Tech Mirror

We’re excited to announce that the Tech Mirror Podcast will be returning to its regular scheduling very soon - we’re cooking up a great season with an all-star line-up of guests, so stay tuned! In the interim, here’s a quick update on what TPDC has been doing for the past few months. In particular, we’re especially excited to tell you about our brand new education program aimed at upskilling existing tech policy professionals and establishing a career pathway into the field. As part of the program’s co-design process, we’re asking you, our listeners, for your input. Whether you’re an expert in tech policy or aspiring to become one, your insights will be invaluable in shaping our curriculum. Please take a listen, get involved and follow the link below to complete the questionnaire!
Relevant Link: Tech Policy Education Program Design Survey: https://anu.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5B90gNHjniuhCiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a special episode of Tech Mirror on the imperative to protect civilians from digital threats during war. Johanna is in conversation with Dr. Cordula Droege, Chief Legal Officer and Head of the legal division of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and Dr. Tilman Rodenhäuser, Thematic Legal Adviser at the ICRC.   The trio discuss the work of a high-level ICRC Advisory Board, which was convened by the ICRC to develop concrete recommendations on the legal and policy challenges to protect civilians from digital threats during armed conflict. The trio also discuss the influential blog post, co-authored by Rodenhäuser, on the rules for ‘civilian hackers’ during war - and the fascinating responses the post generated from hacktivist groups and states.     Relevant Links:

• Final report from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). 'Global Advisory Board on digital threats during conflict 2023' https://www.icrc.org/en/document/global-advisory-board-digital-threats

 

•  The Geneva Conventions and their commentaries via the ICRC https://www.icrc.org/en/war-and-law/treaties-customary-law/geneva-conventions 

 

• 8 rules for “civilian hackers” during war, and 4 obligations for states to restrain them, by Tilman Rodenhäuser and Mauro Vignati, via the Humanitarian Law & Policy, hosted by the ICRC https://blogs.icrc.org/law-and-policy/2023/10/04/8-rules-civilian-hackers-war-4-obligations-states-restrain-them/

 

• ‘Governments and hackers agree: the laws of war must apply in cyberspace’, by Johanna Weaver, via The Conversation https://theconversation.com/governments-and-hackers-agree-the-laws-of-war-must-apply-in-cyberspace-216202 

 

• ‘Frankissstein’, by Jeanette Winterson (2019) https://www.penguin.com.au/books/frankissstein-9781784709952

 

• ‘Machines Like Me’, by Ian McEwan (2019) https://www.penguin.com.au/books/machines-like-me-9781473568020 

 

• ‘Offensive Cyber Operations: Understanding Intangible Warfare’, by Daniel Moore (2022) https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/offensive-cyber-operations/

 

• Cyber Law Toolkit https://cyberlaw.ccdcoe.org/wiki/Main_Page

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Curious about the future of privacy in Australia? Join us as we delve into the world of privacy regulation in Australia. Our expert panel shares their thoughts on the Government’s response to the Privacy Act Review Report.  It’s a follow-up to episode #22 ‘Privacy is Not Dead’. Returning guest Anna Johnston, founder and Principal of Salinger Privacy, is joined by Ryan Black, Head of Policy for the Tech Council of Australia, and Kate Bower, a fellow at the UTS Human Technology Institute, currently on sabbatical from CHOICE as Consumer Data Advocate.     The panel discuss:   - highlights and gaps in the Government’s response  - the definition of ‘personal information’  - the future of the small business and political exemptions   - legitimate business interests, fair and reasonable use tests, and best interest duties  - interoperability with international privacy frameworks  - privacy and artificial intelligence   - the urgency of reform   - what happens next    Relevant Links: 
  Salinger Privacy blog, including Anna Johnston’s 2015 article about the need to reform the definition of personal information https://www.salingerprivacy.com.au/2015/04/19/bradley-coopers-taxi-ride-a-lesson-in-privacy-risk/    Arvind Narayanan’s “No Silver Bullet “ paper about de-identification http://randomwalker.info/publications/no-silver-bullet-de-identification.pdf    Arvind Narayanan’s AI Snake Oil Substack https://www.aisnakeoil.com    This Week in Digital Trust podcast, latest episode featuring an interview with Johanna https://elevenm.com.au/podcast/episode/86-johanna-weaver-the-future-of-tech-policy/    The Future of Privacy Forum https://fpf.org/    UTS Human Technology Institute’s State of AI Governance report  https://www.uts.edu.au/human-technology-institute/news/report-launch-state-ai-governance-australia    DP-REG joint submission to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) consultation on the ‘Safe and responsible AI in Australia’ Discussion Paper https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/media/media-updates/digital-platform-regulators-make-joint-submission-on-ai   US Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence | The White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/10/30/executive-order-on-the-safe-secure-and-trustworthy-development-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence/    UK’s consultation on a Pro-Innovation Approach to AI - A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation - amended (web-ready PDF) (publishing.service.gov.uk)    The Bletchley Declaration by Countries Attending the AI Safety Summit (November 2023) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-safety-summit-2023-the-bletchley-declaration/the-bletchley-declaration-by-countries-attending-the-ai-safety-summit-1-2-november-2023    China Global AI Governance Initiative: http://gd.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zxhd_1/202310/t20231024_11167412.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wish you could sit down with a real-deal AI technologist and ask them what’s on earth is going on? In this double-episode of Tech Mirror, Johanna chats with Bill Simpson Young and Tiberio Cataneo, CEO and Chief Scientist at Gradient Institute. This independent, non-profit research institute works to build safety, ethics, accountability and transparency into AI systems.   In Part One of this wide-ranging conversation, the trio: -          define key terms like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Large Language Models, Frontier vs Foundation AI, Narrow vs General AI -          chat about Bill’s biggest bugbear -          talk about why Bill and Tiberio both signed the Pause Letter and -          discuss if it is even possible to regulate Artificial intelligence (spoiler alert: it is) -          and consider how liability could be used to incentivise improved AI safety.   In Part Two, they discuss: -          the benefits and perils of open-source AI models -          the possibility of securing an international agreement on AI safety, US and China dynamics and the opportunity for Australian leadership  -          the practical work that Gradient is doing to facilitate the technical implementation of ethical AI frameworks to address AI harms today.   Links -          Gradient Institute: https://www.gradientinstitute.org/ -          Australian Government Paper and call for submission on Responsible Artificial Intelligence: https://consult.industry.gov.au/supporting-responsible-ai -          Gradient’s Submission on Responsible AI: https://www.gradientinstitute.org/posts/disr-safe-responsible-ai-submission/ -          The Pause Letter: https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/pause-giant-ai-experiments/ -          UK AI Safety Summit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-safety-summit-introduction -          The Future of Life Institute’s recommendations for the UK AI Safety Summit: https://futureoflife.org/project/uk-ai-safety-summit/ -          Gradient and National AI Centre: Implementing Australia’s AI Ethics Principles: https://www.gradientinstitute.org/posts/csiro-gradient-new-report/ -          The Coming Wave: Technology, Power and the Twenty-first Century’s greatest dilemma: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/90590134See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wish you could sit down with a real-deal AI technologist and ask them what’s on earth is going on? In this double-episode of Tech Mirror, Johanna chats with Bill Simpson Young and Tiberio Cataneo, CEO and Chief Scientist at Gradient Institute. This independent, non-profit research institute works to build safety, ethics, accountability and transparency into AI systems.   In Part One of this wide-ranging conversation, the trio: -          define key terms like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Large Language Models, Frontier vs Foundation AI, Narrow vs General AI -          chat about Bill’s biggest bugbear -          talk about why Bill and Tiberio both signed the Pause Letter and -          discuss if it is even possible to regulate Artificial intelligence (spoiler alert: it is) -          and consider how liability could be used to incentivise improved AI safety.   In Part Two, they discuss: -          the benefits and perils of open-source AI models -          the possibility of securing an international agreement on AI safety, US and China dynamics and the opportunity for Australian leadership  -          the practical work that Gradient is doing to facilitate the technical implementation of ethical AI frameworks to address AI harms today.   Links -          Gradient Institute: https://www.gradientinstitute.org/ -          Australian Government Paper and call for submission on Responsible Artificial Intelligence: https://consult.industry.gov.au/supporting-responsible-ai -          Gradient’s Submission on Responsible AI: https://www.gradientinstitute.org/posts/disr-safe-responsible-ai-submission/ -          The Pause Letter: https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/pause-giant-ai-experiments/ -          UK AI Safety Summit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-safety-summit-introduction -          The Future of Life Institute’s recommendations for the UK AI Safety Summit: https://futureoflife.org/project/uk-ai-safety-summit/ -          Gradient and National AI Centre: Implementing Australia’s AI Ethics Principles: https://www.gradientinstitute.org/posts/csiro-gradient-new-report/ -          The Coming Wave: Technology, Power and the Twenty-first Century’s greatest dilemma: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/90590134See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this joint episode of Tech Mirror and the National Security Podcast, Anu Bradford and Johanna Weaver join Jennifer Jackett to discuss the global impact of technological advances, the challenges and opportunities they bring, and the evolving landscape of tech regulation.   Anu Bradford is a Henry L. Moses Professor of Law and International Organization at the Columbia Law School. She is also the author of ‘Digital Empires: The Global Battle to Regulate Technology’.    Jennifer Jackett is a Sir Roland Wilson Scholar at the ANU National Security College.   Professor Johanna Weaver is host of Tech Mirror, the founding Director of the Tech Policy Design Centre (TPDC) at the Australian National University and a regular guest lecturer at the ANU National Security College.   Links:  

• ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more 
• National Security Podcast: find out more
• Digital Empires: The Global Battle to Regulate Technology by Anu Bradford 
• 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy: find out more 
• Quad Tech Network: an address by the Hon Clare O’Neil MP: watch the video 

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Recorded on location in the margins of NetThing and the Asia Pacific Internet Governance Forum. Johanna, and guest co-host Tanvi Nair, canvass how the internet actually works, and what the internet of the future might look like, with a stella line up of guests, including:

• Jordan Carter, Head of Policy at au.DA
• Senator Jana Stewart, Senator for Victoria
• Brendan Dowling, Australia’s Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology
• Alex Caples, Director of Cyber Tech and Security at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute
• Jenna Fung and Luke Teoh, representatives of the Youth Internet Governance Forum
• Pablo from Asia Pacific Network Information Centre.

  Relevant Links:

• NetThing: https://netthing.org.au/
• Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum: https://www.aprigf.au/
• AuDA Internet Governance Roadmap: https://www.auda.org.au/about-auda/internet-governance-and-public-policy/audas-internet-governance-roadmap-2023-2025

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Johanna speaks with Alice Dawkins, Executive Director of Reset.Tech Australia, an independent, non-partisan policy initiative wrestling with questions about online harms & safety, digital information markets, democracy and tech accountability.  In a wide-ranging conversation, the pair discuss topics including:

• Alice’s experience in Myanmar working with public interest lawyers involved in that country’s pro-democracy movement
• Reset’s research on young people and privacy online in Australia 
• Social media platform monitoring during the Voice referendum campaign
• Truth in political advertising 
• The federal government’s plans to introduce new laws to provide the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) with powers to combat online misinformation and disinformation
• The limitation of co-regulatory approaches to tech policymaking 
• Tech exceptionalism and accountability 
• The importance of securing access to platform data for researchers and civil society experts

    Relevant Links:
Reset.Tech Australia https://au.reset.tech/ Reset’s report on Young People and Online Privacy https://au.reset.tech/news/report-realising-young-people-s-rights-in-the-digital-environment/   Exposure draft of the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023 https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/publications/communications-legislation-amendment-combatting-misinformation-and-disinformation-bill-2023  John Naughton’s columns (professor of the public understanding of technology at the Open University and author of From Gutenberg to Zuckerberg: What You Really Need to Know About the Internet) https://www.theguardian.com/profile/johnnaughton    Logic(s) magazine https://logicmag.io/    Follow: Alice Dawkins Twitter https://twitter.com/adawko  Alice Dawkins Linkedin https://au.linkedin.com/in/alicedawkinsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Johanna speaks with Evelyn Douek, assistant Professor at Stanford Law School (and former corporate lawyer in Australia), about the public and private regulation of speech online. The pair discusses:

• the private and public regulation of speech online
• why 'everything is content moderation' and what it might mean to take a systems thinking approach
• the importance of platform transparency
• the history, significance, and politics of Section 230
• institutional competence and the role of courts
• the state of trust and safety
• the value of a functioning parliament and the differences between Australia and the U.S. in making tech policy

At 21:11, Johanna refers to the Foreign Interference Committee. For clarification, this reference was made in relation to the Big Tech Inquiry of the Senate Economics References Committee, chaired by Senator Bragg (colloquially referred to as the social media foreign interference committee). This is not to be confused with the Select Committee on Foreign Interference through Social Media, chaired by Senator Paterson.   Relevant Links: Evelyn Douek: https://www.evelyndouek.com/ Moderated Content podcast: https://law.stanford.edu/directory/evelyn-douek/moderated-content/ Content Moderation as Systems Thinking, by Evelyn Douek, Harvard Law Review: https://harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-136/content-moderation-as-systems-thinking/ Casey Newton’s Platformer newsletter: https://www.platformer.news/ The Washington Post’s technology newsletter: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-202-newsletters/the-technology-202/ Rest of World: https://restofworld.org/   Follow: Evelyn Douek on Twitter: @evelyndouek  Stanford Law School on Twitter: @StanfordLaw Stanford Law School on LinkedIn: Stanford Law School (SLS)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Johanna speaks with author and journalist Tracey Spicer about her new book, Man-made: how the bias of the past is being built into the future. The book explores the history of discrimination in technology and the importance of diversity and inclusion in today's tech ecosystem. Spicer makes a case for a new social contract, one that would see people holding the power over machines.     Relevant Links: Tracey Spicer website: https://traceyspicer.com.au/  Tracey Spicer new book, Man-made: https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/Man-Made/Tracey-Spicer/9781761106378  Dr. Joy Buolamwini: https://www.poetofcode.com/  Dr. Joy Buolamwini TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/joy_buolamwini_how_i_m_fighting_bias_in_algorithms  Algorithmic Justice League: https://www.ajl.org/  Coded Bias, Netflix documentary: https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81328723  Professor Yolande Strengers: https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/yolande-strengers    Follow:  Tracey Spicer on Twitter: @TraceySpicer  Tracey Spicer on LinkedIn: Tracey Spicer AM GAICD Dr. Joy Buolamwini on Twitter: @jovialjoy Yolande Strengers  on Twitter: @YolandeStrengSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.