Introduction
Liberal Democrats took a lead in facing up to the policy challenges presented by the development of IT and the Internet in the policy paper Making IT Work adopted by the party in 2002. (See http://www.makeitpolicy.org.uk/).
Now, nearly a decade on, it is time to review and update the party’s policy on IT and the Internet.
We will review all aspects of policy on IT and the Internet. We will give significant attention to Intellectual property issues, with particular attention to their application to the digital economy, but still considering them across the board.
The group will in particular address the issues raised by the conference motion Freedom, Creativity and the Internet adopted by the Spring Conference 2010 (see appendix).
The group will in its deliberations be guided by the fundamental values of the party as set out in its constitution, with particular regard to:
- Our wish to foster diversity and to nurture creativity.
- Our support of citizens’ right to develop their talents to the full.
- Our commitment to defend the right to speak, write, worship, associate and vote freely.
- Our support of the right of citizens to enjoy privacy in their own lives and homes.
- Our commitment to make public services responsive to the people they serve, to encourage variety and innovation within them and to make them available on equal terms to all.
We will consider the broad areas outlined in this paper and particularly welcome answers to the questions posed.