Explain to Shane

Intellectual property (IP) has been a hot topic due to the Biden administration’s support of a proposal to waive the World Trade Organization’s Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. Some argue IP protections incentivized vaccine manufacturers to produce what are now the world’s antidotes to the pandemic. But others say these protections are slowing down global vaccination and distribution rates — especially in the developing world. Why did the administration take this stance, and what might this signal about its approach to other IP issues?On this episode, Shane is joined by AEI Adjunct Fellow Michael Rosen — a frequent author on IP-related incentives for innovation, and on patent reform in Congress and at the US Patent and Trademark Office. He joins the podcast to discuss the state of IP policy, what the administration’s TRIPS waiver stance means for the future of innovation and public health, and how this issue acts as a proxy for the challenges of IP innovation in technology.

Due to their ability to calculate multiple complex variables at the same time, quantum computers are poised to permanently change how technology exists in society. But with the advent of quantum computing comes several risks to the US across a range of fields, including national security. How can the US sufficiently advance its quantum computing capabilities and manage the risks that come with them?On this episode, Shane is joined by Klon Kitchen, an AEI resident fellow in foreign and defense policy. Klon writes frequently on the intersection of technology and national security, and recently published an AEI report titled “Quantum computing: A national security primer.” He joins the podcast to discuss this report and explain what’s at stake for the US in the race for quantum computing superiority.

Trust is a binding agent for society, but the internet was not designed with trust or user safety in mind. And today, trust in the online ecosystem seems to be at a low. How can we reverse this trend? Many tech companies have trust and safety professionals working behind the scenes on complex issues like content moderation, disinformation, and user privacy. To help unify these efforts and establish best practices, Clara Tsao co-founded the Trust & Safety Professional Association after serving as the Department of Homeland Security’s Chief Technology Officer from 2016–2019. On this episode, Clara joins Shane to explain how the trust and safety industry operates, and how her organization is tackling the challenges of the digital age. 

Following a wave of recent attacks, cyber and supply chain security are high on the United States’ policy agenda. Software “nutrition labels” are one solution cyber experts are considering; what do these “labels” look like, and how can government and industry work together to ensure their effectiveness? On this episode, Shane is joined by Allan Friedman, director of cybersecurity initiatives at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). For the last several years, Allan has been working to promote the adoption of Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs) across several industries and government agencies. He joins the podcast to explain how SBOMs can enrich America’s cyber toolbox, and how NTIA can promote their use without direct mandates.

As the pandemic has shifted work, education, and entertainment online, there is a growing appetite in Washington to enhance broadband access across the country. However, some members of Congress and the current administration have advocated for ramping up broadband speeds to a symmetrical 100 megabits per second both upstream and downstream (known as 100/100). Where is the push for this new standard coming from, and what would it mean for the average consumer? Richard Bennett, founder of High Tech Forum and a co-creator of Wi-Fi, returns to the podcast to explain how 100/100 would burden consumers and fail to connect more Americans to the internet. He and Shane discuss Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan, the digital divide, and more on this episode of “Explain to Shane.”

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are gaining traction in states where regulations encourage advanced technology to ride alongside traditional transportation. But in areas where AVs are in everyday traffic, issues like driver safety and data collection are being watched by policymakers. For both innovators and lawmakers, there remain many lessons to be learned about the opportunities and challenges posed by this new technological twist on auto traffic.On this episode, Shane is joined by Grayson Brulte, co-founder of Brulte & Company — a Florida-based consulting firm that helps AV innovators develop and market their products. Recently, Grayson has discussed the future of self-driving cars with a number of state and local officials on his “Road to Autonomy” podcast, and has led successful AV testing programs in Floridian communities. He joins “Explain to Shane” to discuss the biggest barriers to getting more AVs on the road, and how both manufacturers and passengers should approach them.  

In December 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the feasibility of allowing commercial operations — both satellite and terrestrial — in the 12.2–12.7 GHz spectrum band. Doing so could expand broadband access and expedite mobile 5G network buildouts; however, incumbents worry that additional commercial activity in the band could potentially interfere with their satellite operations. How can the FCC ensure new use of the 12-GHz band while navigating incumbents’ concerns?On this episode, Shane is joined by two spectrum policy experts: V. Noah Campbell, co-founder and CEO of Radio Spectrum Access LLC, and Richard Bennett, founder of High Tech Forum and a co-creator of Wi-Fi. Noah discusses how both industry and the FCC can safely increase commercial activity in the 12-GHz band, while Richard gives an engineer’s perspective on what freeing up spectrum entails — in the 12-GHz band and beyond.

Facing a new law requiring social media firms to pay Australian news providers for their content, Facebook and Google had notably different responses. After expressing brief opposition to the new policy, Google was willing to comply; on the other hand, Facebook blocked all news content on its Australian platform for two days — though later reached a compromise with the government. Why did the two companies approach the issue so differently, and what will Australia’s law mean for the future of tech regulation?To offer first-hand perspective from “down under,” AEI Adjunct Scholar Bronwyn Howell joins the podcast from Wellington, New Zealand, where she is a professor of business and government at Victoria University of Wellington. In addition to her recent AEI pieces on Australia’s social media dilemma, Bronwyn writes frequently about global telecoms issues and overseas regulation of Big Tech. On this episode, she shares her insights on the regulatory dilemma Australia has unraveled — both for itself and the rest of the world.  

While stuck indoors during the pandemic, items we want — and sometimes need — are harder to locate. Web retailers offer a quick fix, but what if we need online tutoring, IT help, or athletic coaching? And what if we could offer our own goods and services in return? In an attempt to overcome the communication barriers of traditional barter exchanges, Josh Kline founded HaveNeed — an app that lets users pay for what they “need” with what they “have.” The app’s algorithm creates pairings and multiparty trade circles that were previously impossible to arrange, and employs innovative security measures to ensure fair transactions. On this episode, Josh joins Shane to share HaveNeed's founding story and his outlook for the app’s future. 

Data protection regulations must strike a difficult balance between individual privacy and cybersecurity. But what happens when a cyberattacker’s identity is masked in the name of privacy? How would existing laws in the European Union, United Kingdom, and India address this dilemma? What can proponents of federal privacy legislation in the US learn from these countries? On this episode, Shane speaks with Emily Taylor, CEO of Oxford Information Labs and an associate fellow of Chatham House’s international security program. Emily and her Chatham House colleagues recently ran a set of ransomware simulations to test how much (or how little) national laws on cross-border data flows would influence the severity, investigation, and eventual attribution of a cyberattack. She joins “Explain to Shane” to preview her findings and discuss the complex relationship between data protection and cybersecurity.