Shows
Computer Says MaybeNet0++: Data Center Sprawl | NEW Research from The MaybeWe’re excited to finally share our report on data center expansion and resistance around the world. It’s been a labor of love, but also showcases the amazing work of many organisations, activists, and journalists around the world that are working to create space for meaningful consultation about hugely consequential decisions. Download it here.In short, the report includes five case studies on data centre development across the globe. We were focused on understanding how companies approach policymakers, what information is made available to communities, how decisions are made to develop data centers, and when communities deci...
2025-05-2354 min
Democracy IDEAsScoping the Impact of AI in Electoral ProcessesArtificial Intelligence (AI) is growing in the sphere of electoral administration, still its impact has yet to be fully understood. What lessons on electoral AI from the 2024 Supercycle election year can we bring into 2025? How might Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) plan to incorporate AI into their work and what consequences would this have for democracy?In this podcast episode, Juliane Müller, Associate Programme Officer at the Digitalization and Democracy Programme sits down with Prathm Juneja, PhD candidate in Social Data Science at the Oxford Internet Institute and expert for International IDEA's AI for Electoral Actors project t...
2025-03-3133 minComputer Says MaybeExhibit X: The LitigatorsOften it feels as though the cases and lawsuits brought against big tech firms are continuously piling up, but there never seems to be any resulting justice or resolution. There are many good reasons for this, two of which are section 230 and the first amendment.Big Tech companies will routinely invoke 230 and the first amendment to get cases against them thrown out before they can go to trial. In part 3 of Exhibit X, Meetali Jain explains how litigators have been playing 4D chess to get the courts to hold these companies accountable.In this episode...
2024-08-0931 minComputer Says MaybeExhibit X: The WhistleblowerIn part 2 of Exhibit X, Alix interviewed Frances Haugen, who In 2021 blew the whistle on Meta; they were sitting on the knowledge that their products were harmful to kids, and yet — shocker — they continued to make design decisions that would keep kids engaged.Mark Zuckerberg worked hard on his image (it’s a hydrofoil, not a surfboard!), while Instagram was being used for human trafficking — the lack of care and accountability here absolutely melts the mind.What conversations did Frances’s whistleblowing start?Was whistleblowing an effective mechanism for accountability in this case?Do we...
2024-08-0231 minComputer Says MaybeExhibit X: Tech and TobaccoHere is something you’re probably tired of hearing: Big Tech is responsible for a bottomless brunch of societal harms. And they are not being held accountable. Right now it feels as though we hear constantly about laws, regulation, courts. But none of it is effective in litigating against Big Tech.In our latest podcast series Exhibit X, we’re looking at how the tides might finally be turning. Legal accountability could be around the corner, but only if a few things happen first.To start, we look back to 1964. When Big Tobacco was winning the...
2024-07-2627 min
Computer Says Maybe2024 Elections: Is AI going to wreak havoc?In this episode, we walk through how misinformation and disinformation has been used in past elections to impact outcomes, where we think AI might make a material difference in how elections play out this year, and where we think responsibility lies for the situation we’re in.This episode is hosted by Alix Dunn and Prathm Juneja, and guests include Sam Gregory, Josh Lawson, and Claire Wardle.If you have feedback about the episode or a pet subject that you might want to join forces to develop into an episode, please reach out. You can em...
2024-02-1335 min
skeptechsskeptechs 5.3: Digital democracy, with Prathm JunejaThis week, Josh and Nayana are joined by fellow OII PhD student Prathm Juneja to discuss the impact of digital technology on democracy. Prathm’s academic work spans voter registration and online voting, and the use of tech in campaigns and government, and builds on Prathm’s experience working on a presidential campaign.You can find Prathm on Twitter @PrathmJ. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit skeptechs.substack.com
2023-02-1730 min
With a Side of KnowledgeOn the Rhodes Scholarship and Making Yourself Useful—Prathm Juneja, Notre DameThe idea behind this show is pretty simple: We invite scholars, makers, and professionals out to brunch for an informal conversation about their work, and then we turn those brunches into a podcast.It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.This past November, Prathm Juneja was named to the American Rhodes Scholar Class of 2020, becoming the 20th Rhodes Scholar in Notre Dame history. He talked with host Ted Fox in December—a few weeks after the Rhodes announcement and a week or so before he graduated. Graduating in December isn’...
2020-02-1325 min
The Signs of the Times PodcastEmpowering Marginalized Voices in Politics ft. Prathm Juneja We're joined today by Prathm Juneja, a senior at Notre Dame studying political science and computer science, and recent recipient of a Truman scholarship. Prathm realized he had an interest in empowering young voices in politics and got involved with ND Votes his freshmen year. Prathm discusses the many barriers to voting, especially for marginalized groups, and shares that low voter turnout among these groups is largely due to systems of inequality. He also shares how technology and politics can intersect to create positive change and empower more marginalized voices. He has since worked on Pete Buttigieg's second mayoral...
2019-05-0228 min