Disrupting tech-policy focus of new ANU centre

Johanna Weaver will lead the new ANU Tech Policy Design Centre. Photo: supplied - Strengthening Australia's democracy and positioning our economy to reap the full benefits of digital technology will be two of the key issues tackled by a new centre at The Australian National University (ANU). The Tech Policy Design Centre will address some of the biggest challenges we face with the increasing integration of digital technology in our daily lives. This includes who owns our data and has permission to use it; the increasing influence and power of tech giants; promoting online rights and safety, while protecting against online abuse; and mitigating the impact of misinformation, disinformation and foreign interference on democracy. The new centre will be led by Johanna Weaver, a former lawyer and Australian diplomat who has held senior positions in cyber affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and, most recently, was Australia's chief cyber negotiator at the United Nations. "Digital technologies touch every facet of our lives," Ms Weaver said. "Today's policy and governance structures are struggling to keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology.