Cool Happenings in Responsible Tech This Week!
There are so many great happenings in Responsible Tech! Interested in having your project or event potentially featured? Please email Sandra Khalil, our Head of Partnerships.
Here are a few events and happenings we’re highlighting this week…
Hello responsible tech community! My name is Sylvie Antal and I lead outreach and partnerships at Portulans Institute, a Washington DC-based think-tank focused on technology and innovation policy. On November 20th we’ll be launching our annual Network Readiness Index in collaboration with Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. The NRI is an in-depth analysis of 134 countries’ performance across four dimensions of digital readiness -
technology, people, governance, and impact. It is used as a benchmarking tool in government and civil society to ensure that technology is adopted in inclusive, sustainable ways. This year’s report will draw attention to the potential for a serious crisis in public trust in the internet and related technologies in our networked world. The launch event will serve as a platform for unveiling the findings of the 2023 report and engaging in discussions about the vital aspect of restoring trust in our networked society, with perspectives from government, industry, and
academia.The report’s global launch will be held on November 20th both online and in-person (at University of Oxford). You can learn more about the event + register here. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out at info@portulansinstitute.org!”– Sylvie Antal, Policy, Research, and Communications Associate, Portulans Institute
“Hello responsible-tech World! My name is Christina You, and I am a computer science student at the University of Southern California and also a member of USC’s first student-led ethical tech organization Shift SC. Backed by both USC Viterbi School of Engineering and Marshall School of Business, we hope to connect top talent with ethical tech companies through our inaugural Tech4Good Career Fair happening this November 9th on campus.
If you represent any company or organization looking to recruit undergraduate/graduate students or simply spread your mission of using tech for good, please reach out to us at shiftsc@usc.edu, or through our website and LinkedIn. Let’s make ethical tech jobs more accessible, together!” -Christina You
“Hey, this Simona Sikimic from the Oversight Board - the independent body responsible for protecting freedom of expression on Facebook and Instagram by making binding decisions and issuing policy recommendations about important pieces of content.This week, we announced a new case which will allow the Board to look at how political mis/disinformation is being addressed by Meta and, for the first time, carry out an assessment of the company’s manipulated media policies.The case concerns a moment caught on video during the 2022 U.S. midterm elections where President Joe Biden places an “I Voted” sticker on his adult granddaughter and kisses her on the cheek. The Facebook post features an altered version of that clip that repeats the moment when Biden’s hand makes contact with his granddaughter’s chest. The post’s accompanying caption states that Biden is “a sick paedophile” and questions the people who voted for him.
This case raises critical questions regarding the treatment and impact of manipulated media on elections – and we would love to hear your thoughts! You are encouraged to participate in the Board’s deliberation process by submitting a written public comment.
These comments are an integral part of the Board’s decision-making process and may include links to external research and resources. The deadline to submit comments is Tuesday 24 October at 23:59 your local time. For more information, please visit our website or email me at engagement@osbstaff.com” -Simona Sikimic
“Hi folks! My name is Kian Vesteinsson, and I’m a researcher at Freedom House. Last week, we released Freedom on the Net 2023: The Repressive Power of Artificial Intelligence. I think you’ll find it interesting. Our research found that advances in AI have been used to increase the scale, speed, and efficiency of digital repression. Meanwhile, attacks on free expression are growing more common around the world, driving the 13th consecutive year of decline for global internet freedom. We call on policymakers and the private sector to adapt the lessons learned from past internet governance challenges and apply them to AI.You can find The Repressive Power of Artificial Intelligence—along with briefs on conditions for human rights online in 70 countries around the world, recommendations for governments and companies, and more information about our methodology and network of contributors—at www.freedomonthenet.org.” -Kian Vesteinsson
“Hello responsible tech-ers! My name is Jean Rogers and in addition to being a huge fan of Responsible Tech, I’m the director of the Screen Time Action Network at Fairplay. We have a youth mentoring program called NextGen Connect that I’d like to tell you about.We know young people are the generation who have been hurt most by constant screens and harmful content on social media. NextGen is an opportunity for youth leaders to make a difference in the lives of future generations of children and teens. We’ve created a unique opportunity for 18-24 year olds in the U.S. to get paid $3,000 while spending 12 weeks on their creative projects related to tech accountability with a mentor who is an expert in the field.Applications are open now for youth leaders and you can find all the information you need to apply here and if you have any questions, please email nextgen@fairplayforkids.org.”-Jean Rogers
“Hi ATIH, My name is Kaitlyn Tierney and I run a mission-driven organization called Diverting Hate. We research online misogynistic extremism and act to counter the spread of these narratives through targeted digital advertising campaigns on behalf of great partners working in men’s wellness. We publish reports bi-annually and recently published our second for 2023. Our research is funded by the Department of Homeland Security and Middlebury Institute of International Studies.We’re looking to partner with organizations focused on countering GBV hate online as well as groups promoting health and wellness for men in efforts of preventing radicalization. If you’d like to connect, reach out to me directly at kaitlyn@divertinghate.org.” - Kaitlyn Tierney
“Hi everyone! My name is Ella Shoup and I’m a researcher for the Civic AI Observatory, a Nesta initiative that helps civic organizations plan and adapt to AI. As I’m sure you’re all familiar, the AI discourse is intensely focused on industry developments and wider regulatory questions, and we saw a need for civic orgs to have and discuss practical insights and use cases, including everything from procurement policy to internal comms. We release a regular newsletter, hold events, and provide a community for civic leaders to discuss how their orgs are integrating and applying AI. We’re also guided by an amazing group of advisors who have experience in both the technical development of AI and civic organization leadership.We recently released our first newsletter which is focused on organizational policies for AI at civic organizations. You can read and subscribe here. We’ll also be hosting an event in London on Oct. 20th at 2-5pm at Nesta.
If you’re interested in sharing or hearing any insights from fellow leaders of civic orgs, please message me or join the very lively WhatsApp group, the link for which can be found in the first newsletter. Thank you!” -Ella Shoup
“Hello responsible tech-ers! My name is Daniella Raposo. I work on the Innovation team at Consumer Reports, where we are designing, prototyping and scaling new solutions to problems facing consumers today. You may be familiar with some of our work, if you’ve played around with CR’s Security Planner or Upkept. But I’m here today to share that we are officially launching our free data privacy app called Permission Slip! CR’s Permission Slip is a mobile app that helps you take back control of your data. With just one tap, Consumer Reports will send legally-enforceable data rights requests - on your behalf - to companies, telling them to stop selling your data or to delete it entirely. Whether you're team Android or team Apple, you can download the Permission Slip app today and experience it for yourself.We believe privacy is a right, not a setting. We’re asking this community to try Permission Slip today, and share Permission Slip with a friend so they too, can take back control of their data. We can’t wait to hear what you think of the app! Please reach out to us at permissionslip@cr.consumer.org for any questions, thoughts, ideas and more!” - Daniella Raposo