The Tech Policy Press Podcast

Nora Benavidez, Senior Counsel and Director of Digital Justice and Civil Rights at Free Press, dives into the vital topic of digital advocacy. She discusses the evolution of platform accountability, shedding light on creative strategies for campaign building. Nora also tackles the complexities of free speech versus safety. The conversation ventures into the rising influence of tech oligarchs and the need for grassroots engagement while exploring the implications of AI and societal trust. It's a passionate call for meaningful change in our digital landscape.

Graham Webster, a lecturer and research scholar at Stanford University, shares insights on China's global AI governance plan versus the U.S. approach. He discusses the implications of both nations' strategies within the competitive landscape of technology. Highlights include observations from the Shanghai World Artificial Intelligence Conference, where China's integration of AI is showcased. Webster emphasizes China's collaborative tone against the U.S.'s dominance-focused perspective, revealing critical differences in regulation, enforcement, and the future of AI governance.

Ryan Gerety, Director of the Athena Coalition, advocates for community oversight in AI development. Sarah Myers West, co-director at the AI Now Institute, dives into the social implications of artificial intelligence. Maia Woluchem, from Data and Society, focuses on AI's impact on people and places. Together, they dissect Trump's AI Action Plan, raising alarms about corporate interests overshadowing public good. From biased AI in hiring to environmental regulations, their discussion emphasizes the necessity for inclusive policies that prioritize community welfare.

Maitreya Shah is the Director of Technology Policy at AAPD, advocating for the rights of people with disabilities. Ariana Aboulafia leads the Disability Rights and Technology Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology, focusing on equitable tech policies. Cynthia Bennett is a research scientist at Google, examining AI ethics and representation. They discuss the 35th anniversary of the ADA, the challenges of algorithmic bias, and the crucial need for collaboration in tech development to enhance accessibility and inclusion for disabled individuals.

In this engaging discussion, Alice Hunsberger, Head of Trust & Safety at Musubi, shares her decade-long journey in the trust and safety field. Alongside Jerrel Peterson from Spotify, they explore the emotional challenges professionals face, advocating for a human rights-centered approach to improve user experiences. The duo emphasizes the importance of community connections and their personal strategies to maintain mental well-being. They also highlight the vital collaboration needed between sectors for effective policymaking in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Luca Bertuzzi, a Senior AI Correspondent at MLex specializing in European tech policy, dives into the implications of the EU's new voluntary AI Code. He discusses how this code aims to enhance transparency and mitigate risks for companies under the AI Act. Bertuzzi highlights the concerns from both European and American tech firms regarding the implementation timeline and compliance challenges. He also addresses the political pressures surrounding tech regulation and the potential consequences for non-compliance, underscoring the need for collaboration among stakeholders.

Hayley Tsukayama, associate director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation and former Washington Post reporter, dives into the crucial role of state legislatures in shaping AI policy amidst the federal debate. They discuss the complexities of legislation concerning AI safety, deepfakes, and algorithmic discrimination. Tsukayama highlights the shift towards state-level regulations and the challenges of partisanship. The conversation also touches on consumer protection and the influence of industry lobbying on regulatory oversight, stressing the need for vigilance in these evolving discussions.

Helen Nissenbaum, a philosopher and Cornell Tech professor, dives into the crucial topics of privacy in our digital age. She discusses the theory of contextual integrity, arguing for a societal approach to managing data flow. With the rise of AI and surveillance, she advocates for obfuscation as a vital tool for protecting identities. The conversation touches on evolving privacy norms and the ethical implications of data collection. Nissenbaum emphasizes the need for innovative, collaborative strategies to resist encroaching authoritarianism and secure individual privacy rights.

At Tech Policy Press we’ve been tracking the emerging application of generative AI systems in content moderation. Recently, the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) released a comprehensive report titled Algorithmic Gatekeepers: The Human Rights Impacts of LLM Content Moderation, which looks at the opportunities and challenges of using generative AI in content moderation systems at scale. Justin Hendrix spoke to its primary author, ECNL senior legal manager Marlena Wisniak.

Join Jacob Metcalf, AI expert at Data & Society, Tamara Kneese, a climate tech advocate, Reem Suleiman, privacy advocate from Mozilla, and Kevin De Liban, founder of TechTonic Justice, as they dissect the intersection of technology and democracy. They discuss how tech oligarchs threaten democratic values and citizens’ privacy through surveillance. The impact of data centers on vulnerable communities and the troubling labor ideology in Silicon Valley also take center stage. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on the urgent need for accountability and public participation in tech policy.