VOX-Pol Coordinator Gives Evidence to House of Lords International Relations Committee

On 7 March, 2018 VOX-Pol Coordinator Prof. Maura Conway gave evidence to the UK House of Lords International Relations Committee

The meeting was hosted by the Chairman of the Select Committee Lord Howell of Guildford in the Palace of Westminster. 

The purpose of the meeting was to gather opinions on the changes wrought by digital technologies in the international system, particularly the role of the Internet and its use by non-state actors in contemporary international affairs.

The Committee also heard evidence on Wednesday from Mr. Hugh Milward, Senior Director of Corporate, External and Legal Affairs at Microsoftand Dr. Gianluca Stringhini, Associate Professor in Computer Security and Crime Science at University College London

The type of questions addressed included: 

  •  In many cases, large multinational corporations now have as much power as some nation-states in regard to financial reserves and information flows. How should corporations consider their broader responsibilities in this context?
  • Technology companies, of all sizes, have been criticised for not providing states with information to assist with investigations into individuals and non-state actors. How do you view the role of tech companies in the context of threats facing the state and their societies?
  • To what extent have digital technologies changed the challenges and the threats facing states from non-state actors?
  • How well are states and multilateral institutions dealing with the challenge of online non-state actors? What role is there for the UK?
  • The pace of technological is accelerating – to what extent is the UK keeping up?
  • Which technological developments in the digital space should we be aware of?

 

The session was recorded and can be viewed HERE

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