Rethinking Tech

On this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna speaks with digital sovereignty expert Damien Kopp about the growing importance of technopolitics - the intersection of technology, geopolitics, and national power. Damien outlines why business and technology leaders must rethink traditional business continuity planning to account for new vulnerabilities driven by global tensions, data-residency laws, supply-chain dependencies, and the ideological biases embedded in modern AI systems.

Together, they examine how conflicts, regulation, and competition between major powers like the U.S. and China are reshaping technology choices for companies worldwide. Damien offers a practical framework for assessing geopolitical exposure within tech stacks, discusses the misconceptions around “sovereign clouds,” and explores how emerging power blocs such as the BRICS are redefining digital influence.

This conversation provides a clear, forward-looking analysis for organizations seeking resilience in an increasingly fragmented technological landscape.

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👤 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/

👤 LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠

👤 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damienkopp/

AI is rewriting the advertising industry — and the next trillion-dollar frontier may belong to OpenAI. 📲
In this episode of Rethinking Tech, hosts Aparna and Harinda unpack how the ad industry really works, why tech companies became ad companies, and what it means when LLMs and generative AI start selling influence at scale.

From hyper-personalized ads to political micro-targeting, from data extraction to democracy itself, they explore how AI is transforming advertising into one of the most powerful — and dangerous — forces in society.

• 📢 How the advertising industry evolved into a trillion-dollar global machine

• 💸 Why tech companies like Google, Meta — and now OpenAI — rely on ads for survival

• 🧠 How personalization, data, and LLMs create the most persuasive ads ever built

• ⚖️ The ethical dilemma of micro-targeting and psychological profiling

• 🗳️ How AI-powered ads can influence elections and democratic processes

• 🌍 The geopolitical power struggle behind AI advertising

• 🤖 What happens when AI systems start shaping what we see, buy, believe — and vote for

00:00 Introduction to Advertising and AI
01:15 The Evolution of the Ad Industry
03:45 Tech's Role in Advertising
06:25 The Size and Impact of the Ad Market
08:43 Personalization and Targeting in Ads
11:29 The Future of Advertising with AI
14:07 OpenAI's Potential Move into Advertising
19:03 The Dilemma of Personalized Advertising
21:44 AI's Impact on Democracy
22:30 Political Advertising in the Digital Age
25:13 The Role of AI in Information Consumption
28:42 Geopolitical Implications of AI and Advertising
31:00 Ethics of Advertising in Society

🔗 Website: rethinkingtech.co
📰 Substack: rethinktech.substack.com
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👉 Subscribe for more deep dives into AI, power, geopolitics, and the future of the digital world.

🎧 In this episode, Aparna and Harinda explore:⏰ Chapters📌 Stay Connected

On this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna speaks with digital sovereignty expert Damien Kopp about the growing importance of techno-politics—the intersection of technology, geopolitics, and national power. Damien outlines why business and technology leaders must rethink traditional business continuity planning to account for new vulnerabilities driven by global tensions, data-residency laws, supply-chain dependencies, and the ideological biases embedded in modern AI systems.

Together, they examine how conflicts, regulation, and competition between major powers like the US and China are reshaping technology choices for companies worldwide. Damien offers a practical framework for assessing geopolitical exposure within tech stacks, discusses the misconceptions around “sovereign clouds,” and explores how emerging power blocs such as the BRICS are redefining digital influence.  Listen in today if you're a business leader that wants a forward-looking analysis of what organizations seeking resilience in an increasingly fragmented tech landscape need to know.Follow Damien on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damienkopp/

⏰Chapters

00:00 Understanding Technopolitics

03:13 The Importance of Technopolitics for Business Leaders

05:45 Navigating Geopolitical Risks in Technology

10:31 Damien Kopp's Journey and Insights

13:58 The Evolution of Technopolitics in the Age of AI

16:41 Global Power Dynamics: US vs. China

20:30 Making Informed Business Decisions21:26 Strategies for Business Leaders

26:04 Opportunities and Fears in a Fragmented World

📌 Stay Connected

🔗 Website: rethinkingtech.co

📰 Substack: rethinktech.substack.com

🎧 Spotify: Rethinking Tech

🍏 Apple Podcasts: Rethinking Tech

📸 Instagram: @rethinking_tech

💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast

👉 Subscribe for more deep dives into protests, politics, tech, and global power struggles.

On this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna speaks with digital sovereignty expert Damien Kopp about the growing importance of technopolitics—the intersection of technology, geopolitics, and national power. Damien outlines why business and technology leaders must rethink traditional business continuity planning to account for new vulnerabilities driven by global tensions, data-residency laws, supply-chain dependencies, and the ideological biases embedded in modern AI systems.

Together, they examine how conflicts, regulation, and competition between major powers like the US and China are reshaping technology choices for companies worldwide. Damien offers a practical framework for assessing geopolitical exposure within tech stacks, discusses the misconceptions around “sovereign clouds,” and explores how emerging power blocs such as the BRICS are redefining digital influence.  Listen in today if you're a business leader that wants a forward-looking analysis of what organizations seeking resilience in an increasingly fragmented tech landscape need to know.

On this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna speaks with digital sovereignty expert Damien Kopp about the growing importance of techno-politics—the intersection of technology, geopolitics, and national power. Damien outlines why business and technology leaders must rethink traditional business continuity planning to account for new vulnerabilities driven by global tensions, data-residency laws, supply-chain dependencies, and the ideological biases embedded in modern AI systems.Together, they examine how conflicts, regulation, and competition between major powers like the US and China are reshaping technology choices for companies worldwide. Damien offers a practical framework for assessing geopolitical exposure within tech stacks, discusses the misconceptions around “sovereign clouds,” and explores how emerging power blocs such as the BRICS are redefining digital influence.  Listen in today if you're a business leader that wants a forward-looking analysis of what organizations seeking resilience in an increasingly fragmented tech landscape need to know.

Follow Damien on LinkedIn

⏰ Chapters

00:00 Understanding Technopolitics

03:13 The Importance of Technopolitics for Business Leaders

05:45 Navigating Geopolitical Risks in Technology

10:31 Damien's Journey and Insights

13:58 The Evolution of Technopolitics in the Age of AI

16:41 Global Power Dynamics: US vs. China

20:30 Making Informed Business Decisions

21:26 Strategies for Business Leaders

26:04 Opportunities and Fears in a Fragmented World

📌 Stay Connected

🎧 Spotify: Rethinking Tech

🍏 Apple Podcasts: Rethinking Tech

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech

🎶  TikTok: @rethinking_tech

💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast

👉 Subscribe for more deep dives into protests, politics, tech, and global power struggles.

U.S. Big Tech is reshaping Europe — from culture and language to regulation, geopolitics, and digital identity. In this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda break down how American platforms, AI systems, and tech power are influencing the European Union’s values, sovereignty, and future.We explore:Why U.S. tech companies dominate European digital infrastructureHow American social media standards are shifting European culture and linguistic diversityThe impact of AI models built on U.S. values and biasesWhether the EU can still preserve its cultural identity in a digital-first worldHow geopolitics, NATO, security, and economic dependence tie Europe even closer to the U.S.The controversial EU “digital omnibus” deregulation effortWhether Europe is too late to build its own sovereign technology stack⏰Chapters 00:00 The Impact of US Tech on European Values06:57 Tech Players and Their Influence15:18 Geopolitical Implications of Tech20:37 Affordability Crises and Geopolitical Implications23:16 EU's Stance on Climate Change and Global Conflicts26:04 Cultural Values and Nationalism in Europe28:32 Technology Sovereignty and European Identity36:01 The Future of European Values in a Globalized World📌 Stay Connected🔗 Website: rethinkingtech.co📰 Substack: rethinktech.substack.com🎧 Spotify: Rethinking Tech🍏 Apple Podcasts: Rethinking Tech📸 Instagram: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👉 Subscribe for more deep dives into protests, politics, tech, and global power struggles.

Is the world entering a new era of data colonization — and what does it mean for power, privacy, and global inequality? 

In this episode of Rethinking Tech, hosts Aparna and Harinda break down how data has become the most valuable resource on the planet — and how governments, corporations, and tech giants are racing to claim it. From invisible extraction and algorithmic control to geopolitical power plays and digital dependency, this isn’t just a tech issue. It’s a structural shift that echoes centuries of resource exploitation, now happening at the speed of the internet.

In this episode, we explore:

- What “data colonization” actually means — and why it mirrors historical patterns of extraction and control.

- How platforms build long-term dependency through infrastructure, incentives, and narrative power.

- The global imbalance between those who generate data and those who profit from it.

- Why the future of privacy, sovereignty, and human rights depends on understanding who holds the power in the digital world.

⏰Chapters

00:00 The New Age of Data Colonization

00:53 Understanding the Mechanics of Data Extraction

03:01 The Tech Giants: Modern Day Colonizers

04:10 The Geopolitical Landscape of Data

06:23 The Ethical Implications of Data Control

13:58 Data as a Tool for Infiltration

16:51 Digital Sovereignty: A New Frontier

18:35 Sovereignty Across Levels: Government, Company, Individual

20:35 Payment Systems: Swift vs. BRICS

24:35 The Role of Tech CEOs in Geopolitics

24:56 Ethics and Regulation in Tech

30:50 History Repeating: Lessons from the Past

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👉 Subscribe for more deep dives into protests, politics, tech, and global power struggles.

Your car isn’t just a machine anymore — it’s become a computer on wheels, quietly collecting your data (and sharing it), every time you drive. In this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda explore how the auto industry has slowly converged with the tech industry.

From Tesla’s massive codebase to China’s EV dominance and the hidden data streams inside your dashboard, they unpack the politics, ethics, and power behind the modern vehicle. What does it mean when mobility becomes surveillance — and who really owns the road in the age of smart cars?

⏰Chapters

📌 Stay Connected🔗 Website: rethinkingtech.co📰 Substack: rethinktech.substack.com🎧 Spotify: Rethinking Tech🍏 Apple Podcasts: Rethinking Tech📸 Instagram: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👉 Subscribe for more deep dives into protests, politics, tech, and global power struggles.

As AI chatbots, companions, and tutors become part of daily life, today’s youth are growing up in a world shaped by algorithms. In this episode of Rethinking Tech, hosts Aparna and Harinda unpack the profound impact of AI on mental health, education, and identity — and ask: Are we protecting our youth, or outsourcing their development to machines?

From AI companions and teen loneliness, to education and critical thinking, to the geopolitical power of algorithms, this conversation dives deep into what it means to grow up in the age of artificial intelligence.

We explore:
-How AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Replika, and Character.AI are changing social development

- The rise of loneliness and digital dependency among teens

- What happens when classrooms — and even friendships — go AI-first

- The growing gap between AI policy and youth protection

- Why governments and parents are struggling to keep up

⏰Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Discussing Youth and Technology

01:32 AI's Impact on Youth Development

04:53 AI Companionship: A New Reality

07:38 The Role of AI in Education

13:20 Guardrails for AI in the Classroom

18:02 The Role of Community in Youth Development

18:27 Youth Unemployment Crisis

19:24 The Relevance of Higher Education

20:47 Geopolitical Influences on Education

22:38 Investing in AI Education for Future Competitiveness

24:11 Youth Representation in Governance

25:25 The Impact of AI on Youth and Misinformation

28:00 Regulating AI and Its Ethical Implications

30:50 The Loneliness Epidemic and AI Companionship

34:26 The Algorithm's Influence on Youth Perspectives

36:01 Protecting Youth in a Digital Age

📌 Stay Connected🔗 Website: rethinkingtech.co📰 Substack: rethinktech.substack.com🎧 Spotify: Rethinking Tech🍏 Apple Podcasts: Rethinking Tech📸 Instagram: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👉 Subscribe for more deep dives into protests, politics, tech, and global power struggles.

In this episode of Rethinking Tech, Amnesty International’s Pat De Brún joins Harinda to unpack how Big Tech has become one of the most powerful—and dangerous—forces shaping our world.From Elon Musk’s influence on political extremism to the EU’s retreat on digital regulation, and from AI’s false climate promises to governments’ growing dependence on U.S. tech giants, this conversation reveals the hidden architecture of global power—and what it means for democracy, human rights, and the future of work.👉 Topics covered:How Facebook, Google, and X (Twitter) fuel far-right extremism and polarizationThe EU’s Digital Services Act and the push toward deregulationThe geopolitical tug-of-war between the U.S. and Europe over tech powerWhat individuals and governments can actually do to resist Big Tech control.⏰Chapters00:00 Introduction to Big Tech Accountability03:22 The Evolution of Tech and Human Rights05:58 The Global Impact of Social Media09:01 Geopolitical Dynamics and Big Tech12:41 Regulatory Challenges in the EU16:46 The Future of Tech Regulation21:31 EU's Digital Sovereignty and Big Tech's Influence24:52 The Impact of AI on Society and Employment28:21 Public Perception of AI and Big Tech Investments31:26 Individual Agency in the Age of Big Tech34:52 Youth Representation and Political Mobilization38:04 Crossing the Line: The Threats of Big Tech and Climate Crisis📌 Stay Connected🔗 Website: rethinkingtech.co📰 Substack: rethinktech.substack.com🎧 Spotify: Rethinking Tech🍏 Apple Podcasts: Rethinking Tech📸 Instagram: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👉 Subscribe for more deep dives into protests, politics, tech, and global power struggles.

How can young innovators reshape the future of education from AI-powered classrooms to inclusive learning for all?
In this Rethinking Tech x UNICEF Youth Fellowship special, Aparna sits down with four inspiring fellows whose projects are transforming education across the globe. Each of them is rethinking how technology, access, and inclusion can redefine opportunity in their communities — and beyond.
 

Meet the Fellows:

- Beatrice Afia Wilson (Ghana) — Building AI-powered learning hubs that unite students and teachers.

- Korkemay Mukhitova (Kazakhstan) — Advancing inclusive education that celebrates every ability.

- Crystal Isanda (Kenya) — Teaching AI literacy as a core skill for the future of work.

- Soumeya Voulani (Mauritania) — Mobilizing families to champion girls’ right to education.

These stories are part of the UNICEF Youth Fellowship’s upcoming global report on inclusive and tech-driven education — coming November 13. (Link to report coming soon.)

Listen to how young leaders are bridging divides, breaking barriers, and building education systems that leave no one behind.

⏰Chapters

00:00: Introduction

00:10: Interview with Beatrice Afia Wilson (Ghana)

10:30: Interview with Korkemay Mukhitova (Kazakhstan)

20:21: Interview with Crystal Isanda (Kenya) 

28:40: Interview with Soumeya Voulani (Mauritania)

📌 Stay Connected🔗 Website: rethinkingtech.co📰 Substack: rethinktech.substack.com🎧 Spotify: Rethinking Tech🍏 Apple Podcasts: Rethinking Tech📸 Instagram: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👉 Subscribe for more deep dives into protests, politics, tech, and global power struggles.