Chair of Tech City UK Baroness Joanna Shields has been appointed as a Parliamentary Under Secretary in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and will be leading on hacking and cybersecurity, as well as attempts to tackle child pornography, according to the Telegraph.
Shields’ new role could see her becoming involved with the controversial Communications Data Bill, dubbed the ‘snoopers’ charter’, which Home Secretary Teresa May has confirmed will be revived during this parliament and will be led by the Home Office.
The Bill has already drawn significant criticism from tech companies and privacy campaigners.
“Theoretically, any business providing an element of communication could be required to collect data,” Daniel van Binsbergen, a former lawyer and current CEO of London based legal tech startup Lexoo, told Tech City News.
“For example, it’s pretty clear email providers would be covered, but what about online marketplaces where messaging is just a small element? This uncertainty has the potential to negatively impact the ability for such startups to raise financing.”
He explains that the “unworkable” Bill could require companies to start collecting data they are not currently collating, and although he acknowledges that businesses can be reimbursed for costs incurred over a period of 10 years, he said this kind of time frame is unlikely to help many startups that may not survive. “Also, it’s disproportionate to require this type of compliance from startups who are merely at the MVP stage.
“Having to comply with the ‘snoopers’ charter’ requirements could act as a barrier to entry for new startups, reducing innovation. And it could scare off non-UK customers who are concerned about their privacy. There’s also a risk that startups would leave the UK to incorporate elsewhere.”
“There is a good chance the Bill would be in breach of European law,” van Binsbergen added.
Privacy campaigners are likewise concerned about the government’s plans on cybersecurity. Jim Killock, executive director of Open Rights Group, said: “The ‘snoopers’ charter’ is discredited, intrusive and treats us all as suspects. We hope that MPs from all parties, who care about civil liberties, will oppose any further attempt to reintroduce this fundamental threat to our freedoms.”
Joanna Shields has been an adviser to Prime Minister David Cameron on the digital economy since July 2014, along with working as the chair of Tech City UK.
We have reached out to DCMS to find out exactly what her role will be.