Director, Alliance for Digital Equity, Baystate Health; former Executive Director, Brookline Interactive Group; Founder, Public VR Lab & Civic Brookline; Alumni Fellow @MIT Open Doc Lab
Excellent observations and concerns raised by Kavya Pearlman ?? Safety First ?? on the influence of private industry (not the public interest) in shaping how the public can use new and existing technologies and, as a result, whether we trust/or don't trust these digital ecosystems. In my opinion this influence will create a broader digital divide, not lessen it. If we care about digital equity, we must care about public oversight and governance of digital ecosystems, transparency, and tech serving the public sector and society as a whole. Kavya: "This isn’t about politics—this is about understanding the evolving dynamics of influence in tech and governance. Whether it’s AI development, space exploration, or digital communication platforms, when powerful tech leaders act, industries move, and trust in these ecosystems hangs in the balance."
Mom | Founder & CEO - XRSI | OECD | INTERPOL | WEF | XRSI-Europe | The MedXRSI | 40 under 40 SFBT | Researcher | Innovator | Thought Leader | The Cyber Guardian-Helping Safeguard The Emerging Tech Ecosystem for NextGen
It’s fascinating to observe how public policy, especially in the realm of technology, is increasingly being shaped outside traditional government frameworks. Elon Musk, intentionally or not, is already writing public policy—and major tech players are quietly aligning their strategies accordingly. It may take a while for everyone to admit it, but soon enough, the rest will “come around” to this reality, much like we saw during the Trump administration when shifts in policy led to significant industry pivots. This isn’t about politics—this is about understanding the evolving dynamics of influence in tech and governance. Whether it’s AI development, space exploration, or digital communication platforms, when powerful tech leaders act, industries move, and trust in these ecosystems hangs in the balance. An example of this shift is evident in the policy moves highlighted in the recent New York Times article about Meta and Mark Zuckerberg’s evolving stance on fact-checking. https://lnkd.in/gB-8BD-s Ironic and funny headline , but it indicates where we are headed. There are many more policy changes coming to tech, and we can expect these to have a lasting impact on the regulatory landscape and the trust equation between companies and users. The ripple effects of such informal policymaking will be profound. As someone deeply invested in building trust and safety in emerging technologies, I believe it’s crucial for us to reflect on how such influence shapes the future of tech governance—and ultimately, how it affects society. At XRSI we remain committed to fostering responsible innovation, advocating for transparency, and ensuring that human well-being stays at the heart of every technological advance. How are you preparing for incoming US admin and policy changes that will impact tech industry, governance and overall policy landscape around the globe? Jordan Wiseman Bhanujeet Choudhary Emily Izenman Nandita Rao Narla Elizabeth Rothman Louis Rosenberg Valentino Megale, PhD ?? Dr Catriona Wallace Luis Bravo Martins Chris K. David W. Sime Emmie Hine Noble Ackerson Oz Sultan Quinn Banks, M.B.A. Peter Skaronis