IAB BLOG: The future in Obama's hands

With Barack Obama's inauguration looming, Nick Stringer, Head of Regulatory Affairs at the IAB, examines what an Obama Presidency will mean for the internet.

Friday, 16 January 2009

"Let us be the generation that reshapes our economy to compete in the digital age"

These are the words of Barack Obama who, next Tuesday, will be inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America in what is one of the greatest spectacles in the political calendar (although it only happens once every four years). We all know that President Obama has some pretty pressing issues in his in-tray. However, in running for the highest office, we have seen him probably say more about the internet than any other Presidential candidate (or perhaps even President) in modern times. We all know that Obama used the internet and digital media as a campaigning and fund-raising tool like no other politician in history (he wants to keep his Blackberry despite being told it poses security risks). It gives us a pretty good clue that internet policy issues will be quite high up the political agenda. So - as the President-elect recruits a dog, chef and interior designer in preparation to move his family into the White House - let's have a closer look at what an Obama Presidency will mean for the internet, and what the potential implications will be for us policy wonks in the UK.

Right at the top of the list is the protection of children. Obama recognises the importance of keeping children as safe as possible when online. Significantly (UK Government please note) he emphasises the importance of the freedom of expression (enshrined in the First Amendment to the US constitution) and therefore does not view regulation as the answer to concerns about the potential dangers to children online. However, he will encourage industry not to show inappropriate adult-orientated commercial advertising during children's programming and help give parents options to block objectionable online content as well as help prevent children to reveal personal information online. Obama will create the 'Sesame Street of the Digital Age': an interactive education programme to help inform the public. This would seem to mirror much of what is trying to be achieved in the UK via the UK Council for Child Internet Safety etc.

Safeguarding privacy. Obama will help strengthen privacy protection in the digital age, whilst recognising that the "huge flows of information that characterize the digital age bring enormous benefits." Much of this policy refers to protecting the public from potential breaches in privacy by US governmental institutions that hold large amounts of data on Americans, such e-health records, law enforcement etc.

Net neutrality. Obama will "protect the openess of the internet", supporting the principle of 'net neutrality' to preserve the benefits of open competetion on the internet and to ensure that users are free to access online content. This will help protect the internet as a platform for innovation, creativity and freedom of speech/democracy.

Broadband for everyone. The new President and his team is committed to universal broadband for all via a universal service reform (a bit like Europe's Universal Service Obligation which BT currently has for fixed voice services in the UK). This will be achieved via a combination of next generation cable and wireless, mobile etc. All indications are that the UK will follow suit here: we'll know more when Stephen Carter publishes his interim Digital Britain Plan on 26 January. Obama's policy says this will be paid for using tax and loan incentives...

Government & public services. Obama will use the internet to transform government and politics, and use technology to help solve healthcare, renewable energy and public safety issues. This is a good lesson for the UK Government which still seems to employ a 'horse and cart' approach to all communications. Obama's team is committed to enabling citizens to easily track online federal grants, putting more government data online (such as environmental and pollution information), embracing online 'town hall' meetings for his Cabinet officials, opening up White House policy for public review before signing any non-emergency legislation, and employing social media to modernise internal, cross-agency and public communication to improve government decision-making.

These are of course policy commitments by a man who - at the time - was wanting the American people to vote for him. However, I doubt many of the millions of people who exercised their democratic vote last November were that well aware of these policies. Tuesday's events will be hugely symbolic and, at last, we might have an administration that uses the internet and takes its impact on the rest of us seriously.