Sorry for the slight delay today. The tech gods were not being kind.
NOTE: A lot of this summary and show notes were generated via a new AI tool by Riverside.fm
In this episode, Brian Fishman, co-founder and chief strategy officer at Cinder, discusses his background in studying terrorism and his work at Facebook. He shares insights on the early days of using the internet for research on terrorist organizations and the challenges of trust and safety in the tech industry.
Brian also talks about the importance of pivoting in one's career and the trade-offs involved. He discusses the future of the tech industry, including the impact of AI and the role of regulation in trust and safety. The conversation covers various topics related to content moderation, media coverage, and the role of technology in society.
The main themes include the challenges of content moderation, the difficulty of making decisions in the face of complex issues, the role of the media in shaping narratives, and the need for a more comprehensive understanding of technology's impact. The conversation also touches on the importance of capturing the wider ecosystem of communication platforms and actors involved in events like January 6th.
We also discuss the potential for storytelling to shed light on the challenges of trust and safety in the tech industry.
Takeaways
Brian Fishman has a background in studying terrorism and has worked on trust and safety issues at Facebook.
The early days of using the internet for research on terrorist organizations provided valuable insights.
Pivoting in one's career requires a mix of audacity and humility.
The tech industry is facing challenges related to AI, synthetic content, and trust in institutions.
Regulation will raise the floor for trust and safety expectations but may lower the ceiling. Content moderation is a complex and challenging task, regardless of whether it is done by private companies or regulators.
The difficulty of making decisions in the face of complex issues remains even when responsibility is transferred from private companies to regulators.
Media coverage plays a significant role in shaping narratives and public understanding of events.
A comprehensive understanding of technology's impact requires considering the wider ecosystem of communication platforms and actors involved.
Storytelling can be a powerful tool to explore the challenges of trust and safety in the tech industry.
Links
How much mouse poop should be allowed in cereal boxes (a thought exercise that pertains to content moderation that we discuss and David Karpf wrote a piece about).
Show Notes
Introduction and Background
Early Internet Research on Terrorism
Pivoting in a Career
Challenges and Opportunities in the Tech Industry
The Role of Regulation in Trust and Safety
The Challenges of Content Moderation
The Difficulty of Decision-Making
The Role of Media in Shaping Narratives
Understanding the Wider Ecosystem of Communication Platforms
Storytelling and the Challenges of Trust and Safety
Pivot! Navigating Unprecedented Times with Audacity and Humility