On Freedom Unfinished, a new podcast from the ACLU of Massachusetts, we’ll explore Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies through the lens of power and the broken systems that will determine the future of privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.
In the face of unprecedented threats to our democracy, our hosts Carol Rose, alongside Kade Crockford—of the ACLU of Massachusetts—will explore how we can protect our civil liberties in the 21st Century with guests Senator Ed Markey, Julia Angwin, Tim Hwang, and more.
Join us this season wherever you get your podcasts and follow the ACLU of Massachusetts on social media @ACLU_Mass for the latest updates on Freedom Unfinished, Season 1: Decoding Oppression.
Carol Rose (0:00): Identity is tricky business. It belongs to the individual, sure. But, without even realizing it, we are constantly building separate identities online, with our every click.
Carol Rose (0:11): Like it or not, we are living in a new era of “data capitalism” and our most personal information is captured, packaged, bought, and sold for power and profit of others.
Ed Markey (0:23): the business model of the internet is compromising the privacy of every single one of us.
Julia Angwin (0:30): Some of the most sensitive data that could possibly be had about a person is basically unregulated and there is a market for sale in it.
Tim Hwang (0:38) It's created a huge financial incentive for us to collect more data about people.
Jacob Snow (0:43) ...and so that presents very real risks of harm
Carol Rose (0:46): It affects all of us, but not everyone equally or fairly. That’s why how we think -- and legislate -- around privacy and data has profound implications for personal liberty and also for equality and justice and, now for the future of our democracy and, perhaps, our species.
Jacob Snow (1:04) ...and some of the really specific details of that algorithm have immense impacts on what happens to actual people in communities.
Sandra Susan Smith (1:11) So, it makes it so that the problem seem inherently individual as opposed to inherently systemic,
Woody Hartzog (1:17) In other words, any decision that we make is totally fine with the technology companies, because they're the ones that created the decisions, right?
Carol Rose (1:27): We still have time to get this right. If we can mobilize our collective willingness to act, we can ensure that technology is used to enhance rather than diminish freedom.
Carol Rose (1:36): This is Freedom Unfinished.