Policy Issues

Tech Skills & Diversity

Robert spent much of his time at GCHQ addressing the UK skills shortage in cyber security and related disciplines. He celebrated the importance of diversity for the technical brilliance and innovation present in GCHQ. He launched a range of initiatives aimed at broadening recruitment.

Encryption

Robert made a major intervention in the encryption and ‘going dark’ debate through a speech at MIT in 2016. He argued in favour of strong encryption and warned against installing ‘back doors’, a position he has held consistently. But he also suggested a constructive approach between governments and tech companies to tackle the abuse of strong encryption by terrorists and criminals.

Tech Regulation

Robert caused controversy in 2014 by highlighting the social responsibility of tech companies some years before this became recognised as a serious problem. He has since written widely on the issue and is a frequent contributor to the BBC and other broadcasters on tech regulation and related subjects.