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a16z Podcast | Taking the Measure of Tech in Policy -- with Kamala Harris
10 segments available
"Slow down, cowboys" -- that's what Senator Kamala Harris (D-California) said when prosecutors in her office wanted to bring a case against companies that let apps download someone's entire address book, because surely that's a complete violation of privacy?! The issue was a perfect example of the perfect storm playing out right now between existing laws and new technologies that are evolving faster than laws can. So how do we move forward, bringing transparency and even more openness -- while also protecting privacy and safety (especially of those who are vulnerable)? The problem is that many litigators and legislators are unfortunately faced with false choices: to be "soft" on crime or "hard" on crime, for example, when the answer is to be "smart" on crime instead. Born and bred in the world's 6th-largest economy -- that is, the state of California, where she was once District Attorney, then Attorney General, and is now U.S. Senator -- Harris shares not just "protocols and procedures, but perspective" in this episode of the a16z Podcast recorded as part our annual a16z Tech Policy Summit, in Washington, D.C., last month.
Segments Timeline
Meet Senator Kamala Harris
In this segment, Matt welcomes Senator Kamala Harris to the a16z Podcast, highlighting her groundbreaking achievements as the first African American and first woman Attorney General of California. Harris shares her background as a career prosecutor and her commitment to public safety and civil rights, setting the stage for a discussion on technology and policy.
"hi I'm Matt spent some a partner in recent Horowitz and welcome to the a 16z podcast we have today a conversation with Senator Camille Harris which was recorded at our DC policy summit live in May of ..."
California's Role in Tech Policy
Senator Harris discusses the importance of state and local governments in shaping tech policy, emphasizing her unique perspective from California's Silicon Valley. She reflects on the rapid evolution of technology and the challenges lawmakers face in updating regulations to keep pace with innovation.
"General which is the chief law enforcement officer of the sixth largest economy in the world yes we have a view that some of the most important tech policy issues are actually not made in Washington a..."
Balancing Innovation and Safety
Harris addresses the delicate balance between encouraging innovation and ensuring public safety. She critiques the traditional 'soft on crime' versus 'tough on crime' dichotomy, advocating for a 'smart on crime' approach that prioritizes prevention and the protection of vulnerable populations.
"daughter of a scientist and my mother would actually take us to the lab with her on weekends and after work in fact little-known fact my first job was cleaning pipettes I was awful I got fired but I g..."
Privacy in the Age of Apps
Senator Harris recounts a pivotal moment when her team discovered that mobile apps could download users' entire contact lists. Instead of rushing to litigation, she chose to engage in dialogue with tech companies like Apple and Microsoft, leading to the establishment of industry standards for privacy policies.
"how do you think about that because those are I've been to incredibly important balance right encouraging innovation and making people safe yep and the way people used to think about prosecutors doing..."
Open Data for Smarter Governance
Harris shares her experience with California's open data initiative, 'Open Justice,' which aimed to make criminal justice data accessible to the public. She highlights the importance of transparency and data analysis in improving government effectiveness and addressing disparities in the justice system.
"what we did and I got on the phone with the folks at Apple and Microsoft and the six major platforms and and I'm not suggesting by any stretch that these folks were excited or happy to get a call from..."
The Power of Data in Public Policy
In this segment, Harris discusses how open data can transform public safety, education, and health. She emphasizes the need for government to adopt technology and share data to enhance accountability and effectiveness, ultimately benefiting society as a whole.
"career as a prosecutor on the adoption of technology by law enforcement so let's put all of this in context so technology has brought about so many new ways of thinking of having a motion of language ..."
Bipartisanship in the Senate
Senator Harris reflects on her experiences as a freshman in the Senate, emphasizing the importance of bipartisanship in addressing critical issues. She shares a humorous interaction with Senator Lindsey Graham and discusses their collaborative efforts on immigration reform.
"much more effective and so the data helps us do that and so we created this open data initiative we called it open justice where we shared with everyone journalists academics whoever wanted to see it ..."
Bridging the Silicon Valley-Washington Divide
Harris explores the lessons that Washington can learn from Silicon Valley and vice versa. She emphasizes the need for lawmakers to understand technology better, particularly in the context of cybersecurity, and the importance of resilience and accountability in public policy.
"been here for a while that is is is different because it's upended a lot of folks in terms of their expectations of what would be happening and their role in terms of government and leadership but it'..."
Addressing Cyber Exploitation
In this segment, Harris discusses her efforts to combat cyber exploitation, particularly the sharing of intimate images without consent. She shares her experience prosecuting a landmark case and the need for updated laws to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable.
"ideological because they that the folks we're talking about are not their neighbors or their co-workers or in school with their children and so what Lindsey Graham and I have talked about is he has in..."
Conclusion and Future Directions
Senator Harris concludes the conversation by reflecting on the importance of collaboration between government and the tech industry. She expresses her commitment to addressing pressing issues through innovative solutions and the need for ongoing dialogue to shape effective public policy.
"responsibilities for those who post these images and notification and there were no laws on the books about how the host has a responsibility to take the image down when requested so what we did is we..."