Burning Platforms
The Australia Institute's Centre for Responsible Technology
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A fortnightly analysis of the politics of technology from some of Australia's leading digital campaigners and industry experts, brought to you by the Australia Institute's Centre for Responsible Technology
Available episodes
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Nov 6, 2023
Faking It
As the world races to regulate artificial intelligence and machine learning, we’re joined by Professor Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist at the University of New South Wales and author of new book 'Faking It', to expose all of A.I.’s tricks and lies.
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Oct 17, 2023
Tech Horror Stories
Burning Platforms looks at the march of AI through the prism of dystopias with critic and writer Richard King, author of 'Here Be Monsters'
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Sep 4, 2023
Life of Pi
On this episode the panel is joined for an intimate discussion with the self described ‘emotional intelligent’ AI chatbot, Pi.
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Aug 20, 2023
ALP Live Hack
This Burning Platforms comes live from the Australian Labor Party National Conference Fringe Festival where we talk AI regulation, privacy reform and hack the data of an MP!
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Jul 30, 2023
'Cookers' in their underpants - The Voice and social media
With The Voice to Parliament referendum campaign in full swing, we examine the role that digital platforms play in influencing the discussion.
With special guest Queensland University of Technology Professor of Communication and Media Studies Axel Bruns.
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Jul 20, 2023
True Lies - Can we regulate disinformation?
We are joined by Andrea Carson, Professor of Political Communication from LaTrobe University to dissect ACMA's proposed new disinformation powers, and ask the question, 'Can we actually regulate disinformation?'
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Jul 2, 2023
Living With AI
Technology described as artificial intelligence is becoming more pervasive, with AI algorithms transforming science and industry, along with our everyday lives. But what is AI really? Is it truly intelligent? Is it always a benignly useful modern-world companion? We unpack this and more with AI academic Campbell Wilson on his new book 'Living with AI'.
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Apr 27, 2023
Privacy Misconception
Apps now harvest so much of our data, from our locations and movements, our shopping habits, even for some women - their fertility. What are the privacy implications of capturing this much bodily information?
Burning Platforms speaks with academic Katharine Kemp about her work tracking the data-harvesting of fertility apps.
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Apr 4, 2023
Digital Playground
With a new focus on protecting children online as part of an evolution of the Privacy Act, rights activist Chloe Shorten joins our panel to look at the case for using new and existing laws to define and enforce the rights of minors.
Special guest:
* Chloe Shorten, Director Alfred Health and Industry Funds Services, Ambassador Foyer Foundation
And don't forget to vote for our SXSW proposal - https://sessionselect.sxswsydney.com/entry/vote/WEyMPOgR/erABGDgD?search=8252048b63297915-1
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Mar 21, 2023
Public Interest Data
With the first major review of the Australian Privacy Act in 40 years reaching end-game, we unpack the state of events, and discuss a new report looking at how tick-a-box consent is undermining our freedom and privacy.
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Mar 7, 2023
Identity Crisis
After the string of hacks in late 2022 the government has developed a new online identity wallet.What is the logic behind it? Will it provide better privacy for citizens? And should we trust government with our data anyway?
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Feb 12, 2023
Chokepoint Capitalism
We speak with Rebecca Giblin and Cory Doctorow, authors of new book 'Chokepoint Capitalism' and explore how creatives can break free of Big Tech and Big Content
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Dec 19, 2022
Burning Platforms Live in Melbourne
The final Burning Platforms of 2022 reflects on the year that was, including Elon Musk, tech regulation, privacy and more. Plus we held quizzes, played 'Dan or bot', and launched new book 'Disconnect'!
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Nov 27, 2022
The End of the (Big Tech) World as we know it
Twitter is imploding before our eyes under Elon Musk, Meta is shedding staff and stock prices, and the crypto winter freezes out more people as FTX collapses. Is this the end of the (Big Tech) world as we know it? And are we all feeling fine? What will happen next?
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Nov 15, 2022
Navigating the Metaverse
As we move deeper into the new phases of the internet should we be building in guardrails and redlines around this new technology? And even if we should, can we? We deep dive into the metaverse with the Founder of the Responsible Metaverse Alliance.
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Nov 4, 2022
Resilience or Redesign - Approaching our Tech Future
As part of the 2022 NetThing Internet Governance Conference, Burning Platforms will ask - "Do we need to build our resilience against a worsening tech world, or should we design a better one?"
As the tech harms pile up and change us and our society, we deep dive into a new book 'Disconnect - why we get pushed to extremes online and how to stop it' which showcases online conspiracy theorists, freedom fighters, trolls, screen addicts and more and we will unpack whether our current tech landscape is inevitable or if there's a better way forward.
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Oct 16, 2022
Dead End: How Tech is driving gridlock
The future of transportation is abuzz with disruption, from ride-sharing to electric vehicles to AI traffic flows. Burning Platforms asks - will these build transport systems for the better or worse? With special guest Paris Marx, Author of Road to Nowhere: What Silicon Valley Gets Wrong about the Future of Transportation, and host of 'Tech Won't Save Us'
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Oct 3, 2022
Breached As - the Optus data leak
This episode we look at the huge data breach at Optus, and ask whether this breach is a feature or a bug of a world where mass data collection has now been normalised.
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Sep 18, 2022
The Dark Arts of Online Advertising
Burning Platforms goes under Big Tech’s hood with new research into the increased opacity of online advertising - and the impact of that secrecy on public discourse.
With special guests:
* Nicholas Carah, Associate Professor at University of Queensland
* Aimee Brownbill, Senior Research and Policy Advisor at Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education
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Sep 4, 2022
Algorithmic Asylum
With a proliferation of wellness technologies, the human mind is emerging as the latest frontier in the spread of tech solutionism.
This week’s Burning Platforms digs deep into a new report ‘Digital Futures in the Mind’ which looks at how algorithmic solutions can have both a positive and negative impact on mental health.
Our special guest is report co-author Dr. Piers Gooding from Melbourne University Law School.
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Aug 21, 2022
Civilising the 'Tech-Bro'
On this episode we speak with technology writer and commentator Maria Farrell about the power dynamics of tech advocacy and her concept of a ‘duty of hope’.
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Aug 7, 2022
The Balance of (Tech) Power
In this new progressive Australian government, where do the fault lines lie when it comes to digital rights? We speak with NSW Greens Senator and spokesperson for Digital Rights and IT David Shoebridge
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Jul 24, 2022
Cybernetics
We deep dive into the complex and exciting world of cybernetics with Associate Professor Ellen Broad from the Australian National University School of Cybernetics and member of the Australian Government's Data Advisory Council.
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Jul 11, 2022
Home Truths
We dive deep into the impact of home-sharing platform Airbnb on the property market with Trish Burt, convenor of Neighbours Not Strangers, who has been fighting a one-woman war against Airbnb for years, calling out policies that privilege the interests of property owners over renters and undermine local communities.
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Jun 26, 2022
Private Eyes
This episode will dive deep into the risk of unfettered AI following the release of a major report regarding the use of Facial Recognition Technology in Australia.
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Jun 13, 2022
Introducing 'Civility'
This week's Burning Platforms will introduce ‘Civility’ - a new collaborative platform designed to create better public engagement.
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May 16, 2022
The People's Choice
In the last Burning Platforms before the Australian Federal Election we run the rule over the policies being offered up by the major parties. Is it just Coke vs. Pepsi? Or are there bigger ideas at play?
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May 2, 2022
Deus Ex Machina
Humans embrace technology with a child-like optimism, but what are the threats Artificial Intelligence poses our society if its impacts are not thought through?
Burning Platforms dives deep into the amorality of AI with a special discussion with Professor Toby Walsh, author of the new book ‘Machines Behaving Badly’.
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Apr 14, 2022
Are we addicted to tech?
On this week’s burning Platforms we dive deep into digital addiction: are we being played? And what can we do to get ourselves off the bad stuff?
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Apr 3, 2022
Pandemic tech
After turning to new technology in a public health crisis we now face critical questions in what a new surveillance normal looks like.
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Mar 20, 2022
The Rise of the Splinternet
Our panel and former president of ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) Paul Twomey will outline how competing models of state control over online communications are challenging the very essence of the internet.
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Mar 6, 2022
True Lies: Disinformation in an election year
As the Federal Election approaches amid heightened geo-political tensions, Burning Platforms looks at a ground-breaking attempt to understand how political actors game the social media algorithms to deliver targeted disinformation.
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Feb 19, 2022
Facebook news takedown anniversary
We mark 12 months from the Facebook news takedown and review the progress of the News Media Bargaining Code
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Feb 6, 2022
Inquiry into Social Media and Online Safety
While Australians spent the summer searching for RATs, a hastily convened federal government inquiry was holding public hearings about online safety, as the Morrison Government amps up its war with the Big Tech companies. Burning Platforms is back for 2022 to dissect the inquiry with deputy chair Tim Watts MP.
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Dec 20, 2021
The Public Square Project book launch
Western democracy has always been anchored by the idea of a public space where people gather to share ideas, mediate difference and make sense of the world. When Facebook blocked Australian users from viewing or sharing news in 2021, it sounded the alarm worldwide on our growing reliance on global tech companies to fulfil this critical role in a digital world.
The conflict sparked a new sense of urgency around the growing movement to imagine alternative digital spaces that operate in the public interest rather than simply for a commercial bottom line.
The Public Square Project draws together leading tech scholars, industry experts, writers and activists to chart a path towards a public square worthy of the name.
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Dec 5, 2021
Whatever happened to the free web?
The internet promised new ways to challenge power and privilege, so how has it become a tool to promote division and entrench despots?
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Nov 21, 2021
What's the go with DuckDuckGo?
The dominance of Google’s data-hungry search engine is under the spotlight in Australia, with live inquiries on its role in the Ad-tech industry and anti-competitive deals which embed the search engine in smart devices. But DuckDuckGo has proven that you can build a search engine that's not based on user surveillance.
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Nov 10, 2021
Can technology really save the planet?
As the world's leaders debate the future of the planet, technology is being put forward as the solution to the earth's climate woes. But will smart energy networks, AI and Bitcoin really save us? This week's Burning Platforms dives deep into the environmental impacts of technology.
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Oct 24, 2021
Sovereign platforms vs. Sovereign nations
Online platforms are acting like nation-states and governments are trying to become platforms, but are they both getting it wrong?
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Oct 8, 2021
Privacy isn't boring: Online Privacy in Australia
With a review of the Privacy Act expected soon, and the Facebook whistleblower revealing Facebook's privacy breaches among other things, we take a deep dive into the legal frameworks for entrenching digital data rights into Australian law. From informed consent to data matching and security, is the traditional approach to privacy applicable to the online world?
Regular panellists:
* Peter Lewis, Director of The Australia Institute’s Centre for Responsible Technology
* Lizzie O' Shea, Chair of Digital Rights Watch
And special guests:
* Anna Johnston, Director at Salinger Privacy
* David Swan, journalist at The Australian
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Oct 4, 2021
The algorithms that rule Australia
Welcome to Burning Platforms, a new fortnightly podcast that unpacks the latest developments in technology from around the world.
This fortnight we explore algorithms that rule Australia, how we are increasingly outsourcing policy and governance to algorithms. We will look at how facial recognition, robo-planning and robo-welfare are entering our policy environments. This and more in the always busy world of tech! Brought to you by the Centre for Responsible Technology.
Regular panellists:
* Peter Lewis, Director of The Australia Institute’s Centre for Responsible Technology
* Lizzie O' Shea, Chair of Digital Rights Watch, and
* Dan Stinton, Managing Director of Guardian Australia
And special guests:
* Ed Santow, Industry Professor Responsible Technology at UTS and former Human Rights Commissioner
* Marie Johnson, CEO of the Centre for Digital Business
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