Tech Mirror

In this episode of Tech Mirror, Johanna is in conversation with Gina Cass-Gottlieb, Chair of the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission), one of Australia’s lead regulators in the area of technology and digital platforms.   In a wide-ranging conversation the pair discuss: the ACCC’s Digital Platform Services inquiry 2020 – 2025, how regulators can develop the tech knowledge and capacity required for making good policy, the relationship between innovation and market power, unfair trading practices, in a digital context, artificial intelligence, ex-ante approaches to regulation and; the importance of thinking about the tech ecosystem as a whole.    Relevant Links: The ACCC Digital platform services inquiry 2020 – 2025: https://www.accc.gov.au/inquiries-and-consultations/digital-platform-services-inquiry-2020-25  Gina Cass-Gottlieb's National Press Club speech (12 April 2023) on the role of the ACCC and competition in a transitioning economy: https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/media/speeches/the-role-of-the-accc-and-competition-in-a-transitioning-economy-address-to-the-national-press-club-2023 Pivot podcast with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway: https://podcasts.voxmedia.com/show/pivot  Decoder podcast with Nilay Patel: https://www.theverge.com/decoder-podcast-with-nilay-patel  The Platform Law blog: https://theplatformlaw.blog/  The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/  U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary hearing on the Oversight of A.I.: Rules for Artificial Intelligence (16 May 2023): https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-activity/hearings/oversight-of-ai-rules-for-artificial-intelligence  Tech Policy Design Centre’s Tech Policy Atlas: https://techpolicydesign.au/tech-policy-atlas   Follow: ACCC Twitter: @acccgovau ACCC LinkedIn: @ACCC Gina Cass-Gottlieb: @Gina Cass-Gottlieb  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Johanna speaks with Brett Solomon, co-founder and Executive Director of Access Now, about the state of digital rights in 2023. The pair discuss critical issues including internet shutdowns, the growth of the surveillance industry, and Australia’s role in defending human rights in the digital era. The conversation took place in the lead-up to the 12th edition of Access Now’s annual RightsCon summit (5 – 8 June 2023).  Relevant Links: 
 Rights Con, 5 – 8 June 2023, online and in person (Costa Rica) June: https://www.rightscon.org/   Access Now Express weekly newsletter: https://act.accessnow.org/page/29451/subscribe/1  Access Now report on internet shutdowns ‘Weapons of control, shields of impunity: internet shutdowns in 2022’: https://www.accessnow.org/internet-shutdowns-2022/  This Week in Cyberspace, Brett Solomon and Nell Schofield podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/1-24-australias-hacking-act/id1648274889?i=1000613301302 Follow:  Brett Solomon on Twitter: @solomonbrett Access Now on Twitter: @accessnow  RightsCon on Twitter: @rightsconSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Tech Mirror, Johanna speaks to Nitin Pai, co-founder and director of the Takshashila Institution, an independent think tank and school of public policy based in Bengaluru. In a thought-provoking conversation, the pair discuss the complex relationship between the tech industry and government, the global contest between open and closed information orders, hacking of minds, and how we can use technology to strengthen 21 century democracy.   Relevant Links:  The Takshashila Institution https://takshashila.org.in/  Takshashila Report - An Open Tech Strategy for India (A Working Draft) https://takshashila.org.in/research/an-open-tech-strategy-for-india Freedom to Think: The Long Struggle to Liberate Our Minds by Susie Alegre: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60450548  Conceptualising Information Warfare https://notes.nitinpai.in/In+no+particular+order/Conceptualising+Information+Warfare   Technology & Policy: GCPP https://school.takshashila.org.in/gcpp-technology-policy  Follow:  Nitin Pai on Twitter: @acorn  Takshashila on Twitter: @TakshashilaInst  Tech Policy Design Centre on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Tech Mirror, Johanna speaks to Amit Singh, a member of the expert panel appointed by the Australian Federal Government to oversee an independent audit of the government digital services platform, myGov. The conversation covers the history, present and future of the Australian digital identity ecosystem. Johanna and Amit explore the challenges of designing smart digital identity policy and discuss the roles for government (described by Singh as ‘the sleeping gorilla waking up to the digital party’) in this complex ecosystem.   Relevant links: myGov user audit report (https://my.gov.au/en/audit) Technology and History: "Kranzberg's Laws" https://www.jstor.org/stable/3105385?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents The Power Law (https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-power-law-9780241356531), by Sebastian Mallaby The Digital Republic: on Freedom and Democracy in the 21st Century (https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/digital-republic-9781526625489/), by Jamie Susskind (former Tech Mirror guest https://techpolicydesign.au/podcast/15-the-digital-republic) Semafor tech coverage (https://www.semafor.com/vertical/tech) Advancing Prosperity: 5-year Productivity Inquiry report, by the Productivity Commission https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/productivity/report Treasurer Jim Chalmers speech to CEDA (the Committee for Economic Development of Australia) – ‘Turning headwinds into tailwinds – Australia’s productivity challenge’ https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/jim-chalmers 2022/speeches/address-ceda-brisbaneSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The theme of IWD this year is Cracking the Code: Innovation for a gender equal future. In this episode Johanna interviews leading women in tech policy in the margins of the Raisina Conference in India. Prepare to be inspired as they share their career journeys, examples of how tech is driving gender inclusion, and offer advice for women consider a career in tech.   Guests in order of appearance: Dounya Boughambouz, founder of Robo Kids Academy Rebecca Razavi, Head APAC Public Policy LinkedIn: @RebeccaJRazavi Utsa Kaitesi, CEO Rwanda Governance Board: @UtsaNcusta Penny Burt, Head APAC Policy and Government Engagement, Stripe:@PennyBurt Mihoko Matsubra, Chief Cybersecurity Strategist, NTT: @M_Miho_JPN Neira Dali Chaouch, CEO Women AI, President WomTech: @NDalichaouch Kaja Ciglic, Head Digital Diplomacy, Microsoft: @KajaCiglic   Relevant links: UN Women Australia Donate: https://unwomen.org.au/ UN Women Facts: https://unwomen.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IWD-Key-Messages-2023-v2.pdfSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Johanna brings together a group of Australian privacy experts to discuss the Federal Government’s Privacy Act Review and to share their perspectives on the reforms that have been proposed and what might happen next. Hot topics included the meaning and importance of privacy in the digital age, the scope of the Privacy Act, meaningful consent, data minimalization, deidentification, international harmonisation.     Guests this episode were Anna Johnston, founder and Principal of Salinger Privacy, a privacy consulting and advisory service, David Vaile, Chair of the Australian Privacy Foundation and Sunita Bose, Managing Director of DIGI, a not-for-profit industry association advocating for the digital industry.  Relevant Links: 
UNICEF: Digital Age Assurance tools and Childrens Rights Online across the Globe – a Discussion Paper: https://c-fam.org/wp-content/uploads/Digital-Age-Assurance-Tools-and-Childrens-Rights-Online-across-the-Globe.pdf  Salinger Privacy Reforms hub of resources: https://www.salingerprivacy.com.au/privacy-reforms/  Podcast: This week in digital trust – #51 The Wait is Over: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/51-the-wait-is-over/id1616386683?i=1000601017587  Australian Privacy Foundation: https://privacy.org.au/  Bruce Schneier’s Newsletter Crypto-Gram: https://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram/  Cultivating Coordination Research Paper: https://techpolicydesign.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/TPDC_Cultivating_Coordination_2_20230221.pdf  Follow:  Sunita Bose on Twitter @SunitaBose  Digital Industry Group on Twitter: @DIGIAUS  Salinger Privacy (Anna Johnson) on Twitter @SalingerPrivacy  Australian Privacy Foundation on Twitter @apf_oz  Tech Policy Design Centre on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Catherine Ball, businesswoman, futurist, and ‘dame of drones’ sits down with Johanna Weaver in the studio to discuss her new book ‘Converge’, which takes readers on a (mostly) optimistic journey through technological breakthroughs that will shape our future. Catherine reflects on life experiences that brought her into the world of tech futurism, and details her thoughts and inspirations for writing the book. It’s a fast-moving conversation, complete with a 90’s duet from this dynamic duo. Enjoy! Tech Mirror is recorded on Ngunnawal land. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respect to elders past, present, and emerging. Professor Johanna Weaver is Director of the Tech Policy Design Centre at the Australian National University. This episode was produced by Jack Fox, with special thanks to Tanvi Nair for post-production support.   Relevant links: Converge: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61665592-converge The Start-up Wife: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55711675-the-startup-wife Prof Genevieve Bell’s Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/genevieve_bell_6_big_ethical_questions_about_the_future_of_ai?language=en XPrize Wesbite: https://www.xprize.org/   Follow: Catherine Ball Twitter: @DrCatherineBall Send us your questions: [email protected]  Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Lee Bygrave, Director of the Norwegian Research Centre for Computers and Law in the University of Oslo, joins Johanna in the studio to discuss security by design. The pair discuss the importance and challenges of translating “by design” mantras from legal concepts to engineering concepts and vice versa. In the context of the Optus and Medibank hacks, they canvas the proposal for new penalties for privacy breaches in Australia, privacy reform, the EU’s proposed Cyber Resilience Act and much more. Tech Mirror is recorded on Ngunnawal land. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respect to elders past, present, and emerging. Professor Johanna Weaver is Director of the Tech Policy Design Centre at the Australian National University. This episode was produced by Jack Fox, with special thanks to Ben Gowdie for research and Tanvi Nair for post-production support.   Relevant links: Professor Bygraves’ Paper: Security by Design: Aspirations and Realities in a Regulatory Context: https://www.idunn.no/doi/10.18261/olr.8.3.2#sec-5 Professor Bygraves’ Paper: Data Protection by Design and Default: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3944535  Australian Securities and Investments Commission v RI Advice Group Pty Ltd: https://www.judgments.fedcourt.gov.au/judgments/Judgments/fca/single/2022/2022fca0496  Proposed EU Cyber Resilience Act: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/cyber-resilience-act  GDPR Text, Article 25: https://gdpr-text.com/read/article-25/ ‘Good privacy reform rests on well-resourced tech regulators’ by Sarah O’Connor: https://www.innovationaus.com/good-privacy-reform-rest-on-well-resourced-tech-regulators/ ‘Privacy is hard and Seven Other Myths’ by Jaap-Henk Hoepman: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262045827/privacy-is-hard-and-seven-other-myths/ ‘Ethical IT innovation, a value based system design approach’ by Sara Spiekerman: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.1201/b19060/ethical-innovation-sarah-spiekermann   Send us your questions: [email protected]  Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we are bringing you a discussion that we recorded as part of  NetThing 2022 – Australia’s Internet Governance Community Forum.  Johanna was joined by Kate Pounder, CEO of the Tech Council of Australia, and Richard Windeyer, Deputy Secretary at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.  Given the recent string of high profile data breaches in Australia – tech regulation is front of mind for many Australians in a way that it hasn’t been before. Guided by the Tech Policy Design Centre’s report Tending the Tech-Ecosystem: who should be the tech-regulator(s)?, the trio discuss how to get tech regulation right in Australia.  Tech Mirror is recorded on Ngunnawal land. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respect to elders past, present, and emerging.  Professor Johanna Weaver is Director of the Tech Policy Design Centre at the Australian National University. This episode was produced by Jack Fox, with special thanks to Ben Gowdie for research and post-production support.     Relevant links:  Tending the Tech Eco-System Report: https://www.anu.edu.au/files/guidance/TPDC_Report_NO1_2022_digital_release.pdf  NetThing Internet Governance Forum: https://netthing.org.au/    Send us your questions: [email protected]   Follow Kate Pounder on Twitter: @kpounder  Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Johanna sits down with Professor Elanor Huntington FTSE, Executive Director of Digital, National Facilities & Collections at CSIRO, and Professor of Quantum Cybernetics at ANU. The pair canvass exactly what a quantum cybernetician does, Australia’s conditions of possibility, the great inflection point we find ourselves in, plus what the origins of Reggae can teach us about scientific development. Elanor also demystifies STEM, and shares thoughts on what she would tell her younger self and what success means to her. Tech Mirror is recorded on Ngunnawal land. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respect to elders past, present, and emerging. Professor Johanna Weaver is Director of the Tech Policy Design Centre at the Australian National University. This episode was produced by ANU Media. Special thanks to Ben Gowdie for research and post-production support.   Relevant links: Technics and Civilisation, by Lewis Mumford: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/688489.Technics_and_Civilization The Brilliant: https://thebrilliant.com.au/ 2001: A Space Odyssey: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062622/ The Ship Who Sang, by Anne McCaffrey: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/203288.The_Ship_Who_Sang Johanna’s article in The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/clampdown-on-chip-exports-is-the-most-consequential-us-move-against-china-yet-192738   Elanor on Twitter: @profElanor Send us your questions: [email protected]  Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.