The UK is dependent on foreign AI technology that could be deactivated at short notice, according to George Williamson, head of the Alan Turing Institute. Mr Williamson stated that the UK does not possess digital sovereignty.
This concern is linked to growing opposition regarding government contracts awarded to Palantir, an American company, which provide it with access to sensitive data. Ian White, in a letter, highlighted that this is not a theoretical issue, citing the US government's imposition of targeted sanctions on the International Criminal Court, which halted digital services to specific individuals.
Bill Cawley, in another letter, described the £330m contract with Palantir as a symptom of a broader pattern where the government acquires large, single-supplier platforms for joined-up data. Mr Cawley suggested an alternative, referencing the world wide web's model of defining how data is requested and transferred without requiring it to reside in one location or run on a single company's software.
Holland and France have recently initiated steps to establish nationwide IT ecosystems under their control, aiming to reduce reliance on major American technology companies. It was suggested that the UK needs to take similar action.