AI’s rapid rise and online harms with eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant

Technology and Security (TS)

Dr Miah Hammond-Errey talks with Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, about AI’s rapid rise, online harms, where banking has led the way in technology regulation, and much more. In this episode they discuss eSafety’s world-leading regulation work, why we can’t just regulate algorithms and how eSafety collaborates with industry to drive change. They also cover the TikTok bans and some of the wild technologies coming down the pipeline.

As Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant focuses on keeping Australia’s citizens safe online. She has previously worked across the public and private sector in the US technology space, including at Microsoft and Twitter. Her work has helped drive world-first regulatory regimes under the Online Safety Act 2021, and positioned eSafety to harness proactive, systemic approaches and addressing online user safety through a range of schemes, education tools and strategies.

Technology and Security is hosted by Dr Miah Hammond-Errey, the inaugural director of the Emerging Technology program at the United States Studies Centre, based at the University of Sydney.

Resources mentioned in the recording:

• Secrecy, sovereignty and sharing: How data and emerging technologies are transforming intelligence
• Collaboration with trusted allies and distrust in Chinese technology: American, Australian and Japanese views on technology
• eSafety’s legal notice to technology firms on child abuse:
  Tech platforms asked to explain how they are tackling online child sexual exploitation
  World-first report shows leading tech companies are not doing enough to tackle online child abuse
• (eSafety) Global Online Safety Regulator’s Network
• (eSafety) Brief on Technology-Facilitated Abuse (TFA)
• (eSafety) ‘Women in the Spotlight’ report
• eSafety briefs: Tech trends and challenges

Miah’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Miah_HE
The USSC website: https://www.ussc.edu.au/

Making great content requires fabulous teams. Thanks to the great talents of the following.

Research support and assistance: Tom Barrett

Production: Elliott Brennan

Podcast design: Susan Beale

Music: Dr Paul Mac

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging — here and wherever you’re listening. We acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.