Digital Brown Britain Gas

The government today released its Digital Britain report.

In the meantime you can read Gordon Brown telling us why The internet is as vital as water and gas and justifying what looks like more state interference under the pretext of innovation, provision of vital services, etc, etc:

Improved communications technologies from the progressive digital switchover will enable the Government and local authorities to provide taxpayers with improved individually tailored public services offering the greatest value for money, and increasing efficiency for citizens and businesses. We must also introduce a robust legal framework to combat digital piracy and secure the rights of Britain's creative talent.

The whole article is written in this lego-like prose, with bits of jargon and meaningless techno-politico-speak bodged together, an example of the complete opposite of the innovation and creativity it is supposed to espouse.

Brown, of course, is a great internet user, isn't he? He really knows what the web is all about:

Whether it is to work online, study, learn new skills, pay bills or simply stay in touch with friends and family, a fast internet connection is now seen by most of the public as an essential service, as indispensable as electricity, gas and water.

Nothing about the main reasons people use the web - shopping, gaming, watching porn and wasting time. And aren't those other services, water, electricity and gas, now in private, not government hands?

As with anything issuing from this government, what you see will not be what you get. My suspicion is that the main purpose is to establish a government controlled internet system which will be used primarily as the main contact for public access to all services; ie 'individually tailored services' means you'll only be able to sort them out via the internet. I don't think the Conservatives would be any better, since they've also been spouting this 'post-bureaucratic government' bullshit as well.

The future's not bright, it's shite.