Mike Benz is the Executive Director of the Foundation for Freedom Online and former State Department diplomat.

In this thought-provoking episode, we delve into the world of AI censorship and its impact on the internet and society. From the rise of tech giants to the spread of misinformation and disinformation, we explore critical moments that shaped the digital landscape, including the 2016 election. Join us as we analyze the role of AI in politics, elections, and potential conflicts, and raise essential questions about the future of information control in an AI-driven world.

Michael A. Benz, is Executive Director of the Foundation for Freedom Online. Benz founded FFO as a civil society institution building on his experience in the role of championing digital freedom around the world in the public sector. He previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Communications and Information Technology at the US State Department from Fall 2020 through January 2021. Prior to this, Mike served as a White House speechwriter for President Trump and advised on tech matters. Before that, he served as speechwriter to Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Dr. Ben Carson and was a policy adviser on economic development. Before his roles in the public sector, he practiced business law for seven years as an attorney in New York, primarily representing technology companies and financial firms.

Learn more about Mike Benz's work: foundationforfreedomonline.com

Highlights

00:00 Into

01:58 Mike’s Trajectory

04:40 Tech Companies & Censorship

07:30 Difference between Misinformation & Disinformation

09:52 2016 - The Year Everything Changed on the Internet

15:50 Did Trump Win The Election Because of Russian Internet Bots?

27:02 How to Identify Bot Accounts.

31:07 The Threat of Censorship Using Artificial Intelligence.

40:00 What Information Is Fed to The AI Programs?

46:40 Has AI reached perfection?

50:50 Will AI become the new nuclear weapon?

54:10 Will AI Ignite a War Between Elon Musk and The US Government?

1:03:40 The Implications of AI Censorship during the 2024 Presidential Election.

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