On 14th July, I launched a white paper on Digital Product Safety.
Digital products, such as social media, mobile apps, games and AI, have become essential to modern life.
But unlike almost every other product we use, they are not governed by the established framework of Product Safety.
As digital technologies and AI become more deeply embedded in society, this gap is leaving us as consumers, communities and businesses exposed to rapidly evolving risks.
The aim of my white paper os to show how digital products, services and online platforms could be brought within a dedicated Product Safety framework, following the established principals that have been applied to the products we use every day, from the toys our children play with to the cars we drive.
We expect these physical products to be safe, and digital products should be no different.
A Product Safety approach would establish safety by design through risk assessment, the established development of technical standards (where Britain already leads the world), independent assurance and clear legal accountability for providers. Through a State-of-the-Art commitment, it would also drive innovation and the development of new safety tech.
This is not a trade-off between safety and innovation. It is a proven approach that accelerates both.
Digital Product Safety will make AI and the online world safer, strengthen public trust, and position the UK as a global leader in digital innovation.