Is technology moving too fast for new regulation?

Innovation occurs at an astonishing pace. As every day passes, millions of people worldwide continue to develop and expand the capabilities of technology. This constant evolution is ever changing the way that we live, work and communicate.

As this continues to happen the question on many people’s minds is does the regulation keep up?

In the UK there are technology regulations and laws that govern the development and use of various technologies. The aim of this is to create a balance of innovation with safety and ethical concerns.

There is a separate category of regulation for Internet activities. The online regulations cover topics such as social media, content privacy, cybersecurity and much more. The aim of these regulations is to ensure responsible conduct online, protection of rights and a secure digital environment.

These regulations can be difficult to design due to the complexity of the technologies. Many regulators lack the technical expertise to fully understand and comprehend the intricacies of these emerging technologies. As a result, regulations can become too strict and limit innovation or more commonly too lenient, leaving gaps which can be exploited. Ensuring a balance between technology experts and policymakers is necessary to ensure regulations are both practical and effective.

Enforcing regulations in a global marketplace

Another challenge can be the difficulty to enforce these regulations due to the global nature of how technology operates. The same technology operates across borders, this can cause many jurisdictional issues. These issues arise when it has to be determined which legal authority (in this case often the country) has the right to govern a particular situation. This often complicates the legal proceedings as it will involve having to decide which laws and regulations should apply. One country implementing a specific piece of legislation can cause unintended consequences for other countries or it can easily be bypassed by another country’s legislation. This further highlights the need for international cooperation to address the borderless nature of the online world.

Regulating what is acceptable online

The final big issue to consider is the constantly growing use of social media. Social media platforms play a key role in shaping the opinion of the general public and are also a channel for the public to share and voice their opinions. Striking the balance of allowing diverse opinions and ensuring people’s human right to freedom of speech but preventing the spread of harmful content is a huge challenge and one that is ever changing.

How can this be combatted?

The best way to combat this issue is for a global effort between governments, regulatory bodies, technology experts and industry leaders to develop complex and extensive legislation that allows room for cross border enforcement without any hindrance to innovation.

What can I do myself or what can my business do?

Investing in digital literacy and education is crucial. Individuals with the knowledge to navigate the digital world responsibly can reduce the risk, especially when using new and less/ not regulated technologies.

The speed at which technology continues to advance is undoubtedly outpacing the establishment of new regulations, get in touch to see how CTRL-S can not only keep your systems up to date but also yourself and your team. We strive to provide our clients with the knowledge and systems to ensure that the benefits of modern technology are harnessed effectively and responsibly to reach their business’s goals.