right?

Although people generally believe that tech has made society better, around 70% of people also believe that large tech companies have too much influence over society.

This is unsurprising within the current media and political environment. While tech is a broad umbrella encompassing a vast number of businesses and subsectors, the public debate focuses largely on big tech businesses that sit at the eye of the regulatory and reputational storm.

It is also unlikely that this will change in the immediate future. It comes as the UK Government prepares to bring the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill to Parliament, putting big tech firmly in the crosshairs.

To avoid being tarred with the same brush when it comes to new regulation, mid-cap and smaller tech companies will need to distance themselves from “Big Tech” in the eyes of policymakers, politicians, the media and the public.

Question: How concerned, if at all, are you about the amount of harmful content on the internet?; & Do you think online technology firms, such as social media companies and search engines, should be doing more to limit and remove harmful content from their services, or are they currently doing all they reasonably can?

The Online Safety Bill has been the piece of tech policy about which the UK Government has been loudest in 2022 and its focus on harmful content is mirrored by concerns among the public.

Consistently, around 75% of respondents are concerned about harmful content on the internet. Additionally, a similar number believe that technology firms should be taking further steps to tackle such content when it is online. The ambitions of the Online Safety Bill play well with the public and across the political spectrum.

However, there is a political risk that the aspirations of the bill will not be matched by the output. Tech businesses have already strengthened their efforts to identify and remove harmful content, while also significantly improving transparency reporting to demonstrate both how and how much content they’re removing. This means there is a chance that the Bill will pass to much fanfare but with comparatively little to show for it.

Tech companies allowing user-to-user interactions and the creation of user-generated content should continue to proactively engage with Ofcom, the UK Government and the Opposition to shape the policy. They should also be showing the public how they deal with harmful content and what they’re doing to make users safe.

This will both support efforts to increase trust amongst the public and help both UK Government and political parties to positively manage expectations.

Question: Based on what you know or have heard, how worried, if at all, are you about online technology firms, such as social media companies and search engines, using, collecting or storing individuals’ personal data?

A favourite refrain of politicians in 2022 has been to tell us that data is the “new oil”, and that it will drive the UK and the global economy into the future. Although its progress is currently paused, the UK Government understands the importance of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill in creating a data policy regime that both protects individuals while encouraging innovation.

Our polling shows that the average member of the British public is concerned about their personal data, but does not differentiate between its collection, storage and use. This suggests there is a divide between the public view of the collection, storage and use of personal data, which is narrow, and the policy perspective, which is nuanced.

Tech companies need to think about how they communicate their data programmes to inspire trust. Importantly, this means adopting different approaches for communicating with the wider public and with UK Government or regulators to ensure they effectively address differing concerns.

Question: How comfortable or uncomfortable are you sharing your personal data with online technology firms, such as social media companies and search engines, in exchange for using their services for free?

Tech companies across a range of market sectors regularly provide services to users for free. This is done for legitimate commercial reasons, such as encouraging a user to try a limited version of a platform before they buy or to allow them access to a platform to engage with content, but has tended to be strongly framed as a no cost transaction.

Our research shows that the British public understands that using a platform for free comes with a trade off. Roughly three quarters of the public are uncomfortable about online technology firms accessing their personal data for use of a service, in comparison to a quarter who are happy to do so.

This poses two key questions for policy makers and tech businesses respectively. UK Government and regulators will likely ask themselves how much this balance is due to an educated trade off between personal data and access to a service versus a more problematic issue (e.g. a lack of competition forcing users onto a service).

Tech firms using personal data within their service, meanwhile, will need to answer the question about what is the appropriate level of transparency and information required to help the public feel more comfortable about the trade off.

The public understands that access to a digital service doesn’t come without a cost but it will be beneficial to better explain the precise nature of this to users.

Question: Do you think the UK Government should be doing more or less to regulate cryptocurrencies in the UK, or are they currently doing enough?

In a year that has seen cryptocurrency market capitalisation crash from a peak of over $2 trillion to less than $800 billion, as well as multiple high profile collapses of crypto businesses - FTX most notable of all - public sentiment on regulating cryptocurrencies has remained remarkably stable.

The percentage of respondents who thought that the UK Government should be doing more to regulate cryptocurrency has hovered around the 50% mark for 12 months. This stability is also evident in respondents who think the UK Government should be doing less and who think the UK Government is currently doing enough.

Despite this stability, the data shows that crypto and web3 businesses still have an uphill struggle to show that they are a safe option for consumers and that they are playing by the rules. Working with both the UK Government and regulators, while also communicating this work to the wider public, will be critical in 2023.