We have another exciting show for you this week!

As part of the CDT Equity in Civic Technology Project's ongoing “Tech Tales series,” we are featuring perspectives from across the education system and sharing their experiences navigating the issues of privacy protection, responsible technology use, and digital equity in their daily lives as parents, school administrators, and education leaders. 

Our guests will discuss how a collaborative approach to school technology is critical to ensuring students are safe and privacy is protected while learning online.

More on our host, Jamal https://bit.ly/cdtjamal

Attribution: sounds used from Psykophobia, Taira Komori, BenKoning, Zabuhailo, bloomypetal, guitarguy1985, bmusic92, and offthesky of freesound.org.

Tech Talk: Storytellers--Talking Tech w/ Phil Dunn & Elizabeth Laird

We have another exciting show for you this week!

Earlier this month, the Facebook Oversight Board affirmed Facebook’s January 7, 2021 decision to restrict the ability of then-President Donald Trump to post content on his Facebook and Instagram accounts. The Board’s decision raised a number of important questions, but left the big one unanswered. Will former President Trump be allowed back on these platforms?

CDT's Free Expression Team, Emma Llansó and Caitlin Vogus will breakdown this decision and discuss what happens next.

More on our host, Jamal https://bit.ly/cdtjamal

Attribution: sounds used from Psykophobia, Taira Komori, BenKoning, Zabuhailo, bloomypetal, guitarguy1985, bmusic92, and offthesky of freesound.org.

Tech Talk: Facebook Oversight Board — Talking Tech W/ Caitlin Vogus and Emma Llansó

We have another exciting show for you this week! 

In February, CDT released a report identifying research gaps in our understanding of the link between race and gender in disinformation campaigns. The report, Facts and their Discontents: A Research Agenda for Disinformation, Race, and Gender, identifies key research questions about how race and gender are used in disinformation efforts. The report also makes recommendations for how to tackle the related systematic and technical problems that researchers and others face in addressing these topics.

More on our host, Jamal https://bit.ly/cdtjamal


Attribution: sounds used from Psykophobia, Taira Komori, BenKoning, Zabuhailo, bloomypetal, guitarguy1985, bmusic92, and offthesky of freesound.org.

Tech Talk- The Impacts Of Mis- And Disinformation W DeVan Hankerson - Madrigal & Maria Rodriguez

We have another exciting show for you this week!

Last month, CDT released two complementary reports, the first report,  Online and Observed: Student Privacy Implications of School-Issued Devices and Student Activity Monitoring Software, an interview-based study, examining local education agencies use of, and motivations for using monitoring software on school-issued devices and, the second Student Activity Monitoring Software: Research Insights and Recommendations presents survey research assessing teacher, parent, and student experiences and attitudes regarding student activity monitoring software.

Here to talk more about the importance of these reports and help us understand some of the challenges education practitioners experience when working to address the homework gap is Francella Ochillo, Executive Director for Next Century Cities.

More on our host, Jamal https://bit.ly/cdtjamal


Attribution: sounds used from Psykophobia, Taira Komori, BenKoning, Zabuhailo, bloomypetal, guitarguy1985, bmusic92, and offthesky of freesound.org.

TechTalk: School Issued Devices  — Talking Tech W/ Francella Ochillo

We have another exciting show for you this week!

Twenty years after the passage of the #PatriotAct, CDT took some time to dig deep and ask a few fundamental questions: What were the key civil liberty concerns back in the fall of 2001 and how has government surveillance activities changed over the last two decades? With the benefit of 20 years of experience, what authorities does the government need in order  to keep the country safe while preserving civil liberties and civil rights in the U.S. and abroad? And lastly,  Should there be a comprehensive reexamination of government #surveillance authorities today? What changes should be made?

On October 5th, 2021 CDT hosted a discussion to tackle these and other questions. The event featured a fireside chat between former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, the lone "no" vote in the Senate against the Patriot Act, and Laura Murphy, who managed the ACLU’s Legislative Office in Washington, D.C. during the bill’s passage.

Full Event: https://cdt.org/event/the-patriot-act-turns-20-taking-stock-and-rethinking-surveillance-powers/


More on our host, Jamal https://bit.ly/cdtjamal


Attribution: sounds used from Psykophobia, Taira Komori, BenKoning, Zabuhailo, bloomypetal, guitarguy1985, bmusic92, and offthesky of freesound.org.

Tech Talk: The Patriot Act Turns 20 - Talking Tech W/ Laura Murphy & Fmr. U.S. Senator Russ Feingold

Welcome to CDT’s Tech Talk, where we dish on tech and internet policy, while also explaining what these policies mean to our daily lives. I’m Jamal Magby, and it’s time to talk tech.

We have another exciting show for you this week!

Here to talk about The Markup and how they use investigative journalism to illustrate how powerful institutions are using technology to change our society is Nabiha Syed, CEO of The Markup and CDT Advisory Council member.

More on our host, Jamal https://bit.ly/cdtjamal

Attribution: sounds used from Psykophobia, Taira Komori, BenKoning, Zabuhailo, bloomypetal, guitarguy1985, bmusic92, and offthesky of freesound.org.

Tech Talk: The Markup — Talking Tech w/ Nabiha Syed

We have another exciting show for you this week!

Controversy around content moderation on social media platforms is a perennial topic in the tech news cycle. Some advocates argue for greater accountability on the part of companies for content published on their platforms, while others believe that hiding any user generated material is censorship. 

Here to discuss one of the more opaque forms of content moderation are Gabe Nicholas, Research Fellow at CDT and author of Shedding Light on Shadowbanning, a recent report on the practice of covert content moderation, and Ana Valens, a journalist specializing in adult content and queer communities who has written about her own experience being shadowbanned by Twitter.

More on our host, Jamal https://bit.ly/cdtjamal


Attribution: sounds used from Psykophobia, Taira Komori, BenKoning, Zabuhailo, bloomypetal, guitarguy1985, bmusic92, and offthesky of freesound.org.

Tech Talk: Shadow Banning  — Talking Tech w/ Ana Valens & Gabe Nicholas

We have another exciting show for you this week!

The Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey, allowing individual states to limit or outright ban abortion. State reactions have been swift and varied, with some states outlawing abortions or significantly limiting them. Such laws will create a strong motive to track and know the identities of people who seek to obtain reproductive health care, or to provide it.

Here to talk about this decision and what can be done to protect the right to privacy of people seeking reproductive care is Alex Givens, President and CEO for CDT and Jake Laperruque, Deputy Director of the CDT Security and Surveillance Project.

(CDT relies on the generosity of donors like you. If you enjoyed this episode of Tech Talk, you can support it and our work at CDT by going to cdt.org/techtalk. Thank you for putting democracy and individual rights at the center of the digital revolution.)


More on our host, Jamal: https://bit.ly/cdtjamal

(CDT relies on the generosity of donors like you. If you enjoyed this episode of Tech Talk, you can support it and our work at CDT by going to https://cdt.org/techtalk. Thank you for putting democracy and individual rights at the center of the digital revolution.)

Attribution: sounds used from Psykophobia, Taira Komori, BenKoning, Zabuhailo, bloomypetal, guitarguy1985, bmusic92, and offthesky of freesound.org.

Tech Talk: Protecting Privacy Post-Roe  — Talking Tech w/ Alex Givens  & Jake Laperruque

And we're back! For our first episode of 2023, we're excited to have invited Kate Starbird, Associate Professor in the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering at the University of Washington, to join CDT's own Will Adler, Senior Technologist for the Elections & Democracy project and Aliya Bhatia, Policy Analyst for the Free Expression project to sit down together. Jamal leads us through a conversation delving into the ways in which misinformation and disinformation can have disastrous effects on election integrity and trust, both domestically and abroad.

The discussion explores the misconceptions about what disinformation is and whether the term "disinformation" is even a useful term anymore ("rumoring"?), as well as important work going on by coalitions of researchers like the Election Integrity Partnership.

More on our host, Jamal: bit.ly/cdtjamal
More on Kate: https://twitter.com/katestarbird
More on Will: https://twitter.com/wtadler
More on Aliya: https://twitter.com/AliyaBhatia

More on the Election Integrity Partnership: https://www.eipartnership.net

(CDT relies on the generosity of donors like you. If you enjoyed this episode of Tech Talk, you can support it and our work at CDT by going to cdt.org/techtalk. Thank you for putting democracy and individual rights at the center of the digital revolution.)

Attribution: sounds used from Psykophobia, Taira Komori, BenKoning, Zabuhailo, bloomypetal, guitarguy1985, bmusic92, and offthesky of freesound.org.

Tech Talk: Post-Election Audits, Disinfo — Talking Tech w/ Kate Starbird, Will Adler, Aliya Bhatia

CDT’s Tech Talk is a podcast where we dish on tech and Internet policy, while also explaining what these policies mean to our daily lives. You can find Tech Talk on Spotify, SoundCloud, iTunes, and Google Podcasts, as well as Stitcher and TuneIn.


Recently, the US Privacy and Civil Liberties Board released a comprehensive report on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, commonly called FISA 702. FISA 702 is a warrantless surveillance authority that was first established in 2008. It empowers the government to designate foreigners abroad as surveillance targets and to compel communication service providers in the US to turn over their communications without court approval. Unless renewed by Congress, FISA 702 is set to expire at the end of the year and is facing serious scrutiny from Democrats and Republicans alike.

In this episode, Sharon Bradford Franklin, Chair of the US Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, will explain why CDT and other groups across the political spectrum have been calling for serious reforms to Section 702.

Tech Talks FISA 702

Talking Tech with Sharon Bradford Franklin On FISA 702

Back in 2018, CDT’s own, Mallory Knodel, teamed up with Niels ten Oever from the critical infrastructure lab at the University of Amsterdam to present a draft document at the internet standards governing body called the Internet Engineering Task Force, or IETF. This draft outlined a proposal that urged the community to officially reject the use of discriminatory and exclusive language in Internet Drafts and RFCs. As we persistently uncover and confront systemic racial inequality across society, it becomes equally vital to guarantee that the fundamental design comprising one of our most critical and democratic technologies– the internet– is devoid of any historically racist or prejudiced terms.

Talking Tech with Mallory Knodel and Niels ten Oever On Inclusive Language in Internet Standards

In today's episode, we’ll delve into the exciting realm of Artificial Intelligence, and its transformative impact on education. The recent strides in AI have reignited curiosity about its potential to enhance learning experiences. However, it's essential to recognize that AI encompasses a diverse array of methods, capabilities, and limitations. Join us as we navigate through the nuances often overlooked by researchers, education technology firms, and other developers in the AI landscape.

Here to discuss what this means and share insights from his paper, “Unpacking the "Black Box" of AI in Education”, is Nabeel Gillani, CDT Non-Resident Fellow and Assistant Professor of Design and Data Analysis at Northeastern University.

Talking Tech with Nabeel Gillani on The Black Box of AI in Education

On February 26, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments for Moody v. NetChoice and NetChoice v. Paxton, two pivotal cases that could alter the landscape of free expression on the internet. 

In this episode, we sat down with CDT’s Director of the Free Expression Project, Kate Ruane, and Vice President of the Center for Civil Rights and Technology,  K.J. Bagchi to discuss the two cases that are challenging the constitutionality of the controversial Texas and Florida social media laws.

Talking Tech with Kate Ruane & K.J. Bagchi on Moody v. NetChoice & NetChoice v. Paxton

In recent years, differential privacy has emerged as a promising solution for enhancing privacy protections in data processing systems. However, beneath its seemingly robust framework lie certain assumptions that, if left unquestioned, could inadvertently undermine its efficacy in safeguarding individual privacy.

Here to discuss their recent papers on differential privacy is Rachel Cummings, Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at Columbia University and CDT Non-Resident Fellow and Daniel Susser, Associate Professor for the Department of Information Science at Cornell University and CDT Non-Resident Fellow.

Talking Tech with Rachel Cummings & Daniel Susser on Differential Privacy

Recently, legislative bodies across the United States have exploded as lawmakers in over 10 states introduced several closely related bills to tackle AI- systems and their impacts on various facets of society. From hiring practices to education, insurance, housing, lending, government services, and even criminal sentencing, the scope of these bills is vast and far-reaching and will likely have a rippling effect across the country. 

 
Here to talk about these systems and the decisions they are responsible for making. Grace Gedye, Policy Analyst for Consumer Reports, and Matt Scherer, Senior Policy Counsel for CDT.

Talking Tech with Grace Gedye and Matt Scherer on AI Legislation

It’s a modern day reality that large social media platforms deliver political information to many citizens, making these companies’ policies for removing and blocking speech critical to politics and culture. Emergencies such as the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol and the genocide of the Rohingya people in Myanmar can be traced in part to misinformation and hate speech shared online via large social media platforms. The problem of how social media companies should create policies to govern these spaces makes them uniquely quasi-governmental, a role, still developing today.

Talking Tech with Paul Gowder on The Networked Leviathan

New internet-based technologies have boomed with unprecedented access to data and data management tools. While this has facilitated innovation, it has also left many personal users and companies alike with limited knowledge about the uses and potential harms of their data. Balancing innovation and data privacy often requires tailored approaches, which is what the National Institute of Standards and Technology, more commonly known as NIST, attempted to address with their now highly-relied upon voluntary Privacy Framework, which offers guidance for organizations to voluntarily implement to protect data privacy and security.

Talking Tech with Josh Kroll on The NIST Privacy Framework

More and more people turn to quantified health, achievement, and ability measures, such as fitness apps and economic measures of well-being every single day. As part of this trend, medicalized approaches to human health often describe people in terms of statistics and data, sometimes failing to capture more important details. In particular, the quantified approach falls short in describing the needs and rights of disabled people, as seen in lawsuits and case studies involving algorithmic decision-making about disability benefits. 

 
Here to talk about algorithmic decision-making and quantification in disability benefits in the United States and India are Vandana Chaudhry, Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work and Disability Studies at the City University of New York who focuses on disability and digital justice in the Global South, and Lydia X.Z. Brown, activist for disability justice, Director of Public Policy at the National Disability Institute, and CDT’s very own former policy counsel.

Talking Tech on Algorithmic Disability Determinations

AI chatbots have quickly taken the world by storm with more people than ever integrating them into their daily lives. Many are familiar with the big name chatbots that can write recipes as Shakespearean poems or summarize obscure topics. But one type of chatbot, AI romantic companions, are less known despite the fact that they fill an especially personal role for their users. For these users, the chatbot developers’ data privacy practices are critical, yet many lack mature privacy and security protocols, leaving users’ most vulnerable data, such as health details, unprotected.
​​
Here to talk about these AI companion companies’ data privacy practices are Jen Caltrider, Mozilla’s *Privacy Not Included Program Director, and Michal Luria, CDT’s own Research Fellow.

Talking Tech with Jen Caltrider & Michal Luria on AI Companions

In this episode, we explore the vital topic of bias and equity in AI systems. Joining the conversation are two esteemed guests: Raffi Krikorian, Chief Technology Officer at the Emerson Collective, and Alexandra Givens, President and CEO of the Center for Democracy and Technology. Tune in as we unpack the challenges and opportunities in making AI more equitable for all.In this episode, we explore the vital topic of bias and equity in AI systems. Joining the conversation are two esteemed guests: Raffi Krikorian, Chief Technology Officer at the Emerson Collective, and Alexandra Givens, President and CEO of the Center for Democracy and Technology. Tune in as we unpack the challenges and opportunities in making AI more equitable for all.

Talking Tech on Bias and Equity in AI Systems with Alexandra Givens & Raffi Krikorian

In today’s episode, we tackle a fascinating question: What happens when an AI system deployed by a company decides to "resign"—stopping its recommendations or restricting access to its outputs? Can such actions help mitigate reputational or legal risks for organizations? To help us explore this, we’re joined by Dr. Umang Bhatt, Assistant Professor and Faculty Fellow at the Center for Data Science at New York University, CDT Non-Resident Fellow, and co-author of the paper When Should Algorithms Resign?: A Proposal for AI Governance, which delves into this thought-provoking concept.

Tech Talk: Talking Tech with Umang Bhatt on Algorithmic Resignation

In today’s episode, we dive into an often overlooked but incredibly important issue: content moderation in non-dominant languages, specifically Maghrebi Arabic dialects. Recently, CDT released a groundbreaking report titled "Moderating Maghrebi Arabic Content on Social Media," which explores the challenges, gaps, and opportunities in ensuring fair and effective moderation of Arabic content on social platforms.

To unpack these insights, we’ll be joined by two leading experts in the field: Mona Elswah, a researcher in digital rights and content moderation, and Fellow of the Content Moderation for Languages in the Global South Project at CDT; and Emna Mizouni, a Tunisian digital rights advocate, community leader, and founder-CEO of Digital Citizenship.

We’ll discuss the unique hurdles faced by Maghrebi Arabic speakers online, why it's critical for platforms to address these gaps, and what needs to change to make content moderation more inclusive and equitable for all users. 

Talking Tech with Mona Elswah & Emna Mizouni on Moderating Magrabe Arabic Content on Social Media

On January 27th, the Trump Administration made headlines with a controversial move to dismiss three Democratic members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), an independent agency responsible for ensuring transparency and accountability in U.S. surveillance practices. With the attempted removal of these members, including the Chair, the board now lacks a quorum and is unable to function effectively, leaving just one member behind. As the future of the board remains uncertain, it could take months for replacements to be appointed, leaving the agency non-operational for the foreseeable future.

On February 24th, two of the removed members filed a lawsuit in federal court, claiming their firing was illegal.

In this episode, Greg Nojeim, Senior Counsel and Director of CDT’s Security and Surveillance Project, joins us to discuss the ramifications of the Trump Administration’s actions, the legal battle ahead, and what this all means for the future of privacy and trans-Atlantic data flows.


Talking Tech with Greg Nojiem on The Current State of PCLOB

In this episode, we explore the vital role public interest technologists play in shaping policy. How do technical experts influence legislation around the internet, cybersecurity, AI, and more? What challenges do they face, and how can we encourage more technologists to engage in public policy?
Joining the conversation are Chinmayi Sharma, Associate Professor at Fordham Law School and CDT Non-Resident Fellow, and Nick Doty, CDT’s Senior Technologist.
Tune in as we unpack the intersection of technology and policymaking—and why it matters now more than ever.


Talking Tech with Chinmayi Sharma and Nick Doty on The Role of Public Interest Technologists

Can AI ever truly be “neutral”? A new Executive Order takes aim at so-called “Woke AI,” raising constitutional concerns and surfacing big technical challenges. In this episode of Tech Talks, CDT’s Amy Winecoff, Senior Technologist,  Becca Branum,  Deputy Director for the Free Expression Project, and Quinn Anex-Ries, Senior Policy Analyst for the Equity in Civic Technology project, join the conversation to explore why “anti-woke AI” may be more political mirage than technical reality, and what it could mean for the future of technology, policy, and free expression.

Attribution:
Applause 27 seconds, Audience c. 200. Large Hall. by iainmccurdy -- https://freesound.org/s/681093/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

applause_and_whistle.flac by ondrosik -- https://freesound.org/s/187673/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Talking Tech On Woke AI

Host Brian Wesolowski sits down inside D.C.'s Woolly Mammoth Theater with Director Shana Cooper and Dramaturg Kirsten Bowen to discuss their production of THE NETHER. 

Described as "a haunting and highly original modern crime drama that hacks into urgent questions about desire, technology, and morality," Brian & Emma Llansó –– CDT's Director of our Free Expression Project –– delve into all aspects of the show (and it's creation), exploring the overlapping areas of tech law, policy and norms.

FOR DISCOUNTED TICKETS: 
Reach out to press@cdt.org or message us on Twitter at @CenDemTech and we'd be happy to share a special discount code for tickets.

MORE INFO: http://www.woollymammoth.net/nether/

Attribution: sounds used from Psykophobia, Taira Komori, BenKoning, Zabuhailo, bloomypetal, guitarguy1985, bmusic92, and offthesky of freesound.org.

Exploring THE NETHER – Talking Tech w/ Shana Cooper & Kirsten Bowen

Host Brian Wesolowski sits down with an extended episode of #cdttechtalk, to review our history – and the future of our space.

More info on Jerry: http://bit.ly/JerryBerman

Attribution: sounds used from Psykophobia, Taira Komori, BenKoning, Zabuhailo, bloomypetal, guitarguy1985, bmusic92, and offthesky of freesound.org.

Sitting Down with our Founder – Tech Talk w/ Jerry Berman

Host Brian Wesolowski sits down with CDT's Joseph Jerome as Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is finally here. They talk about what it means for businesses both in Europe and the US, and what it means for your personal data.

Brian then brings in Vanderbilt professor, historian, and author Sarah Igo to discuss how the meaning of privacy has evolved over time in the United States – and how that changing notion of privacy has impacted policy and society.

Sarah's new book, "The Known Citizen:" http://bit.ly/2J0c9nf

More on Joe: https://twitter.com/joejerome
More on Sarah: http://bit.ly/2klBSbU
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.

GDPR & the History of Privacy –– Talking Tech w/ Joseph Jerome & Sarah Igo

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 from our Techsplanation series: http://bit.ly/CDTsplanations
More from the series on 5G: http://bit.ly/cdt5Gdeal

More on Stan: https://cdt.org/about/staff/stan-adams/
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.

Tech-splaining All Things 5G -- Talking Tech w/ Stan Adams

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 electronic monitoring of youth in California. Her findings suggest that this technology is widening the net of surveillance over youth in the justice system, without achieving some of the potential benefits, such as a reduction in incarceration rates. 

Catherine, who is also a CDT Fellow, joins us on this episode of Tech Talk to share her study and its policy implications.

More on Catherine: https://www.law.berkeley.edu/our-faculty/faculty-profiles/catherine-crump/

Catherine's study: https://lawreview.law.ucdavis.edu/issues/53/2/articles/53-2_crump.html

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.

Tech Talk: Examining the Electronic Monitoring of Youth in the Juvenile Justice System

Tech Talks are a podcast imagined and created by the folks over at the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT). We're a 501(c)3 nonpartisan nonprofit organization that fights to put democracy and human rights at the center of the digital revolution. We work to promote democratic values by shaping technology policy and architecture, with a focus on equity and justice. #techtalkcdt 

Support CDT's work with a donation: https://cdt.org/techtalk/

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