The party’s manifesto outlines policy proposals for greater regulation of social media firms and artificial intelligence technology, while promising that gig economy workers would have more rights over their data

The Green Party’s manifesto has set out the creation of a Digital Bill of Rights as a key policy pledge.

Such a piece of legislation could ensure that the UK is “a leading voice on standards for the rule of law and democracy in digital spaces”, according to the party, and would help the country “safeguard elections by responding to the challenges of foreign interference, social media and declining confidence in democracy”.

Measures provided for in the bill would include ensuring “independent regulation of social media providers”. The law would also “give the public greater control over their data, ensuring UK data protection is as strong as any other regulatory regime” around the world.

“Given the complexity of this legislation, elected Greens will push for the bill to be developed through a broad and inclusive public conversation,” the manifesto says.

While the document states that artificial intelligence “has enormous potential for good”, it stipulates that this potential can best be realised when accompanied by “a precautionary regulatory approach to the harms and risk” of the technology. If in power, the Greens would “would align the UK approach with our neighbours in Europe, UNESCO and global efforts to support a coordinated response to future risks of AI”.

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“We will also aim to secure equitable access to any socially and environmentally responsible benefits these technologies can bring, at the same time as addressing any bias, discrimination, equality, liberty or privacy issues arising from the use of AI,” the manifesto adds. “We would insist on the protection of the Intellectual Property of artists, writers and musicians and other creators. We would ensure that AI does not erode the value of human creativity and that workers’ rights and interests are respected when AI leads to significant changes in working conditions.”

Additional rights for  ‘gig economy’ workers – such as those providing tax or delivery drivers for Uber or Deliveroo, the manifesto says – would also be enshrined by the Green Party. This would include ensuring that “every worker will have a right to access their data and to appeal management decisions, [and] gig employers that repeatedly breach data protection, employment or tax law will be denied licences to operate”.

The Green Party is standing 574 general election candidates in seats across England and Wales, including co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay (pictured above) who are standing in Bristol Central and Waveney Valley, respectively.