** Content warning: This episode contains discussion of Child Sexual Abuse Material **

Australia's eSafety Commissioner is trying to force tech giants to scan cloud storage for illegal and harmful content. Apple says this could undermine security protections and facilitate mass surveillance.

This is just the latest skirmish in the crypto wars - a 50 year old policy debate about how to balance strong encryption (which is essential to privacy and security online) with law enforcement access to crucial data.

This week we explore some of the policy and rhetorical challenges that arise when trying to debate these competing objectives.

Links:

Article on Apple's criticism of eSafety's proposed standards (InnovationAus) https://www.innovationaus.com/apple-warns-against-mass-file-scanning-proposal/

An old but good breakdown of some common crypto wars rhetoric (The Verge) https://www.theverge.com/2016/1/12/10749806/encryption-debate-fbi-terrorism-going-dark

Criticism of Malcolm Turnbull's laws of mathematics gaffe (Electronic Frontier Foundation) https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/07/australian-pm-calls-end-end-encryption-ban-says-laws-mathematics-dont-apply-down

Credits:

To mark 100 episodes, this week we reflect on the topics covered on This Week in Digital Trust since its inception.

Arj and Jordan also share four key insights and learnings that have emerged through their discussions, and how these have shaped (and are shaped) their world views.

If you'd like to share some feedback with us, we'd love to hear it. https://forms.office.com/r/6HxEztcC85

Credits:
Editing and post-production by Martin Franklin (East Coast Studio) eastcoaststudio.com.au
Music by Bensound.com

Supermarkets have been under intense scrutiny in Australia over a range of issues, including alleged profiteering in a cost of living crisis, and poor treatment of workers and suppliers.

In this episode, we explore how the use of advanced technologies and digital platforms by the two supermarket majors may be contributing to these issues, and further entrenching market dominance.

Links:

Four Corners investigation https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-19/super-power-the-cost-of-living-with-coles-and-woolworths/103486508

The Conversation piece on surveillance tech at Coles and Woolworths https://theconversation.com/the-secret-sauce-of-coles-and-woolworths-profits-high-tech-surveillance-and-control-224076

The Conversation piece on Coles deal with Palantir https://theconversation.com/solving-the-supermarket-why-coles-just-hired-us-defence-contractor-palantir-222883

Monash Business School study on cost of living, consumer sentiment and shoplifting https://lens.monash.edu/@business-economy/2023/09/25/1386156/cost-of-living-shoplifting-surge-aussies-pushed-to-the-limit

Academic article about 'refractive surveillance' https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/7041

Credits:
Editing and post-production by Martin Franklin (East Coast Studio) eastcoaststudio.com.au

Music by Bensound.com

This week we go deep on doxing, the practice of "dropping docs" on someone in order to expose their information to a hostile digital audience.

Links:

Explainer on doxing (eSafety Commissioner) https://www.esafety.gov.au/industry/tech-trends-and-challenges/doxing
Article about proposed Australian laws (SMH) https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/doxxers-on-notice-they-will-face-jail-time-under-new-laws-20240216-p5f5ha.html
Article about Elon Musk's doxing claim (APNews) https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-business-5bf13ebcd0bfa4995099bb44c72da944
Article about US abortion providers being doxed (Reuters) 
https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL8N39E8D3/#:~:text=%22The%20records%20are%20published%20on,%2C%22%20said%20Hecht%2DFelella.
Gamergate explainer (Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamergate_(harassment_campaign)
Article about Oliver Sipple and doxing in general (WIRED https://www.wired.com/2012/10/truth-lies-doxxing-internet-vigilanteism/
Radiolab podcast about Oliver Sipple https://radiolab.org/podcast/oliver-sipple
Osman Faruqi article on his doxing experience (ABC) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-22/doxxing-the-new-weapon-of-choice-for-trolls/10833428
Writeup on statutory tort for serious invasion of privacy (Law Council) https://lawcouncil.au/media/media-releases/law-council-supports-statutory-tort-for-serious-invasion-of-privacy
Article on Hong Kong anti-doxxing law (ABC) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-30/hong-kong-doxxing-laws-pass-legislature/100502260

Hackers (IMDB) https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0113243/

Credits:
Editing and post-production by Martin Franklin (East Coast Studio) eastcoaststudio.com.au
Music by Bensound.com

In the face of tech and AI hype, there's an emerging march away from technology taking place around the globe.

This week we explore recent developments fitting this trend, including a proposed law in Australia that give will employees a "right to disconnect" from work, and another that seeks to improve conditions for gig workers.

We also take a deep dive into the resurgence of the Luddite movement - a cohort of workers, critics, academics, organisers and writers who claim they are pushing back on technologies that exploit the vulnerable and extract the rewards of society for the benefit of a narrow elite.

Links:

Article about right to disconnect (SMH) https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/what-is-the-right-to-disconnect-a-bluffer-s-guide-to-the-new-laws-about-getting-contacted-after-hours-20240207-p5f32b.html

Article about right to disconnect and gig worker changes (ABC News) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-06/right-to-disconnect-from-work-other-changes/103433418

Article on reaction to right to disconnect (ABC News) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-11/peter-dutton-vows-repeal-right-to-disconnect/103453148

Australia Institute report on overtime and the right to disconnect in Australia https://australiainstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Call-Me-Maybe-Not-2022-WEB.pdf

Atlantic article on rise of New Luddites (Atlantic) https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/02/new-luddites-ai-protest/677327/

Wikipedia article on Luddites https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite#:~:text=The%20name%20Luddite%20(%2F%CB%88l,%2C%20General%2C%20or%20King%20Ludd.

Article by Jathan Sadowski on Luddites (The Conversation) https://theconversation.com/im-a-luddite-you-should-be-one-too-163172

Podcast: This Machine Kills https://soundcloud.com/thismachinekillspod

Credits:

Editing and post-production by Martin Franklin (East Coast Studio) eastcoaststudio.com.au

Music by Bensound.com

With more than 60 elections taking place around the world this year, the risks posed by deepfakes was already a bubbling concern - until Taylor Swift took the issue stratospheric.  Deepfake explicit images of the US musician created by generative AI went viral on X, prompting officials and analysts to start to properly reckon with the problems posed by the technology.

We explore the scenarios in which synthetic media created by generative AI are posing problems, the way platforms like OpenAI are responding, emerging regulatory responses, and discuss where responsiblity for solving this issue truly lies.

Links:

Article about Taylor Swift AI deepfakes on X (The Verge) https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/27/24052841/taylor-swift-search-blocked-x-twitter-ai-images

Article about altered image of Victorian MP (ABC News) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-01/georgie-purcell-ai-image-nine-news-apology-digital-ethics/103408440
OpenAI's response to Gen AI abuse https://openai.com/blog/how-openai-is-approaching-2024-worldwide-elections
Article about lawmaker response to Taylor Swift deepfakes (The Verge) https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/30/24056385/congress-defiance-act-proposed-ban-nonconsensual-ai-porn
DEFIANCE Act https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/releases/durbin-graham-klobuchar-hawley-introduce-defiance-act-to-hold-accountable-those-responsible-for-the-proliferation-of-nonconsensual-sexually-explicit-deepfake-images-and-videos?ref=popsugar.com&=___psv__p_49334216__t_w_
Popsugar article on the Taylor Swift Deepfakes https://www.popsugar.com/tech/ai-deepfakes-taylor-swift-sexual-harassment-49334216

Credits:

Music by Bensound.com

Ever wondered what can be inferred about you just from the way you walk? This might be a growing concern as the use of biometric technologies - which include solutions that offer "gait analysis" - become more common.

This week we explore how biometrics like fingerprints, faceprints and behavioural attributes are being used in different contexts, for purposes including identification, verification and analysis.

The convenience appeal of these technologies is hard to resist - as anyone with facial verification turned on for their smartphone can attest - but there are also an emerging set of social and policy concerns that need to be managed.

We discuss these concerns and the emerging regulatory approaches

Links:

Article about biometrics and Australia's Digital ID system (The Mandarin) https://www.themandarin.com.au/227256-dreyfus-faces-up-to-biometric-demands-of-digital-identity/

Article about Illinois Biometric Privacy Act https://rsmus.com/insights/services/risk-fraud-cybersecurity/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-illinois-biometric-privacy-act--.html

OAIC page on biometric scanning https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/your-privacy-rights/surveillance-and-monitoring/biometric-scanning

OAIC finding against 7-Eleven over facial recognition https://www.oaic.gov.au/newsroom/oaic-finds-against-7-eleven-over-facial-recognition

CHOICE investigation into facial recognition at Australian stadiums https://www.choice.com.au/consumers-and-data/data-collection-and-use/how-your-data-is-used/articles/facial-recognition-in-stadiums

Credits:

Editing and post-production by Martin Franklin (East Coast Studio) eastcoaststudio.com.au

Music by Bensound.com

This week it's the next instalment of the Australian Government's consultation on Safe and Responsible AI. Arj and Jordan break down the government's 'interim response' to the consultation, and the case for regulation that it puts forward.

Though the detail is yet to come, we evaluate the government's proposals - new mandatory guardrails, updates to existing laws, international engagement and domestic investments - what will they mean for AI adoption in Australia, and is our legal system already falling behind?

Links:

The Australian Government’s interim response to safe and responsible AI consultation https://www.industry.gov.au/news/australian-governments-interim-response-safe-and-responsible-ai-consultation

Article on Gov response and reactions (SMH) https://www.smh.com.au/technology/husic-shuns-eu-path-for-ai-unveils-government-s-vision-20240116-p5exna.html

Prof. Ed Santow's response (AI expert and former Human Rights Commissioner) https://www.linkedin.com/posts/esantow_do-we-need-a-new-law-for-ai-sure-but-first-activity-7096667434794811392-hg_7/

US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) AI Risk Management Framework https://www.nist.gov/itl/ai-risk-management-framework

This week we dive into the murky world of data brokers, courtesy of a new report by Reset Tech Australia.

The report provides a fascinating window into how data brokers operate - particularly the granular categories and segments that online users are categorised into. This data is sold to advertisers and, in some cases, even law enforcement bodies and other authorities. 

We share our reactions about the report and discuss how the availability of data about sensitive topics such as gambling, alcohol consumption, financial stress can make us more vulnerable to exploitation.

Links:

Report: Australians for Sale https://au.reset.tech/uploads/Reset.Tech-Report-Australians-for-Sale-2023.pdf

Article about Target working out a teen was pregnant (Forbes) https://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2012/02/16/how-target-figured-out-a-teen-girl-was-pregnant-before-her-father-did/

Article about data broker selling data from Muslim prayer app (VICE) https://www.vice.com/en/article/epdkze/muslim-apps-location-data-military-xmode

Investigation into data brokers (The Markup) https://themarkup.org/privacy/2021/09/30/theres-a-multibillion-dollar-market-for-your-phones-location-data

Academic article defining 'online manipulation' (Susser, Roessler and Nissenbaum) https://policyreview.info/articles/analysis/technology-autonomy-and-manipulation

Credits:

This week we explore the world of trust and safety, those teams at digital platforms and other tech service providers entrusted with ensuring services are safe for users.

These teams have grown in size and influence over the past decade, in response to the growth in the use of social media as well as the emergence of challenges including mis- and disinformation and increasing hate speech.

But they’ve also come under fire - from ideological opponents who see them as biased censors, as well being the target of layoffs.

We unpack these issues and also explore the evolution and challenges associated with the profession.

Links:

Christine Lehane on what trust and safety involves (Medium) https://medium.com/@christinemlehane/a-career-in-trust-safety-you-know-more-than-you-know-3a02f63059a4

Trust and safety – the most important tech job you’ve never heard of (New Scientist) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2403999-trust-and-safety-the-most-important-tech-job-youve-never-heard-of/

Trust and safety on Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust_and_safety

Article on the impact of tech layoffs and understaffing outside the US https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/tech-layoffs-hit-trust-safety-teams-raising-fears-backsliding-efforts-rcna69111

What are the twitter files and why do they matter? (NPR) https://www.npr.org/2022/12/14/1142666067/elon-musk-is-using-the-twitter-files-to-discredit-foes-and-push-conspiracy-theor

The Techno-Optimist Manifesto (Andreessen Horowitz) https://a16z.com/the-techno-optimist-manifesto/

Welcome to hell Elon (The Verge) https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/28/23428132/elon-musk-twitter-acquisition-problems-speech-moderation

Interview with Twitter's former Head of Trust and Safety Del Harvey (Wired) https://www.wired.com/story/del-harvey-twitter-trust-and-safety-breaks-her-silence/