Intersections is published by Junction House - the home for today’s leading thinkers working across business, government, and technology. We explore the myriad ways in which these spheres overlap and impact society. If you’re interested in learning more about Junction House and how to join, subscribe to stay in the know.
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Tech x Society
💬 In China, WeChat is ubiquitous. Barclay Bram writes aptly named “WeChat is Watching” in Nautilus about his experience using WeChat for everything - “I could go entire days without leaving WeChat.” In stark contrast to western social media content laws, WeChat group “owners” are legally responsible for content posted by other members. WeChat’s relationship with the Chinese government is also cause for concern. People are frequently arrested for messages they send in “private” chats.
This relationship is becoming more relevant in American society. The government both aims to rein in big tech while also using its vast troves of data. Relationships between the two abound: ICE and cell phone locations, the FBI and DNA testing companies, even Housing & Urban Development has been reprimanded by Facebook for their request to sensitive data. As we determine how society should best wield new technologies, relying on government to police may not be enough. A sustainable resolution will require active participation from all stakeholders.
🦠 As coronavirus continues to spread and the death count grows, AI algorithms are helping chart its path and stop its progress. Two separate research groups have used AI to find possible treatments. Meanwhile, other research teams are mining news reports, articles, and traveller data to predict the virus’ path to help local officials set up readiness teams. With 12 confirmed cases in the US, the S&P reported that the virus should stabilize by April, while others say it is more contagious than current data shows.
Also: Donald Trump posts a spliced video of Nancy Pelosi forcing conversation over how much we rely on social media v. our own common sense to detect fake news.
Government x Tech
📱 On Monday morning, the Iowa Democratic Party and a previously unknown company were on the precipice of ushering in a new era of American polling. Then all hell broke loose. Precinct leaders struggled to upload polling results via an app, backup phone lines posted online were clogged, and precincts ended up reporting results that were internally inconsistent or impossible.
As a new techlash ensues (“Who needs the Russians?”), this brings about broader questions on how modern technology should support democracy. New technology in polling is important to support security, stability, and reliability of elections. But the best intentions mean nothing when execution is flawed. In Iowa, the app and process were never field tested, new election scoring caused complications, and fallback plans were inadequate.
🌐 In direct response to the dominance of China’s Huawei, the Trump White House is making a concerted effort to improve the country’s 5G capabilities. The superfast internet infrastructure could enable new technologies in everything from medicine and manufacturing to autonomous vehicles and sports. The goal of many of the Administration’s public-private partnerships is to reduce western reliance on Huawei equipment (a goal which the UK just snubbed). The White House is even reportedly considering a rare public takeover of Swedish telecom giant Ericsson. Although VP Pence denies that.
Also: California recently passed the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) - enter the privacy economy. UK ethics body suggests online targeting needs tighter controls, and Google is in the EU’s sights for its location tracking.
Business x Society
📰 Greg Jackson published a thoughtful essay on what role the news plays today and how it has transformed to cover “pseudo-events” (press conferences, ribbon cutting, profiles). According to Jackson, these events exist only to be covered by the news rather than being newsworthy events themselves. He argues that the purpose of news content (“alert me when something notable happens and tell me how notable it is”) and its format (always on) are directly at odds. The news industry’s primary objective transforming from keeping a population informed to staying on air via entertainment and ads has led some to attempt to ditch constant feeds and others to argue for more viewer participation.
🤑 A recent HBR article argues climate change is coming to a balance sheet near you. The next climate change leader at your company will be the CFO. The authors argue that many of climate change’s effects on businesses will fall under the CFO’s purview, from increased investments and protection of tradeable assets to the cost savings realized by cutting energy use. They point out companies like Microsoft that have internal carbon markets, or Coca Cola Hellenic Bottling Company that accounts for carbon emmissions in investment decisions via its “green CapEx” model. Expect this to accelerate as retail investors (i.e., you and me, and millenials, and Gen Z) demand more environmentally friendly practices out of the companies they invest in.
Also: Stanford professor says our workplaces are killing us. BCG says quantum computing companies can solve climate change.
The dinner table: We welcome discourse and feedback. The nature of the intersections we explore means friction and disagreement exist. The only way forward is through constructive conversation, and we want to facilitate that.
We’re happy to engage in a conversation, facilitate connections, or publish your opinions and work if that’s what you’d like. Our community doesn’t have soap boxes, only dinner tables. Simply reply to this email.
Thanks to James from Alexandria for writing in on Google’s Project Nightingale: “Google claims the best way to improve global health is by hoovering our medical records without our knowledge or consent. Now I don’t know if they have access to my health records and don’t know how to find out. Microsoft just proved them wrong with their own AI for Health program [link]. They’re not taking our personal data. They’re using their AI expertise to bring diagnostic technologies where to emerging markets. Higher impact, less invasive. Microsoft made the newsletter last time, make sure they make it again for the work they're doing.”
What else we’re reading
Op-ed in The Hill points to Americans’ desire for civility in politics. It argues the divisiveness extends beyond policy to everyday disagreements. That’s why Junction House. Related: Democrats and Republicans don’t understand each other.
China’s decision to no longer accept the world’s garbage is causing upheaval across the globe. As container ships full of plastic are turned away from Chinese ports, innovative companies are creating new outlets.
Kobe and Gigi Bryant’s deaths leaving people reflecting on a complicated and spectacular legacy.
We leave you with this: Library of Congress from @adam_brocket