POSTnote
Disinformation: sources, spread and impact
This briefing explains how and why disinformation is spread. It evaluates real-world impact and outlines counter-initiatives and policy considerations.
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POSTnote
Policy implications of artificial intelligence (AI)
This POSTnote provides an overview of the potential policy issues that AI raises. These include economic and societal benefits, and risks, such as relating to privacy, intellectual property and disinformation. It also outlines the current regulatory landscape and potential future regulations.
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POSTbrief
Prison population growth: drivers, implications and policy considerations
This POSTbrief examines the drivers and implications of prison population growth in England and Wales, as well as future policy considerations.
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POSTnote
What is a just transition for environmental targets?
This POSTnote considers transitions to meet environmental targets and how their costs and benefits for different members of society can be distributed fairly.
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POSTbrief
The use of short prison sentences in England and Wales
This POSTbrief summarises the most recent and relevant evidence on the use and effectiveness of short prison sentences. It outlines the key trends, alternative sentencing options and wider considerations.
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POSTnote
Problem-solving courts
This POSTnote outlines the key components of Problem-solving courts (PSC) and summarises the key outcomes of different PSC. It concludes with highlighting the opportunities and challenges to implementation of PSC across England and Wales.
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POSTnote
Trust in the police
This POSTnote summarises trends in levels of public trust in the police and research on barriers to trust in the police and approaches to increasing trust.
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POSTnote
States’ use of cyber operations
States are increasingly engaging in cyber operations to support their strategic aims. This POSTnote considers hostile state-backed cyber activities against the UK. It looks at how and why states use cyber operations against other nations and the threats these pose to the UK. It also considers mitigation measures, both internationally and in the UK.
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POSTnote
Automation in military operations
Advances in robotics and digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), are enabling greater levels of automation across many sectors, including defence. The UK Government expects automation to be crucial to maintain military advantage in the future. In June 2022, the Ministry of Defence published its Defence AI Strategy, which sets out how it plans to adopt and exploit AI; automation was cited as a key application. This POSTnote discusses current and future applications of automation and AI, their impact on militaries and global stability, and the challenges around their development and implementation.
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POSTbrief
Assisted dying
This POSTbrief provides a brief overview of assisted dying, including ethical debate and stakeholder opinion. It examines how assisted dying functions within health services in countries where it is a legal option, focusing on jurisdictions where most data are available on outcomes: Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Oregon (United States), Switzerland and Victoria (Australia). It also covers evidence and expert opinion on key practical considerations that are raised in the context of assisted dying.
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POSTnote
Green steel
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the iron and steel industry make up 14% of industrial emissions in the UK. Decarbonisation of the steel industry is needed if the UK is to meet its target of net zero GHG emissions by 2050. This POSTnote outlines current steelmaking processes in the UK, the technologies and measures that can be used to reduce CO2 emissions, and the supporting infrastructure and policies that could enable a ‘green steel’ industry in the UK.
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POSTnote
The Use of Biological Methods in Asylum Age Assessments
An overview of current age assessment processes used in the UK asylum system and an examination of new proposals to use biological methods to distinguish children from adults.
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POSTnote
Sharing public sector data
Sharing public sector data can improve public services, facilitate research and innovation, and inform policymaking. However, public sector bodies face challenges when sharing data, both within the public sector and externally. These include cultural and skills barriers, poor data quality, and lack of public trust. Sharing public sector data also raises security and privacy concerns. This POSTnote looks at how public sector data is shared in the UK, discussing the requirements for effective data sharing and the associated benefits, risks, and barriers.
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POSTnote
Conversion Therapy
The UK Government intends to prepare legislation in the new year to ban ‘conversion therapy’ (CT) in England and Wales, for introduction when parliamentary time allows. This POSTnote outlines data on CT and reviews the quality of available research evidence and the impact of CT. It summarises UK stakeholder perspectives on a CT ban and outlines key challenges for policymakers to consider.
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POSTnote
Smart Cities
"Smart cities" describes places that incorporate a range of technologies (especially those that collect and use data) to address economic, social, and environmental challenges. Projects usually take place in urban areas, but are also deployed in rural settings. This POSTnote looks at smart city innovation in the UK and the technologies involved. It considers the factors driving the adoption of smart city technologies, and the potential benefits, barriers and risks associated with their implementation.
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