Tech, AI, digital infrastructure and surveillance with Meredith Whittaker

In this episode of Technology and Security, Dr Miah Hammond-Errey speaks with Meredith Whittaker, president of Signal. The interview explores key contemporary issues in technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI). They discuss the impact of AI in elections and democracies, including the need for stronger local media ecosystems and improved focus on the ‘mediating’ role of social media platforms and the information ecosystem. They discuss the concentration of AI power and reliance of the business model on mass collection, including the need to write the tech stack for privacy, not surveillance.

This episode also explores developing democratically focused public digital infrastructure without profit incentives and highlights the role of open-source libraries and systems as part of the core infrastructure of the technology ecosystem. This episode also covers the significance of autonomy and agency in neurotech applications. They discuss how to improve tech board governance, through increased personal liability, accountability and transparency. Also, how many downloads signal has actually had! Meredith Whittaker is the president of Signal Foundation. She has nearly 20 years of experience in the tech industry, academia, and government and co-founded the AI Now Institute.

Resources mentioned in the recording:

· Meredith Whittaker, link to talk

· Meredith Whittaker, link to reading

· Meredith Whittaker, link to watching

· Meredith Whittaker, link to listening

· Miah Hammond-Errey, 2024, Big Data, Emerging Technologies and Intelligence: National Security Disrupted, Routledge (20% discount code for book AFL04)

· Byte-sized diplomacy (column), The Interpreter, 3 July 2024, AI-enabled elections or deepfake democracy?

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Thanks to the talents of those involved. Music by Dr Paul Mac and production by Elliott Brennan.