10 Tech Policy Issues the 45th U.S. President Will Face

It’s a good time to take a party-neutral look at technology policy issues—from cyber-security to net neutrality—that are relevant in this election cycle.

The Declaration of Independence is a time-honored mission statement for our public servants. Yet our landscape has changed significantly since 1776. Providing for the common defense now includes securing the internet and protecting American businesses and the general public. With so much of our economy and daily lives dependent on the reliability of the internet, securing that resource is as vital as securing ocean trade routes. How will the government combat the many threats? What cyber-security measures—likely the first of its kind—will the 45th president enact?

There is an ongoing debate about the balance of an individual’s right to privacy and the need for the government to do its job of protecting citizens and preventing terrorism. What data should the government be allowed to collect and how should access to that data be managed? Where will the next president draw the line when it comes to mandating that businesses share customers’ data with the government?

In 2016 and beyond, most people have an online identity, whether they actively create one or not. These online identities can be difficult to modify once they are created, and they follow people over the course of their lives and careers. As a society, we have an ethical obligation to promote a culture of online respect and responsibility, but does the government have a role in protecting its citizens from themselves and others? Will the next commander-in-chief mandate more control and oversight of Internet content?

While one could argue that bullying, particularly among teenagers, is not new, it is certainly different online than it was in the schoolyards of most readers of this article. Is there a point at which the abuse requires government intervention via the school or the companies that own the social platforms often involved in these incidents? Will the presence of cyber-bullying decrease with a new leader on board?

With nearly everyone knowing someone who has been a victim of identity theft, the issue is familiar. The defenses against identify theft are largely a matter of consumer self-protection and responsible businesses practices, but what is the role of the government? What can and should the next president do to take a more aggressive approach to protecting citizens’ online identities? This is an issue that goes to the core of the Internet utility.

Public education is constantly challenged to keep the curriculum relevant for the modern world. How can our education system meet the needs of children in an increasingly technological world, yet one in which not everyone has access to the full suite of technology? Will the next leader of the Free World ensure that all schoolchildren, regardless of their socioeconomic status, have access to practical technology education that will undoubtedly shape their lives forever?

Teachers are already delivering content and educational experiences in new ways by using tools, such as custom-built apps on tablets students can access from anywhere. What is the next evolution in education technology that promises to improve the effectiveness of teaching? Will the next president use technology to fundamentally change the education system and address the huge costs of financing education?

The issue of net neutrality has been around for a while, but it remains an open topic. Should the information superhighway have a fast lane (with higher tolls)? What would be the goal and likely outcome of government regulation and enforcement of net neutrality? Will our next president make transformative changes, and will they be in line with what internet service providers are already doing/not doing?

There are a handful of driverless cars on the road today, operated by the likes of Google, Uber and Ford for research and development purposes. But the tenure of the next U.S. president (especially if the president serves two terms) will see the legal and regulatory roads paved to allow widespread use of driverless cars and other vehicles. How will the president manage this transition, and where will the burden of insurance—widely considered the biggest barrier to driverless car adoption—come to rest?

The internet of things (IoT) market is maturing, albeit slower than a lot of consumers would like. What guidelines and regulations will the federal government under the new president set when it comes to devices talking to each other about critical matters in medicine and finance? How will they extend existing industry regulations and mandates to the newly connected world?