Abstract Since blockchain’s creation, it has inspired technological revolution, but regulation of the technology has been a hot topic. Blockchain generates endless amounts of good with its use, yet it also facilitates billions of dollars in illicit activities. This article argues that, to both allow its growth for good and to prevent bad actors from
Abstract Fusion power technology has seen rapid development in the past decade. Although its promise of nearly-infinite, carbon-free electricity still has years to go in development to reach true commercialization, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is already working to incorporate fusion technologies in its modernized regulatory scheme by a 2027 Congressional mandate, and fusion development
Excerpt “I want to speak today about a hard problem: the challenge of getting industrial policy right, something I feel we spent a lot of time brooding about in the White House. I’d like to address that challenge in the context of this conference’s theme—the midlife crisis of the internet—and not just because a traditional
Excerpt As the importance and demand for access to the radio spectrum (“spectrum”) continues to increase, the task of identifying the “highest and best” uses of spectrum looms ever larger in the minds of regulators and stakeholders. This increasing focus is largely due in part to the reality that spectrum allocation decisions are often mired
Conference Outcomes Report: Silicon Flatirons 2022 Spectrum Policy Initiative Conference Read More »
Abstract In August of 2021, Apple announced a series of controversial features for its iPhone iOS 15 operating system designed to combat the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Two of the most notable features included: (1) client-side scanning of photos stored within the iCloud Photos application and (2) content moderation of user communications
Excerpt In this paper, we examine private-sector collection and use of metadata and telemetry information and provide three main contributions: First, we lay out the extent to which “non-content”—the hidden parts of Internet communications (aspects the user does not explicitly enter) and telemetry—are highly revelatory of personal behavior. We show that, privacy policies notwithstanding, users
Excerpt With so many uses competing for a scarce public resource, resolving conflicts is part of the policy process. Today, I hope to convince you that the fact that we have spectrum conflicts—as frustrating as some of them can be—is not itself a sign that something is wrong; it’s how we manage them that matters.
Resolving Interference Conflicts Among “Highest and Best” Uses of the Radio Spectrum Read More »
Michael Bennet is a U.S. Senator from the State of Colorado. Bennet delivered these remarks at the Silicon Flatirons Center’s 2023 Flagship Conference, The Internet’s Midlife Crisis on February 5, 2023. A video of this speech can be found under “Conference Video Playlist” at https://siliconflatirons.org/events/the-internets-midlife-crisis-2023/ [https://perma.cc/73NX-P7R2]. PDF Link: “Social Media and Democracy” Silicon Flatirons
Abstract This paper explores how advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles (AVs) interact with the current civil liability regime. Section I discusses different driving technologies, from least to most advanced (ADAS to AVs), while highlighting the legal issues posed by each system. These driving technologies have shortcomings that can be demonstrated by examples
Abstract This note explores how the implementation of eye-tracking in virtual reality headsets raises novel biometric privacy concerns, specifically as it relates to information revealed from tracking individual eye activity. Virtual reality and eye-tracking technologies are expected to experience a significant uptick in consumer adoption over the coming years. Due to the wide range of
What Are You Looking At? Emerging Privacy Concerns with Eye Tracking in Virtual Reality Read More »
