Burning Platforms
- Episodes
- 100
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Nov 11, 2026
About the podcast
Welcome to Burning Platforms: De-Coding the Power and Politics of Big Tech.
Join Peter Lewis, Lizzie O’Shea (Digital Rights Watch), Dan Stinton (HealthEngine CEO), and guests, fortnightly for analysis of the politics of technology from some of Australia’s leading digital campaigners and industry experts.
Brought to you by the Centre of the Public Square - an initiative of Per Capita.
Episodes 100
Going Rogue with Bill Simpson-Young
The CEO of the Gradient Institute on the emerging risks of agentic AI and how playing dumb might be the smartest move. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton …
Show notes
The CEO of the Gradient Institute on the emerging risks of agentic AI and how playing dumb might be the smartest move.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss:
- should we get AI out of schools?
- what do the big Canva job cuts mean?
- will the US midterms impact AI in Australia?
For show notes go to: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
Join us in Canberra on November 25 - https://events.humanitix.com/what-s-your-poison-live-show-last-drinks-for-2026?
Celebrate Digital Rights Watch’s 10th birthday on December 9 - https://events.humanitix.com/digital-rights-watch-10th-birthday-party
Sale of the Century with Carl Rhodes
The founder of UTS’s Ultimo Institute on the political economy of the largest float in history, AI lab Anthropic’s IPO. Panellists Australian Writers Guild CEO Claire Pullin, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and …
Show notes
The founder of UTS’s Ultimo Institute on the political economy of the largest float in history, AI lab Anthropic’s IPO.
Panellists Australian Writers Guild CEO Claire Pullin, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss.
- the crash of Elon Musk’s ‘yuck truck’
- how people are using AI to manage their health
- the tech bro’s embrace of ‘cognitive mercantilism’
For transcript, cuts and curios go to https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
God in a Box with Toby Walsh
The AI scientist and author on his rising concerns about existential risk and the false inevitability of the hyper-scalers. Panellists ABC AI correspondent Ca, Wilson, Tech Policy Design Institute co-director …
Show notes
The AI scientist and author on his rising concerns about existential risk and the false inevitability of the hyper-scalers.
Panellists ABC AI correspondent Ca, Wilson, Tech Policy Design Institute co-director Zoe Jay Hawkins and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss:
- the ad-powered cyber-attacks on Australian institutions
- the Digital Duty of Care laws enter the Parliament
- Meta’s new terms of trade and plans for AI domination
For show notes go to https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
Science Friction with Anna-Maria Arabia
The CEO of the new Australian Council on AI Strategy on the big decisions and competing trade-offs facing Australia and where scientists fit in the conversation. Panelists Australian Writers Guild CEO Claire …
Show notes
The CEO of the new Australian Council on AI Strategy on the big decisions and competing trade-offs facing Australia and where scientists fit in the conversation.
Panelists Australian Writers Guild CEO Claire Pullen, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss.
- is the Parliamentary Inquiry AI actually worth it?
- should AI be in your fridge?
- And whether mathematics is dead.
For background material go to https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
Digging for Truth with Craig Silverman
The co-founder of Indicator on how lies have taken over the internet and what we can all do to build a better information ecosystem. Also this week: Culture wars over digital duty of care AI as an intellectual …
Show notes
The co-founder of Indicator on how lies have taken over the internet and what we can all do to build a better information ecosystem.
Also this week:
- Culture wars over digital duty of care
- AI as an intellectual hot dog
- and what the Firmus flop could mean for datacentres
For show notes go to: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
Open Season with Simon Kriss
As Open AI apologises to Australia the CEO of Sovereign AI takes us through the relative merits of open weight, open source and closed AI models. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea …
Show notes
As Open AI apologises to Australia the CEO of Sovereign AI takes us through the relative merits of open weight, open source and closed AI models.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinong and Pert Capita’s peter Lewis also discuss
- the downsides of live-streaming amateur basketball
- Anthropic’s consultations with God
- and the rapid release of consumer agents
For show notes go to Burning Platforms on substack - https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
Rearview Mirror with Matt Finch
As Australia confronts the Open AI hack on Medicare we are joined by an expert in strategic foresight to explore how we can confront the AI revolution with the benefit of hindsight. Panellists Digital Rights …
Show notes
As Australia confronts the Open AI hack on Medicare we are joined by an expert in strategic foresight to explore how we can confront the AI revolution with the benefit of hindsight.
Panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, ABC national AI reporter Cam Wilson and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss:
- whether AI models can get drunk
- is it time for an AI Pause?
- and Audrey Tang’s call for a citizen jury to guide AI
For show notes go to Burning Platforms on substack - https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
Tame Your Feed with Agata Stepnik
The Sydney University scholar explains how people can train their algorithms to get a better online experience and what it means to the Digital Duty of Care. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie …
Show notes
The Sydney University scholar explains how people can train their algorithms to get a better online experience and what it means to the Digital Duty of Care.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss:
- Frontier Tech’s global reckoning
- Open AI’s massive content heist
- and the Australian bros building a global slop empire
For cuts and curios from this week’s show go to Burning Platforms on Substack
Care Package with Sarah Davies
The CEO of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation gives her verdict on the government’s new Digital Duty of care laws. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and …
Show notes
The CEO of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation gives her verdict on the government’s new Digital Duty of care laws.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss:
- the AI hyperscaler’ cry for help
- Apple’s creepy new release
- and the surveillance legacy of 9/11.
For show notes go to https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
Making Sausages with Kate Chaney
The independent MP on her community-driven plan for AI, working with government from the cross-bench and pushing the pace of reform. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine …
Show notes
The independent MP on her community-driven plan for AI, working with government from the cross-bench and pushing the pace of reform.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss:
- GetUp’s big Palantir win
- Rogue AI latest salvo
- and the Digital Duty of Care laws
For show notes go to: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
Perv Glass Half Full with Ed Santow
As privacy reforms gather momentum, the co-director of the Human Technology Institute walks us through the proposed changes and their implications for the digital world. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch …
Show notes
As privacy reforms gather momentum, the co-director of the Human Technology Institute walks us through the proposed changes and their implications for the digital world.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss:
- Meta’s mega $18 billion legal settlement for harming children
- Hugging Face’s AI agents mutiny
- And the hidden cost of the AUKUS treaty
For show notes go to: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
Duty of Care with Zoe Hawkins
The co-founder of the Tech Policy Design Centre on the development of new laws to hold tech companies to account for the harms of their products. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Lizzie O’Shea, Health …
Show notes
The co-founder of the Tech Policy Design Centre on the development of new laws to hold tech companies to account for the harms of their products.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also dig into:
- The new salt mines of AI
- Australia’s pitch for AI sovereignty
- and ARIA’s purge of slop from the music charts
For show notes go to: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
Heaps Normal with Nicholas Davis
The co-founder of the Human Technology lays down his megapixel provocation and challenges us to stop thinking about AI as being so different that we can’t control it. Panellists Digital Rights Watch chair …
Show notes
The co-founder of the Human Technology lays down his megapixel provocation and challenges us to stop thinking about AI as being so different that we can’t control it.
Panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, ABC National AI Reporter Cam Wilson and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss
- Can Automated Decision Making work for the people?
- Is the Social Media Ban making things worse?
- Is surveillance-busting ‘adversarial fashion’ the new black?
For show notes go to: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
Mind Craft with Dr Miah Hammond-Errey
The national security expert on the strategic risks of cognitive readiness and information is the new theatre of conflict. Panellists Australian Writers Guild CEO Claire Pullen, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton …
Show notes
The national security expert on the strategic risks of cognitive readiness and information is the new theatre of conflict.
Panellists Australian Writers Guild CEO Claire Pullen, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss:
- Pornography as harbinger of digital doom
- Mark Zuckerburg’s values-free ‘Encyclical’
- Australia’s nascent Digital Duty of Care.
For show notes go to: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
Roll Your Own with Beth Noveck
The author of 'Reboot: AI and the Race to Save Democracy' on how citizens must seize new technology to ensure it works for them. Regular panelists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O'Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan …
Show notes
The author of 'Reboot: AI and the Race to Save Democracy' on how citizens must seize new technology to ensure it works for them. Regular panelists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O'Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita's Peter Lewis also discuss- Anthropic's rare book-breaking binge
- Backlash over the surveillance of open models
- How to regulate perv glasses
Fair AI at the ALP Conference 2026 - Burning Platforms LIVE
Burning Platforms is back for another live show, this time recorded at the 2026 ALP Conference in Adelaide where we launched the "FairAI Initiative" with Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Human …
Show notes
Burning Platforms is back for another live show, this time recorded at the 2026 ALP Conference in Adelaide where we launched the "FairAI Initiative" with Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Human technology Institute co-director Ed Santow and Senator Tony Sheldon.
Join the Burning Platforms for show notes, resources, and regular updates from the Big Tech Policy space: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
For more on the Centre of the Public Square and it's research into AI policy, check out: https://percapita.org.au/the-centre-of-the-public-square/
Last but no least, learn more about the Fair AI Initiative here: https://www.fairai.au/
Believe it or not: Navigating the Misinformation Age LIVE
In a world of relative facts and filter bubbles how do we build a common base of reality to anchor democracy? Burning Platforms will bring themes from the ABC series ‘A Matter of Facts’ to life in a fun and …
Show notes
In a world of relative facts and filter bubbles how do we build a common base of reality to anchor democracy?
Burning Platforms will bring themes from the ABC series ‘A Matter of Facts’ to life in a fun and interactive live event that will challenge you to pick the truth from the lies.Featuring:
Hamish Macdonald, award-winning journalist
Lizzie O’Shea, Co-founder and Chair of Digital Rights Watch
Jess Scully, Executive Director of RadicalXChange
Emma McDonald, Media Lawyer, policy, regulatory and communications executive
Professor Leo Robba and social design students from Western Sydney University
Hosted by Essential’s Peter Lewis, and supported by Democracy Counts, we’ll explore what it means for democracy when so much of the content we’re consuming blurs the lines between fact and fiction, when our shared sense of reality becomes fractured.
The Palantir Primer
Burning Platform is back from its brief hiatus for a special live Virtual Town Hall, convened on July 6th, looking at the growing fight to resist the US tech behemoth, in partnership with Digital Rights Watch …
Show notes
Burning Platform is back from its brief hiatus for a special live Virtual Town Hall, convened on July 6th, looking at the growing fight to resist the US tech behemoth, in partnership with Digital Rights Watch and GetUp!
Hosted by Per Capita's Peter Lewis, with speakers:
* DRW chair Lizzie O'Shea * GetUp! campaigner Hayden Rodgers * Australian Greens Senator David Shoebridge Show notes available at: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/p/your-palantir-primerLittle Voices with Clare Stutchbery
This week on Burning Platforms, we're joined by the head of the Local and Independent News Association, Clare Stutchbery, to get her insights on the importance of media diversity in an age of information …
Show notes
This week on Burning Platforms, we're joined by the head of the Local and Independent News Association, Clare Stutchbery, to get her insights on the importance of media diversity in an age of information hierarchies.
Panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Australian Writers Guild CEO Claire Pullin and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also explore:
Why has Trump blocked Anthropic’s latest model?
Is Google responsible for its AI news summaries?
Are Gina and Elon a match made in heaven?
For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
BeNICE with Ed Coper
The political strategist and author of ‘Angertainement', Ed Coper, joins the Burning Platform this week to discuss how social media outrage ruined everything and outlines his blueprint for harnessing the toxic …
Show notes
The political strategist and author of ‘Angertainement', Ed Coper, joins the Burning Platform this week to discuss how social media outrage ruined everything and outlines his blueprint for harnessing the toxic information ecosystem.
Panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into:
is Anthropic really calling to hit pause?
will Microsoft’s agentic AI play land safely?
can a government automate discretion?
For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
Magnifica Humanitas
This week on Burning Platforms we dive deep into Pope Leo’s XIV’s encyclical with Dr Michael Walker from the Justice and Peace Office at the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney . Our panellists Digital Rights Watch …
Show notes
This week on Burning Platforms we dive deep into Pope Leo’s XIV’s encyclical with Dr Michael Walker from the Justice and Peace Office at the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney .
Our panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, ABC AI reporter Cam Wilson and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into:
AI’s Trust Deficit
Amnesty International’s new report: Unlawful by Design
and Greenpeace’s new research on data centres ‘Energy Vampires’
For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
Deep Tech with George Tulloch
The founder of start-up Noizend on the challenges of scaling tech in Australia and how the real innovation is not running on the back of LLMs. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health …
Show notes
The founder of start-up Noizend on the challenges of scaling tech in Australia and how the real innovation is not running on the back of LLMs.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into:
Why is Meta ditching End to End Encryption?
Will Google’s new IO break the internet?
And Elon Musk’s the SpaceX float take-off?
For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/The Kids are Alright with Tama Leaver
Internet academic Tama Leaver on the lines between regulating and equipping children to navigate the AI revolution. Panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, ABC AI reporter Cam Wilson and Per …
Show notes
Internet academic Tama Leaver on the lines between regulating and equipping children to navigate the AI revolution.
Panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, ABC AI reporter Cam Wilson and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into:
Students Jeer AI Inspiration
Palantir’s Surveillance Playbook
and can we build an AI Wealth Fund?
For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
The Devil’s Playground with Claire Pullen
The Australian Writer’s Guild CEO Claire Pullen updates us on the fight to protect Australian creators from the industrial-scale thrift of their work. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie …
Show notes
The Australian Writer’s Guild CEO Claire Pullen updates us on the fight to protect Australian creators from the industrial-scale thrift of their work.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into:
The wild west of AI-powered toys
Chat-GPT’s new bot-phone
and how Anthropic is tapping religious leaders for moral guidance
For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/Kids’ Gloves with Carly Kind
The Privacy Commissioner takes us through the new code to to give children greater control over their data and how this could open the door for less surveillance for all of us. Regular panellists Digital Rights …
Show notes
The Privacy Commissioner takes us through the new code to to give children greater control over their data and how this could open the door for less surveillance for all of us.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into:
What’s behind the cancellation of RightsCon?
Why did Jack Dorsey lay off 40 per cent of his business?
And who wins when two tech overlords go to court?
For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
Hyperscaling with Ed Husic
The Labor MP and former Industry Minister on how the power of the global tech giants and why tech sovereignty is non-negotiable. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO …
Show notes
The Labor MP and former Industry Minister on how the power of the global tech giants and why tech sovereignty is non-negotiable.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into:
Who is enabling the Nudify apps?
Is there a world beyond the US AI stack?
And what on earth is Palintir CEO Alex Karp smoking?
For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
Popular Front with Cam Wilson
The Sizzle editor (and freshly minted ABC AI reporter) joins us to make sense of the spate of attacks on CEO leaders. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton …
Show notes
The Sizzle editor (and freshly minted ABC AI reporter) joins us to make sense of the spate of attacks on CEO leaders.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into:- What role should AI play in Aged Care?
- Is all the AI Bubble talk just hot air?
- And how to get into a slinging match with a chat bot?
For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
War Crimes with Prof Toby Walsh
On this week's Burning Platforms, Australia’s leading AI scientist, Prof Toby Walsh, takes us through the failing efforts to place limits around the automation of military conflict. Regular panelists Digital …
Show notes
On this week's Burning Platforms, Australia’s leading AI scientist, Prof Toby Walsh, takes us through the failing efforts to place limits around the automation of military conflict.
Regular panelists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss:
- Sam Altman’s moments of truth
- Anthropic’s Maven’s Vuln-pocalypse
- and the AI Bubble's Overton Window
For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
Industrial Revolution with Joseph Mitchell
The ACTU’s Assistant Secretary takes us through the multiple challenges AI poses workers and the pressure points where unions are pushing back. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea …
Show notes
The ACTU’s Assistant Secretary takes us through the multiple challenges AI poses workers and the pressure points where unions are pushing back.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into:
Anthropic’s pitch to Canberra
slop-aganda in the Iranian war
and a new platform to Surf the fedi-verse
For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
Muting The Manosphere with Chanel Contos
The founder of Teach Us Consent on her campaign to give young people control over their social media feeds. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Per Capita’s Peter Lewis and Cam Wilson …
Show notes
The founder of Teach Us Consent on her campaign to give young people control over their social media feeds.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Per Capita’s Peter Lewis and Cam Wilson from The Sizzle also delve into:
The release of a new privacy code for children
Anthropic’s push into Australia
and Bernie Sanders' new bill for a moratorium on data centres
For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/
These are the latest 40 of 100 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
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