CDT Tech Talks

We have another exciting show for you this week! Elections have dominated the headlines, and as our listeners likely know CDT’s been busy on that front –– check out our most recent episode for more! –– but that’s just one of the many issues our experts have been working on. Today we’re talking with one of the newest of these faces, Lydia X. Z. Brown Policy Counsel with our Privacy and Data Project...

We have another exciting show for you this week! With the 2020 election season in full swing, we wanted to check in with our Senior Technologist for Elections & Democracy, Will Adler, for an update on what’s going on and how we’re working to keep our election free and fair in 2020. Let’s get ready to talk tech! More on our host, Jamal https://bit.ly/cdtjamal Attribution: sounds used from Psykophob...

We have another exciting show for you this week! 2020 has been a busy year for antitrust in the tech industry. Before the COVID 19 pandemic, the Federal Trade Commission launched investigations into past mergers in the tech industry, with the expectation that they’d be a lot tougher on companies trying to absorb their rivals. Both the DOJ and the FTC have active investigations into the big tech co...

We have another exciting show for you this week! Last month, The Center Democracy and Technology filed a lawsuit against President Trump’s “Executive Order on Preventing Online Censorship”. The suit argues that the Executive Order violates the First Amendment by curtailing and chilling the constitutionally protected speech of online platforms and individuals. In today’s episode, you will hear from...

We have another exciting show for you this week! As the United States gears up for the 2020 election season, many experts are exploring new digital solutions to aid in keeping Americans safe while voting during COVID-19. But what are some of the inherent dangers of online voting? How do we ensure our elections are safe and secure while in the midst of a global pandemic? What are some of the proble...

We have another exciting show for you this week! As governments work to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus across the globe, some countries have begun using highly personalized location data to locate and identify potential cases. While having access to this data may aid in curtailing the spread of the virus, many privacy advocates are concerned that collecting such data without certain safe...

We have another exciting show for you this week! Due to the rapid school closures caused by COVID-19, many school districts are introducing new distance learning strategies in hopes to continue education during this uncertain time. But as many students are turning to technology and online platforms to aid in their studies, many privacy advocates are concerned that their data may not be properly pr...

We have an exciting show for you this week! In this episode of Tech Talk, you will hear from Mana Azarmi, Policy Counsel, Hannah Quay-de la Vallee, Senior Technologist, and Liz Woolery, Deputy Director of the Free Expression Project, as we discuss the EARN IT Act. A well-intentioned new bill aimed at combating child sexual exploitation online, threatens to erode free speech on online platforms and...

We have another amazing episode of Tech Talk for you. First, we will talk with co-authors of the book Data Feminism, Catherine D'Ignazio, and Lauren Klein. Data Feminism introduces us to a new way of thinking about data science and data ethics informed by the ideas of intersectional feminism. After that, we hear from Larry Norden, Director of Election Reform at the Brennan Center, as he talks abou...

It’s only February, but the proposals, rules, and regulations are coming out of Brussels rapidly. And as with GDPR, these proposals impact not just Europeans, but are driving policy debates globally. In this episode, CDT's EU lead Jens Henrik Jeppesen brings us the very latest from Europe. After that, we welcome the amazing Lee-Berkeley Shaw, CDT's Director of Development, who share details about...

Host Brian Wesolowski sits down with Catherine Crump. Electronic monitoring of young people in the juvenile justice system is on the rise nationwide. Despite the increase in usage, very little data actually exists about how the technology is being used and to what effect. That is, until now. Catherine Crump, a professor at the Berkeley School of Law, recently conducted a study on the use of electr...

Host Brian Wesolowski sits down with Steve Hollingworth, of the Grameen Foundation. Access to financing is a major obstacle to alleviating poverty for millions of people around the world. The Grameen Foundation leverages data and technology to address this issue and in this episode we hear from their president about how they are doing that. Then, Brian takes you into our just-wrapped 2019 Future o...

Host Brian Wesolowski first sits down with Kimberly Tignor, the Executive Director of the Institute for Intellectual Property and Justice. She highlights the work of the Institute and shares stories of how creators of all kinds have benefited from their efforts. Then, Brian takes you into our just-wrapped 2019 Future of Speech Online. At the event led by CDT, we asked six speakers to share what th...

Host Brian Wesolowski sits down with the visionary Pam Samuelson, one of the leaders behind technology law and policy clinics. These clinics are helping answer some of today’s most pressing legal questions around tech and society, and Pam tells us more about how they got started and what they're tackling now. Then, Brian brings in CDT's Natasha Duarte to talk about changes the U.S. Department of H...

Host Brian Wesolowski sits down with CDT's Open Internet Counsel, Stan Adams, to discuss the latest installments in our series of technology explainers, called "Techsplanations." In these installments, Stan's broken down the basics of spectrum and network management, all building towards talking about the much hyped 5G network. If you've got questions on this technology, Stan answers it here. More...

Host Brian Wesolowski sits down with author, filmmaker, and founder of the Webby Awards Tiffany Shlain to talk about her latest book: "24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week." She brings her insight and tips from a 10-year journey with her family (including kids), taking 24 hours off each week from technological interaction. Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1982116862 More on...

Host Brian Wesolowski brings in Dr. Nicol Turner Lee, a Fellow in the Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institution. She has a forthcoming book, The Digitally Invisible: How the Internet is Creating the New Underclass. Together they discuss the implications of lacking broadband infrastructure and/ or access to high speed internet in communities across the country. Then, Brian sits...

Host Brian Wesolowski sits down with Director of Privacy & Data, Michelle Richardson, unpacking what the $5 billion dollar fine levied by the Federal Trade Commission against Facebook means and updating us on where things stand with a federal privacy law in the United States.   Then Brian brings in Senior Fellow on Competition, Data, and Power, Avery Gardiner to talk about the latest on big tech a...

Calls for the regulation of so-called big tech are coming from all directions, and while the proposed interventions vary widely, a common refrain is that these companies have too much power. Host Brian Wesolowski sits down with author Harold Feld, Senior Vice President of Public Knowledge, about his new e-book, The Case for the Digital Platform Act. It takes a deeper look at some of the challenges...

Host Brian Wesolowski sits down first with Pueblo Sin Fronteras' Alex Mensing, to discuss first hand-experience of enhanced screenings by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol at ports of entry – and why we should all be concerned. Then Brian sits down with Rapid7's Harley Geiger (CDT alum) and CDT's Michelle Richardson to talk about the data security angle to US privacy legislation, and why Congress see...

Host Brian Wesolowski sits down with CDTEU's Jens-Henrik Jeppesen & Vincenzo Tiani to discuss the upcoming EU elections. The European Union has been driving a lot of change in tech and internet policy worldwide, so these elections have the potential to shake things up even more. Then Brian brings on Jamie Broadnax, the creator of the thriving online community Black Girl Nerds and previous Future o...

Host Brian Wesolowski highlights CDT President & CEO Nuala O'Connor's remarks at this year's Tech Prom, where she challenged everyone to think about how they could help create technology that advances democratic values. Listen in for the full speech, and watch on CDT's YouTube channel if you'd like: http://bit.ly/2Vq8dyl Then, Brian brings in Stan Adams to talk about a new coalition between CDT an...

Host Brian Wesolowski sits down with Erik Neuenschwander, the Manager of User Privacy at Apple, to discuss a myriad of privacy issues. More on Erik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikneuenschwander/ More on our host, Brian: bit.ly/cdtbrian Attribution: sounds used from Psykophobia, Taira Komori, BenKoning, Zabuhailo, bloomypetal, guitarguy1985, bmusic92, and offthesky of freesound.org.

Host Brian Wesolowski sits down first with Joy M. Bruce, the executive director of CASA New Orleans, a nonprofit focused on the rights of abused and neglected children. She helps Brian put the focus on the impact data has on foster kids in the education system – alongside Keedy Bradley, who was part of the foster care system in New Orleans, and now interns with CASA. Then, Brian tackles the Europe...

This week, host Brian Wesolowski tackles "deepfakes:" images or videos created using fairly advanced technology that depict something that never really happened. In this episode we hear from Tara Vassefi of Truepic, a company that is working to address the implications of this serious issue. After that, Brian brings in D.C.-based artist Sarah Jamison, who draws her inspiration from the digital med...