But ideas are cheap, of course every government has thought and dragged ideas about this before. But implementing them is costly, so letting another government go first, working out the kinks, getting case studies for what kind of messaging works, what tech is required, and seeing what the backlash looks like, makes the second go a lot easier and cheaper.
Every Western country is moving towards authoritarianism/data-totalitarianism. Characterising this as a British only thing is nonsense.
But ideas are cheap, of course every government has thought and dragged ideas about this before. But implementing them is costly, so letting another government go first, working out the kinks, getting case studies for what kind of messaging works, what tech is required, and seeing what the backlash looks like, makes the second go a lot easier and cheaper.