The Tech Policy Press Podcast

In the latest episode in her special podcast series, Through to Thriving, Tech Policy Press fellow Anika Collier Navaroli talks about protecting privacy with Chris Gilliard. Gilliard is co-director of the Critical Internet Studies Institute and the author of Luxury Surveillance, a forthcoming book from MIT Press.

Adam Fivenson, a nonresident fellow at American University and expert on information integrity, joins Samantha Bradshaw, assistant professor and CSINT director focusing on misinformation. They discuss reframing the 'information war' as a matter of social transformation rather than military loss. The duo explores the effects of disinformation on democratic deliberation, the importance of evidence-based information, and the societal risks posed by low-integrity content. They also emphasize innovative strategies for rebuilding trust through community-based journalism and engaging new media platforms.

This discussion features Ryan Cummings, Chief of Staff at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research; Sarah West, Co-director of the AI Now Institute; and journalist Brian Merchant. They explore whether the AI investment surge indicates a bubble poised to burst. Topics include the financing behind AI developments, potential economic repercussions, and how such a crash could impact narratives around AI and geopolitics. They suggest possible policy responses, including stronger social safety nets and antitrust measures, emphasizing the need for public-interest frameworks.

Peter Chapman, Associate Director at the Knight-Georgetown Institute, Brandi Geurkink, Executive Director of the Coalition for Independent Technology Research, and Elka Seiling, a researcher at the Weizenbaum Institute, dive into the vital need for independent researchers to have better access to technology platform data. They discuss the power dynamics of data access, the challenges posed by the EU's Digital Services Act, and the potential for a more accountable tech landscape. Their insights highlight the crucial link between research access and civic empowerment.

Mimi Ọnụọha, a visual artist known for exploring the intersections of data, technology, and societal power dynamics, shares her thought-provoking insights. She discusses the evolution of data terminology and reveals how art can bear witness to the realities of authoritarianism. With fascinating examples like her Catcalling Intervention, Mimi highlights the importance of recognizing missing data sets. She advocates for deeper collaboration between artists and policy practitioners to imagine a more just future, emphasizing the need to question whose interests technology truly serves.

Ryan Calo, a law professor and information scientist at the University of Washington, explores the intersection of law and technology. He discusses how the Amish approach to technology challenges assumptions about technological inevitability. Calo critiques the current fetishization of innovation, highlighting its hidden failures. He advocates for a proactive legal approach that aligns technology with societal values and outlines a four-step method for legal scholars. With a nod to the importance of technology assessment, he emphasizes the need for balance between innovation and regulation.

Laura Edelson, an assistant professor and cybersecurity advocate, teams up with Arturo Béjar, a former Facebook safety director turned whistleblower, to discuss Instagram's failures in protecting teens. They reveal how many safety tools are easily circumvented and stress that product design flaws contribute significantly to these issues. The duo highlights the inadequacy of adult-to-teen messaging limits and calls for stronger age assurance measures. They emphasize the need for regulators to hold Meta accountable for transparency and verify safety claims.

Mallory Knodel, Executive Director of the Social Web Foundation, and Burcu Kilic, Senior Fellow at CIGI, dive into the decline of the open internet. They trace the erosion back to the 1990s, blaming it on laissez-faire policies that favored Big Tech's consolidation. The conversation highlights the misleading use of 'open' by corporations, the failures of regulations like GDPR, and warns about AI reinforcing centralization. They advocate for stronger antitrust actions and the creation of public digital alternatives to revitalize true openness in technology.

Thomas Hughes, CEO of Appeals Centre Europe, shares insights about the new transparency report revealing that over 75% of moderation decisions were overturned in the first 1,500 disputes. Paddy Leerssen, a postdoctoral researcher, discusses the significance of Article 21, emphasizing its role in making dispute settlements more accessible for users. They explore the challenges of platform compliance, the implications of GDPR on data sharing, and how the system can bolster free speech by correcting unjust content removals.

Join John Wihbey, an associate professor at Northeastern University and author of Governing Babel, as he navigates the complex landscape of platform governance and free expression. He discusses the implications of social media's role in societal crises, especially in light of January 2021 events. Wihbey explores the challenges posed by AI on shared reality and emphasizes the need for structured forums for dialogue and clearer regulations. His insights into global perspectives on free speech and the role of platforms highlight the urgent need for coherent governance.