British government in Google tie-up

The prime minister, Gordon Brown has announced on Monday a partnership between the government and Google, at the internet company's Zeitgeist Conference. It will involve using Google Earth, with the help of meteorological data from the Met Office Hadley Centre and the British Antarctic Survey, to document changes caused by climate change and to predict changes in temperature over the coming hundred years.

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Brown also announced government plans for expanding e-government and the school and health care systems using web-based systems and databases. Greater use of IT is to be made in the fight against crime, for example by recording videos of suspects and through 'crime mapping' for the British police.

In his speech, Brown promised investment-minded IT businesses a "light touch framework", stating that this should create a foundation for ensuring that the United Kingdom remains a global leader in the technological and creative industries.

Over the past few months, the British government has attracted considerable attention in IT circles through a number of initiatives. It planned a slackening of copyright legislation and declined to apply to the EU Commission for an extension to copyright. Information technology is used extensively in the United Kingdom in the fight against crime. The British police are currently developing a database of facial images. Plans to implant RFID chips into criminals have also been announced. Unfortunately, the UK also made the headlines for a series of data losses by public bodies.

Brown will be responding to questions on his politics and viewpoint on an "Ask the PM" YouTube slot. On launching the website, Brown declared that it provides the people of Britain with what has previously been the preserve of politicians at the weekly prime minister's question time, in the House of Commons, something he describes as a "new, exciting initiative."

The Prime Minister is not the first UK politician to use the internet to get his message across. Opposition leader David Cameron has long been posting reports on his day-to-day activities on his "Webcameron" internet forum. Cameron, like Brown, also makes use of video. Cameron was a guest at Google's Zeitgeist Conference in California last October.

Observers see Brown's YouTube appearances as an attempt to improve his continuing low poll ratings. "I will be here to answer your questions," declares the virtual Prime Minister. He also sets the tone, suggesting questions such as "how globalisation's working, what's happening to climate change, how we can build the houses we need, how we can get the jobs we need for the future, how we can do better with the health service and how we can do better with all the different public services."

(trk)