Reviewing Technology Positions in GOP and Democratic Party Platforms

[00:00:01] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to do a little something different with this episode.

[00:00:05] [SPEAKER_00]: This is a legislation-focused bonus show.

[00:00:09] [SPEAKER_00]: I reviewed the Republican and Democratic Party Platform documents as primary sources for each

[00:00:15] [SPEAKER_00]: party's technology positions.

[00:00:17] [SPEAKER_00]: I pulled out the sections that cover technology.

[00:00:21] [SPEAKER_00]: Now, there are a lot of positions about jobs, labor, health care, the economy, and other

[00:00:25] [SPEAKER_00]: areas related to operating a business.

[00:00:28] [SPEAKER_00]: I am not covering those here.

[00:00:30] [SPEAKER_00]: I want to look at policy, not personality.

[00:00:34] [SPEAKER_00]: It's not about the horse race and it's not about polling.

[00:00:37] [SPEAKER_00]: It's just pulling the relevant sections of party platforms about technology.

[00:00:42] [SPEAKER_00]: I hope this is very wonky, not controversial.

[00:00:46] [SPEAKER_00]: I've divided this into an episode of its own to make two changes to my format.

[00:00:51] [SPEAKER_00]: First change, you'll also note that there are no ads on this episode and no sponsors involved.

[00:00:58] [SPEAKER_00]: The second change is that I'm also not doing why do we care segments.

[00:01:02] [SPEAKER_00]: This episode is intended to give insight into the party platforms,

[00:01:06] [SPEAKER_00]: not my personal beliefs.

[00:01:08] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not trying to push my politics.

[00:01:11] [SPEAKER_00]: I just want listeners to be informed.

[00:01:13] [SPEAKER_00]: Thus, I'm explicitly removing opinion sections.

[00:01:17] [SPEAKER_00]: Thus, it's very much in the spirit of bonus content.

[00:01:21] [SPEAKER_00]: If this episode isn't for you, you will not offend me if you skip it.

[00:01:27] [SPEAKER_00]: I suspect you're pretty busy and didn't want to go through the documents yourself.

[00:01:32] [SPEAKER_00]: Still with me? Let's get into it.

[00:01:36] [SPEAKER_00]: Let's review the core GOP platform first as they went first in convention order.

[00:01:42] [SPEAKER_00]: It was finalized for the convention.

[00:01:44] [SPEAKER_00]: The GOP document is significantly shorter.

[00:01:47] [SPEAKER_00]: Two sections include discussion of technology.

[00:01:51] [SPEAKER_00]: The first two are in Chapter 3, Build the Greatest Economy in History.

[00:01:57] [SPEAKER_00]: Crypto. Republicans will end Democrats' unlawful and un-American crypto crackdown

[00:02:04] [SPEAKER_00]: and oppose the creation of a central bank digital currency.

[00:02:08] [SPEAKER_00]: We will defend the right to mine Bitcoin

[00:02:10] [SPEAKER_00]: and ensure every American has the right to self-custody of their digital assets

[00:02:15] [SPEAKER_00]: and transact free from government surveillance and control.

[00:02:19] [SPEAKER_00]: Artificial Intelligence.

[00:02:21] [SPEAKER_00]: We will repeal Joe Biden's dangerous executive order that hinders AI innovation

[00:02:26] [SPEAKER_00]: and imposes radical left-wing ideas on the development of this technology.

[00:02:31] [SPEAKER_00]: In its place, Republicans support AI development rooted in free speech and human flourishing.

[00:02:38] [SPEAKER_00]: There's also this section in Chapter 10, Return to Peace Through Strength.

[00:02:43] [SPEAKER_00]: Protect Critical Infrastructure.

[00:02:46] [SPEAKER_00]: Republicans will use all tools of national power to protect our nation's critical

[00:02:50] [SPEAKER_00]: infrastructure and industrial base from malicious cyber actors.

[00:02:54] [SPEAKER_00]: This will be a national priority and we will both raise the security standards for our

[00:02:59] [SPEAKER_00]: critical systems and networks and defend them against bad actors.

[00:03:04] [SPEAKER_00]: Those are all dimensions of technology.

[00:03:08] [SPEAKER_00]: Next, let's review the Democratic Party Platform.

[00:03:12] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm working off the July 13th draft,

[00:03:14] [SPEAKER_00]: which was the latest version at the time of recording,

[00:03:17] [SPEAKER_00]: as the convention hasn't happened.

[00:03:19] [SPEAKER_00]: That date predates President Biden dropping out of the race.

[00:03:22] [SPEAKER_00]: I will not change the documents wording.

[00:03:25] [SPEAKER_00]: Chapter 8, Advancing the President's Unity Agenda,

[00:03:28] [SPEAKER_00]: contains the paragraphs following about technology.

[00:03:33] [SPEAKER_00]: Protecting Kids Online, Strengthening the American's Data Privacy and Promoting Competition.

[00:03:38] [SPEAKER_00]: Tech platforms and companies help keep us connected, inspire ideas and innovation,

[00:03:42] [SPEAKER_00]: and create a global marketplace.

[00:03:44] [SPEAKER_00]: At the same time, they collect, share, and exploit data,

[00:03:47] [SPEAKER_00]: risk our children's mental health, and deepen extremism and polarization.

[00:03:52] [SPEAKER_00]: There is growing scientific evidence for what so many Americans already know.

[00:03:56] [SPEAKER_00]: Social media and other online platforms can affect our mental health and well-being,

[00:04:00] [SPEAKER_00]: particularly for our kids.

[00:04:02] [SPEAKER_00]: In addition, a handful of dominant tech platforms and companies increasingly

[00:04:06] [SPEAKER_00]: control much of the market, allowing them to exercise enormous power over Americans'

[00:04:10] [SPEAKER_00]: daily lives, and too often use that power to exclude competitors and undermine consumers

[00:04:16] [SPEAKER_00]: and innovation.

[00:04:17] [SPEAKER_00]: President Biden believes that all companies, including technology companies,

[00:04:21] [SPEAKER_00]: should be held accountable for the harm they cause.

[00:04:24] [SPEAKER_00]: The president has raised the alarm that social media and other platforms have allowed

[00:04:28] [SPEAKER_00]: abusive and even criminal conduct like cyber stalking, child sexual exploitation,

[00:04:33] [SPEAKER_00]: and non-consensual intimate images to proliferate on their sites,

[00:04:37] [SPEAKER_00]: and called on Democrats and Republicans to unite on legislation to address these issues.

[00:04:42] [SPEAKER_00]: The Surgeon General issued an advisory warning about the impacts of social

[00:04:45] [SPEAKER_00]: media on youth mental health, noting that he cannot conclude social media is safe for

[00:04:50] [SPEAKER_00]: children and adolescents.

[00:04:52] [SPEAKER_00]: Democrats will pass bipartisan legislation to protect kids' privacy and to stop big tech

[00:04:58] [SPEAKER_00]: from collecting personal data on kids and teenagers online.

[00:05:01] [SPEAKER_00]: Ban targeted advertising to children and put stricter limits on the personal data

[00:05:06] [SPEAKER_00]: these companies collect on all of us.

[00:05:09] [SPEAKER_00]: And the administration has strengthened legal protections for survivors and victims

[00:05:13] [SPEAKER_00]: of non-consensual intimate imagery, including those generated by AI,

[00:05:18] [SPEAKER_00]: building on the federal civil cause of action established under the Violence

[00:05:22] [SPEAKER_00]: Against Women Act reauthorization of 2022.

[00:05:27] [SPEAKER_00]: President Biden has also called on Democrats and Republicans to pass bipartisan

[00:05:30] [SPEAKER_00]: legislation to promote competition and privacy in the tech industry.

[00:05:35] [SPEAKER_00]: Import policies include promoting interoperability between tech services and platforms,

[00:05:40] [SPEAKER_00]: allowing users to control and transfer their data, and preventing large platforms from giving

[00:05:45] [SPEAKER_00]: their own products and services an unfair advantage in the marketplace.

[00:05:49] [SPEAKER_00]: We must also fundamentally reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act,

[00:05:54] [SPEAKER_00]: which shields tech platforms from liability even when they host or disseminate violent

[00:05:58] [SPEAKER_00]: or illegal content to ensure that platforms take responsibility for the content they share.

[00:06:04] [SPEAKER_00]: Democrats are determined to strengthen data privacy.

[00:06:06] [SPEAKER_00]: The president issued an executive order to protect America's sensitive personal data

[00:06:11] [SPEAKER_00]: from commercial data brokers, identity thieves, and foreign intelligence actors.

[00:06:15] [SPEAKER_00]: And the Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on commercial surveillance

[00:06:19] [SPEAKER_00]: and taking on technology companies for illegally retaining children's data.

[00:06:23] [SPEAKER_00]: We must do more and update and pass the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights,

[00:06:27] [SPEAKER_00]: protect student data privacy by ensuring what is collected in schools

[00:06:31] [SPEAKER_00]: is only used for education, and update the Electronic Communications Privacy Act

[00:06:36] [SPEAKER_00]: to protect personal electronic information and safeguard location information.

[00:06:42] [SPEAKER_00]: Seizing the promise and managing the risks of AI

[00:06:45] [SPEAKER_00]: Artificial intelligence holds extraordinary potential for both promise and peril.

[00:06:50] [SPEAKER_00]: While AI is helping to cure diseases, predict the weather, and transform education,

[00:06:54] [SPEAKER_00]: it's also being used to clothe voices, commit broad, institutionalize bias,

[00:06:58] [SPEAKER_00]: and undermine democracy.

[00:07:00] [SPEAKER_00]: We need to act now and act fast to realize the promise of AI

[00:07:04] [SPEAKER_00]: and manage its risks to ensure that AI serves the public interest.

[00:07:08] [SPEAKER_00]: Democrats are finding solutions to make sure that as AI's capabilities grow,

[00:07:12] [SPEAKER_00]: we can manage the implications for Americans' rights, safety, and security.

[00:07:16] [SPEAKER_00]: President Biden issued a landmark executive order directing federal agencies

[00:07:20] [SPEAKER_00]: to establish new high standards for AI safety and security, protect Americans' privacy,

[00:07:25] [SPEAKER_00]: advance equity and civil rights, stand up for workers and consumers,

[00:07:30] [SPEAKER_00]: promote competitive markets for AI development in use, and more.

[00:07:33] [SPEAKER_00]: Democrats are committed to ensuring that workers get a voice in how AI is used in their workplace

[00:07:38] [SPEAKER_00]: and that they share fairly in any economic gains AI produces.

[00:07:42] [SPEAKER_00]: We know that AI can deepen discrimination, bias, and other abuses in justice,

[00:07:47] [SPEAKER_00]: healthcare, and housing.

[00:07:48] [SPEAKER_00]: That's why the administration has already taken action by publishing the blueprint for an

[00:07:52] [SPEAKER_00]: AI Bill of Rights and issuing new guidance from federal agencies on combating algorithmic

[00:07:57] [SPEAKER_00]: discrimination across the economy.

[00:07:59] [SPEAKER_00]: As AI becomes more prevalent, it's critical we have the brightest minds working to understand

[00:08:04] [SPEAKER_00]: new technologies.

[00:08:05] [SPEAKER_00]: The administration launched an AI talent surge to accelerate hiring AI professionals

[00:08:10] [SPEAKER_00]: across the federal government, launching a pilot program to enhance successful

[00:08:13] [SPEAKER_00]: initiatives for training additional scientists in AI, and created the AI Safety Institute

[00:08:19] [SPEAKER_00]: at the National Institute of Standards and Technology to set regular standards for extensive

[00:08:24] [SPEAKER_00]: testing of powerful AI models to ensure safety before public release.

[00:08:29] [SPEAKER_00]: During President Biden's second term, Democrats will continue to advocate for the safe and

[00:08:33] [SPEAKER_00]: secure development of AI.

[00:08:35] [SPEAKER_00]: We will invest in the AI Safety Institute to create guidelines, tools, benchmarks,

[00:08:39] [SPEAKER_00]: and best practices for evaluating dangerous capabilities and mitigating AI risks.

[00:08:44] [SPEAKER_00]: We will also prioritize funding for critical AI research and development that advances AI

[00:08:49] [SPEAKER_00]: safety.

[00:08:50] [SPEAKER_00]: We will also ban voice impersonations, and President Biden will take action to provide

[00:08:55] [SPEAKER_00]: heightened protections in critical sectors such as healthcare, financial services,

[00:09:00] [SPEAKER_00]: education, housing, and transportation.

[00:09:02] [SPEAKER_00]: Finally, we will make sure that we will responsibly develop, test, procure,

[00:09:06] [SPEAKER_00]: integrate transformative AI across the federal government.

[00:09:10] [SPEAKER_00]: That is all the sections on technology.

[00:09:15] [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for listening.

[00:09:16] [SPEAKER_00]: I wanted to make sure to give you the words directly from the source material,

[00:09:20] [SPEAKER_00]: but that was useful and hopefully a good news of your time.

[00:09:23] [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for listening.

[00:09:25] [SPEAKER_00]: Talk to you again soon.

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[00:10:04] [SPEAKER_00]: Once again, thanks for listening to me.

[00:10:07] [SPEAKER_00]: I'll talk to you again on our next episode of The Business of Tech.

[00:10:13] [SPEAKER_00]: Part of the MSP Radio Network.