Jerry Fishenden
@ntouk.bsky.social
Technologist, writer, composer. Delivering better organisations and outcomes through digital transformation, esp. security, identity & privacy + fixing disasters. FIET & WGGB. London & Lerwick. Latest book https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F23N7WSS
Pinned
Jerry Fishenden
@ntouk.bsky.social
· Aug 30
Digital Government and e-Government Archives
This is a living, curated list of documents and links related to UK Government e-government and digital government initiatives since the early 1990s. More will be added as and when time allows. Wherev...
ntouk.wordpress.com
Here's my regular reminder about the 'Digital Government and e-Government Archives' — my attempt to curate the major digital government initiatives of the past three or so decades ... all ideas for additions and improvements always welcome
Reposted by Jerry Fishenden
And here’s part 2.
It introduces:
The Backstory, which analyses three decades of UK government digital initiative to identify reasons for the lack of progress.
Lesson 1—The Vision, which explores why repeated ambitions to renew and rewire government have yet to be achieved.
It introduces:
The Backstory, which analyses three decades of UK government digital initiative to identify reasons for the lack of progress.
Lesson 1—The Vision, which explores why repeated ambitions to renew and rewire government have yet to be achieved.
‘Fracture’ serialisation part 2: The Backstory
The second instalment in a series of articles based on the Second Edition of my book Fracture: The collision between technology and democracy—and how we fix it. You can read the earlier Part 1 here…
ntouk.wordpress.com
January 23, 2026 at 10:13 AM
And here’s part 2.
It introduces:
The Backstory, which analyses three decades of UK government digital initiative to identify reasons for the lack of progress.
Lesson 1—The Vision, which explores why repeated ambitions to renew and rewire government have yet to be achieved.
It introduces:
The Backstory, which analyses three decades of UK government digital initiative to identify reasons for the lack of progress.
Lesson 1—The Vision, which explores why repeated ambitions to renew and rewire government have yet to be achieved.
“As a matter of principle, we do not think that capacity constraints are a legitimate reason for delaying long planned elections. Extending existing mandates risks affecting the legitimacy of local decision making and damaging public confidence.”
Electoral Commission responds to potential election postponements
We are concerned by the possibility of some council elections in May being postponed, and even more by any further postponement to those which already had been deferred from 2025.
www.electoralcommission.org.uk
January 23, 2026 at 5:22 PM
“As a matter of principle, we do not think that capacity constraints are a legitimate reason for delaying long planned elections. Extending existing mandates risks affecting the legitimacy of local decision making and damaging public confidence.”
Reposted by Jerry Fishenden
The UK government has begun testing of a digital driving licence – the highest profile official document so far to be digitised as part of the roll-out of the Gov.uk digital wallet....
👉 [read]
👉 [read]
January 23, 2026 at 8:24 AM
The UK government has begun testing of a digital driving licence – the highest profile official document so far to be digitised as part of the roll-out of the Gov.uk digital wallet....
👉 [read]
👉 [read]
Here's the first in a series of instalments from my book ‘Fracture' in which I'm going to explore:
— why decades of digital initiatives have failed to deliver the desired modernisation of government
— what a modern, adaptive democracy could look like
— what changes are needed to get us there
— why decades of digital initiatives have failed to deliver the desired modernisation of government
— what a modern, adaptive democracy could look like
— what changes are needed to get us there
‘Fracture’ serialisation part 1
The first in a series of articles based on the Second Edition of my book Fracture: The collision between technology and democracy—and how we fix it. “You would think that governments would pl…
ntouk.wordpress.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Here's the first in a series of instalments from my book ‘Fracture' in which I'm going to explore:
— why decades of digital initiatives have failed to deliver the desired modernisation of government
— what a modern, adaptive democracy could look like
— what changes are needed to get us there
— why decades of digital initiatives have failed to deliver the desired modernisation of government
— what a modern, adaptive democracy could look like
— what changes are needed to get us there
Gridwatch is such a good app to track the reality of the UK’s live energy metrics …
January 18, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Gridwatch is such a good app to track the reality of the UK’s live energy metrics …
I thought it might be entertaining to see what Microsoft Copilot makes of the new paper "Public-Service Reform in the Age of AI" from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.
Here's its analysis—benchmarked against 3 decades of similar proposals curated in the Digital Govt Archives.
Here's its analysis—benchmarked against 3 decades of similar proposals curated in the Digital Govt Archives.
An AI analysis of the Tony Blair Institute’s “Public Service Reform in the Age of AI”
I thought it might be useful, or at least entertaining, to see what an AI tool made of the new paper from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change on Public-Service Reform in the Age of AI. So I …
ntouk.wordpress.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:46 PM
I thought it might be entertaining to see what Microsoft Copilot makes of the new paper "Public-Service Reform in the Age of AI" from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.
Here's its analysis—benchmarked against 3 decades of similar proposals curated in the Digital Govt Archives.
Here's its analysis—benchmarked against 3 decades of similar proposals curated in the Digital Govt Archives.
well, this looks like some suitable weekend reading ...
"AI systems are built to function in ways that degrade and are likely to destroy our crucial civic institutions."
"How AI Destroys Institutions"
"AI systems are built to function in ways that degrade and are likely to destroy our crucial civic institutions."
"How AI Destroys Institutions"
How AI Destroys Institutions
Civic institutions—the rule of law, universities, and a free press—are the backbone of democratic life. They are the mechanisms through which complex societies
papers.ssrn.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:08 PM
well, this looks like some suitable weekend reading ...
"AI systems are built to function in ways that degrade and are likely to destroy our crucial civic institutions."
"How AI Destroys Institutions"
"AI systems are built to function in ways that degrade and are likely to destroy our crucial civic institutions."
"How AI Destroys Institutions"
“Labour MP Josh Simons to lead digital ID scheme”
Labour MP Josh Simons to lead digital ID scheme | Computer Weekly
Cabinet Office parliamentary secretary Josh Simons to become digital ID minister as government prepares to launch public consultation on the scheme.
www.computerweekly.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:10 AM
“Labour MP Josh Simons to lead digital ID scheme”
Reposted by Jerry Fishenden
Here's my regular reminder about the 'Digital Government and e-Government Archives' — my attempt to curate the major digital government initiatives of the past three or so decades ... all ideas for additions and improvements always welcome
Digital Government and e-Government Archives
This is a living, curated list of documents and links related to UK Government e-government and digital government initiatives since the early 1990s. More will be added as and when time allows. Wherev...
ntouk.wordpress.com
August 30, 2024 at 9:31 AM
Here's my regular reminder about the 'Digital Government and e-Government Archives' — my attempt to curate the major digital government initiatives of the past three or so decades ... all ideas for additions and improvements always welcome
I'm going to replace a few graphics like this (from the digital government archives) with better (HTML) equivalents in the New Year.
Apart from correcting a few obvious typos, anything else I should update/improve on this one while I'm at it?
Apart from correcting a few obvious typos, anything else I should update/improve on this one while I'm at it?
December 23, 2025 at 8:22 AM
I'm going to replace a few graphics like this (from the digital government archives) with better (HTML) equivalents in the New Year.
Apart from correcting a few obvious typos, anything else I should update/improve on this one while I'm at it?
Apart from correcting a few obvious typos, anything else I should update/improve on this one while I'm at it?
Reposted by Jerry Fishenden
Digital Government at the Crossroads (2025)
Decades of digital government initiatives have left governments ill-placed in an increasingly challenging & volatile world. It’s time to use technology to help democracies learn smarter, react faster, & adapt better
Decades of digital government initiatives have left governments ill-placed in an increasingly challenging & volatile world. It’s time to use technology to help democracies learn smarter, react faster, & adapt better
Digital Government at the Crossroads
The Cambridge Journal of Law, Politics, and Art has published my article Digital Government at the Crossroads. It explores the need for a radical rethink and reset to ‘digital government’ initiativ…
ntouk.wordpress.com
December 22, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Digital Government at the Crossroads (2025)
Decades of digital government initiatives have left governments ill-placed in an increasingly challenging & volatile world. It’s time to use technology to help democracies learn smarter, react faster, & adapt better
Decades of digital government initiatives have left governments ill-placed in an increasingly challenging & volatile world. It’s time to use technology to help democracies learn smarter, react faster, & adapt better
Capita really have excelled themselves taking over the Civil Service pension scheme …
December 22, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Capita really have excelled themselves taking over the Civil Service pension scheme …
Reposted by Jerry Fishenden
The war we’re in (2021)
We're in a hybrid war blending cyberattacks, disinformation, election interference & propaganda to erode democracy. It’s another reason why govt digital strategies need a major reset—to help democracies improve their ability to learn smarter, react faster, and adapt better
We're in a hybrid war blending cyberattacks, disinformation, election interference & propaganda to erode democracy. It’s another reason why govt digital strategies need a major reset—to help democracies improve their ability to learn smarter, react faster, and adapt better
The war we’re in
We’re at war whether we know it or not. Hybrid warfare surrounds us, hiding in plain sight. But I’m not sure anyone wants to hear that as we emerge from the shadow of Covid. Perhaps the …
ntouk.wordpress.com
December 22, 2025 at 8:36 AM
The war we’re in (2021)
We're in a hybrid war blending cyberattacks, disinformation, election interference & propaganda to erode democracy. It’s another reason why govt digital strategies need a major reset—to help democracies improve their ability to learn smarter, react faster, and adapt better
We're in a hybrid war blending cyberattacks, disinformation, election interference & propaganda to erode democracy. It’s another reason why govt digital strategies need a major reset—to help democracies improve their ability to learn smarter, react faster, and adapt better
It’s nearly Christmas — the perfect excuse to look back at some of my most read blog posts from the past 5 years.
(🎶 drum roll 🎶)
In reverse date order, the posts are …
(🎶 drum roll 🎶)
In reverse date order, the posts are …
December 22, 2025 at 8:36 AM
It’s nearly Christmas — the perfect excuse to look back at some of my most read blog posts from the past 5 years.
(🎶 drum roll 🎶)
In reverse date order, the posts are …
(🎶 drum roll 🎶)
In reverse date order, the posts are …
Winter, when one of my favourite beers starts appearing on draught … one of life’s treats :)
December 13, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Winter, when one of my favourite beers starts appearing on draught … one of life’s treats :)
Reposted by Jerry Fishenden
Research highlights how the Home Office’s electronic visa system has used migrants as a ‘testing ground’ for the government’s wider digital ID ambitions....
👉 [read]
👉 [read]
December 11, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Research highlights how the Home Office’s electronic visa system has used migrants as a ‘testing ground’ for the government’s wider digital ID ambitions....
👉 [read]
👉 [read]
good piece in GeekWire about the 40th (!) reunion of the team that brought the world, er, Windows 1.0
Inside the Windows 1.0 reunion: How a scrappy team shipped the product that changed everything, eventually
A core group of early Microsoft developers and business leaders reunited this week, 40 years after releasing Windows 1.0, sharing previously untold stories and reflecting on a landmark project that se...
www.geekwire.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:23 AM
good piece in GeekWire about the 40th (!) reunion of the team that brought the world, er, Windows 1.0
Ugh, this looks horrible — the "artist's impressions" are more like some dystopian AI slop.
Oxford Street has long needed improving, but if anything this makes it look even worse whilst displacing and shortening useful (and busy) bus routes.
Oxford Street has long needed improving, but if anything this makes it look even worse whilst displacing and shortening useful (and busy) bus routes.
Oxford Street traffic diversion plan ahead of pedestrianisation
www.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Ugh, this looks horrible — the "artist's impressions" are more like some dystopian AI slop.
Oxford Street has long needed improving, but if anything this makes it look even worse whilst displacing and shortening useful (and busy) bus routes.
Oxford Street has long needed improving, but if anything this makes it look even worse whilst displacing and shortening useful (and busy) bus routes.
This is in danger of becoming an evergreen tweet …
I see road charging is back in the news ahead of the budget, although it's hardly "news"—here's a Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology note on this very topic from, er, 1998!
ntouk.wordpress.com/wp-content/u...
ntouk.wordpress.com/wp-content/u...
ntouk.wordpress.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:20 PM
This is in danger of becoming an evergreen tweet …
Reposted by Jerry Fishenden
“Digital Government at the Crossroads”—in this article for the Cambridge Journal of Law, Politics, and Art I explore why ‘digital government’ needs a rethink and reset to help democracies learn smarter, react faster, and adapt better to the growing challenges they face
Digital Government at the Crossroads
Introduction Governments have launched a series of ambitious digital strategies over recent decades to improve how they operate and interact with citizens. However, many of their anticipated benefits ...
www.cjlpa.org
July 9, 2025 at 5:56 AM
“Digital Government at the Crossroads”—in this article for the Cambridge Journal of Law, Politics, and Art I explore why ‘digital government’ needs a rethink and reset to help democracies learn smarter, react faster, and adapt better to the growing challenges they face
I’m going to start serialising extracts from my book ‘Fracture’ in the new year.
It explores what the past three decades of “digital government” initiatives reveal and why democracy and democratic values need to become the essential foundations of a modern and accountable digital state.
It explores what the past three decades of “digital government” initiatives reveal and why democracy and democratic values need to become the essential foundations of a modern and accountable digital state.
The second edition of 'Fracture. The collision between technology and democracy—and how we fix it' is out
a flavour of what my latest book, 'Fracture', is all about—in which I manage to include a reference to 'Hot Fuzz' and a clip of 'the greater good'
November 3, 2025 at 9:52 AM
I’m going to start serialising extracts from my book ‘Fracture’ in the new year.
It explores what the past three decades of “digital government” initiatives reveal and why democracy and democratic values need to become the essential foundations of a modern and accountable digital state.
It explores what the past three decades of “digital government” initiatives reveal and why democracy and democratic values need to become the essential foundations of a modern and accountable digital state.
Reposted by Jerry Fishenden
With digital ID back in the news, I thought I'd resurface my @computerweekly.bsky.social piece from 2020—exploring what *good* citizen-centric, democratic ID might look like in place of the hype and failed approaches of the past …
Implementing a 21st century approach to digital identity | Computer Weekly
We need a better, more convenient and effective solution to identity. One that lets us manage our own identity-related data and choose where, when and with whom we share it.
www.computerweekly.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:53 PM
With digital ID back in the news, I thought I'd resurface my @computerweekly.bsky.social piece from 2020—exploring what *good* citizen-centric, democratic ID might look like in place of the hype and failed approaches of the past …
With digital ID back in the news, I thought I'd resurface my @computerweekly.bsky.social piece from 2020—exploring what *good* citizen-centric, democratic ID might look like in place of the hype and failed approaches of the past …
Implementing a 21st century approach to digital identity | Computer Weekly
We need a better, more convenient and effective solution to identity. One that lets us manage our own identity-related data and choose where, when and with whom we share it.
www.computerweekly.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:53 PM
With digital ID back in the news, I thought I'd resurface my @computerweekly.bsky.social piece from 2020—exploring what *good* citizen-centric, democratic ID might look like in place of the hype and failed approaches of the past …
GOV.UK One Login is a mess. Alongside reported security issues & missing features like delegation & support for business, it breaks the government’s identity assurance principles: it's impossible to switch easily between different One Login accounts. How did it ever pass a service assessment?
September 28, 2025 at 3:53 PM
GOV.UK One Login is a mess. Alongside reported security issues & missing features like delegation & support for business, it breaks the government’s identity assurance principles: it's impossible to switch easily between different One Login accounts. How did it ever pass a service assessment?