Podcast Summary

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

Episode: “We’re appeasing the tech bros": Beeban Kidron, from film-maker to lawmaker
Date: February 20, 2026
Guest: Baroness Beeban Kidron

Episode Overview

In this episode, Nick Robinson sits down with Baroness Beeban Kidron, a celebrated filmmaker turned crossbench peer in the House of Lords, to discuss her 13-year campaign against the unchecked power of US tech giants. Kidron shares how her journey—from a politically radical childhood through documentary filmmaking to lawmaking—informs her relentless advocacy for tech regulation, especially to protect children. The conversation covers Kidron’s formative experiences, her view on government inaction, the nuanced harms of digital technology, and her vision for a digital world aligned with society’s values.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thirteen Years Against Silicon Valley (01:04–04:30)

• Kidron describes feeling “one middle aged woman against Silicon Valley,” echoing her husband’s words.
• She emphasizes the lateness of society and government in recognizing and addressing tech’s risks:
  • Quote: “If they find me at the bottom of the Thames, it’s Facebook what done it.” – Beeban Kidron (02:14)
• Criticizes government for acting slowly and only now responding due to political pressure, highlighting that proposed solutions have often been ignored or delayed, despite their readiness.
• She calls the recent public statements from the Prime Minister “a bit late to the party” but encourages action:
  • Quote: “Yes, yes, we welcome it. But now get on with it, because this is a government that has 81 open consultations...it was a consultation he was announcing, not real powers.” – Beeban Kidron (04:02)

2. The Realities of Tech Harm for Children and Society (05:35–08:01)

• Kidron paints a vivid picture of harms:
  • Babies and toddlers becoming addicted to fast-cut, addictive apps, inhibiting language and social development.
  • Addictive social media design (“dopamine loops” triggering attention every eight seconds).
  • Exposure to radicalization, self-harm, and inappropriate content.
  • Threats to democracy and economic sovereignty:
    • Quote: “Ultimately, we’re looking at a sort of a destruction of democracy and an interruption of economic life at scale, at scale that is really extracting money out of the UK and landing it quite happily in Silicon Valley.” – Beeban Kidron (07:42)

3. On Banning Social Media and Nuanced Solutions (08:01–09:43)

• Discusses Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s:
  • Acknowledges desperate parents and activists but wants “nuance.”
  • Warns against blanket bans, which exclude youth from digital life.
  • Instead, advocates for “conditional access”—platforms must protect rights and safety before allowing children.
  • Quote: “Ban the company, not the kid.” – Beeban Kidron (09:26)

4. Early Political Influences and the Power of Optimism (09:43–15:14)

• Kidron credits her late father, Marxist economist Michael Kidron, for instilling optimism and belief in change (“You have to live in the world as if it is the world you want it to be...”).
• Describes a childhood filled with radical thinkers and anti-apartheid campaigners; being treated as an equal at the dinner table contributed to her focus on children’s rights.

5. Finding Her Voice Through Silence and Photography (15:15–18:35)

• Recounts losing her voice for nine months as a child, using a notepad to communicate.
• This forced silence led to observing social dynamics and taking up photography, which began her documentary journey and formed her sense of advocacy for the voiceless.

6. Greenham Common and Documenting Activism (18:35–22:34)

• Lived with anti-nuclear women at Greenham Common for seven months, making a documentary.
• Realized her role wasn’t just as observer, but as an activist shaping narratives about women’s protest.

7. Impact of Representation and Storytelling (22:34–26:05)

• The power of stories like “Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit” to give voice to the marginalized and influence culture and policy.
  • Anecdote: Alan Yentob found it “not very BBC” (25:14) but broadcast it anyway, leading to lasting impact.

8. Bringing Film into Education and Political Service (26:05–28:25)

• Started a film club scheme for schools to create shared cultural experiences.
• This commitment to creativity and social good led to her appointment in the House of Lords.

9. The Moment the Tech Fight Began (28:25–31:31)

• In 2012, observing phone-obsessed teenagers prompted a documentary on kids growing up online.
• Early on, Kidron recognized the false expectation that parents or teachers could regulate tech:
  • Quote: “One of the things I resent is corporations and the government saying parents have to regulate. What a ludicrous idea...when there’s this humongous world designed to addict our kids.” – Baroness Kidron (30:16)

10. What Should Be Done? No Silver Bullet—Comprehensive Reform (31:31–33:17)

• Emphasizes the need for a suite of regulatory levers (product liability, duty of care, director liability, etc.)—not just age bans.
• Draws analogy: technology must be held to account like all other industries (e.g., fridges are recalled for defects).

11. Global Regulation and the Consent of Citizens (33:17–34:36)

• Cites international appetite for regulation (Australia, Malaysia, Brazil, France, certain US states).
• Predicts growing public and political resistance to the tech industry’s “platform” defense.

12. Specific Policy Demands (34:36–36:29)

• Companies should be responsible for content on their platforms (akin to publishers).
• Challenges industry claims of “free speech”:
  • Quote: “It’s not free speech, it’s managed speech. ... Outrage goes faster than kindness.” – Beeban Kidron (36:29)
• Calls for moving away from accepting harms as inevitable costs for innovation.

13. Overcoming Tech Lobbying and Economic Myths (38:03–40:10)

• Critiques governmental “appeasement” of tech giants driven by fear of lost investment and being outcompeted.
  • Quote: “[Churchill said:] The appeaser thinks that...they feed the crocodile in the hope they'll be eaten last. ... We are appeasing.” – Beeban Kidron (40:42)
• Urges Britain to build its own tech strength, challenge myths about regulation stifling innovation.

14. The Urgency of AI and Political Will (41:17–43:46)

• Warns that government is dragging its feet on AI, with real consequences for children and society.
• Rejects claims regulation stifles homegrown tech—says risk appetite and markets, not regulation, are the constraints.
• Quote: “We are really in a space where we are letting machines go ahead, you know, that may or may not obey their masters.” – Beeban Kidron (43:48)

15. On the House of Lords and Power to Make Change (44:27–45:38)

• Admits the House of Lords is imperfect, yet sees value in its cross-party collaboration for public good, especially in tech regulation.

16. The Importance of Humor and Humanity (45:38–47:19)

• Reflects on her work directing “Bridget Jones”—balancing sadness with humor, hoping people “always laugh and they always fight.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If they find me at the bottom of the Thames, it’s Facebook what done it.” (02:14 – Kidron)
• “Ban the company, not the kid.” (09:26 – Kidron)
• “You have to live in the world as if it is the world you want it to be, not the one it is. And you have to walk towards that.” (12:44 – Kidron, quoting her father)
• “He [the Prime Minister] is careless in putting it through the lens of his own children because that shows a lack of imagination and a lack of political understanding of the realities of many people’s lives.” (04:48 – Kidron)
• “It’s not free speech, it’s managed speech. ... Outrage goes faster than kindness.” (36:29 – Kidron)
• “If it was a fridge, it would be recalled by now.” (33:35 – Kidron)
• “We are appeasing. We are definitely appeasing. ... And I think this is a fight.” (40:44 – Kidron)
• “Bridget Jones, I love Bridget Jones. ... She is the woman who says everything that you think in your interior brain that you should never say in public.” (47:02 – Kidron)
• “I just do hope that people always laugh and they always fight.” (47:18 – Kidron)

Key Timestamps

• 01:04–04:30 | Setting the scene: 13 years battling big tech
• 05:47–08:01 | The scale and types of harm from unregulated tech
• 09:19–09:43 | “Ban the company, not the kid” approach
• 12:44 | Guiding principle from Kidron’s father
• 15:36–18:35 | Silence and the discovery of photography
• 18:35–22:34 | Living and filming at Greenham Common
• 28:25–31:31 | Filming teenagers online, the roots of Kidron’s tech activism
• 34:36–36:29 | Holding tech companies liable as publishers
• 40:42 | The “appeasement” of tech giants

Tone and Language

The conversation is direct, passionate, and often laced with wry humor. Kidron’s responses reflect a blend of idealism (“You have to live in the world as if it is the world you want it to be...”) and pragmatic activism. Nick Robinson’s questioning is warm and probing, providing space for stories and detailed reflections.

For New Listeners

This episode offers a multi-layered view into how personal history, creative storytelling, and political action intersect in Kidron’s life. It’s both a call to action on responsible tech governance and a thoughtful exploration of change—why it matters, where it comes from, and how it’s shaped by the values inherited from those who came before.