AU Group Pushing Inclusive Approach to Tech Policy
Diana Burley has spent much of her career noticing few people looked like her in the rooms where tech and cyber policy discussions happen.
AU鈥檚 vice provost for research is a global expert on cybersecurity, but that hasn鈥檛 stopped her from receiving stray looks at conferences and presentations.
鈥淭here have been many times when people have looked at me when I walked in the room, and they discount me because of the color of my skin or my gender or my age,鈥 Burley said. 鈥淎nd I just say that's their problem because I know what I know.鈥
The lack of representation and diversity has plagued the world of tech policy. AU has world-class experts in cybersecurity and tech policy and many of them remember being underrepresented in rooms where important decisions were being made.
A new inclusive tech policy group brings together AU鈥檚 experts on technology, security, and science who shape decisions and policies at the national and global level to meet the challenge in those industries and ensure decisions are made with an equitable and inclusive lens.
The group and the Office of Research recently awarded the first 艾可直播 University Outstanding Technology Policy Changemaker Award to Doreen Bogdan-Martin, SIS/MA 鈥91, director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BTD) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and current Biden nominee for ITU secretary-general of the ITU. Bogdan-Martin is leading initiatives that engage youth听to participate听alongside global leaders of digital change, tackles the slow progress in gender equality听in the industry, and champions technology access for the unconnected.
鈥淚 was often, if not always the only woman in the room,鈥 said Fiona Alexander, distinguished policy strategist in residence in SIS, distinguished fellow for the School of Communication and SIS鈥檚 Internet Governance Lab, and the former US Department of Commerce principal official for international internet, cyber, and communications within the executive branch. 鈥淭he more senior I got, the more I realized it was more often that I was the only woman in a lot of rooms at the White House.鈥
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the lack of diversity in the tech sector鈥攁 source of an increasing number of jobs in the US economy鈥攊s central to public policy because it 鈥渋mpacts how we access information, distribute products and services, and addresses critical societal problems.鈥 The EEOC attributes this underrepresentation of women and minorities in high tech to the supply of labor with the appropriate skills and bias that 鈥渋mpedes the full and equal participation of women and minorities in STEM fields.鈥
Compared to private industry, the EEOC study finds that whites (63.5 percent to 68 percent) hold the largest share of tech jobs, then Asian 艾可直播s (5.8 percent to 14 percent), and men (52 percent to 64 percent). African 艾可直播s (14.4 percent to 7.4 percent) hold the smallest share of tech jobs, then Hispanics (13.9 percent to 8 percent), and women (48 percent to 36 percent). Whites have the most senior roles at 83.3 percent compared to 10.6 percent of Asian 艾可直播s, 3.1 percent of Hispanics, and 2 percent of African 艾可直播s. Eighty percent of these executive roles are held by men, and 20 percent by women compared to 71 percent and 29 percent, respectively, in the private sector.
鈥淲e are focused on advancing global tech policy,鈥 Burley said. 鈥淲e firmly believe that to advance global tech policy that is inclusive and supportive of the breadth of the people in society, we need to have a diverse set of voices and people who are shaping and developing that tech policy. We believe the cadre of people that will come through the doors with us will be shaping global tech policy for the betterment of all people in society. And developing an inclusive mindset in the implementation of global tech policy ultimately serves all people in society.鈥
The group works to ensure that those decisions advance inclusive technology policy and grow a more equitable technology infrastructure by supporting underrepresented opinions.听
The breadth of expertise and experience is impressive. The group includes those who鈥檝e testified as experts to Congress, and those of whom the government seeks advice. The group amasses people who worked at the highest levels of government and academia.
It ranges from Cronin鈥檚 work on terrorism to a group of experts, Laura DeNardis, Alexander, and Nanette S. Levinson on internet governance. Sasha O鈥機onnell teaches US cyber policy at AU and led policy engagement with the National Security Council while with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Gary P. Corn, Alex Joel, and Corin Stone served at the Department of Defense, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the National Security Agency and worked on the intersection of technology, security, and law.听
鈥淚 think it's one of the things that makes 艾可直播 University unique,鈥 said SIS professor Audrey Kurth Cronin, an expert on terrorism and the director of the Center for Security, Innovation, and New Technology. 鈥淚've never been in a place where there are as many really smart, talented, experienced individuals with great credentials, who all study some aspect of technology.鈥
Christine H. Farley serves as an expert on information law and intellectual property. Kathryn Walters-Conte directs STEM Partnerships and Outreach and works on encouraging students to follow technology careers. Heng Xu leads the Kogod Cyber Governance Center and works with ethics, privacy, and fairness in algorithms. Derrick Cogburn of SIS and Kogod leads the AU Institute on Disability and Public Policy and works to develop inclusive technology environments.
鈥淥ne of the things that鈥檚 nice here is the diversity of the research when we talk about cybersecurity,鈥 Xu said. 鈥淩esearchers on campus are actually looking into the policy impact, the economic impact, and the implications of this technology and how these technologies really impact people's lives."