The Big Tech Show

As the world watches governments’ introduction of contact-tracing apps, new research from Trinity College Dublin suggests that the involvement of Google could cause privacy problems in at least one contact-tracing model.
Adrian Weckler talks to Professor Dough Leith, chair of Computer Systems at the School of Computer Science and Statistics at TCD, who has taken a close look at Google’s involvement in Singapore’s OpenTrace platform, used for its TraceTogether app.
His paper, jointly compiled by TCD research fellow Stephen Farrell, concludes that Google’s Firebase Analytics could mean that supposedly anonymous users might be identified. It also warns about potential ad-targeting associated with the same technology.
All of this comes after reports that the Irish contact-tracing app has undergone a recent design change, potentially involving Google in its makeup.
And it comes as Google and Apple intensify their joint approach to contact-tracing, offering more data about how their API might work.

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This week, Adrian brings on veteran tech reporter John Kennedy and former TD Noel Rock to run through some of the stories of the week. Noel gives an insight into the pressures that politicians can face from constituents on issues such as the erection of mobile masts, even when the science behind the arguments seems shaky. (He describes himself as an opponent of vigilante anti-5G groups.)
John talks about how he sees tech companies coping with the lockdown and what we might expect to see next.

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It’s been described as ‘the safety net’ of the pandemic. But how much do we, or should we, rely on GoFundMe?

This week, Adrian hosts a Zoom call with Tim Cadogan, GoFundMe’s recently-appointed chief executive.

They talk about how much people are committing to GoFundMe campaigns here, including almost €1m to a ‘Feed The Heroes’ campaign in recent weeks.

Irish people remain some of the biggest givers per capital on GoFundMe, Tim says.

But Adrian asks Tim what it says about society that so many campaigns relate to things like medical bills or domestic emergencies. Are we letting authorities off the hook?

And they look more widely at whether tech companies have been a good or a bad influence during the Covid-19 lockdown.

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We're become used to hearing giant web companies described as leeches, health risks and agents of discord.

But has the tone changed, now that we're all eagerly using their services to survive while locked in our homes?

Are we quietly shelving our pearl-clutching hysteria about the dangers of 'screen time' and notional long-term health fears over using smartphones?

Do we care as much if their free, or cheap, platforms slurp data?
This week, Adrian Weckler is joined by senior Irish tech investor (and Draper Esprit partner) Brian Caulfield and data protection expert (and Castlebridge research director) Katherine O'Keefe to weave a path through the pros and cons of the scenario we now find ourselves in.
The panel also discuss the finer points of working from home, as well as the challenge that brings.

And they look at the benefits and pitfalls of Ireland's upcoming contact tracing app.

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This week, we dive into the topic of Twitter bots. Specifically, we ask the question: are pro-government bot accounts being operated in Ireland?
We also explain what a Twitter bot is, how they typically operator and how to check whether a suspected account is a bot or not.

Adrian Weckler is joined by digital marketing consultant Damien Mulley to explore the figures.

Then Adrian is joined by Paul Campbell, founder of the Irish ticketing reservation platform Tito, who has just launched an online video conferencing platform called Vito. Along the way, Adrian and Paul talk about their insecurities, phone voices and the Irish tech ecosystem.

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This week, Adrian talks to Docusign CEO Dan Springer about what it’s like to announce 100 new jobs in Dublin and then have to hire them all over video links.

But that’s exactly what Docusign is doing. The e-signature company is flying at present with over €1bn in revenue likely in 2020, even with the current pandemic.

And like plenty of other multinational tech firms, it has chosen Dublin as its biggest base outside the US west coast.

Dan also tells Adrian why he took a few years out of his career to raise his two teenage sons as a single father, and why attitudes towards working men who do that remain a little antiquated.

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Week 2 of Ireland’s Covid-19 virtual lockdown continues with many trying to get used to working from home.

Videoconferencing is an especially steep learning curve.
“Tom? Hello, Tom? Tom we can see you, but we can’t hear you. Try hitting unmute. Actually, hold on - it might be star six. Try star six. Tom? Tom! TRY STAR SIX.”

Aside from our diet going to hell and our backs and shoulders wrecked from slouching in inappropriate chairs, Adrian looks at some of the tools to use and talks to tech and privacy expert Fintan Swanton about some of the associated issues that may arise.

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Everyone is being told to work from home — including Irish and Sunday Independent journalists.

So Adrian rang some of them up to see how they are getting on.
He found them coping in a brave new world of Microsoft Teams, virtual private networks and remote working amongst kids, dogs and builders.

Adrian spoke to Sunday Independent business editor Samantha McCaughren, Irish Independent business editor Donal O’Donovan and Sunday Independent deputy business editor, Fearghal O’Connor.

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After a row over whether authorities should or should not have revealed the name of an Irish school where a student tested positive for Covid-19, this week’s panel digs deeper in other potential privacy conflicts that may arise.

Should health authorities be asking infected people for their Google tracked location? If things got really desperate, would they even look for dystopian tools, such as Clearview’s facial identification database?

The panel, which sees Sunday Independent deputy business editor Fearghal O’Connor and Castlebridge chief executive Daragh O’Brien join host Adrian Weckler, also debates whether remote working is actually a viable option for people in the longer term. Given that remote working tools have been around for a decade, why would people suddenly start to become interested in the practice now?

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This week, Adrian is joined by Pocket-lint.com editor Chris Hall and Buzz.ie digital editor Mark Kavanagh to go through the wave of top smartphones just launched.

Is Samsung’s folding Flip Z a good deal? What are the flaws, if any, in the S20 Ultra’s incredible camera zoom? And how are soon-to-be announced OnePlus 8 Pro and Google Pixel 4a models shaping up?

The panel goes in depth on the pros and cons of each model to give you a better idea of what’s worth getting.

The Big Tech Show is in association with Vodafone Business.

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