Rebecca Williams takes us into a deep conversation on her research on the future of technology in cities. Weaving together her background working in data analysis, policy analysis, city planning, law, and civic technology, Rebecca’s work highlights five key harms that unchecked and unregulated technology in cities can bring to our society.
Guest: Rebecca Williams is a Fellow with Belfer Center's Technology and Public Purpose Project where she is researching threats to civil liberties posed by "smart city" technologies. Rebecca has previously worked on data policy and management at the local, federal, and international level for the White House Office of Management and Budget’s Office of the Federal Chief Information Officer, Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Government Excellence, General Services Administration’s Data.gov, and the Sunlight Foundation. You can follow her work on her personal website, on her Substack, or her Twitter account.
Related Readings:
Kalia, Shahid Buttar and Amul. “LinkNYC Improves Privacy Policy, Yet Problems Remain.” Electronic Frontier Foundation, October 5, 2017. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/09/linknyc-improves-privacy-policy-yet-problems-remain.
Descant, Skip. “Lawsuit Challenging L.A.'s Collection of Scooter Data Dismissed.” Government Technology State & Local Articles - e.Republic, March 1, 2021. https://www.govtech.com/fs/Lawsuit-Challenging-LA-s-Collection-of-Scooter-Data-Dismissed.html.
Musulin, Kristin. “Cisco Explains Its Smart City Software Exit.” Smart Cities Dive, January 15, 2021. https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/cisco-explains-its-smart-city-software-exit/593139/.
Sheard, Adam Schwartz and Nathan. “Why EFF Doesn't Support Bans On Private Use of Face Recognition.” Electronic Frontier Foundation, January 20, 2021. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/01/why-eff-doesnt-support-bans-private-use-face-recognition.
Credits
Produced by Mark Lerner
Music by Zach Pfeifer
Artwork by