From surveillance and location tracking to facial recognition, progress in AI and data collection is wide-ranging in scope and impact, with the potential to both further and jeopardize the rights of citizens. At this NYU Data Future Lab event, experts discussed the history of emerging technology, the government's role, and how to combat authoritarian tech as a startup, investor, enterprise, and consumer. 

During the latest in NYU Tandon Data Future Lab’s free, virtual 90-Minute Tech series, experts — including keynote speaker Clay Shirky — innovators, funders, and founders weighed the industry landscape and impact of technology used for authoritarian purposes, the possibility for old and new solutions, the role of the government as regulator and client, and more. 

NYU Vice Provost of Educational Technologies Clay Shirky outlined historical examples of authoritarian uses of technology by destructive regimes, focusing on the duality of the tech itself. Startup speakers Tara Pham of Numina and Liz O'Sullivan of Arthur AI, two founders making a positive impact in the realms of privacy, reduced facial recognition, and responsible data collection, provided current examples on how tech companies and nonprofits can fight for user rights and examine their own AI biases. 

A panel of experts, moderated by Coda Story Editor-in-Chief Natalia Antelava, discussed the global state of authoritarian tech and how government action and legal proceedings are affecting human rights. Electronic Frontier Foundation Executive Director Cindy Cohn highlighted the need for power to rest in the user, taking away this supposed importance from tech giants. Higher Ground Labs Cofounder Betsy Hoover called for broader conversations in the tech and startup ecosystem to ensure that there's a set of industry-wide standards. 

This event has already concluded, but you can still sign up to watch the recorded video of the webinar. We look forward to seeing you at a future DFL event!