POLITICO Tech

Arturo Béjar, a whistleblower concerned about Meta's handling of online content aimed at children, discusses his motivations and experiences before Congress. He highlights the need for bipartisan legislation, addresses uncomfortable content challenges, and emphasizes the importance of driving change in companies. He also shares the supportive reactions received for confirming the severity of the situation.

Senators Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn discuss the revelations from the Meta whistleblower's testimony, highlighting ignored safety recommendations and harm caused by harmful content. They emphasize the need for accountability and transparency in social media platforms and compare big tech to big tobacco, calling for reform. They address concerns about the impact of the Kids Online Safety Act on LGBTQ youth and explain its purpose. They discuss the bipartisan support for the legislation in safeguarding children without imposing content censorship.

Frances Haugen, a former Meta executive and whistleblower, discusses the concerns about harmful content for children on social media. The chapter also explores access to senior executives at Facebook and the challenges faced by a whistleblower, as well as policy recommendations to address content moderation and harm to children online.

New Orleans lifted a ban on facial recognition technology due to a rise in violent crime. The podcast discusses the data one year later, including the limitations of the technology, racial bias, and the city's efforts to track its usage. It also explores the future of privacy and facial recognition, as well as the shift in attitudes towards legislation and the challenges in regulating law enforcement policies.

The fledgling industry for betting on U.S. election outcomes  — through regulated exchanges, not black markets — has been subject to immense regulatory scrutiny. Now, start-up company Kalshi is suing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for blocking its plan to create one of these political markets. On POLITICO Tech, Kalshi co-founder Tarek Mansour argues these exchanges are not only legal, but good for democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast discusses the political jockeying between the U.S. and U.K. to be the world's AI leader, including the U.K.'s AI safety summit and the Biden administration's AI executive order. Topics include the United States' approach to AI regulation, the challenges of global consensus, and the bipartisan agreement on AI with potential for politicization.

Internet access has been significantly disrupted in Gaza since the start of its ongoing war with Israel, including a recent blackout that lasted more than 30 hours. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly speaks with Palestinian community activist Nour Swirki and an internet watchdog  — NetBlocks director Alp Toker — about what it means to be disconnected from friends, family and the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Buchanan, White House Special Adviser on AI, discusses the implications of President Biden's executive order on AI. Topics include the future impact on AI use, the need for congressional codification, US vision for AI policy, and the complementary nature of the US executive order and the EU AI Act.

Student loan borrowers seeking advice on social media, facing misinformation and lack of guidance from the Biden administration. Risks of relying solely on influencers for financial advice. Consequences of following influencers on TikTok regarding loan payments and forgiveness. Misinformation and responsibility of influencers in providing accurate advice. Surge in social media activity for student loan repayment. Unveiling of White House's AI executive order.

The podcast explores an upcoming Supreme Court case accusing the Biden administration of pressuring social media companies to remove conservative posts. It delves into the complexities of government interference in online speech and the challenges in defining the line between coercion and regulation. The adversarial relationship between Washington and Silicon Valley is discussed, along with the government's role in determining speech on social media platforms. The podcast also touches on the Supreme Court's impact on communication between the government and social media platforms.