23E/ SSI, Privacy and and the disinformation ecosystem

SSI, Privacy and and the disinformation ecosystem

Thursday 23E

Convener: Bill Aal

Notes-taker(s): Bill Aal ( for more extensive notes, contact waal@toolsfochange.org)

Discussion notes, key understandings, outstanding questions, observations, and, if appropriate to this discussion: action items, next steps: 

Difference between what people consider traceability/attribution as a good thing for transparency and combating disinformation and people’s security.and it has also a potential for being weaponized.

This was a wide ranging conversation discussion that revolved around the difference between the lived experiences of people of color, women and other people who are targets of oppression,and those of the people making policy and technology decisions.

Another part of the conversation was about the difference between manipulation by use of social graphs and “ persuasion”. Can SSI give us protection against manipulation? Or do the neuro-behavioral drivers of the technology over ride the old models that people operate as “rational” actors.

We also talked about “saviorism” as a theme in US culture and how it has been a driving force in the tech sector,thinking that the mainly white technological class can build tools and ecosystems that will fix the problems of society, when in fact they and the tools are part of the oppressive system.

Coming around to privacy again:“You can't decontextualize privacy.”

The framework of privilege embedded in “Freedom of Speech” keeps white male technologists immune to change and people who are talking about the reality of their experience are made into “bad people”

In changing the way the narrative,

Its not just how things are said, but how things are heard. Those with privilege have got to give up their belief and stance that there is an “ objective” knowledge that comes from white middle and upper class education and scholarship:

The conversation ended with both a call for white folks especially men both listen to “other” voices but as im analysis of things.

White technology and policy people need to take on the work of educating themselves ( I am included in that of course!) and others about the ways in which privilege and oppression keep them in control. More than that to build into the daily business practices ways to learn and to interrupt those patterns.

There was a call to create a working group to work toward a different narrative around technology especially the identity ecosystem. Contact Bill Aal to be involved. (waal@toolsforchange.org)

This might be connected to the work of Drummond, Kaliya and others discussed in Session 24.