Inside the race to carve up the free web As public perception of Big Tech shifts, politicians are developing competing models for the future of the internet. Chris McGrath/Getty Images In the early days of social media, digital platforms were touted as a tool for democracy. The post-election protests in Iran in 2009 were dubbed the “Twitter revolution”, while Facebook proved indispensable in 2011 during the Arab Spring. In recent years, however, public perception has shifted. “Our collective understanding of these tools has swung on this pendulum from thinking that social media was going to bring about democratisation, to all of a sudden thinking that social media is destroying our democracy,” says Adrian Shahbaz, director for technology and democracy at US non-profit Freedom House. “As governments have understood how powerful these tools can be, we have seen a majority of governments pass laws to regulate them in a way that curtails free expression
New strategy to unleash the transformational power of Artificial Intelligence
A new plan to make the UK a global centre for the development, commercialisation and adoption of responsible AI will be published this year, the government has announced.
From:
Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden revealed the move as he set out his Ten Tech Priorities to power a golden age of tech in the UK this week.
The new AI strategy will focus on:
Growth of the economy through widespread use of AI technologies
Ethical, safe and trustworthy development of responsible AI
Resilience in the face of change through an emphasis on skills, talent and R&D
A coronavirus vaccine the UK has secured 60 million doses of is 86% effective against the Kent variant, the company behind the jab has announced.
The Novavax vaccine is also 96% effective in preventing cases caused by the original strain of the coronavirus.
According to results of phase three trial in the UK, the jab offers 100% protection against severe disease, including all hospital admission and death.
Stanley Erck, president and chief executive officer at Novavax, said: “We are very encouraged by the data showing that NVX-CoV2373 not only provided complete protection against the most severe forms of disease, but also dramatically reduced mild and moderate disease across both trials.
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ITV News Science Editor Tom Clarke on the Novavax vaccine
A new coronavirus vaccine has been found to be 86% effective against the UK variant - and 96% effective in preventing cases caused by the original strain of Covid-19, the company behind the jab has announced.
The Novavax vaccine, which the UK has secured 60 millions doses of, was found to offer 100% protection against severe disease, including all hospital admission and death in a phase three trial.
The UK study enrolled more than 15,000 participants aged between 18 and 84, including 27% over the age of 65.
34.5% of the UK population have received at least one vaccine dose. Credit: PA
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