Porter Novelli at SXSW: Regulating tech for the benefit of all
“Social media platforms already have a legal obligation to remove content that breaks local laws. But this is not always happening, or happening quickly enough. With the skills and resources these companies have at their disposal – I believe it’s possible to go further and faster.”
- Sadiq Khan, 12 March at SXSW
Austin is, by no means, a small city. As the capital of Texas and holding a capitol building larger than the White House, plus a solid infrastructure and an international airport, the city stands tall against the flat landscape of America. In his annual SXSW speech on the state of Austin, Bruce Sterling notes that Austin has grown exponentially over the last few years, becoming a proud heart of the county. Nothing beats innovation faster than the clash and sharing of ideas.
A tale of one city
Austin’s story ties directly to the benefits of technology. At no other point in history has humanity been so connected together, sharing information with accessible ease. Ray Kurzweil, the famous futurist, notes that we do not record the economic benefits of the world wide web; while we track the economic impact of a $75 phone, we take for granted the millions of dollars’ worth of information that phone can access. Access is treated as a given.
Yet with freedom comes flexibility, which can stretch towards great benefits or potential harm: terrorists use social media to radicalise young people; bullies torment children and damage their confidence; and targeted advertising influencing elections across the world. These are real threats, and at SXSW Sadiq Khan publicly denounced the UK government for ‘sitting on their hands’ regarding regulations. When social media can be used as a weapon, the government should define the sharpness of the blade.
Growing pains, major gains
Further, rapid technological change harms local communities. Sadiq compares the fourth industrial revolution to the first, when communities moved towards the city to work new trades. Yet the rights of workers were infringed, and many led poor lives as they were treated as tools for the benefits of companies. Sadiq also provided a more controversial example, where Margaret Thatcher did not support the coal mining communities as she broke down their industries, without adequate support for those with invalid skills for further work. Learning from the past and as a Labour leader of London, Sadiq vows to train young people for a digital age.
In short, technological progress runs faster than regulations. As lawmakers turn the steel bureaucratic machine, tech companies sprint ahead unburdened by the weight of non-existent restrictions. Uber is a rare example where the company has struggled to handle a sudden thousand sudden ropes tightening it to the ground, as union power and the UK government condemned the company’s actions.
Careful development
Companies should not feel restricted; freedom breeds innovation. But when technology is used for exploitation, it is the government’s role to step in. The late Stephen Hawking provided one illustrative example on Reddit:
“If machines produce everything we need, the outcome will depend on how things are distributed. Everyone can enjoy a life of luxurious leisure if the machine-produced wealth is shared, or most people can end up miserably poor if the machine-owners successfully lobby against wealth redistribution. So far, the trend seems to be toward the second option, with technology driving ever-increasing inequality.”
At SXSW, regulators and innovators had a balanced understanding. Artificial Intelligence enthusiasts are aware of the benefits AI can bring, though understand the heavy regulations which binds its development. Uber’s disruptive practices are understood, and taken as an example for when tech companies do not sufficiently follow the rules. At SXSW in 2018, participants both celebrated tech and understood its potential consequences.
Once a year, Austin attracts the top talent from around the world to collaborate and party, with 97% of people coming from outside the city. There is no doubt that the event contributed to the growth and dominance of the city in Texas, where ideas are brewed and shared. With the correct regulation, Austin will continue to grow into a bigger, brighter city. The question is whether the same can be said of tech across the world, and the net effect on ordinary people.