Open Dialogue

How Journalists and Academics Hold Tech Accountable

Evan Selinger in conversation with Clive Thompson

Illustration: Julia Moburg/Medium; Source: Getty Images

This is Open Dialogue, an interview series from OneZero about technology and ethics.

I’m Evan Selinger, a professor of philosophy at Rochester Institute of Technology. One of my favorite activities is talking with smart and engaging people who think deeply about responsibility and the paths for creating a better future. In the “Open Dialogue” series, I’ll reach out to academics, journalists, activists, tech workers, and scientists to explore how to better understand controversies, more thoughtfully analyze innovation, and critically determine which leading ideas and behaviors need to change.

I’m excited to talk this week with Clive Thompson about how the media covers responsible uses of technology. Thompson has long reported on tech for outlets like the New York Times and Wired. Throughout his book Coders: The Making of a New Tribe and the Remaking of the World, Thompson displays a heightened ethical sensitivity to how software impacts society.

Thompson and I have had recurring conversations about Big Tech and power and the allure of trying to solve problems by optimizing efficient solutions, even when doing so eliminates socially valuable friction…