The Tech Policy Press Podcast

Rina Chandran, Deputy Editor of Rest of World, sheds light on the intricate dance between technology and democracy. She discusses the global impact of U.S. tech policies and highlights the rise of tech oligarchies affecting journalism worldwide. Chandran shares insights on how young journalists navigate misinformation and censorship while striving for accountability. The conversation tackles political tactics used to control narratives, illustrating the challenges faced by reporters in both Western and non-Western contexts.

Join Michael Masnick, founder of TechDirt, Vittoria Elliot from Wired, and Emmanuel Maiberg of 404 Media as they explore the vital role of tech journalism in today’s political climate. They discuss how journalists tackle the complexities of technology's impact on democracy and the challenges posed by government surveillance. The trio highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in journalism while addressing the threats to free speech and the need for quality reporting in an era of misinformation.

Ryan Goodman, a legal scholar at NYU and former special counsel in the Defense Department, joins Cooper Quintin, a tech expert at the EFF, to dissect the SignalGate controversy. They explore the implications of a leaked military chat involving top officials and a reporter. The discussion highlights user errors in secure messaging, the potential legal ramifications, and a comparison with past national security scandals. They also address the unsettling use of language and emojis in military communications, revealing deeper issues behind the trivialization of serious matters.

In this enlightening discussion, Alvaro Bedoya, a Federal Trade Commission commissioner who stood against President Trump's firings, sheds light on the implications for consumer protection and competition laws. He details the legal complexities of his termination, emphasizing the importance of FTC independence in regulating big tech. Bedoya also advocates for genuine diversity in commission leadership, aiming for robust debates that can protect small businesses from corporate monopolies. His insights reveal a crucial struggle between political pressures and public accountability.

Dan McQuillan, a senior lecturer in creative and social computing and author of "Resisting AI: An Anti-fascist Approach to Artificial Intelligence," discusses the intersection of AI and authoritarianism. He advocates for transformative AI that counters corporate and state power. The conversation explores the societal implications of generative AI, critiques the notion of AI as a solution to complex issues, and emphasizes the need for an inclusive approach to technology that prioritizes community welfare over corporate interests.

Dr. Alondra Nelson, the Harold F. Linder Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study and former deputy assistant to President Biden, dives into the intricate relationship between AI and democracy. She discusses the contrasting AI policies of different administrations and the importance of the White House Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights. The conversation also addresses the ethics of AI, biases, and privacy rights, along with the U.S. role in global technology policy and the need for sustainable approaches to foster democracy and social equity.

Eryk Salvaggio, a visiting professor and tech policy expert, along with AI ethicist Borhane Blili-Hamelin and Margaret Mitchell, chief ethics scientist at Hugging Face, dive into the controversial pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI). They question whether AGI should remain the ultimate goal, arguing it may detract from vital ethical discussions and genuine societal benefits. The conversation highlights the danger of mainstream consensus around AGI, advocating for diverse perspectives and practical applications in AI that genuinely address community needs.

A year ago, Europe’s Digital Markets Act—the DMA—went into effect. The European Commission says the purpose of the regulation is to make “digital markets in the EU more contestable and fairer.” In particular, the DMA regulates gatekeepers, the large digital platforms whose position gives them greater leverage over the digital economy. One year in, how has the DMA performed? Do Europeans enjoy more choice and competition? And what are the new politics of the DMA as European regulations are contested by the Trump administration and its supporters in US industry? To answer these questions and more, Tech Policy Press contributing editor Dean Jackson spoke to a set of experts following a conference hosted by the Knight Georgetown Institute titled “DMA and Beyond.” His guests include:Alissa Cooper, Executive Director of the Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI)Anu Bradford, Henry L. Moses Professor of Law and International Organization at Columbia Law SchoolHaeyoon Kim, a Non-Resident Fellow at the Korea Economic Institute (KEI), andGunn Jiravuttipong, a JSD Candidate and Miller Fellow at Berkeley Law School.

Could AI help design better, more democratic platforms and online environments for public discourse? What are the opportunities, challenges, and risks of deploying AI in contexts where people are engaged in political discussion? Today’s guests are among the more than two dozen authors of a new paper on AI and the future of digital public squares:Audrey Tang, Taiwan's Cyber Ambassador and former Digital MinisterRavi Iyer, managing director of the USC Marshall School Neely Center for Ethical Leadership and Decision MakingBeth Goldberg, head of R&D at Jigsaw and a lecturer at Yale School of Public Policy

Rudy Fraser, founder of Blacksky Algorithms and a fellow at Harvard's Berkman Klein Center, dives into the world of social media middleware. He shares his inspiring journey from a childhood passion for video games to creating tools for user autonomy in digital spaces. The conversation reveals the challenges of building Black Sky, a platform designed for Black users, focusing on community support and effective moderation. Fraser emphasizes the importance of decentralized approaches to counter misinformation and foster safe online communities.