The Harm That AI Can Cause Technology Policy Brief #123 | By: Inijah Quadri | January 02, 2025 Photo by Google DeepMind on Unsplash __________________________________ Policy Issue Summary Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of social media...
The Disastrous Impact of Disinformation on the Election Technology Policy Brief #122 | By: Mindy Spatt | December 21, 2024 Photo by Element5 Digital __________________________________ SUMMARY Just how big was the impact of disinformation on the election of Donald...
The post-election fallout on Elon Musk’s platform, X, has triggered a digital exodus reminiscent of political protests past. On November 6, over 115,000 users deactivated their accounts, frustrated by Musk’s overt alliance with Donald Trump and X’s growing reputation as a hub for hate speech and misinformation. High-profile figures like Stephen King, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Barbra Streisand publicly announced their departures, with many migrating to emerging platforms Bluesky and Threads. Bluesky, created by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, saw over 1 million new users in a single day, as Wired aptly dubbed the movement: “the new ‘I’m moving to Canada.’” The message is clear—people are seeking safer spaces for online discourse, and Musk’s X may no longer be it.
Deepfake technology, powered by artificial intelligence, represents both a creative frontier and an ethical quagmire. While it enables innovations in education, entertainment, and historical reconstruction, its misuse has led to identity theft, political disinformation, and financial fraud. High-profile incidents—such as manipulated videos influencing elections or non-consensual explicit content targeting women—highlight the urgent need for global policies to counter these harms. As governments and organizations strive to regulate deepfake misuse, the balance between fostering innovation and safeguarding privacy, trust, and societal stability remains critical.
It’s easy to laugh at Elon Musk’s childish dance onstage with Trump and even easier to laugh at Trump’s moves, especially when they replace an actual campaign speech.
Donald Trump’s bizarre rants about Haitian immigrants eating dogs, televised during the US presidential debate, were immediately challenged and disproven on air and afterwards.
Meta’s newly launched Instagram Teen Accounts aim to address concerns over online safety, but many argue it’s just a superficial fix. With significant gaps in protection for teens and the onus falling heavily on parents, the platform’s measures may not be enough to shield young users from harassment, discrimination, and predatory behavior.
Kamala Harris’ Silicon Valley fundraising has quickly outpaced Trump’s, despite his early inroads. But these wealthy tech donors have made no secret about what they might want in return, raising alarm bells with watchdog groups.
In an increasingly digital world, navigating the ethical challenges of data privacy, AI bias, and the digital divide has become more urgent than ever. By addressing these issues head-on, we can build a more equitable digital future that protects individual rights and promotes social justice.
A landmark U.S. court ruling has declared Google’s stranglehold on the search engine market illegal, calling into question the tech giant’s future. As this high-stakes antitrust battle unfolds, the outcome could radically redefine internet competition and reshape the digital world.
Brief #113 – Technology Policy Brief
by : Mindy Spatt
AI’s rapid rise is accelerating energy consumption and greenhouse emissions at an alarming rate, posing a serious environmental threat that rivals pandemics and nuclear war. With data centers and extensive computational workloads driving this surge, the urgent question remains: do we truly need this technology given its staggering climate cost?
Brief #112 – Technology Policy Brief
by : Mindy Spatt
Despite his controversial legacy, Donald Trump continues to garner significant financial backing from influential tech moguls like Steve Schwarzman and David Sacks. These tech titans, who once voiced their opposition, are now rallying behind Trump, driven by his anti-regulation stance that aligns with their business interests.