The 2020 Silicon Flatirons flagship conference will examine optimism and pessimism in the tech sector. In the past decades, technological advances across fields such as artificial intelligence, telecommunications, social media, health care, data analysis, and media have brought dramatic transformations for society. Many of these advances have been positive: increasing transparency, improving health outcomes, spreading knowledge and information, and increasing connectivity. At the same time, many technological transformations have introduced novel and worrisome societal problems, ranging from social isolation, socioeconomic inequality, accessibility, the vulnerability of voting systems, political polarization, environmental impacts, and decreased privacy.
Some observers of these changes call for celebration, while others sound the alarm of concern. Both perspectives need to be taken seriously, but neither tells the full story. Our expert speakers will explore both the positive and negative impacts of the tech sector on individuals and society in an effort to reach a more nuanced appreciation of technological change and consider how we advance the positive impacts while mitigating the negative.
If you need any accommodations, such as an ASL interpreter, CART, or alternate format versions of printed materials, please contact Heather Martin at Heather.Martin@colorado.edu or (303) 492-5442, and we will gladly make any necessary arrangements.
Sessions
Continental Breakfast
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Keynote Address
The Once and Future Promise of Technology
- Margot Kaminski — Moderator
Associate Professor, University of Colorado Law School; Privacy Initiative Director, Silicon Flatirons - Newton Campbell — Panelist
Director - Space Programs, Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE) Consortium - Alan Davidson — Panelist
VP of Global Policy, Trust, and Security, Mozilla - Donna Epps — Panelist
Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Strategic Alliances, Verizon - Andrew McLaughlin — Panelist
Partner, Higher Ground Labs - Deji Bryce Olukotun — Panelist
Author and Legal Counsel, Policy, and Social Impact, Sonos
Break
Tech's Perils and Pitfalls
- Blake Reid — Moderator
Associate Clinical Professor, University of Colorado Law School; Technology Policy Initiative Director, Silicon Flatirons - Brittan Heller — Panelist
Counsel, Foley Hoag LLP - Dave Maass — Panelist
Senior Investigative Researcher, Electronic Frontier Foundation - Francella Ochillo — Panelist
Executive Director, Next Century Cities - Jamie Tomasello — Panelist
Head of Trust and Compliance, Duo Security - Richard Whitt — Panelist
President, GLIAnet
Lunch
Keynote Panel: A Conversation About the Future
- The Honorable Phil Weiser — Moderator
Attorney General, State of Colorado; Founder and Executive Fellow, Silicon Flatirons; Adjunct Professor, University of Colorado Law School - Casey Fiesler — Panelist
Associate Professor, Information Science, University of Colorado Boulder - Patty Limerick — Panelist
Professor of History, University of Colorado Boulder - Karl Schroeder — Panelist
Futurist and Author
Presentation of Student Awards
Debate: Technology is Undermining Democracy
- JP de Vries — Moderator
Director Emeritus and Distinguished Advisor, Silicon Flatirons - Andrew P. Bridges (Opposed)
Partner, Fenwick & West LLP - Cindy Cohn (Opposed)
Executive Director, Electronic Frontier Foundation - Ahmed Ghappour (In Favor)
Associate Professor, Boston University School of Law - Paul Ohm (In Favor)
Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Georgetown Law
Break
Tech Entrepreneurship for Good, Challenges, and Opportunities
- Brad Bernthal — Moderator
Associate Professor, University of Colorado Law School; Entrepreneurship Initiative Director, Silicon Flatirons - Rebecca Arbogast — Panelist
Senior Vice President, Global Public Policy, Comcast Corporation - Ryan Martens — Panelist
Board Member, Founder, Investor, and Mentor - Balan Nair — Panelist
President and Chief Executive Officer, Liberty Latin America - Ellen Satterwhite — Panelist
Vice President, Glen Echo Group - Anne Toth, Chief Executive Officer, Privacyworks — Panelist
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Silicon Flatirons 20th Anniversary Celebration
Continental Breakfast
Opening Remarks and Day One Summation
Keynote ADDRESS
Building the Future We Want, Part 1
- Harry Surden — Moderator
Associate Professor, University of Colorado Law School; Artificial Intelligence Initiative Director, Silicon Flatirons - Lisl Brunner — Panelist
Director of Global Public Policy, AT&T - Gabriella Coleman — Panelist
Wolfe Chair in Scientific and Technological Literacy, McGill University - Chris Lewis — Panelist
President and Chief Executive Officer, Public Knowledge - Berin Szoka — Panelist
President and Founder, TechFreedom - John Verdi — Panelist
Vice President of Policy, Future of Privacy Forum
Break
Building the Future We Want, Part 2
- Kristelia García — Moderator
Associate Professor, University of Colorado Law School; Content Initiative Director, Silicon Flatirons - Lisl Brunner — Panelist
Director of Global Public Policy, AT&T - Gabriella Coleman — Panelist
Wolfe Chair in Scientific and Technological Literacy, McGill University - Chris Lewis — Panelist
President and Chief Executive Officer, Public Knowledge - Berin Szoka — Panelist
President and Founder, TechFreedom - John Verdi — Panelist
Vice President of Policy, Future of Privacy Forum