In her first interview as minister in the tech department, Baroness Jones of Whitchurch discussed the need for the government to be firm with social media companies, Labour’s goal of expanding tech beyond the capital, and the importance of keeping Big Tech’s dominance in check.
Jones entered the world of tech policy in 2023 as a Shadow Spokesperson for Science, Innovation and Technology. Before joining the House of Lords, she held several senior roles in the Labour Party, including serving as its Chair.
Her current portfolio includes online safety, digital markets and technology investment.
The Labour peer acknowledged the “very steep learning curve” for ministers governing the tech industry. Although she doesn’t have a “computer science degree,” Jones believes she has been able to “learn very quickly on the job.”...