Tech Mirror

Prepare to meet some amazing individuals who are using technology for social justice. This episode was recorded live at the Technology for Social Justice conference - Australia’s premier not-for-profit technology capability building, upskilling, networking and awards event, celebrating and exploring how technology can enable leaders to amplify impact.  Johanna sat down to chat with CEO of Infoexchange, David Spriggs, and Infoexchanges strategic lead Tish Tambakau to talk about the origins of the conference and a new Program to support NFP tech adoption. Then she dives into conversation with Joey Esguerra from Uniting to learn about about how AI in being the care sector. Patima Tantiprasut, CEO of Pet Rescue shares how technology is helping keep pets in loving homes; Jess Wilson, CEO of Good Things Australia and Hiba Ayas, the multicultural team leader from Whittlesea Community Connections share inspiring stories of digital programs empowering women; and Suzie Riddell, the head of evidence and impact at the Smith Family talks about how access to the right tech can help set a young person on a positive trajectory. This one is a special episode: prepare to be inspired. Links: Pet Rescue: https://www.petrescue.com.au/  Good Things Australia: https://goodthingsaustralia.org/   Digital Sisters Program: https://goodthingsaustralia.org/our-programs/digital-sisters/ Smith Family:  www.thesmithfamily.com.au  For transcript and full show notes visit techpolicy.au/podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Johanna discusses Australia’s draft Children’s Online Privacy Code with Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind and Director of the Code Taskforce Kate Bower. They discuss how the proposed privacy code will work and how it will shape and benefit young people’s privacy in the future, with the potential for positive spillover for all users regardless of age. Carly and Kate also answer questions sent in by TPDi’s three youth ambassadors. Listen to the episode and provide your input on the draft code - consultations open until 5 June 2026!  Links: OAIC Privacy for Kids (for copy of the draft code, and loads of great resources for parents and kids): https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-for-kids  Participate in a Roundtable on the draft Code: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Ff0M3VhFEkuLreommE_EF05_L5kDbTNEstNjz43Wa4FURUNIODE2Ulg0TVRSWlJHQzAzSzVYT0M4MSQlQCN0PWcu Recap the way the Code might work with Digital Duty of Care: https://techpolicy.au/podcast/part-5-next-steps-australia-v-social-media-mini-series For transcript and full show notes visit techpolicy.au/podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the next deep dive into tech and geopolitics, Johanna Weaver sits down with Tim Coghlan, an Australia global tech and China economy analyst living in Beijing.They talk about geostrategic competition, from the perspective of China. Tim talks about how China has embraced AI, even down to the neighbourhood running track. From China’s strengths, to its vulnerabilities, Tim and Johanna discuss how China is moving forward as a major tech power, how its approach contrasts with the US, and what this means for middle powers like Australia.  Links: Tim’s USSC article: https://www.ussc.edu.au/intelligent-everything-china-s-policy-to-supercharge-ai-adoption Lowy Interpreter Article: https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/real-ai-gap-between-china-west-isn-t-chips-or-models-stories-we-tell Kyle Chan’s Substack: High Capacity: https://substack.com/@kyleichan Jordan Schneider’s Substack: China Talk:  https://substack.com/@chinatalk  For transcript and full show notes visit techpolicy.au/podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Johanna Weaver catches up with Jess Wilson, CEO of Good Things; David Masters, Head of Global Public Policy at Atlassian; Lizzie O’Shea, Chair of Digital Rights Watch; Nick Davis, Co-Director at the UTS Human Technology Institute; and Meredith Hodgman, Head of Strategy from the Tech Policy Design Institute.  Each of them attended the recent AI Action Summit in Delhi, a conference that started in at Bletchley Park in 2023 and is now one of the largest gatherings of AI experts in the world. The summits started with a firm focus on safety and existential risk, but have evolved progressively - the focus in India was opportunity & impact. Our guests share what it was like on the ground in Delhi and what their main takeaways have been. Sovereignty, social impact, and human capital are just some of the themes traversed in this episode.  Links AI Impact Summit Communique: https://d19ob9sqegt2wc.cloudfront.net/stage/uploads/AI_Impact_Summit_Declaration_f208574dfc.pdf  A/Minister Charton’s Speech: https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/charlton/speeches/speech-australian-business-economists-conference Collective Intelligence Project Global Dialogues: https://www.cip.org/globaldialogues  TPDi’s AI Sovereignty to AI Agency Discussion Paper: https://techpolicy.au/ai-agency   For transcript and full show notes visit techpolicy.au/podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the final episode of TPDi’s 5-part Tech Mirror mini-series, Australia vs Social Media: Inside the world-first online safety experiment.   In this episode, we turn our attention to the future, looking at policy priorities for the Government going forward, including privacy law reform, a prohibition on unfair trading practices, competition codes, and the introduction of a digital duty of care.  We also call on the Tech Mirror community to get involved and help shape Australian tech policy to make sure that it works well for everyone.   Featured experts in this episode include Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind, Lizzie O’Shea from Digital Rights Watch, ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, and clinical psychologist Dr Danielle Einstein, author of The Dip, the Einstein Report & Co-author of Raising Anxiety.  Links:  PM Press Conference at Parliament House (30 July 2025) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv-ZQ6jyLxw   Children’s Online Privacy Code, via the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-registers/privacy-codes/childrens-online-privacy-code   Age appropriate design: a code of practice for online services, Information Commissioner’s Office (UK)  https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/childrens-information/childrens-code-guidance-and-resources/age-appropriate-design-a-code-of-practice-for-online-services/   Regulatory reform in digital platform markets is needed to improve competition and consumer outcomes, via the ACCC (June 2025)  https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/regulatory-reform-in-digital-platform-markets-is-needed-to-improve-competition-and-consumer-outcomes   Minister for Communications announcement of duty of care obligations (November 2024) https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/rowland/media-release/new-duty-care-obligations-platforms-will-keep-australians-safer-online  Statutory Review of the Online Safety Act 2021, led by Delia Rickard, released February 2025 https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/rowland/media-release/report-online-safety-act-review-released  Minister for Communications Press Conference regarding digital duty of care survey (November 2025): https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/wells/transcript/press-conference-canberra-0    Minister for Communications media release on commitment to digital duty of care (November 2025) https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/wells/media-release/government-continues-commitment-online-safety   Government survey on digital duty of care online (November 2025) https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/wells/media-release/government-continues-commitment-online-safety   Credits  Written and narrated by Johanna Weaver, Executive Director, Tech Policy Design Institute.  Produced by Olivia O’Flynn & Kate Montague, Audiocraft.  Research by Amy Denmeade.  Original music by Thalia Skopellos.  Created on the lands of the Ngunnawal, Ngambri people and the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.   Special thanks to all the team at the Tech Policy Design Institute, without whom the pod would not be possible, especially Zoe Hawkins, Meredith Hodgman, and Dorina Wittmann. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is episode 3 of a 5-part Tech Mirror mini-series, Australia vs Social Media: Inside the world-first online safety experiment. In this episode, we make sense of the Social Media Minimum Age legislation, explaining the limits of the law and what it actually requires of social media companies, young people, parents, and the community. We also unpack how this new law interrelates with other existing online safety measures, including industry codes.  We speak with Cam Wilson from Crikey, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, Australia's Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind, and Deputy Program Director of the Age Assurance Technology Trial Andrew Hammond.   Links:  Minister Wells Press Conference (16 September 2025), supplied.   Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, including the explanatory memorandum and transcripts of all second reading speeches https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r7284  Government announces plans to introduce the minimum age legislation (8 November 2024), Minimum age for social media access to protect Australian kids https://www.pm.gov.au/media/minimum-age-social-media-access-protect-australian-kids & https://anthonyalbanese.com.au/media-centre/social-media-ban   Social media reforms to protect our kids online pass Parliament (29 November 2024) https://alp.org.au/news/social-media-reforms-to-protect-our-kids-online-pass-parliament/  eSafety Commissioner Advice to the Minister for Communications on draft Online Safety Rules (June 2025) https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/publications/esafety-commissioner-advice-minister-communications-draft-online-safety-rules   Albanese Government protecting kids from social media harms (July 2025) https://www.pm.gov.au/media/albanese-government-protecting-kids-social-media-harms   Prime Minister and Minister for Communications media conference, Canberra (July 2025) https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/wellseSaeft/transcript/press-conference-parliament-house-canberra  Online Safety (Age-Restricted Social Media Platforms) Rules 2025 https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00889/latest/text   eSafety Commissioner’s regulatory guidance https://www.esafety.gov.au/industry/regulatory-guidance#social-media-minimum-age   Minister for Communications and eSafety Commissioner’s media conference (September 2025) https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/wells/transcript/press-conference-sydney  Privacy Guidance on Part 4A (Social Media Minimum Age) of the Online Safety Act 2021 (October 2025) https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-legislation/related-legislation/social-media-minimum-age   Platforms on notice to comply with Social Media Minimum Age, via eSafety Commissioner (November 2025) https://www.esafety.gov.au/newsroom/media-releases/platforms-on-notice-to-comply-with-social-media-minimum-age  Social media minimum age platform assessments, Minister for Communications media release (November 2025) https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/wells/media-release/social-media-minimum-age-platform-assessments & https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/wells/transcript/press-conference-canberra-0  Press Conference: Social Media minimum Age Platform Assessments, Minister for Communications media release (November 2025) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9CIZK_12Zc   eSafety assesses Twitch as an age restricted social media platform (November 2025) https://www.esafety.gov.au/newsroom/media-releases/twitch-assessed-as-age-restricted-social-media-platform   https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/11/21/katherine-deves-legal-challenge-teen-social-media-ban/ Office of the eSafety Commissioner’s industry codes and standards https://www.esafety.gov.au/industry/codes   Age Assurance Technology Trial https://ageassurance.com.au/   Age Assurance Technology Trial— Final Report https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/publications/age-assurance-technology-trial-final-report   Credits  Written and narrated by Johanna Weaver, Executive Director, Tech Policy Design Institute.  Produced by Olivia O’Flynn & Kate Montague, Audiocraft.  Research by Amy Denmeade.  Original music by Thalia Skopellos.  Created on the lands of the Ngunnawal, Ngambri people and the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.   Special thanks to all the team at the Tech Policy Design Institute, without whom the pod would not be possible, especially Zoe Hawkins, Meredith Hodgman, and Dorina Wittmann. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this 5-part Tech Mirror mini-series, Australia vs Social Media, we’re exploring Australia's world first online safety experiment. Across five episodes, we’ll unpack the new social media minimum age restriction law, examine the harms it seeks to prevent, consider the controversy surrounding its passage through parliament in November 2024, and try to demystify what will happen on 10th December when it comes into effect.  In this first episode, we’re going to go back to the beginning and dig into the research – and different perspectives - on the harms caused to young people by their use of social media platforms. Why are the experts divided? And does the evidence back-up the concerns of parents and young people?   The series is narrated by Tech Policy Design Institute Executive Director, Johanna Weaver. This episode features expert interviews with Professor Jonathan Haidt (social psychologist and author of The Anxious Generation), clinical psychologist Dr Danielle Einstein, Professor Amanda Third (co-director of the Young and Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University), Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, and Minh Hoang, member of the eSafety Youth Council.  Links:  Tech Policy Design Institute https://techpolicy.au   Jonathan Haidt https://jonathanhaidt.com/  The Anxious Generation https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-anxious-generation-9781802063271  Danielle Einstein (Author of The Dip, the Einstein Report & Co-author of Raising Anxiety) https://www.danielleeinstein.com/  Amanda Third https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/young-and-resilient/people/directors/amanda_third  Julie Inman Grant https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/about-the-commissioner   ABC News Breakfast (29 November 2024):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niaeYxdlvkw  'For the good of...' Australian Government Social media minimum age TV advertisement https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions/campaign  Australian Child Rights Taskforce open letter (October 2024) https://au.reset.tech/news/open-letter-about-social-media-bans/   Office of the eSafety Commissioner’s research findings summary: Social Media Minimum Age campaign (September 2025) https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions/campaign#research-findings-summary--social-media-minimum-age-campaign  YouGov poll (November 2024) Support for under-16 social media ban soars to 77% among Australians https://au.yougov.com/politics/articles/51000-support-for-under-16-social-media-ban-soars-to-77-among-australians  Credits  Written and narrated by Johanna Weaver, Executive Director, Tech Policy Design Institute.  Produced by Olivia O’Flynn & Kate Montague, Audiocraft.  Research by Amy Denmede.  Original music by Thalia Skopellos.  Created on the lands of the Ngunnawal, Ngambri people and the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.   Special thanks to all the team at the Tech Policy Design Institute, without whom the pod would not be possible, especially Zoe Hawkins, Meredith Hodgman, and Dorina Wittmann. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer at the Center for Humane Technology, Casey Mock joins Johanna for a discussion on incentives for building safer and more humane technology. Casey and Johanna discuss designing platforms for people and not just profit, how to realign incentives in tech using the well-established concept of legal liability, what to expect from a Trump administration in regards to tech policy, creative ways to overcome legal logjams, and how – contrary to popular belief – clear liability legislation empowers innovation. They also explore Australia’s under 16 social media ban, different approaches globally to tackle similar issues, and Australia’s reputation internationally on tech legislation. Key Links: Check out the Centre for Humane Technology’s ‘Framework for Incentivizing Responsible Artificial Intelligence Development and Use’ here: https://www.humanetech.com/insights/framework-for-incentivizing-responsible-artificial-intelligence Connect with Casey Mock on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseymock/ Keep up to date with the Tech Policy Design Centre:https://techpolicydesign.au/news-and-events     df38c0e88ec90c97b48702fba836c2d8350d141eSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taiwan’s inaugural Digital Minister, Audrey Tang, and author and founder of RadicalxChange Glen Weyl, join Johanna for an in-depth conversation on utilising technology to reduce division,improve governance, and regulate and the speed of innovation Audrey and Glen share their inspiring stories of grass-roots political action turned tech revolution and speak about Australia’s unique democratic inventiveness, their experiences unifying groups of people through new types of social media, opposing foreign state actors, prebunking misinformation, building bridges between diverse political positions, and making democracy quicker and more representative - all while keeping pace with rapid technological development. They share their thoughts on the future of AI, open source vs closed source, accountability, steerability, and explainability, and the value of developing technology as public infrastructure. Read Plurality: The Future of Collaborative Technology and Democracy here: https://www.plurality.net/ Connect with RadicalxChange: https://www.radicalxchange.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carly Kind assumed her role as Privacy Commissioner in February this year. In this episode of Tech Mirror, Commissioner Kind and Johanna traverse: what motivated Carly to accept the role (hint: it’s an exciting time in privacy in Australia) how the reinstated role of Privacy Commissioner works within the broader Office of Australia Information Commissioner (OAIC) Carly’s hopes for the privacy reform package to be introduced in parliament in August the role of OAIC as privacy regulator of Digital Identify the importance of protecting biometric data, including facial recognition the process and outcome of OAIC’s TicToc inquiry, and Carly’s ongoing concerns about pixel tracking privacy and Artificial Intelligence (of course); and the importance of privacy rights as a check and balance on power. Links: Tech Policy Atlas: https://techpolicydesign.au/tech-policy-atlas Research: Cultivating Coordination: https://techpolicydesign.au/report-tending-the-tech-ecosystem See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re excited to announce that the Tech Mirror Podcast will be returning to its regular scheduling very soon - we’re cooking up a great season with an all-star line-up of guests, so stay tuned! In the interim, here’s a quick update on what TPDC has been doing for the past few months. In particular, we’re especially excited to tell you about our brand new education program aimed at upskilling existing tech policy professionals and establishing a career pathway into the field. As part of the program’s co-design process, we’re asking you, our listeners, for your input. Whether you’re an expert in tech policy or aspiring to become one, your insights will be invaluable in shaping our curriculum. Please take a listen, get involved and follow the link below to complete the questionnaire! Relevant Link: Tech Policy Education Program Design Survey: https://anu.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5B90gNHjniuhCiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Curious about the future of privacy in Australia? Join us as we delve into the world of privacy regulation in Australia. Our expert panel shares their thoughts on the Government’s response to the Privacy Act Review Report. It’s a follow-up to episode #22 ‘Privacy is Not Dead’. Returning guest Anna Johnston, founder and Principal of Salinger Privacy, is joined by Ryan Black, Head of Policy for the Tech Council of Australia, and Kate Bower, a fellow at the UTS Human Technology Institute, currently on sabbatical from CHOICE as Consumer Data Advocate. The panel discuss: - highlights and gaps in the Government’s response - the definition of ‘personal information’ - the future of the small business and political exemptions - legitimate business interests, fair and reasonable use tests, and best interest duties - interoperability with international privacy frameworks - privacy and artificial intelligence - the urgency of reform - what happens next Relevant Links: Salinger Privacy blog, including Anna Johnston’s 2015 article about the need to reform the definition of personal information https://www.salingerprivacy.com.au/2015/04/19/bradley-coopers-taxi-ride-a-lesson-in-privacy-risk/ Arvind Narayanan’s “No Silver Bullet “ paper about de-identification http://randomwalker.info/publications/no-silver-bullet-de-identification.pdf Arvind Narayanan’s AI Snake Oil Substack https://www.aisnakeoil.com This Week in Digital Trust podcast, latest episode featuring an interview with Johanna https://elevenm.com.au/podcast/episode/86-johanna-weaver-the-future-of-tech-policy/ The Future of Privacy Forum https://fpf.org/ UTS Human Technology Institute’s State of AI Governance report https://www.uts.edu.au/human-technology-institute/news/report-launch-state-ai-governance-australia DP-REG joint submission to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) consultation on the ‘Safe and responsible AI in Australia’ Discussion Paper https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/media/media-updates/digital-platform-regulators-make-joint-submission-on-ai US Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence | The White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/10/30/executive-order-on-the-safe-secure-and-trustworthy-development-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence/ UK’s consultation on a Pro-Innovation Approach to AI - A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation - amended (web-ready PDF) (publishing.service.gov.uk) The Bletchley Declaration by Countries Attending the AI Safety Summit (November 2023) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-safety-summit-2023-the-bletchley-declaration/the-bletchley-declaration-by-countries-attending-the-ai-safety-summit-1-2-november-2023 China Global AI Governance Initiative: http://gd.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zxhd_1/202310/t20231024_11167412.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wish you could sit down with a real-deal AI technologist and ask them what’s on earth is going on? In this double-episode of Tech Mirror, Johanna chats with Bill Simpson Young and Tiberio Cataneo, CEO and Chief Scientist at Gradient Institute. This independent, non-profit research institute works to build safety, ethics, accountability and transparency into AI systems. In Part One of this wide-ranging conversation, the trio: - define key terms like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Large Language Models, Frontier vs Foundation AI, Narrow vs General AI - chat about Bill’s biggest bugbear - talk about why Bill and Tiberio both signed the Pause Letter and - discuss if it is even possible to regulate Artificial intelligence (spoiler alert: it is) - and consider how liability could be used to incentivise improved AI safety. In Part Two, they discuss: - the benefits and perils of open-source AI models - the possibility of securing an international agreement on AI safety, US and China dynamics and the opportunity for Australian leadership - the practical work that Gradient is doing to facilitate the technical implementation of ethical AI frameworks to address AI harms today. Links - Gradient Institute: https://www.gradientinstitute.org/ - Australian Government Paper and call for submission on Responsible Artificial Intelligence: https://consult.industry.gov.au/supporting-responsible-ai - Gradient’s Submission on Responsible AI: https://www.gradientinstitute.org/posts/disr-safe-responsible-ai-submission/ - The Pause Letter: https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/pause-giant-ai-experiments/ - UK AI Safety Summit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-safety-summit-introduction - The Future of Life Institute’s recommendations for the UK AI Safety Summit: https://futureoflife.org/project/uk-ai-safety-summit/ - Gradient and National AI Centre: Implementing Australia’s AI Ethics Principles: https://www.gradientinstitute.org/posts/csiro-gradient-new-report/ - The Coming Wave: Technology, Power and the Twenty-first Century’s greatest dilemma: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/90590134See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.