Tech Mirror

In this episode Johanna sits down with Sharad Sharma, a distinguished evangelist of public interest technology in India. Sharad co-founded the non-profit think tank iSPIRT in 2013 and has held senior leadership positions across tech companies in India and the US. The pair discuss digital public goods – both what they are and the rights and privacy implications of their design and use. They also delve into the importance of trust, how Australia and India can work together, and the imperative to move from technology being “values free” to “values based.” 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: Volunteer with iSPIRT: https://volunteers.ispirt.in/ Sharad’s article with Henri Verdier, French Digital Ambassador: https://theprint.in/opinion/india-building-the-future-it-desires-with-its-own-digital-infrastructure-eu-can-learn/1005272/ A New Chapter for Sahamati: https://pn.ispirt.in/a-new-chapter-for-sahamati/ The Curse of Bigness: Anti-Trust in the New Gilded Age, by Tim Wu: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/40081165-the-curse-of-bigness Normative statements to guide tech development for healthcare: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41745-022-00326-9 Sharad on Twitter: @sharads Send us your questions: [email protected]  Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Johanna interviews Luli Adeyemo, Director of TechDiversity and Founder of marketing firm Best Case Scenario. Prompted by Luli’s piece in InnovationAus calling for a wider review of diversity in tech than announced recently by the Australian government, the pair canvass why diversity matters, why we haven’t achieved as much progress as we hoped in the last decade, and how the tech sector can embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion. 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: Take the Tech Diversity Pledge: https://techdiversityawards.com/the-awards/your-diversity-inclusion-pledge/ Luli’s Article in InnovationAus: https://www.innovationaus.com/embrace-workplace-diversity-to-build-a-stronger-economy/ The 2022 Innovation Papers: https://www.innovationaus.com/category/the-innovation-papers/ Broad Band, by Claire L Evans https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/35953464-broad-band US Executive Order on Diversity: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/06/25/executive-order-on-diversity-equity-inclusion-and-accessibility-in-the-federal-workforce/ TechDiversity on Twitter: @TechDiversityAU Send us your questions: [email protected] Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Johanna interviews Jamie Susskind, barrister and author of The Digital Republic: On Freedom and Democracy in the 21st century.   The pair explore the ideas Jamie puts forward in his book for how societies can harness the power of digital technologies while preserving (and even strengthening) freedom and democracy. 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: The Digital Republic, by Jamie Susskind https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59935247-the-digital-republic Code: Version 2.0, by Lawrence Lessig https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44874.Code Report: Tending the Tech-Ecosystem https://www.anu.edu.au/research/research-initiatives/tech-policy-design-centre/publications Jamie Susskind on Twitter: @jamiesusskind Send us your questions: [email protected] Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Johanna interviews Professor Ciaran Martin, former CEO of the UK’s Cyber Security Centre, and Professor of Practice in the Management of Public Organisations at Oxford University. The pair discuss cyber operations in Ukraine, the role of the private sector in cyber defence, the ethical and legal questions raised in Johanna’s interview with Cyber Partisans spokesperson Yuliana Shemetovets in Episode 9, 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 ANU Media. Special thanks to Ben Gowdie for research and post-production support. Relevant links: The Hacker and the State, by Ben Buchanan: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/51589806-the-hacker-and-the-state Confidant Cyber Security, by Jessica Barker: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55286316-confident-cyber-security Ciaran Martin on Twitter: @ciaranmartinoxf Blavatnik School of Government on Twitter: @BlavatnikSchool Send us your questions: [email protected] Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Professor Johanna Weaver interviews Professor Michelle Simmons AO, world-leading quantum pioneer and Director of Sydney-based manufacturer Silicon Quantum Computing. The pair discuss SQC’s breakthrough delivery of the world’s first atomic-scale integrated circuit, the opportunities for Australia in the global race for quantum progress, how Australia can maintain and build on its advantages, 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. This episode was produced by ANU Media. Special thanks to Ben Gowdie for research and post-production support. Relevant links: Australian Academy of Science on Quantum Computing: https://www.science.org.au/curious/technology-future/quantum-computing Quantum Computing for the Determined: https://michaelnielsen.org/blog/quantum-computing-for-the-determined/ Quantum Computation and Quantum Information by Michael A. Nielsen, Isaac L. Chuang: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/153910.Quantum_Computation_and_Quantum_Information Michelle’s Piece in the Australian Financial Review: https://www.afr.com/technology/australia-s-cultural-levelling-mechanism-is-holding-back-our-science-20220701-p5ayhw SQC on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/silicon-quantum-computing-pty-ltd/ SQC on Twitter: @silicon_quantum Send us your questions: [email protected] Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tech Policy Design Centre is proud to introduce our new title Tech Mirror: Reflecting on technology and society with Johanna Weaver. To launch our new title, the TPDC team is putting Johanna in the hot seat for the first time. Prodded by Centre researcher Ben Gowdie, Johanna talks about her time at the United Nations, Australia’s role in global tech policy, and what a healthy tech-ecosystem looks like. 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.   Relevant links: Code: Version 2.0 by Lawrence Lessig: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/44874.Code Hacked World Order: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25273682-the-hacked-world-order The Illuminae Files #1: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23395680-illuminae This episode was produced by Jack Fox. Thanks to Ben Gowdie for his research and post-production (and audio!) support. Send us your questions: [email protected]  Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we bring you Johanna’s discussion with Anirudh Suri, Managing Partner at India Internet Fund and author of the new book, The Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destinies of Nations. The pair canvass what it’s actually like being a venture capitalist, Anirudh’s motivation for writing the book, and how the rules of the “great tech game” differ from the rules of the “great game” that dominated colonial era geostrategic competition. Anirudh challenges us to think beyond bipolar (West/China) perspectives and to take a broader view of the forces shaping the technology that is shaping our world. This episode was produced by Jack Fox. Special thanks to Ben Gowdie for his research and post-production support. Relevant links:   The Great Tech Game: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60233107-the-great-tech-game 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Noah Yuval Harari: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38820046-21-lessons-for-the-21st-century  Send us your questions: [email protected]  Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre Follow Anirudh: @AnirudhSuriSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tech Policy Design Centre Director and host of the pod, Johanna Weaver, was invited to deliver a keynote address at NATO’s annual International Conference on Cyber Conflict (CyCon) in Tallinn earlier this month. In her address, Johanna reflected on her role in the United Nations negotiations related to the application of International Humanitarian Law in cyberspace, and what this means in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Johanna shared hard truths about the rules-based international order, and dives into what should be done to make a more persuasive case for the order, especially in the context of NATO cyber operations. Her message is simple: the rules-based international order is ours to lose; and if we lose it, we won’t get it back. This episode was produced by Jack Fox. Thanks to Ben Gowdie for his research and post-production support.  Relevant links:   Video of Johanna’s keynote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8eFiJaNzRU GGE Report: https://www.un.org/disarmament/group-of-governmental-experts/ Send us your questions: [email protected]  Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre  Follow NATO CCDCOE: @ccdcoeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spokesperson for Belarusian digital resistance group Cyber Partisans, Yuliana Shemetovets, joins Johanna on the sidelines of CyCon. The pair dive into the efforts of Cyber Partisans to disrupt Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as Cyber Partisans' broader mission to return democracy to Belarus. They discuss how Yuliana found herself in the position she is, what cyber operations can achieve, and Yuliana's hopes for Belarus’ future. This episode was produced by Jack Fox. Thanks to Ben Gowdie for his research and post-production support.  Discussed Leaks:  [Caution: content of these clips is graphic and may be distressing] Belarus 2020 elections - Policeman is beating a woman for honking, political persecution: https://youtu.be/a1-g82WzrhE Belarus "gulag" - Policemen are discussing putting chlorine 3 times a day to prison cells for political prisoners: https://youtu.be/ywnnLKrJ844 Belarus wiretapping - evidence of rape, abuse: https://youtu.be/OpBaZSX_8a8 Send us your questions: [email protected]  Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre  Follow Yuliana: @yuliana_shem Follow Belarusian Cyber Partisans @cpartisansSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Tech Mirror, Johanna does a speed chat with Angela Zhang, Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Chinese Law at the University of Hong Kong. Zhang is also author of Chinese Antitrust Exceptionalism: How The Rise of China Challenges Global Regulation. The pair canvass misperceptions between China and the West, whether we can distinguish between tech wars and trade wars anymore, the application of game theory to the Sino-US rivalry, as well as China’s Anti-Monopoly Law and much more. This episode was produced by Jack Fox. Thanks to Ben Gowdie for his research and post-production support.   Relevant Links:  Agility Over Stability: China’s Great Reversal in Regulating the Platform Economy - https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3892642  Chinese Anti-Trust Exceptionalism: How the Rise of China Challenges Global Regulation - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56375131-chinese-antitrust-exceptionalism  Send us your questions: [email protected]  Follow us on Twitter: @TPDesignCentre  Follow Angela and her work: @AngelaZhangHK @CCLHKU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.