Welcome to Session One of the Social Impact Studio!
We live in an age where technological solutions have become central to our societies. From ordering groceries and going through the news in the morning to having a coffee or doing something as personal as making new friends, there are a select few companies—what’s commonly referred to as Big Tech—that have control over our day-to-day lives. The control exerted by Big Tech companies—like Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc.—has landed them in hot water on multiple fronts, whether it’s about inaction on issues like misinformation or extremism, creating anti-competitive practices, or their role in the larger conversations about free speech or democratic ideals.
As our societies become more and more dependent on technology, questions about the forms of this dependency become more pressing. This is where the field of Tech Policy comes in; what has arguably started as a career path only over the last decade has grown to become an integral part of organisations across the spectrum, from Big Tech, to social impact, investments, public policy, law, and many more.
There is a rationale and set of priorities that are accounted for when Big Tech companies identify issues and create policies for the same. The Bastion’s co-founder Sourya Reddy will be in conversation with Devika Malik, who was the Public Policy Manager (South Asia) at Facebook and a Senior Advisor for Policy and Communications to Baijayant “Jay” Panda, currently the National Vice President and Spokesperson of the BJP.
In particular, the two-hour interactive session will break down the larger realm of tech policy, to ask questions like—what exactly does tech policy entail? How do we see it operating and affecting the real world? What is the process for Big Tech companies to design policies? How do companies like Facebook or Twitter create policies within certain regulatory environments? And finally, if you’re just starting out, you can ask Devika about how to build a career in this sector.
When: Monday, May 9th, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Where: Virtual Event (A zoom link will be shared on the day before the session with all participants)
Tickets: ₹650/person
