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Articles by Jack Karsten
TikTok bans won’t guarantee consumer safety
Recent weeks have seen bans on the video platform TikTok from a variety of entities. President Joe Biden recently signed legislation that includes a provision banning the application from phones and computers issued by federal agencies. In addition, a dozen states such as Alabama, Maryland, New Hampshire, Texas, and Virginia have implemented similar prohibitions on devices used by their employees.
Can data portability happen on video-sharing platforms?
Today videos and their watchers are stuck. Large video-sharing companies like YouTube and TikTok seek to ensure that users watch and share videos (as much as possible) on their platforms alone. Technically, videos are collections of various data that together contribute to the viewing experience. The most basic of this data—titles, descriptions, and recordings—is usually shared, but a myriad of other metadata is not often disclosed.
Civil rights groups help put privacy legislation within reach
Even before the death of George Floyd added urgency to issues of racial equity, it has been clear that federal privacy legislation cannot and should not pass without a provision bringing to bear civil rights laws on how personal information is used. This is why a May 25th, 2022 letter from major civil rights organizations, joined by a broad coalition of civil rights, consumer, and privacy organizations totaling 57 signers, is a big deal.
Automation and the radicalization of America
As digital technology accelerates, there are questions about who is most likely to lose jobs due to automation and what the overall future of the US economy looks like. These questions are worth asking—particularly after a pandemic that appears to have hastened the automation of many tasks in American industries.
Upcoming Event: How Better Statistics Lead to Better Policy in a Changing World
Join IFP from 11AM-2PM EST on Friday, December 3 for a virtual conference on the importance of economic statistics for making policies that lead to innovation. DESCRIPTION Join the Progressive Policy Institute’s Innovation Frontier Project for a virtual conference for policymakers, staffers and journalists titled “How Better Statistics Lead to Better Policy in a Changing World”. Our economy is becoming increasingly global and digital, but economic statistics are slow to adapt to this new reality.
Past Event: How Better Statistics Lead to Better Policy in a Changing World
On Friday, December 3, the Innovation Frontier Project held a virtual conference on the importance of economic statistics for making policies that lead to innovation. DESCRIPTION On December 3, the Progressive Policy Institute’s Innovation Frontier Project hosted a virtual conference for policymakers, staffers and journalists titled “How Better Statistics Lead to Better Policy in a Changing World”.
The TechTank Podcast looks back at important stories from 2020
Since the TechTank Podcast launched in August of this year, its ten episodes have covered a wide range of issues, from antitrust regulation in the tech industry to adapting education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The podcast brought together experts from around Brookings and beyond to discuss the year’s most important technology policy issues. In September, Rep.
How artificial intelligence is transforming the United States and the world
Twitter Join the conversation on Twitter using #AIGovernance With the capabilities and implications of emerging new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) still largely unknown, it is critical that the next generation of policies and norms be informed by ideals of economic and national security, transparency, fairness, and inclusion.
What the debate over TikTok means for the future of social media
It has been an eventful few months for TikTok: The social media platform recently won an injunction against a nationwide ban while it negotiates a deal with Oracle and Walmart to satisfy President Trump’s executive orders demanding a sale to a U.S. company. With the November deadline for a deal upcoming, the shifting contours of the transaction and concerns over the app’s security will have important ramifications for future technology policy.
Removing regulatory barriers to telehealth before and after COVID-19
Introduction A combination of escalating costs, an aging population, and rising chronic health-care conditions that account for 75% of the nation’s health-care costs paint a bleak picture of the current state of American health care.1 In 2018, national health expenditures grew to $3.6 trillion and accounted for 17.7% of GDP.2 Under current laws, national health spending is projected to grow at a rate of 5.5% per year between 2018-2027.3 Time, another cornerstone of cost and quality, is yet...
New White House AI principles reach beyond economic and security considerations
On January 7, the White House Office of Management and Budget released a list of ten principles that federal agencies should follow when developing rules for artificial intelligence. This memo fulfills part of an executive order on artificial intelligence signed by President Trump in February 2019. While the guidance memo echoes the executive order’s call for light-touch regulation, its principles go beyond simply promoting the innovation and adoption of emerging technologies.
Competition policy expert Bill Baer joining Brookings
Bill Baer is joining the Brookings Institution as a visiting fellow in Governance Studies, where he will focus on antitrust and competition policy. Bill has served as a leader in U.S. federal antitrust enforcement for over four decades, most notably as Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice from 2013 to 2016 and as Director of the Bureau of Competition at the Federal Trade Commission from 1995 to 1999.
Is there a responsible way forward for gene editing?
Last fall, when Chinese scientist He Jiankui announced that he had created the world’s first gene-edited babies, he was greeted with widespread condemnation by the scientific community. While some experts called for a moratorium on embryonic gene editing, others sought a different path forward. Meanwhile, clustered regularly interspaced repeats (or CRISPR) has gained significant headway in the past year.
Highlights: New transportation technologies bring rewards and risks
New technologies are transforming the transportation sector. These include autonomous vehicles, ride-sharing services, remote sensors, and unmanned aerial systems, among other developments. As is true with many technologies, however, the products have advanced faster than the policies and regulations surrounding them.
Emerging technology can replace workers - or train them for new work
In 2012, venture capitalist and entrepreneur Marc Andreesen predicted that jobs will be divided between “people who tell computers what to do, and people who are told by computers what to do.” Already, smartphones and other internet-connected devices assign work in a wide variety of environments, from Amazon warehouses to city streets. Workers that take assignments from computers may see their jobs completely automated as artificial intelligence and robots become more capable over time.
Why paper is considered state-of-the-art voting technology
On June 27, the House passed a bill that would bolster America’s high-tech voting infrastructure with a low-tech fix: paper. Introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-19), the SAFE Act requires that all voting machines involve “the use of an individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballot of the voter’s vote.” While the inclusion of paper ballots may seem like a technological step backward, the SAFE Act’s affinity for paper is not a quirk.
Proposed New York bill expands scope of data privacy debate
In May, New York State Senator Kevin Thomas introduced S. 5642, the New York Privacy Act, a piece of data privacy legislation that significantly departs from recent attempts to strengthen user privacy such as the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA).
Three questions with Jesse Lovejoy, director of STEM education for the San Francisco 49ers
“Three Questions” is an occasional series where we ask leaders in technology policy to comment on issues related to their area of expertise. This installment features Jesse Lovejoy, director of STEM education and the 49ers Museum for the San Francisco 49ers. He answered questions about using sports to engage students in science, technology, engineering, and math.
New Brookings report highlights potential sources of bias in algorithms
The increased use of algorithms to automate decisions promises to speed up operations for private companies and governments alike. However, it also raises concerns about how algorithms arrive at their decisions, especially ones with negative consequences for individuals or society as a whole. Many algorithms draw inferences from existing data when making decisions, and are susceptible to magnifying existing biases when they receive unrepresentative data.
It’s time to start thinking about governance of autonomous weapons
Emerging digital technologies open new possibilities to transform the way nations engage in war. In 2018, the U.S. Department of Defense signaled its commitment to artificial intelligence (AI) with the establishment of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC).
New training models and policies for a digital economy workforce
Emerging technologies such as fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks, artificial intelligence, and advanced robotics promise to transform most sectors of the economy. Many jobs are becoming more technology-intensive, and all workers will need some baseline technology skills as a result.
Pursuing a harms-based approach to privacy and antitrust regulation
With the growing concern over consumer privacy and antitrust issues in the technology industry, there have been calls for Congress and regulatory agencies like the Federal Trade Commission to respond. To explore these issues, the Center for Technology Innovation hosted FTC Commissioner Noah Joshua Phillips in a conversation with Brookings Fellow Nicol Turner-Lee on March 14.
How the U.S. and China can compete and cooperate on artificial intelligence
A PwC report estimates that by 2030, 70 percent of the profits generated by artificial intelligence (AI) technologies will be shared between the U.S. and China. While the two countries compete to develop the most advanced AI applications, there are also many opportunities for cooperation to mitigate the technology’s potential risks.
Building inclusion into 5G wireless networks
Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities plague even the most cutting-edge technology implementation. With the adoption of wireless broadband throughout the United States, including the recent fourth generation Long Term Evolution (4G LTE) technology, we see a national division between those who benefit from connectivity and those who are left behind.
Supreme Court antitrust case bypasses traditional technology regulators
A string of controversies in recent years involving tech companies has led many observers to call for stronger antitrust enforcement and a tougher competition policy. A new addition to this public demand comes from an unlikely source: In November 2018, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case brought by Apple to dismiss a lawsuit from Robert Pepper and three other iPhone owners. The defendants in Apple Inc. v.
TechTank in 2018: Silicon Valley oversight, GDPR, new research, and more
Technology policy continued to make international headlines in 2018. From Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation to congressional testimony from tech CEOs, Brookings scholars and staff have covered a number of this year’s most important developments on the TechTank blog.
How emergency responders are using drones to save lives
The use of drones by law enforcement often evokes fears of constant surveillance, yet much of what emergency responders actually use drones for may instead save your life. There are currently 910 local, state and national agencies across the United States using drones to assist in their work. Ranging from search and rescue to car accident scene simulation, drones are greatly increasing the efficiency of a number of law enforcement agency tasks.
Defining pre-existing conditions in an era of genetic testing
As midterm elections approach, candidates of both parties have hotly debated the future of health insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions. However, these conversations fail to touch on an related issue of increasing importance—discrimination against patients with genetic markers for illness.
Wearable device data and AI can reduce health care costs and paperwork
Though digital technology has transformed nearly every corner of the economy in recent years, the health care industry seems stubbornly immune to these trends. That may soon change if more wearable devices record medical information that physicians can use to diagnose and treat illnesses at earlier stages. Last month, Apple announced that an FDA-approved electrocardiograph (EKG) will be included in the latest generation Apple Watch to check the heart’s electrical activity for signs of arrhythmia.
Who should answer the ethical questions surrounding artificial intelligence?
Continuing advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) for use in both the public and private sectors warrant serious ethical consideration. As the capability of AI improves, the issues of transparency, fairness, privacy, and accountability associated with using these technologies become more serious. Many developers in the private sector acknowledge the threats AI poses and have created their own codes of ethics to monitor AI development responsibly.
Telehealth apps expand access for reproductive health care
With Amazon’s recent announcement about its plans to acquire PillPack, an online pharmacy, it is clear that online health is becoming more mainstream. In particular, telehealth apps for reproductive and sexual health are increasingly popular. Easily accessible birth control and other health care, such as HIV prevention medication or tests for sexually transmitted diseases, has become particularly desirable given geographic gaps in access across the United States.
How ride-sharing and self-driving cars could fill gaps in urban transportation
The rise of ride-sharing, bike-share programs, and now electric scooters prompt new questions about the future of transportation in cities. How will these new business models fit in with traditional options like personal car ownership and public mass transit? To study the effect of ride-sharing on traffic and the wages of drivers, the New York City Council voted on August 8 to cap the number of new ride-sharing cars for a year.
Preparing for the ethical dilemmas of the AI era
The world is experiencing extraordinary advances in artificial intelligence. There are new applications in finance, defense, health care, criminal justice, and education, among other areas. Algorithms are improving spell-checkers, voice recognition systems, ad targeting, and fraud detection. Yet at the same time, there is concern regarding the ethical values embedded within AI and the extent to which algorithms respect basic human values.
Internet sales tax gives e-commerce companies a stake in local government
As our economy becomes increasingly digitized, more transactions are moving online and outside of local tax jurisdictions, costing states billions in lost sales tax revenue. The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair has opened the door for states to collect sales tax on online purchases made at out-of-state businesses.
How should the US legislate data privacy?
In recent months, new privacy rules have gone into effect in the European Union and have been adopted by state of California. Is it time for U.S. privacy legislation at the federal level? On July 26, the Center for Technology Innovation hosted a panel of experts from think tanks, industry, and trade groups to consider this question.
Additive manufacturing builds concerns layer by layer
Additive manufacturing (i.e. 3-D printing) is quickly evolving. The days of using the technology only to produce plastic toys are long gone. The technology is now often used for both prototyping samples and printing highly complex things, such as cars, rocket engine parts, and food. A few applications to watch over the next few months to years are 3-D printed organs, molecules, and 3-D printers themselves.
Brookings survey finds only 21 percent willing to ride in a self-driving car
Recent fatalities involving self-driving vehicles appear to be making people nervous about self-driving vehicles. When asked in a survey undertaken by researchers at the Brookings Institution how likely they are to ride in a self-driving car, only 21 percent of adult internet users said they are inclined to do so, compared to 61 percent who are not. The support for self-driving cars is down a bit from other surveys over the past year.
Vladimir Putin delivers vision for technology at the Moscow Urban Forum
It was a surprise during this week’s Moscow Urban Forum when President Vladimir Putin showed up to deliver his vision for technology. I was in attendance at the Forum to discuss my new book, The Future of Work: Robots, AI, and Automation. Digital technology was the theme of the Forum as well as Putin’s remarks. The Russian president highlighted the importance of urban areas in shaping future development.
Women in civic technology show the benefits of a diverse workforce
Women have made great strides in recent decades to increase their representation among doctors and lawyers, but their numbers in the technology industry remain stagnant. This fact marks a missed opportunity to bring diverse perspectives to solving problems with technology. One area where women have made headway is in civic technology, a variety of digital services that connect citizens with their government.
How to build 5G networks in the U.S.
The higher speeds of fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks will enable connected cars, telemedicine, and the broader internet of things. Preparing for next-generation networks and their many applications will require upgrading existing wired infrastructure and freeing up wireless spectrum.
Brookings survey finds 52 percent believe robots will perform most human activities in 30 years
Fifty-two percent of adult internet users believe within 30 years, robots will have advanced to the point where they can perform most of the activities currently done by humans, according to a survey undertaken by researchers at the Brookings Institution. The poll also found people divided 32 to 29 percent regarding whether the U.S. government should set up a Federal Robotics Commission to regulate robot development and usage.
China’s social credit system spreads to more daily transactions
In May, enforcement of China’s social credit system spread to the travel industry, restricting millions of Chinese citizens with low social credit scores from purchasing plane and train tickets. China has stated that all 1.35 billion of its citizens will be subject to its social credit system by 2020, and travel restrictions for low-scoring citizens is only one of many to come.
How sex drives innovation and digital regulation
I was surprised in the 1970s when I moved into graduate student housing to discover the previous tenant had kept his cable television contract active. Up to that point, I had lived solely in the world of broadcast television, where there were half a dozen channels with strictly regulated content. In flipping through the cable channels one night, I discovered movies featuring explicit sex among the program offerings.
How to respond to the many applications of artificial intelligence
Recent advances in computing power, algorithms, and sensor technology in recent years have combined to rapidly expand the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI). Applications exist not only in private sector industries like healthcare, finance, and retail, but in public sector settings like criminal justice and national security as well. Each of these areas present questions about the responsible development and deployment of AI.
Views of AI, robots, and automation based on internet search data
Executive Summary Artificial intelligence, robots, and automation are rising in importance in many areas. As noted in the recent book, “The Future of Work: Robots, AI, and Automation,” there are exciting advances in finance, transportation, national defense, smart cities, and health care, among other areas. Businesses are developing solutions that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations and using these tools to improve the way their firms function.
Brookings survey finds worries over AI impact on jobs and personal privacy, concern U.S. will fall behind China
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are propelling development in many parts of the world. There are new applications in finance, healthcare, transportation, national security, criminal justice, and smart cities, among other areas. Yet as the same time, there are questions about negative impacts on jobs and personal privacy, if AI will make people’s lives easier, whether the government should regulate AI, and how the United States is faring compared to other countries.
Will the future of work be a utopia or a dystopia?
Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and robotics will have a dramatic impact on the future of work. Already, today’s most valuable technology companies employ about one-fifth as many workers as the most valuable companies in the 1960s. Estimates of workforce displacement due to automation range from the OECD’s 14 percent of current jobs to the European think tank Bruegel’s 54 percent.
Sprint and T-Mobile: There is a better 5G solution than reducing competition
The proposed merger between Sprint and T-Mobile once again focuses the nation’s attention on next generation 5G wireless service. Burdened with the fact that the current vibrant competition among four wireless companies has benefited consumers greatly (decreasing prices by 13 percent in the last year alone), the companies assert that their merger will accelerate the deployment of 5G.
The state of self-driving car laws across the U.S.
Despite two fatal accidents involving semi-autonomous cars occurring within days of each other in March, testing of the technology continues. On April 2, California expanded its testing rules to allow for remote monitoring instead of a safety driver inside the vehicle. Waymo and another company have since applied to begin testing vehicles without drivers in the state.
How the innovation economy leads to growth
On April 25, 2018, Darrell West testified before the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress on how innovation can lead to economic growth and opportunity. In his testimony, West argues that the United States should take six steps to increase opportunity and make sure it does not fall behind other leading nations.
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