- Kamala Harris, now a major contender in the 2024 presidential elections, has a long history with the tech industry, rooted in Silicon Valley.
- As a senator, Harris grilled Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg over data privacy issues during the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
- Harris advocates for regulating tech companies to ensure consumer privacy but does not support breaking up big tech firms.
- She expresses concerns about the immediate threats posed by AI, particularly its impact on democracy and misinformation.
New Delhi | Updated: July 22, 2024 15:01 IST
Kamala Harris has emerged as a major contender in the 2024 US presidential elections.
US Vice President Kamala Harris has stepped into the spotlight as a leading candidate in the upcoming presidential elections after incumbent President Joe Biden unexpectedly dropped out of the race on Sunday, July 21, citing health concerns. Harris, who has Biden’s endorsement, is now under intense scrutiny for her past record, campaign promises, and stance on crucial issues, particularly her approach to regulating big tech and artificial intelligence (AI).
Kamala Harris’ Ties with the Tech Industry
Harris has deep roots in the tech industry, with her career tracing back to Silicon Valley. Before entering politics, she served as San Francisco’s first female district attorney and later became California’s first female attorney general. During her tenure as a prosecutor, she launched OpenJustice, a data transparency project that provided public access to law enforcement interactions and statistical data from the California Department of Justice.
In 2016, Harris was elected to the US Senate, where she introduced the Digital Service Act, aimed at funding state and local governments to establish their own tech units. Her proactive stance on tech issues became evident during a 2018 hearing on the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where she grilled Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the company’s data handling practices.
“You’ve been asked several critical questions for which you don’t have answers,” Harris pointedly remarked to Zuckerberg, highlighting the CEO’s evasive responses about user data privacy.
Harris’ Approach to Regulating Big Tech
As a senator, Harris was vocal about the need for more stringent regulations on tech giants like Meta (formerly Facebook). However, she has faced criticism for her perceived leniency towards big tech during her time as California’s attorney general. Despite her calls for regulation, Harris has been hesitant to support breaking up large tech companies.
“I believe that the tech companies have got to be regulated in a way that we can ensure and the American consumer can be certain that their privacy is not being compromised,” she stated in a 2020 interview with The New York Times.
Interestingly, Harris opposes banning the popular social media app TikTok, instead advocating for addressing national security concerns related to its ownership without resorting to a ban.
Harris’ Stance on AI and Emerging Technologies
Harris has been vocal about the threats posed by artificial intelligence, particularly regarding misinformation and its impact on democracy. During an AI safety summit in the UK last year, she emphasized the immediate dangers of AI-enabled misinformation, questioning its existential threat to democratic institutions.
“Let us be clear, there are additional threats that also demand our action. Threats that are currently causing harm, and which to many people also feel existential… when people around the world cannot discern fact from fiction because of a flood of AI-enabled myths and disinformation. I ask, is that not existential for democracy?” Harris remarked.
While her views on cryptocurrency remain less defined, it is expected that she might continue the regulatory approach of the Biden administration.
Support from Silicon Valley
Harris has enjoyed support from prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalists, including John Doerr and Ron Conway. Her 2024 presidential bid has also garnered the endorsement of LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, indicating strong backing from the tech community.
As Kamala Harris campaigns for the presidency, her policies on regulating big tech and AI will remain a focal point, reflecting her complex relationship with the tech industry and her vision for the future of technology governance in the United States.
4o
