Governing Emerging Technologies—Looking Forward with Horizon Scanning and Looking Back with Technology Audits
Abstract
Many technologies, particularly in the life sciences, are subject to governance regulation. Discussion of such governance tends to focus on limits on research and experimental uses and then on a decision whether, and how, to allow wide use. Two other important aspects of technology governance, one earlier and one later, have been discussed less: anticipation of technologies with important effects and the monitoring of the actual effects of adopted technologies. This article will analyzes those points of the governance process and proposes a plan to improve their functioning. The article argues first that the world would benefit from a more visible and influential approach to spotting and analyzing emerging technologies through a high profile “Horizon Scanning Group.” It then proposes a more formal approach to monitoring and assessing new developments through “Technology Audit Groups.” The article’s third section discusses complicated organizational issues surrounding these proposed groups and proposes some specific approaches.