Google Deal with UK Government Raises Concerns Over Public Data Sovereignty

Strategic Insights -

The UK government has announced a partnership with Google to provide free technology to the public sector, including the NHS and local councils. The deal, which involves upskilling tens of thousands of civil servants in technology, including the use of artificial intelligence, has been met with concerns over the security of UK public data being held on US servers.

The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has said that Google Cloud will provide databases, machine learning, and computing power to public services, with the aim of helping them "shake off decades old legacy contracts which leave essential services vulnerable to cyber-attack". However, campaigners have warned that the deal could "entrench the market power" of a company like Google and leave the UK government reliant on its technology.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK government has partnered with Google to provide free technology to the public sector, including the NHS and local councils.
  • The deal involves upskilling tens of thousands of civil servants in technology, including the use of artificial intelligence.
  • The government has said that Google Cloud will provide databases, machine learning, and computing power to public services.
  • The partnership is being met with concerns over the security of UK public data being held on US servers.
  • Campaigners have warned that the deal could "entrench the market power" of a company like Google and leave the UK government reliant on its technology.
  • Peter Kyle, the secretary of state for science and technology, has said that "wherever possible, UK technology companies -- large and small -- [will] get a fair shot" at winning public tech contracts.
  • The opportunity secured by Google was not put out to public tender as no money was changing hands.
  • Kyle has held 11 meetings with representatives of Google since Labour took office.
  • The Guardian has asked Google and the government what access the tech company will have to public data as part of the deal.
  • A government study found that the trial of Microsoft's AI Copilot tool saved civil servants 26 minutes a day on average.

Statistics:

  • 20,000 civil servants participated in the trial of Microsoft's AI Copilot tool.
  • The trial found that the tool saved civil servants 26 minutes a day on average.
  • 82% of civil servants did not want to return to previous working practices.
  • Google's services are considered more agile and efficient than traditional competitors.
  • The UK government has a vast budget for technology, with billions of pounds spent every year.

Sources:

  • Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
  • The Guardian
  • Labour
  • Meta
  • Microsoft
  • OpenAI
  • Palantir
  • Anthropic
  • Foxglove
  • Ada Lovelace Institute