Regulator or Accomplice? How New Laws May Support Old Ambitions
Europe is a world “laboratory” for technology regulation. It is known globally for its bold regulatory experimentation in protecting user privacy and legislating to hold tech companies accountable.
At the same time, European governments use technology in invasive and discriminatory ways against their own citizens and migrants. EU governments have used spyware on activists, privacy-invading age assurance technology, and AI-powered border surveillance systems. EU governments are paradoxically serving as both strict regulators of misuse and impunity while also serving as enthusiastic partners for tech companies to deploy technologies in harmful ways.
This Computer Says Maybe live podcast, hosted in partnership with Luminate, will ask: how is the EU’s “tech policy laboratory” serving other motivations like securitization and anti-immigration politics? We’ll explore recent regulatory and political efforts nominally about security and 'protection' across the EU that may just further employ harmful technology in government systems. We will try to answer the question: How can coalitions and strategies navigate the power dynamics presented by both corporate and government actors?
This live podcast will feature a conversation with feminist and antiracist tech policy advocates across Europe, moderated by Computer Says Maybe host Alix Dunn. We'll hear from:
Asha Allen, Secretary General of CDT Europe
Evelyn Austin, Director of Bits of Freedom
Sarah Chander, Director of Equinox
Elisa Lindinger, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Superrr Lab
Please note that this live show will be followed by a drinks reception, which finishes at 7pm.
Luminate is a global foundation working to ensure that technology serves our needs and wellbeing.
The Maybe is a critical consultancy, collective and media studio that challenges the power and politics of tech.