Critical reporting on technology and technology policy-making

In our automated, digitised and (allegedly) smart society, technology reporting is increasingly crucial. And yet it is not easy to stand up to the power (and influence) of Big Tech on the one hand and to bad policy-making on the other. Leaders in both technology and politics are jealous of their privileges, and thrive in opacity. Also, they often demote criticism to Luddism, thus delegitimising independent journalism in the name of “innovation”.

This panel will discuss how technology and policy outlets The Markup and Netzpolitik work to provide rigorous, independent journalism in the service of democracy nonetheless. Journalist and author Fabio Chiusi will ask their respective founders, Julia Angwin and Markus Beckedahl, to detail how they provide accurate, evidence-based critiques to Silicon Valley’s received view and mantras, while at the same time keeping tech policy in check.