Newsletter: Open Tech Talk

Open Tech Talk is a regular newsletter from the Open Technology Institute. Subscribe here, and view past editions below.

  • OTT #34: March 2024 - In our newly-revamped Open Tech Talk newsletter, we highlight recent OTI fellow Eirliani Abdul Rahman’s brief on how to tackle the “indirect swarming” form of online harassment, preview our upcoming event on age verification and kids safety online, and much more.
  • OTT Special Edition: 2023 Lookback - In this special edition of Open Tech Talk, Lilian Coral—vice president of New America’s Technology and Democracy programs and head of the Open Technology Institute—looks back on how OTI pushed for artificial intelligence that strengthens democracy, urged for safeguarding privacy and freedom of expression online, tackled the digital divide, and championed affordable and accessible wireless internet for the people throughout 2023.
  • OTT #33: December 2023 - Lilian Coral—now vice president of New America’s Technology and Democracy programs and head of the Open Technology Institute—recalls the major policy changes in connectivity, security, and artificial intelligence that OTI worked toward throughout the second half of 2023. We also revisit two OTI events—one on private networks, and one on the intersection of federal privacy legislation of AI governance—and explore some highlights from the same time period, including our support for Anna Gomez’s confirmation to the Federal Communications Commission, our endorsement of the Algorithmic Accountability Act, our backing of the FCC’s efforts to restore its authority to protect the open internet, and our praise for the Biden administration's comprehensive effort to shape the impact of AI on society.
  • OTT #32: June 2023 - OTI Senior Director Lilian Coral outlines the next steps in tech policy progress that OTI anticipates from Congress, NTIA, the FTC, and the FCC, while also exploring the potential impact of artificial intelligence and other evolving developments in tech. We also review some OTI highlights from the first half of 2023, including our praise for President Biden's new FCC nomination, our endorsements of the Community Broadband Act and the reintroduced Digital Equity Foundation Act, and our summits on data interoperability, the Affordable Connectivity Program, and Section 230.
  • OTT #31: January 2023 - Lilian Coral, the new senior director of OTI, explains our plans to tackle the paradigm-altering issues society is confronting by growing our team and integrating our work with New America's other Technology and Democracy Programs. We also reflect on some of OTI's key accomplishments from the last third of 2022, including endorsing the Digital Equity Foundation Act, providing testimony to the D.C. Council in support of the Stop Discrimination by Algorithms Act, publishing op-eds on Section 230 SCOTUS cases, submitting comments to PCLOB regarding reforms to FISA Section 702, and more.
  • OTT #30: September 2022 - Interim Director Chhaya Kapadia reviews how OTI is tackling privacy, competition, and platform accountability issues by supporting the American Data Privacy and Protection Act, making recommendations to improve the ACCESS Act, and showing where platforms can make meaningful changes to policies and disclosures surrounding election misinformation and disinformation. We also look back on our research into how school and library networks run "to-and-through" communities can help close the homework gap, our work exploring how better data sharing could help streamline eligibility processes for government benefits, and more.
  • OTT #29: June 2022 - In addition to a recap of our latest publications, OTI reflects on our efforts to push for the confirmations of strong public interest leaders to vital positions in the Biden administration, a consumer-friendly broadband nutrition label format, stronger antitrust enforcement in the telecommunications sector, unique legislative proposals for digital literacy and inclusion, better oversight of police surveillance in the District, less predatory rates for prison and jail calls, and the adoption of more user-friendly policies by tech companies.
  • OTT #28: March 2022 - OTI Interim Director Chhaya Kapadia pens this edition's letter, congratulating former OTI Director Sarah Morris on joining NTIA, commending OTI's "dedicated, principled, and tireless" staff, and thanking New America's leadership for their continued support. Afterwards, we review thoughtful new work IoT security, the launch of an innovative initiative to secure sustainable funding for digital literacy programs, extensive engagement on Capitol Hill, and more.
  • OTT #27: Winter 2022 - In a letter from the director, Sarah Morris not only looks back on the blockbuster year OTI had in 2021, but also ahead, to some exciting things to come in 2022. We then walk through our recent highlights, from our event with Public Knowledge on how utilizing 12 GHz airwaves can help us narrow the digital divide, to our praise for former OTI Director Alan Davidson's confirmation as NTIA head.
  • OTT #26: Fall 2021 - OTI reviews our summer and fall achievements, including our timely technical explainer on Apple's proposed privacy changes, the successful event we co-hosted with Consumer Reports on the future of consumer labels like the broadband nutrition label, and our research on everything from algorithmic systems to government surveillance.
  • OTT #25: Summer 2021 - OTI recaps our early summer with a report on data privacy, a statement of concern on law enforcement's use of face recognition technology, and an FAQ on the new federal program the Emergency Broadband Benefit. We had an event keynoted by FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and a published a variety of work in the tech policy space.
  • OTT #24: Spring 2021 - Our Cost of Connectivity research graces millions of Instagram feeds with a presidential endorsement. Also: get a look at seven (7) new reports we've published since our last newsletter, a pair of great events, and some well-placed op-ed writing from OTIers.
  • OTT #23: Winter 2021 - We look at several signs of hope for closing the digital divide, reflect on our project to create a public methodology for the Digital Standard, recap a ton of great writing and advocacy across our issue areas, and welcome a new staff member.
  • OTT #22: Fall 2020 - OTI recaps a busy fall, including reports on election disinformation, connectivity in the Navajo Nation, the online learning equity gap, and more.
  • OTT #21: Summer 2020 - Our Cost of Connectivity 2020 report finds substantial evidence of a broadband affordability crisis in the United States, our team publishes our full public methodology for the Digital Standard IoT security framework, and OTI weighs in on digital contact tracing, police surveillance, online disinformation, and more.
  • OTT COVID-19: April 16, 2020 - Read about the heightened importance of OTI's work in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • OTT # 20: December 13, 2019 - Updates from OTI for Fall, 2019. The D.C. Circuit makes a decision on net neutrality, the FCC greenlights T-Mobile/Sprint merger, OTI releases several reports, and more.
  • OTT #19: August 26, 2019 - OTI recaps our busy summer. We published several reports, held two events, published draft legislation, responded to major news in the tech world, and more.
  • OTT #18: June 21, 2019 - Open Tech Talk returns with an update from Sarah Morris, OTI's new director. It's been a busy several months for our work, including key moments around net neutrality, the Lifeline program, encryption, and content moderation, as well as the launch of the 2019 Ranking Digital Rights Corporate Accountability Index.
  • OTT #17: November 29, 2018 - The holiday season is upon us but OTI doesn't seem to be winding down. This fall, we hosted events to discuss encryption and consumer protections, and published our Transparency Reporting Toolkit 2.0 on Content Takedown Reporting.
  • OTT #16: September 13, 2018 - After a bit of a hiatus, Open Tech Talk returns with a look at how the OTI team spent their summer. From high-profile events to a plethora of agency and legal filings, this was a particularly busy time of year.
  • OTT #15: February 15, 2018 - As we turn over a new leaf to start 2018, we look back on the fight for FISA Section 702 reform, discuss the next steps for net neutrality, and highlight exciting OTI projects and initiatives.
  • OTT #14: December 13, 2017 - At the end of 2017, the director reflects back on the year that was, plus the two major policy fights that are still ahead of us before the end of the year.
  • OTT #13: October 23, 2017 - We publish a "progress report" on the FCC Chairman's tenure, take a look at the importance of the Lifeline program, and explore our extensive research and new interactive timeline tool detailing the history of FISA Section 702 compliance violations.
  • OTT #12: August 2, 2017 - The net neutrality "Day of Action" kicks off the month, OTI publishes papers on the state of encryption in Europe and censorship, and the Institute joins the Global Networks Initiative.
  • OTT #11: June 22, 2017 - Our public school broadband measurement project wraps up, the Director participates in a blue ribbon panel on affordable internet in San Francisco, and we welcome new members of the OTI staff.
  • OTT #10: May 11, 2017 - OTI's director revisits his predictions for the first 100 days, and offers some silver linings on unity in the tech industry and OTI priorities.
  • OTT #9: March 21, 2017 - Writing from SXSW, the director discusses challenges both new and old, and embraces the continuing fight for digital rights with two words: game on.
  • OTT #8: February 14, 2017 - The director discusses OTI’s new project, “Getting Internet Companies to Do the Right Thing,” and the importance of unity among internet advocates.
  • OTT #7: January 5, 2017 - Facing a new administration and pushback on core OTI objectives, the director outlines the “Seven Cs” plan of resistance.
  • OTT #6: November 2, 2016 - The FCC votes to approve strong new broadband privacy rules to govern ISPs, and OTI Director Kevin Bankston interviews Edward Snowden at Georgetown.
  • OTT #5: October 7, 2016 - OTI helps make the final push for the IANA ownership transfer to ICANN and Twitter adopts elements of OTI’s Transparency Reporting Toolkit.
  • OTT #4: September 8, 2016 - The recruitment process for OTI’s second class of TechCongress fellows begins, and OTI panels discuss broadband competitiveness and government hacking.
  • OTT #3: July 26, 2016 - OTI makes an appearance at Allied Media Conference and RDR appears TED Summit 2016. OTI also submits comments to EU regulatory body BEREC, in support of net neutrality.
  • OTT #2: June 23, 2016 - OTI scores a win with the upholding of the Open Internet Order, files comments regarding two different mergers, and launches a new website.
  • OTT #1: May 17, 2016 - New threats to strong encryption, Seattle broadband testing, Lifeline modernization, and the launching of TechCongress are all right here in our first issue.