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Project lead, the Action Coalition on Meaningful Transparency (ACT) Current Project Brainbox is the project lead for the Action Coalition on Meaningful Transparency (ACT), a global multi-stakeholder coalition pushing for effective tech transparency that promotes human rights. The coalition includes tech companies, regulators, civil society organisations, and academics. Learn more Machine readable legal materials Current Project Legal materials like legislation, regulations, and other rules are still published in a way that prioritises paper-based display. Brainbox is working through Syncopate Lab to prepare publicly available machine-structured legislation, to enhance usability and collaboration among stakeholders. Learn more Syncopate Lab Current Project Increasingly, law and legal activities are implemented and performed through digital systems. This presents both risk and opportunity. Brainbox is working with long-time partner, Verb, to conduct public-facing experiments showing how technology itself can be used for regulatory purposes. We are doing this through Syncopate Lab. Learn about Syncopate Deciphering Media Literacy in Aotearoa New Zealand Past project This discussion paper is a primer for policymakers and other community leaders coming to grips with the subject and includes recommendations for a national stocktake and strategy of media literacy initiatives in Aotearoa New Zealand. Learn more Digitising the Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules Past Project In partnership with Verb via Syncopate Lab (formerly known as the Digital Legal Systems Lab), Brainbox worked with Taumata Arowai to implement water quality rules for drinking water into digital reporting systems. Learn more Content regulation and disinformation in New Zealand Past Project New Zealand is among the countries around the world looking to regulate disinformation and other user-generated content. Brainbox is conducting legal research with funding from the Borrin Foundation and InternetNZ to investigate how disinformation can be approached as a policy problem without undermining human rights principles. Learn more Tribal digital identity project with Āhau Past Project In partnership with Verb and the Digital Legal Systems Lab (now known as Syncopate Lab), Brainbox carried out legal research and design with Āhau, a platform developing a decentralised digital identity services for iwi and hapū to register their tribal affiliations. Learn more Appropriate frameworks for social media analysis: Report for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (NZ) Past Project Governments increasingly perceive analysis of social media activity as an operational necessity, and not always in a law enforcement context. But if such analysis is to be performed, it must be done transparently, accountably, and with adequate safeguards to protect human rights, justify public trust, and preserve the public good. This report prepared for New Zealand's Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet lays out the challenges to doing so and makes the case that any systematic social media analysis should be performed by an independent entity that sits outside of government. Learn more Assessing Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet for institutional investors Past Project Institutional investors representing $13 trillion issued an ultimatum after the Christchurch attacks: platform companies must do better. Two years on, how have they performed? What is the trend of global regulation? Access the Report Transparency-based approaches to social media regulation Past Project Brainbox worked with the University of Otago and the Global Partnership on AI's responsible AI working group. GPAI was proposing collaborative study of how social media recommendation systems deal with terrorist content. Learn more Presentation to the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (legal frameworks working group) Past Project Following our work on social media regulation for the investor coalition and for GPAI, we were asked to present our findings by New Zealand's Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, responsible for online safety and the Christchurch Call. Accessing the slides Submission on proposed national internet filter Past Project Brainbox submitted to the Government Administration Committee on a proposed national internet filter, drawing on our research and consulting in related areas. See more Is the New Zealand legal system ready for deepfakes? Past Project In 2018, Brainbox received support from the New Zealand Law Foundation to publish a report called 'Perception Inception', which looked at the legal implications of emerging synthetic media technologies, including "deepfakes". See more Designing legislation from outside government Past Project A global and national movement has led progress toward enforceable rights for disabled people. Brainbox collaborated to design legislation that would enforce Accessibility for all New Zealanders. See more Can and should we transform legislation into computer code Past Project A global movement called "rules as code" claims law should be translated into computer languages. Legislation could be drafted and implemented as code. What are the merits of this concept and what should policy makers know? Learn more Assisting the Human Rights Commission on responding to COVID-19 Past Project COVID-19 policy is moving rapidly, cutting across a range of policy areas and fundamental human rights. We worked with Antistatic to prepare a series of briefings to support the Commission to fulfil its statutory role. Learn more New Zealand law and synthetic pornography Past Project New Zealand law doesn't make it clear whether synthesising sexual imagery of someone without their consent is criminal. We made a submission to the Justice Committee outlining how the law should be fixed. See more Can we build a system for analysing judicial decisions at scale Past Project Brainbox collaborated with Openlaw NZ to build an open source research tool for analysing case law at scale. In the process, we outlined a superior system of judicial publishing that would increase access to decisions. Learn more Dispute resolution systems and access to justice Past Project Brainbox has published work on dispute resolution systems and access to justice: in medico-legal disputes; and in an online safety context. See our submission on the proposed New Zealand voluntary code on online harms and safety. See more Presentation and discussion to government agencies about deepfakes Past Project Following the publication of our report about the legal implications of deepfake technology and synthetic media, we organised and hosted a forum of around 13 government agencies and regulators to share our findings. See more Projects Filter by Status Select Status

Updates May 9 2 min The Brainbox Institute Welcomes Dr Ellen Strickland, Begins Transition to Non-Profit Structure Tom Barraclough, Founder and Director I’m excited to announce two significant developments for the Brainbox Institute today. Since... May 2 2 min Global Digital Compact (GDC) presents critical opportunity for NZ Discussions at the United Nations this week on the Global Digital Compact (GDC) present a critical opportunity for New Zealand to play a... Mar 12 2 min AI for Organisations: Free Webinar and Q&A The Brainbox Institute is pleased to announce a free upcoming seminar and Q&A session focused on artificial intelligence (AI) for... Feb 16 5 min Will a new bill save the New Zealand news media from extinction? Ximena Smith, Communications Lead and Senior Consultant The crisis we are currently seeing in the news media was on full display... Feb 12 1 min The Brainbox Institute unveils new NZ AI Policy Tracker Introducing the NZ AI Policy Tracker – a new resource launched today by the Brainbox Institute. This tool is designed to centralise... Feb 8 1 min Sharing our submission on New Zealand's proposed content regulation framework In late 2023, submissions closed for the Department of Internal Affairs' Safer Online Services and Media Platforms proposal. The proposal... Feb 7 5 min Taylor Swift, Non-Consensual Deepfake Pornography, and What It Means for New Zealand Bella Stuart is a Brainbox Fellow and a recent law graduate from the University of Otago. Last year, she wrote her honours dissertation... Feb 7 2 min Brainbox Fellows Programme We're excited to announce the details of The Brainbox Fellows Programme, a collaborative initiative built on mutual admiration and... Jan 26 4 min What New Zealand commentators are missing about the Christchurch Call Tom Barraclough, Director at the Brainbox Institute – In New Zealand, the time has come for a discussion about our ongoing support for... Dec 18, 2023 2 min Discussion paper and event recording: Deciphering Media Literacy in Aotearoa New Zealand Media literacy is increasingly important in our information-saturated, high-connectivity world. It’s commonly offered as a core solution... Dec 1, 2023 1 min Online platform accountability: EU and NZ perspectives explored in new policy paper In August, the Brainbox Institute collaborated with the European Union in Aotearoa New Zealand and Victoria University of Wellington to... Jul 26, 2023 1 min Our submission to the Independent Electoral Review Last month, the Independent Electoral Review released an interim report outlining what the future of Aotearoa New Zealand’s electoral... Jul 17, 2023 6 min Our perspective on New Zealand’s proposed platform regulation Last month, the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) released a proposal for revising media regulation in New Zealand, called Safer... Jun 28, 2023 2 min Brainbox, GNI and DTSP facilitate workshops for risk assessment under Europe's Digital Services Act Today, Brainbox is proud to share the outputs of collaborative work with the Global Network Initiative (GNI) and the Digital Trust and... Jun 2, 2023 2 min DIA Media Regulation Overhaul Shows Promise, But Deserves Rigorous Public Scrutiny The Brainbox Institute welcomed the release of the “Safer Online Services and Media Platforms” discussion document by The Department of... May 30, 2023 1 min Techweek 2023: Debuting a digital legal systems case study We recently had the opportunity to present a webinar at Techweek 2023 about how we've supported New Zealand's water services regulator,... May 12, 2023 6 min Privacy Week 2023: Contemporary issues in AI and privacy Allyn Robins, Senior Consultant AI is a powerful tool, and like any powerful tool it can be used for both good and ill. This blog post is... Feb 9, 2023 3 min Introducing: the Digital Legal Systems Lab We’re excited to finally share a new project that we’ve been working on for a little while now, and formally announce a new institution -... Jan 17, 2023 1 min Brainbox receives funding for legal research into content regulation and disinformation We’re pleased to announce that the Borrin Foundation and InternetNZ are funding a new Brainbox research project into legal frameworks for... Jan 17, 2023 1 min Brainbox welcomes two new Senior Consultants, farewells co-founder Brainbox has recently had a few personnel changes that we’d like to share. Firstly, two new Senior Consultants have joined us - Allyn...

Search results All (62) Pages (42) Blog Posts (20) 62 items found for "" Pages (42) In the Media | Brainbox Institute 6 Aug 2024 GOVIS GOVIS 2024 Trust to Innovate - Trusting the government with AI Panellists: - Phil Pennington, Reporter at Radio New Zealand (panel chair) - Emma MacDonald, Director of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation at Stats NZ - Allyn Robins, AI Lead at Brainbox - Amber Guette, Chief Integrity Advisor at Hooseland Integrity Commission (pen name). Phil Pennington Read Article 29 Jul 2024 The Spinoff AI is already straining electricity systems – and we’re just at the beginning Allyn Robins, a senior consultant at the Brainbox Institute, a Wellington-based digital policy thinktank points out that it’s almost impossible to know where the electricity for AI comes from. Shanti Mathias Read Article 25 Jul 2024 1 News Why we shouldn't expect cyber outages, but prepare for them Allyn Robins, AI lead of the New Zealand-based technology think tank Brainbox Institute compared the CrowdStrike situation to the 1962 loss of an $80 million NASA rocket due to a single missing hyphen in its code. Ellie Franco Read Article 3 Jul 2024 RNZ Experts cautiously optimistic about expanding AI in education, health sectors AI lead of public interest think tank Brainbox, Allyn Robins, said there were reasons to be enthusiastic, but warned people should not get carried away by what he described as "the peak of a hype-cycle about AI". Soumya Bhamidipati Read Article 19 Jun 2024 Stuff Fear AI will 'wipe out humanity' creates calls in US for 'kill switch' Could artificial Intelligence turn against its human creators and cut off a city’s water supply? Or is AI hacking into nuclear codes and “blowing everybody up” a risk? Newsable Read Article 19 Jun 2024 Newshub Nvidia eclipses Microsoft to become the world's most valuable company Nvidia's stunning surge in market value over the past year has become emblematic of a Wall Street frenzy driven by optimism about emerging AI technology. Finn Hogan Read Article 11 Jun 2024 Newshub Apple Intelligence: iPhone maker unveils massive AI makeover Apple has announced a suite of new artificial intelligence (AI) features and operating system upgrades at the opening presentation of its annual developer conference, WWDC. Daniel Rutledge, Finn Hogan Read Article 24 May 2024 Newshub How Google's sweeping shift to AI-powered search results could reshape internet Google has announced a pivot to AI-generated search results, first showing AI summaries ahead of human-made websites - a seemingly minor change with massive ramifications. "If you use the internet at all? This is going to impact your life," said Allyn Robins, AI lead at the Brainbox Institute. Finn Hogan Read Article 15 May 2024 Office of the Privacy Commissioner NZ What’s missing from the conversation on AI? Speakers: James Ting-Edwards, OPC; Mandy Henk, Tohatoa; Karaitiana Taiuru, Māori Tech Ethicist; Allyn Robins, Brainbox Panel Discussion Read Article 6 May 2024 The Spinoff Here’s what happened when I replaced my personality with the Meta AI chatbot for a day Keeping up with online communication can be exhausting, so Fran Barclay enlisted the help of Meta’s new ‘intelligent assistant’ to respond to all her messages. Could her mates tell the difference? Fran Barclay Read Article 27 Mar 2024 NZ Herald AI revolution: Why the speed of human job losses is causing concern “Spark is one of the first big tech companies to admit to replacing jobs with AI, but it certainly won’t be the last – and many more companies will be doing it quietly,” says Victoria University senior lecturer in artificial intelligence Andrew Lensen. Chris Keall Read Article 3 Mar 2024 Newsroom Parliament considered banning WeChat as well as Tiktok A proposal by Parliament’s cyber-security team to ban WeChat has so far been unsuccessful. But they are still “assessing options” when it comes to apps that pose a risk to MPs’ security. Laura Walters Read Article 22 Feb 2024 Tech Policy Press Building Common Infrastructure for Meaningful Tech Transparency Tom Barraclough and Jason Pielemeier from the Action Coalition on Meaningful Transparency (ACT) say tech transparency is an emerging ecosystem that requires nurturing, support, and the development of long-lasting infrastructure, including the ACT’s new Transparency Initiatives Portal. Tom Barraclough, Jason Pielemeier Read Article 20 Feb 2024 NZ Herald Survey finds most Kiwis worried about malicious AI - Technology Minister Judith Collins responds Research commissioned by InternetNZ revealed 72 per cent of New Zealanders are concerned AI will be used for malicious purposes and without regulation. Chris Keall Read Article 15 Feb 2024 AI Forum Launch of NZ AI Policy Tracker from The Brainbox Institute welcomed by AIFNZ The recent launch of a significant resource, the NZ AI Policy Tracker, by the esteemed Brainbox Institute is welcomed by the AI Forum New Zealand. This tool represents a pioneering effort to consolidate information concerning Aotearoa New Zealand’s disparate AI regulatory framework, providing a unified platform for accessing pertinent materials. ​ Read Article 7 Feb 2024 RNZ The Panel with Ali Jones and Ed McKnight (Part 2) Brainbox AI Lead Allyn Robins discussed facial recognition technology on RNZ's The Panel, shedding light on its workings amid the Foodstuffs trial of the tech in supermarkets. The Panel Read Article 29 Jan 2024 RNZ Could Taylor Swift be the catalyst for AI regulation? US politicians have called for new laws to criminalise the creation of deepfake images and Twitter has pledged to hire around 100 moderators after explicit deepfaked photos of Taylor Swift were viewed millions of times online. Nights technology correspondent and senior consultant at think tank Brainbox Allyn Robins speaks to Emile Donovan about the pitfalls of AI and how this could just be the tip of the iceberg in terms of deepfakes. Emile Donovan Read Article 21 Dec 2023 BusinessDesk How to navigate the era of unreal images For many, it all began with the pope’s puffer jacket. Maybe for you, it was a digitally enhanced Tom Cruise impersonator, or the recent study that showed that some artificial intelligence-generated faces could look more "realistic" than real ones, or the sophisticated deepfake doppelganger of Zuru boss Nick Mowbray that nearly fooled the company’s chief financial officer. Whatever the catalyst, more and more people are coming to the same conclusion: seeing is no longer believing. Allyn Robins Read Article 22 Nov 2023 Asia New Zealand Foundation Opinion: Global issues require global responses In this article, Brainbox Institute director Tom Barraclough reflects on his key takeaways from attending the ASEAN Australia New Zealand (AANZ) Roundtable in Kuala Lumpur. Tom Barraclough Read Article 7 Nov 2023 RNZ It's time to admit 'we're in an AI bubble' Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the technology story of 2023. The chief executive of Google says its impact will be "more profound" than "fire or electricity". McKinsey happily reports that 'Generative' AI alone could "add trillions of dollars of value to the global economy", while a coalition of industry luminaries sign a statement arguing that "mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority". Amazon has just invested billions of dollars into an AI company that it hopes can help it rival Microsoft's investment in OpenAI. AI is passing the bar, tutoring schoolchildren, and producing viral videos. In the face of all of this burgeoning wave of hype and investment, I say - enjoy it while it lasts. Because it won't. Allyn Robins Read Article 11 Oct 2023 BusinessDesk Business of Tech podcast: are algorithms really ruining democracy? With the 2023 general election just days away, we have one last episode around tech and politics, this time looking at the fear that concerted and bad-faith social media campaigns are eroding the very fabric of democracy. We're joined by Ximena Smith from the public interest think tank Brainbox Institute, who digs into whether the outcome of democratic elections is really being swung by social media and all its algorithms. Peter Griffin Read Article 5 Oct 2023 The Spinoff AI is too important to ignore this election Artificial intelligence has been relegated to the too-hard basket this election. Allyn Robins from The Brainbox Institute argues that’s a big mistake. Allyn Robins Read Article 18 Sept 2023 InternetLab In the second interview of the series, Tom Barraclough talks about auditing mechanisms for platforms In an interview with InternetLab, the director of Brainbox spoke about independent audits and their relevance when applying new laws that seek to regulate digital platforms. Francisco Brito Cruz, Iná Jost and Catharina Vilela Read Article 16 Aug 2023 RNZ Growing government reliance on offshore cloud services has security experts worried A China-linked hack of US government cloud email accounts is raising questions about the New Zealand government's growing reliance on American data firms. Phil Pennington Read Article 1 Aug 2023 Stuff Too hot July, WeChat and Musk, promo madness, Loch Ness monster Could X or Twitter turn into WeChat and is that a good thing? Newsable Read Article 4 Jul 2023 RNZ Concerns at Westfield digital ads that film and target shoppers It is a familiar story – you walk into the mall to buy one thing and you walk out with an armful of bags. It can be hard enough to ignore the bright lights and sale signs... Now, it seems AI is giving us a wink and a nudge. Westfield is under fire from advocacy group Consumer for using digital billboards that film largely oblivious shoppers, and serve up advertisements based on age, gender, and even mood. Lisa Owen Read Article 6 Jun 2023 Stuff Tackling harmful content never going to be a simple discussion Internal Affairs’ ambitious plan to regulate large social media and online platforms and to change the way the media, film, advertising, steaming television, video game and broadcasting industries are policed has quickly run into some pretty heavy traffic. Tom Pullar-Strecker Read Article 3 Jun 2023 Stuff Why tech is both fantastic and scary There’s a lot going on in the world of tech, stuff is moving fast… and the thing is, there’s a lot of snake oil out there too. So, we asked Allyn Robins from tech policy think tank Brainbox to identify three burgeoning areas of technology that he’s excited about, and three that he’s a bit scared of… but, naturally, he didn’t follow instructions... Emile Donovan Read Article 3 Jun 2023 RNZ Tom Barraclough: are your social media threads under threat? This week the government released a Safer Online Services and Media Platforms 'discussion document' proposing to regulate online content the same way other media is regulated. Its set off alarm bells for everyone from Stuff head Sinead Boucher to the Free Speech Union, yet has been welcomed by others as a big step towards making the internet a safer place. The proposal doesn't look to expand the categories of illegal content, says Tom Barraclough, and takes its lead from the European Union's recently implemented Digital Services Act. Colin Peacock Read Article 16 May 2023 RNZ Development of AI fakes speeding up Artificial Intelligence is developing at such speed it can now fake just about anyone from the digital breadcrumbs we leave behind us. New Zealand tech players have been discussing how much choice you get in the matter. Phil Pennington reports. Phil Pennington Read Article 3 May 2023 Newshub Why 'Godfather' of artificial intelligence had to 'blow the whistle' on technology Geoffrey Hinton, also known as the "Godfather of AI," decided he had to "blow the whistle" on the technology he helped develop after worrying about how smart it was becoming, he told CNN on Tuesday. Nick Truebridge Read Article 3 May 2023 Stuff Bluesky: Pretender to Twitter's throne, or the future of social media? If there’s one thing we can all probably agree on, it’s that the world doesn’t really need another big social media platform to emerge right now. So, naturally, that’s exactly what we’re getting. Emile Donovan Read Article 29 Mar 2023 Newsroom AI chatbots are merely a cool toy – for now Large Language Models such as GPT-4 can do grunt work, but they lack judgment and originality. Creativity, discernment, research skills, and high-level thinking are only going to get more important, and more valuable. Allyn Robins Read Article 29 Mar 2023 Newshub Govt says it's monitoring artificial intelligence's implications as hundreds of tech leaders call to pause its development Some of the biggest names in technology have pushed the alarm button over the rise of artificial intelligence. They say it could pose a "profound risk to society and humanity". Lauren Hendricksen Read Article 27 Mar 2023 Newshub Should you delete TikTok? One-and-a-half million kiwis have the video-sharing app on their phone. If you don't, there's a very good chance your child does. But with world governments racing to ban Tiktok - should you do the same in your home? The Project Read Article 22 Mar 2023 Newshub New AI chatbot GPT4 takes world by storm, even more powerful than predecessor Brainbox Senior Consultant, Allyn Robins, told Newshub that it's "hard to overstate the impact this will have. It's going to touch every area of the economy." Finn Hogan Read Article 9 Mar 2023 Stuff Newsable today: Can AI replace us? TikTok's wooden spoons trend, and Fun Fact Friday Could AI host a podcast? Spoiler alert – no. Emile Donovan Read Article 1 Mar 2023 Newshub Why the White House wants TikTok deleted from federal devices within next 30 days The White House on Monday gave government agencies 30 days to ensure they do not have Chinese-owned app TikTok on federal devices and systems. Ashleigh Yates Read Article 17 Feb 2023 Newsroom Radio silence on Govt plan to regulate Big Tech Government plans to subject tech companies like Facebook and Google to the same content regulations as news media and advertisers may have been put on hold, Marc Daalder reports Marc Daalder Read Article 25 Nov 2022 Newsroom Govt weighs up police access to encrypted data A cross-agency group will examine the relative risks and benefits of end-to-end encryption and advise ministers on whether to regulate the technology. Marc Daalder Read Article 22 Nov 2022 Careers with STEM Meet the ethical entrepreneurs mixing law and tech Meet two Uni of Ontago law grads who launched a new business to help government and industry navigate legal, ethical and political questions around new tech Gemma Chilton Read Article 29 Oct 2022 Newshub Experts concerned over the rise of deepfake technology Experts are calling for more protection for New Zealanders from the harms of deepfakes and other synthetic media. Deepfakes, artificially generated mimicries of real people, have been prominent online since 2018. Finn Hogan Read Article 1 Sept 2022 Lawfare Platforms Are Testing Self-Regulation in New Zealand. It Needs a Lot of Work. On July 25, New Zealand adopted a new industry-led mechanism designed to provide guidance for social media platforms to enhance safety and mitigate online harm: the Aotearoa New Zealand Code of Practice for Online Safety and Harms. Curtis Barnes, Tom Barraclough, Allyn Robins Read Article 19 Aug 2022 Critic AI Can See You Naked Christchurch has produced many good things over the years. It has also produced Michael James Pratt, a fugitive sex trafficker on the FBI’s most wanted list with a $70,000 bounty on his head. Fox Meyer Read Article 18 Aug 2022 Newsroom Govt harbours concerns over Netsafe’s online code The Government privately shares concerns that a new code of practice for online safety is actually an effort by tech companies to deflect regulation, Marc Daalder reports Marc Daalder Read Article 29 Jul 2022 Stuff Law loopholes around 'deepfakes' a threat to justice, police and law experts warn Ambiguous gaps remain in legislation against the use of harmful deepfake technology, as police, legal and tech experts predict widespread implications for the justice system. Sophie Cornish Read Article 24 Jul 2022 Stuff Social media giants agree to 'first of its kind' code of conduct in Aotearoa Social media giants including TikTok and Meta will soon become more accountable for the content on their platforms in New Zealand, voluntarily signing up to a code of conduct led by Netsafe, which targets issues such as hate speech and misinformation. Sophie Cornish Read Article 14 Mar 2022 Newsroom Media law review raises thorny freedom of expression issues New Zealand has been trying to update its media laws for the modern digital environment for over a decade. Experts warn there are no simple solutions, so has the Government now bitten off more than it can chew? Ximena Smith Read Article 30 Jan 2022 Newshub Artists, music listeners ditching Spotify over vaccine disinformation Canadian folk singer Joni Mitchell has joined her compatriot Neil Young in pulling her catalogue from streaming service Spotify. Giles Dexter Read Article 26 Jan 2022 RNZ ACC goes back to drawing board over failed $1.4m navigation service A new $1.4 million service designed to help people understand ACC's systems and disputes process has failed to achieve many of its objectives, forcing the agency back to the drawing board. Anusha Bradley Read Article 20 Jan 2022 Capital Monitor Engaging with Facebook and Twitter is “like talking to kids” When investors try to flag concerns to Facebook and Twitter about social media-related issues, the two tech giants often respond with stonewalling and obstruction. Google appears little better. Here we set out why. Paul Hodgson Read Article 16 Dec 2021 NZ Herald Do we need to panic over the 'Jacinda Ardern' deepfake clip? A viral video that manipulated footage of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to make it look like she was smoking crack has reanimated debate over "deepfake" technology. Chris Keall Read Article 17 Nov 2021 Futurefive The deepfake dilemma: How it affects privacy, security & law in Aotearoa On a YouTube channel called Genuine Fake, a video shows Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as the character of Maleficent. Her husband Clarke Gayford then appears shortly afterwards. Even National Party leader Judith Collins looks a bit like a forest fairy princess. Sara Barker Read Article 19 Oct 2021 Stuff NZ Super Fund ends campaign to reform Facebook, Alphabet and Twitter in the wake of the Christchurch terror attack The NZ Super Fund is wrapping up its campaign to get Facebook​, Alphabet (Google)​ and Twitter ​to prevent violent and objectionable content being broadcast on their social media platforms. Rob Stock Read Article 30 Sept 2021 Stuff Calls for 'transformative' disability law change to make Aotearoa accessible A WorkSafe-type body should be set up so disabled people can identify and remove access barriers, a new report says. Josephine Franks Read Article 29 Sept 2021 Scoop Access Alliance Calls For Life Changing Accessibility Legislation To Remove And Prevent Barriers Access Alliance, New Zealand’s largest alliance of Disabled Persons Organisations, disability advocacy groups, and service providers, calls on the government to implement the legal framework outlined in the report released today, Access Alliance Read Article 9 Sept 2021 RNZ Covid-19 pandemic driving a 'downgrading of social discourse', researcher says The Delta outbreak has unleashed a greater willingness to use derogatory and offensive slurs as part of public discourse, according to a University of Auckland research fellow. ​ Read Article 29 Jun 2021 Scoop Half Of NZ Has At Least One Misinformed Belief – Expert Reaction A survey from the Classification Office offers a glimpse at how pervasive misinformation is in New Zealand, and how it’s affecting our beliefs. Science Media Centre Read Article 7 May 2021 Stuff Letter from the editor: Trying to instil trust in the news There’s an old trope about journalists jostling with used car salesmen and real estate agents for last place in most-trusted rankings. In some cases – when tabloid hacks rifle through rubbish bins or voicemail baskets, or paparazzi hound people in the streets – this has been deserved. Anna Fifield Read Article 14 Dec 2020 RNZ Bringing the justice system into the 21st century A legal researcher at the intersection of law, policy and technology has developed a tool to access legal information digitally. Nine To Noon Read Article 23 Sept 2020 Newsroom NZ ‘underprepared’ for election interference With the US election fast-approaching there’s a lot of chatter about foreign operations aimed at influencing the elections. Laura Walters asks experts why we’re not having the same discussion in New Zealand Laura Walters Read Article 18 Aug 2020 Stuff Those who shared Covid-19 rumour could be liable to the Harmful Digital Communications Act, Netsafe says The man believed to be behind the recent Covid-19 outbreak rumour said he’s willing to accept the consequences of his actions, describing them as “the worst things I’ve ever done”. Katie Kenny Read Article 17 Aug 2020 Newsroom ‘Infodemic’ evolves as Covid-19 returns to NZ Analysis: The return of Covid-19 to New Zealand has been accompanied by conspiracy theories about the virus and the Government's response. How big a problem is this and what can - or should - we do about it? Marc Daalder reports Marc Daalder Read Article 17 Aug 2020 NZ Herald Coronavirus Covid-19: Why 'that' Facebook post spread like wildfire "Seen this?" Those were probably two words that countless Kiwis read over the weekend, when a friend or family member forwarded them a bogus, hyper-viral and now notorious Facebook post. Jamie Morton Read Article 27 Jul 2020 Newsroom Deep fakes and synthetic media Deep fakes, synthetic media - the latest and most advanced techniques to spread disinformation and deception. Emile Donovan Read Article 26 Jul 2020 RNZ The deep fake threat If you watch television, you may have come across an advertisement for Spark which shows Lord Ernest Rutherford sitting in an armchair, pontificating over the remarkable rate of human technological progress. The Detail Read Article 23 Jul 2020 Stuff The Government wants to filter the internet. Is that a good idea? The Government plans to filter out the worst excesses of the internet. Experts think it will have almost no impact, other than introducing a series of grave risks. National Correspondent Katie Kenny reports. Katie Kenny Read Article 22 Jun 2020 Newsroom Government still pursuing CovidCard After a trial in Nelson Hospital in May, the CovidCard proposal is still in the running as a government-sponsored contact tracing tool, Marc Daalder reports Marc Daalder Read Article 22 Jun 2020 Newsroom Ardern: ‘Enthusiasm’ about exploring CovidCard Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that there was 'enthusiasm' for the Government to continue looking into the CovidCard proposal, Marc Daalder reports Marc Daalder Read Article 29 Apr 2020 The Spinoff Covid-19: The tough questions on a digital contact-tracing app It’s a crucial factor in keeping the spread of the virus under control, but there’s a whole lot more the government needs to consider than what is technically possible, writes Andrew Chen. Andrew Chen Read Article 17 Apr 2020 Newsroom NZ considering $100m contact tracing ‘CovidCard’ The Government is considering handing out a Bluetooth-enabled CovidCard to every New Zealander to aid with contact tracing efforts, Marc Daalder reports Marc Daalder Read Article 5 Apr 2020 RNZ Covid-19: Major IT groups not consulted over race to speed up contact tracing The country's three major IT groups have been left out of the loop by the government in the race to speed up critical contact tracing of virus carriers. Phil Pennington Read Article 3 Apr 2020 Newsroom Can tech solve the next big Covid-19 challenge? Contact tracing is a crucial part of the Covid-19 puzzle and technology might prove essential to scaling up New Zealand's tracing capacity, Marc Daalder reports Marc Daalder Read Article 1 Apr 2020 NZ Herald Coronavirus Covid-19: Can smartphones help NZ stop spread? One of the best weapons we have to throw against Covid-19 may be found in our pockets. Jamie Morton Read Article 9 Dec 2019 Newshub Snapchat unleashes deepfakes feature called 'Cameo' Deepfakes - putting a person's face on another person's body in a video - are about to go mainstream. So far best-known for internet pranksters putting celebrity heads on pornstars' bodies, the controversial technology is currently being tested by messaging app Snapchat. Dan Satherley Read Article 29 Nov 2019 The Guardian Saving the Whanganui: can personhood rescue a river? Adam Daniel wades waist deep through the glassy water. Pumice stones spiral in the shallow eddy, while the shrill whistles of a male whio (blue duck) echo upstream through the green canyon walls. Jeremy Lurgio Read Article 4 Sept 2019 Stuff Can Kiwis tell fact from fake news in the leadup to the 2020 elections? Young people are criticised for not engaging in politics but experts say adults today are less likely to be able to tell fact from fake news. Katie Kenny and Tommy Livingston report on the risks of a post-truth political landscape. Katie Kenny, Tommy Livingston Read Article 2 Jul 2019 NZ Herald NZ expert sounds warning after DeepNude app goes viral The latest in "deep fake" technology is DeepNude - an app that uses AI to transform an image of a clothed woman into a realistic rendering of what she might look like naked. Chris Keall Read Article 11 Jun 2019 Stuff Has an elf or alien been caught on film or is this just another hoax? Proof of alien life, a prank or a digitally altered hoax? Brittney Deguara takes a look at a viral clip and the dangers of deep fakes. An alien? An elf?! What is that thing in the driveway? Brittney Deguara Read Article 8 Jun 2019 Otago Daily Times Talking tech, cheese rolls and scones Computers and government have been a major issue this past fortnight with the fallout from National accessing Budget data still proving dangerously radioactive to a range of politicians and civil servants. Mike Houlahan Read Article 21 May 2019 Newsroom Don’t believe everything you see, or hear Synthetic media and "deepfakes" pose a new threat to democratic processes, if used in the wrong way, write Brainbox Institute co-directors Curtis Barnes and Tom Barraclough. Curtis Barnes, Tom Barraclough Read Article 21 May 2019 Stuff Deepfakes and synthetic media: The new age of disinformation is growing Amidst the threats identified in a new report of the digital threats to democracy are two challenges with sinister sounding names - deepfakes and synthetic media. But what are these emerging risks and why should we care about them? Michael Daly Read Article 20 May 2019 Newshub 'Deepfake' videos could be next social media minefield - researchers There's growing concern about the damage sophisticated fake videos can have on the public. A new Law Foundation report says deepfake media could prove troublesome to tech companies and the Government, following the Christchurch Call. Katie Fitzgerald Read Article 20 May 2019 NZ Herald NZ study highlights the risk of 'deep fakes' on social media - and why our lawmakers should leave it alone A new study funded by the Law Foundation highlights the risk of "deep fakes" on social media - which co-author Tom Barraclough says "make it look or sound like something happened when it didn't". Chris Keall Read Article 20 May 2019 RNZ Deepfakes, synthetic media a threat to democracy Thanks to Donald Trump the phrase "fake news" is, for better or worse, forever embedded in our collective consciousness. But fake news - false information which is spread deliberately to deceive people - is just the tip of the iceberg threatening our democracy. Morning Report Read Article 9 Nov 2018 Stuff Could the Acosta video be the start of a worrying trend? OPINION: At the first White House press conference following the midterm election, there was a verbal altercation between the President Donald Trump and CNN reporter Jim Acosta. Curtis Barnes, Tom Barraclough Read Article 16 Nov 2015 Otago Daily Times Researchers of access to ACC given $150,000 A $150,000 grant from the New Zealand Law Foundation will help Dunedin researchers find practical ways for injured New Zealanders to have their human rights upheld in seeking justice over ACC cases. John Gibb Read Article 28 Aug 2015 Otago Daily Times Successful but hearing 'stressful' Dunedin ACC claimant Dr Denise Powell found the experience of representing herself at an ACC review hearing ''stressful'' but was successful in her claim. John Gibb Read Article 23 Jul 2015 Community.Scoop Research finds overwhelming barriers to access to justice Research carried out by a team of researchers in partnership with Acclaim Otago (Inc) has found serious barriers to access to justice for people challenging ACC decisions through the court system. Acclaim Otago Read Article 27 Feb 2015 Otago Daily Times Research grant thrills campaigner ACC campaigner Denise Powell is ''over the moon'' about a New Zealand Law Foundation research grant of up to $38,000 to ACC claimant support organisation Acclaim Otago. John Gibb Read Article 19 Sept 2014 Scoop UN Experience Beneficial Acclaim Otago representatives have just completed their participation at the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability examination of the New Zealand government in Geneva, Switzerland. Acclaim Otago Read Article In the Media News | Brainbox Institute Updates May 9 2 min The Brainbox Institute Welcomes Dr Ellen Strickland, Begins Transition to Non-Profit Structure Tom Barraclough, Founder and Director I’m excited to announce two significant developments for the Brainbox Institute today. Since... May 2 2 min Global Digital Compact (GDC) presents critical opportunity for NZ Discussions at the United Nations this week on the Global Digital Compact (GDC) present a critical opportunity for New Zealand to play a... Mar 12 2 min AI for Organisations: Free Webinar and Q&A The Brainbox Institute is pleased to announce a free upcoming seminar and Q&A session focused on artificial intelligence (AI) for... Feb 16 5 min Will a new bill save the New Zealand news media from extinction? Ximena Smith, Communications Lead and Senior Consultant The crisis we are currently seeing in the news media was on full display... Feb 12 1 min The Brainbox Institute unveils new NZ AI Policy Tracker Introducing the NZ AI Policy Tracker – a new resource launched today by the Brainbox Institute. This tool is designed to centralise... Feb 8 1 min Sharing our submission on New Zealand's proposed content regulation framework In late 2023, submissions closed for the Department of Internal Affairs' Safer Online Services and Media Platforms proposal. The proposal... Feb 7 5 min Taylor Swift, Non-Consensual Deepfake Pornography, and What It Means for New Zealand Bella Stuart is a Brainbox Fellow and a recent law graduate from the University of Otago. Last year, she wrote her honours dissertation... Feb 7 2 min Brainbox Fellows Programme We're excited to announce the details of The Brainbox Fellows Programme, a collaborative initiative built on mutual admiration and... Jan 26 4 min What New Zealand commentators are missing about the Christchurch Call Tom Barraclough, Director at the Brainbox Institute – In New Zealand, the time has come for a discussion about our ongoing support for... Dec 18, 2023 2 min Discussion paper and event recording: Deciphering Media Literacy in Aotearoa New Zealand Media literacy is increasingly important in our information-saturated, high-connectivity world. It’s commonly offered as a core solution... Dec 1, 2023 1 min Online platform accountability: EU and NZ perspectives explored in new policy paper In August, the Brainbox Institute collaborated with the European Union in Aotearoa New Zealand and Victoria University of Wellington to... Jul 26, 2023 1 min Our submission to the Independent Electoral Review Last month, the Independent Electoral Review released an interim report outlining what the future of Aotearoa New Zealand’s electoral... Jul 17, 2023 6 min Our perspective on New Zealand’s proposed platform regulation Last month, the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) released a proposal for revising media regulation in New Zealand, called Safer... Jun 28, 2023 2 min Brainbox, GNI and DTSP facilitate workshops for risk assessment under Europe's Digital Services Act Today, Brainbox is proud to share the outputs of collaborative work with the Global Network Initiative (GNI) and the Digital Trust and... Jun 2, 2023 2 min DIA Media Regulation Overhaul Shows Promise, But Deserves Rigorous Public Scrutiny The Brainbox Institute welcomed the release of the “Safer Online Services and Media Platforms” discussion document by The Department of... May 30, 2023 1 min Techweek 2023: Debuting a digital legal systems case study We recently had the opportunity to present a webinar at Techweek 2023 about how we've supported New Zealand's water services regulator,... May 12, 2023 6 min Privacy Week 2023: Contemporary issues in AI and privacy Allyn Robins, Senior Consultant AI is a powerful tool, and like any powerful tool it can be used for both good and ill. This blog post is... Feb 9, 2023 3 min Introducing: the Digital Legal Systems Lab We’re excited to finally share a new project that we’ve been working on for a little while now, and formally announce a new institution -... Jan 17, 2023 1 min Brainbox receives funding for legal research into content regulation and disinformation We’re pleased to announce that the Borrin Foundation and InternetNZ are funding a new Brainbox research project into legal frameworks for... Jan 17, 2023 1 min Brainbox welcomes two new Senior Consultants, farewells co-founder Brainbox has recently had a few personnel changes that we’d like to share. Firstly, two new Senior Consultants have joined us - Allyn... Law Policy Technology | Brainbox Institute Law. Tech. Policy. We conn ect the dots. You and your team might be experts in one of these spaces. But fluency in all three is rare, and time is scarce. That’s where we come in. Here’s how we can help Advice on the stakeholder landscape and navigating multi-stakeholder processes. 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Let’s talk. > Contact us Who we’ve worked with Home: Clients View All Blog Posts (20) Will a new bill save the New Zealand news media from extinction? Ximena Smith, Communications Lead and Senior Consultant The crisis we are currently seeing in the news media was on full display yesterday morning during the oral submissions to a parliamentary select committee for the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill. “It is a real fight for survival for us”, TVNZ’s executive editor Phil O’Sullivan said. Sinead Boucher, owner of Stuff, warned that the news media’s ability to help keep New Zealand “free of corruption and our societies healthy” is currently in “great peril”. Some of the figures raised by submitters helped expose the dire reality of this crisis: NZ Geographic publisher James Frankham said magazine advertising revenue had fallen from $210m to $117m since 2012, and chair of the Radio Broadcasters Association Jana Rangooni predicted that, unless some intervention happens, all commercial media would go extinct in the next decade. While a range of perspectives were aired yesterday on what should be done to rectify the situation, there was little disagreement about why the news media is in this position: in essence, the digital age has disrupted the business models of news media, and now, they are struggling to compete with global tech platforms like Google and Meta for digital ad revenue. It’s this competitive relationship between news media and big tech that the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill targets. Simply put, the bill would compel digital platforms to negotiate commercial deals with news companies, in order to try to balance the scales financially and to ensure the future viability of the New Zealand news media. “People should have to pay for using content” A key premise of the bill is the argument that tech giants use news media content from kiwi outlets for their own commercial benefit without paying for it. For example, a number of news company submitters complained about the impact of ‘zero click searches’, where search engines like Google scrape and summarise information from webpages – like news sites – to answer users’ search queries without having to click away from the search engine. Another example that came up in submissions was the use of news content to train generative AI models, with no compensation paid to news outlets. Michael Boggs, Chief Executive of NZME, likened this to radio stations playing music on air: if they want to play a song, then they have to pay a licence fee. “You have to pay royalties, it’s a no-brainer. People should have to pay for using content.” Stuff’s Sinead Boucher put it more bluntly, describing generative AI products as “no more than modern day succubi”. However, this logic can go both ways. Digital platforms like Facebook and Google unquestionably provide news outlets with free referral traffic. While some media executives downplayed the importance of this traffic during their submission, the fact of the matter is that news outlets do have the option to opt-out from having snippets of their content displayed on digital platforms – and yet, they have chosen not to do so. The reason for this comes down to another point raised by several submitters, which is the huge amount of control that big global tech platforms have over New Zealand’s digital infrastructure. At the end of the day, the news media needs big tech more than the other way around. New Zealand media isn’t alone in this power imbalance with digital platforms – for example, we’re currently seeing the same dynamic play out in Canada, where a similar bill has recently gone into effect. Rather than coming to the bargaining table, Meta has dug its heels in and blocked news links from appearing on its platform for Canadian users, insisting that it doesn’t need this content in order to be commercially successful. The Copyright Act Former District Court Judge David Harvey suggested in his submission that news outlets already do have a tool at their disposal for dealing with tech giants using New Zealand news content: the Copyright Act. However, some newsroom executives dismissed this as an option. In her submission as President of the News Publishers’ Association, Sinead Boucher said the Copyright Act was not a viable option for New Zealand newsrooms dealing with this issue, as it “plunged people into endless litigation with the biggest media companies in the world." Another reason for newsrooms’ hesitancy to pursue this in the courts is probably because it’s unclear whether a case would actually succeed. For example, newsrooms will be closely watching the current copyright lawsuits against OpenAI in the US. Just this week, a court partially dismissed two lawsuits brought by authors against the artificial intelligence company for copyright infringement, with the judge saying that the authors had not sufficiently demonstrated that there was “substantial similarity” between ChatGPT’s output and their copyrighted works. While commentators have noted the New York Times’ case against OpenAI appears to be strong, as they have clear evidence of ChatGPT outputs regurgitating some of their stories verbatim, a judgement could still conceivably go either way. It’s understandable, then, that New Zealand newsrooms are backing the Fair News Digital Bargaining Bill instead of potentially expensive litigation, as the Bill could provide them with a more certain method of revenue sharing with digital platforms. However, the problem is that this bill wouldn’t do anything to address the aforementioned reliance that New Zealand media has on digital platforms – in fact, it would make them even more reliant on these platforms, as it would firmly establish the platforms as a critical source of funding. Another way? Ultimately, the weakness of this bill is that it tries to bring a copyright-based argument to a markets and competition problem. Instead, a stronger approach would treat these issues as separate, and would address the root cause of the underlying power imbalance without making media dependent on the platforms for income. For example, one alternative could be a bill that breaks-up the dominance digital platforms have in the online advertising market. This strategy is already being tested in other jurisdictions; for example, The Competition and Transparency in Digital Advertising Act in the US could be a useful blueprint for New Zealand lawmakers keen to bring greater transparency and competition to New Zealand’s digital advertising market, and to level the playing field between the global tech titans and local media players. Of course, breaking up concentration in digital advertising would not be a silver bullet to the woes of the New Zealand media industry. Other options also need to be considered – for example, despite some of the negative optics of the Public Interest Journalism Fund, the government shouldn’t completely dismiss ways in which public funds can be distributed at-arms-length towards public-interest media, in ways that build public trust. Right now, it’s indisputable that the media is at a crisis point, and there will be dire consequences for democracy if local media outlets were to collapse. But as policymakers now deliberate upon solutions, their focus must pivot towards fostering a resilient, competitive, and autonomous news ecosystem – one that steers clear of overreliance on major tech platforms for sustenance. The Brainbox Institute Welcomes Dr Ellen Strickland, Begins Transition to Non-Profit Structure Tom Barraclough, Founder and Director I’m excited to announce two significant developments for the Brainbox Institute today. Since Brainbox was founded in 2018, the design, development, deployment and governance of the internet, artificial intelligence and other technologies has only become more important. Based on our work during that time, and the positive response we’ve received, we strongly believe there’s an important place for an organisation like Brainbox in the domestic and international landscape. To grow in the way we want to, and to deal with the topics we want to address, we’re going to need a different approach. On that basis, Brainbox is beginning a gradual transition toward a non-profit structure over the next 12 months. This shift will formalise our existing values and commitment to the public interest while opening up new opportunities to produce public goods that explore the impacts of technology on individuals, communities and society: communications, consulting, engagement, research, analysis, and education. Values-driven consulting remains a core component of what we offer. We are committed to ensuring our work is grounded in practical realities, and advising and empowering businesses, government agencies and other clients on technology regulation and governance, while also expanding our capacity for public-interest research and initiatives as a think tank. I’m also delighted to share that Dr Ellen Strickland will be joining the organisation as a Director, working alongside me to help lead this transition. Ellen is an expert in internet governance and technology related policy, and she brings fantastic experience in academic research, working with government, and leadership roles within technical and civil society organisations. She has a strong vision for what the Brainbox Institute could become with a firm eye toward both domestic and international landscapes, and I’m very excited to have her join us. None of this would be possible without the vision and commitment of the existing team, who have been part of shaping this decision and are enthusiastic about Brainbox’s evolution. From AI governance to digital trade to online information ecosystems, the internet and digital technologies are shaping every dimension of society. I’m confident that the Brainbox Institute can become an anchor point for engaging proactively on these issues, bringing an international perspective to New Zealand, and a New Zealand-based perspective to the world. We believe in the potential of technology for empowerment - for individuals, communities, industries, and New Zealand as a whole. We want to be a good partner to existing actors, and to empower other organisations to take a more active role. We want to create a space for dialogue and discussion across stakeholder groups, as well as an avenue for nurturing coming generations of technology leaders. I encourage you to reach out to me, Ellen, or the Brainbox team with any questions, suggestions, or collaborations you’d like to explore. You can learn more about Ellen here, and contact us via the website here. We’re excited for what this next chapter will bring. Global Digital Compact (GDC) presents critical opportunity for NZ Discussions at the United Nations this week on the Global Digital Compact (GDC) present a critical opportunity for New Zealand to play a key role internationally in shaping digital governance. The Global Digital Compact is incredibly important to both Aotearoa and the future of the internet as a whole. New Zealand is working toward growing its technology sector, and our geographic isolation means the Internet is vital. Digital technologies also dominate national discussions, and we think more New Zealanders should be empowered to participate in those discussions. We know that New Zealand can also play an important role in the international community. We’re experienced at navigating difficult geopolitical landscapes, and have direct experience of both the immense benefits and terrible costs of the Internet and digital technologies. At present, the GDC will have two long-lasting impacts The GDC will have far-reaching implications for the unified global Internet, with substantial economic, political, and social repercussions for New Zealand and New Zealanders. First, it will send a strong signal to national governments about what kinds of actions are legitimate to respond to digital technologies and their impacts. Key topics include things like child safety, disinformation, and artificial intelligence. This will have significant implications for issues like freedom of expression, privacy, and encryption globally. Second, it will shape how governance of the Internet, AI and digital technologies evolves in the coming decades, which is currently governed collaboratively by states, companies, non-government entities (civil society), international organisations, and the technical community. A good start, but needs work While the current draft is heading in the right direction, there is more work to be done. Crucially, text on topics like Artificial Intelligence, multistakeholder governance, and nebulous concepts like “disinformation” and “safety” all need greater clarification and refinement. Artificial Intelligence The GDC treats AI like a special category, rather than like any other digital technology. While the impacts and capabilities of AI may be daunting, the GDC shouldn’t treat it like science fiction. Multistakeholder Governance While expressing support for the existing Internet Governance model, the GDC must resolve some lingering ambiguities that point in the opposite direction. In addition, meaningful participation by civil society in governance processes is unrealistic without adequate access to resourcing. “Disinformation”, “safety”, etc Substantial limitations on human rights can be imposed in the name of safety, and talk of “eliminating” disinformation risks profound limitations on freedom of expression. There needs to be some way of narrowing down these concepts and limiting what can be done in response. For more information For more detail, you can access our position statement below. Interactive digital tool We've also incorporated our comments into an interactive digital version of the GDC using software from Syncopate Lab. View All

27 Mar 2024 NZ Herald AI revolution: Why the speed of human job losses is causing concern “Spark is one of the first big tech companies to admit to replacing jobs with AI, but it certainly won’t be the last – and many more companies will be doing it quietly,” says Victoria University senior lecturer in artificial intelligence Andrew Lensen. Chris Keall Read Article 3 Mar 2024 Newsroom Parliament considered banning WeChat as well as Tiktok A proposal by Parliament’s cyber-security team to ban WeChat has so far been unsuccessful. But they are still “assessing options” when it comes to apps that pose a risk to MPs’ security. Laura Walters Read Article 22 Feb 2024 Tech Policy Press Building Common Infrastructure for Meaningful Tech Transparency Tom Barraclough and Jason Pielemeier from the Action Coalition on Meaningful Transparency (ACT) say tech transparency is an emerging ecosystem that requires nurturing, support, and the development of long-lasting infrastructure, including the ACT’s new Transparency Initiatives Portal. Tom Barraclough, Jason Pielemeier Read Article 20 Feb 2024 NZ Herald Survey finds most Kiwis worried about malicious AI - Technology Minister Judith Collins responds Research commissioned by InternetNZ revealed 72 per cent of New Zealanders are concerned AI will be used for malicious purposes and without regulation. Chris Keall Read Article 15 Feb 2024 AI Forum Launch of NZ AI Policy Tracker from The Brainbox Institute welcomed by AIFNZ The recent launch of a significant resource, the NZ AI Policy Tracker, by the esteemed Brainbox Institute is welcomed by the AI Forum New Zealand. This tool represents a pioneering effort to consolidate information concerning Aotearoa New Zealand’s disparate AI regulatory framework, providing a unified platform for accessing pertinent materials. ​ Read Article 7 Feb 2024 RNZ The Panel with Ali Jones and Ed McKnight (Part 2) Brainbox AI Lead Allyn Robins discussed facial recognition technology on RNZ's The Panel, shedding light on its workings amid the Foodstuffs trial of the tech in supermarkets. The Panel Read Article 29 Jan 2024 RNZ Could Taylor Swift be the catalyst for AI regulation? US politicians have called for new laws to criminalise the creation of deepfake images and Twitter has pledged to hire around 100 moderators after explicit deepfaked photos of Taylor Swift were viewed millions of times online. Nights technology correspondent and senior consultant at think tank Brainbox Allyn Robins speaks to Emile Donovan about the pitfalls of AI and how this could just be the tip of the iceberg in terms of deepfakes. Emile Donovan Read Article 21 Dec 2023 BusinessDesk How to navigate the era of unreal images For many, it all began with the pope’s puffer jacket. Maybe for you, it was a digitally enhanced Tom Cruise impersonator, or the recent study that showed that some artificial intelligence-generated faces could look more "realistic" than real ones, or the sophisticated deepfake doppelganger of Zuru boss Nick Mowbray that nearly fooled the company’s chief financial officer. Whatever the catalyst, more and more people are coming to the same conclusion: seeing is no longer believing. Allyn Robins Read Article 22 Nov 2023 Asia New Zealand Foundation Opinion: Global issues require global responses In this article, Brainbox Institute director Tom Barraclough reflects on his key takeaways from attending the ASEAN Australia New Zealand (AANZ) Roundtable in Kuala Lumpur. Tom Barraclough Read Article 7 Nov 2023 RNZ It's time to admit 'we're in an AI bubble' Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the technology story of 2023. The chief executive of Google says its impact will be "more profound" than "fire or electricity". McKinsey happily reports that 'Generative' AI alone could "add trillions of dollars of value to the global economy", while a coalition of industry luminaries sign a statement arguing that "mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority". Amazon has just invested billions of dollars into an AI company that it hopes can help it rival Microsoft's investment in OpenAI. AI is passing the bar, tutoring schoolchildren, and producing viral videos. In the face of all of this burgeoning wave of hype and investment, I say - enjoy it while it lasts. Because it won't. Allyn Robins Read Article 11 Oct 2023 BusinessDesk Business of Tech podcast: are algorithms really ruining democracy? With the 2023 general election just days away, we have one last episode around tech and politics, this time looking at the fear that concerted and bad-faith social media campaigns are eroding the very fabric of democracy. We're joined by Ximena Smith from the public interest think tank Brainbox Institute, who digs into whether the outcome of democratic elections is really being swung by social media and all its algorithms. Peter Griffin Read Article 5 Oct 2023 The Spinoff AI is too important to ignore this election Artificial intelligence has been relegated to the too-hard basket this election. Allyn Robins from The Brainbox Institute argues that’s a big mistake. Allyn Robins Read Article 18 Sept 2023 InternetLab In the second interview of the series, Tom Barraclough talks about auditing mechanisms for platforms In an interview with InternetLab, the director of Brainbox spoke about independent audits and their relevance when applying new laws that seek to regulate digital platforms. Francisco Brito Cruz, Iná Jost and Catharina Vilela Read Article 16 Aug 2023 RNZ Growing government reliance on offshore cloud services has security experts worried A China-linked hack of US government cloud email accounts is raising questions about the New Zealand government's growing reliance on American data firms. Phil Pennington Read Article 1 Aug 2023 Stuff Too hot July, WeChat and Musk, promo madness, Loch Ness monster Could X or Twitter turn into WeChat and is that a good thing? Newsable Read Article 4 Jul 2023 RNZ Concerns at Westfield digital ads that film and target shoppers It is a familiar story – you walk into the mall to buy one thing and you walk out with an armful of bags. It can be hard enough to ignore the bright lights and sale signs... Now, it seems AI is giving us a wink and a nudge. Westfield is under fire from advocacy group Consumer for using digital billboards that film largely oblivious shoppers, and serve up advertisements based on age, gender, and even mood. Lisa Owen Read Article 6 Jun 2023 Stuff Tackling harmful content never going to be a simple discussion Internal Affairs’ ambitious plan to regulate large social media and online platforms and to change the way the media, film, advertising, steaming television, video game and broadcasting industries are policed has quickly run into some pretty heavy traffic. Tom Pullar-Strecker Read Article 3 Jun 2023 Stuff Why tech is both fantastic and scary There’s a lot going on in the world of tech, stuff is moving fast… and the thing is, there’s a lot of snake oil out there too. So, we asked Allyn Robins from tech policy think tank Brainbox to identify three burgeoning areas of technology that he’s excited about, and three that he’s a bit scared of… but, naturally, he didn’t follow instructions... Emile Donovan Read Article 3 Jun 2023 RNZ Tom Barraclough: are your social media threads under threat? This week the government released a Safer Online Services and Media Platforms 'discussion document' proposing to regulate online content the same way other media is regulated. Its set off alarm bells for everyone from Stuff head Sinead Boucher to the Free Speech Union, yet has been welcomed by others as a big step towards making the internet a safer place. The proposal doesn't look to expand the categories of illegal content, says Tom Barraclough, and takes its lead from the European Union's recently implemented Digital Services Act. Colin Peacock Read Article 16 May 2023 RNZ Development of AI fakes speeding up Artificial Intelligence is developing at such speed it can now fake just about anyone from the digital breadcrumbs we leave behind us. New Zealand tech players have been discussing how much choice you get in the matter. Phil Pennington reports. Phil Pennington Read Article 3 May 2023 Newshub Why 'Godfather' of artificial intelligence had to 'blow the whistle' on technology Geoffrey Hinton, also known as the "Godfather of AI," decided he had to "blow the whistle" on the technology he helped develop after worrying about how smart it was becoming, he told CNN on Tuesday. Nick Truebridge Read Article 3 May 2023 Stuff Bluesky: Pretender to Twitter's throne, or the future of social media? If there’s one thing we can all probably agree on, it’s that the world doesn’t really need another big social media platform to emerge right now. So, naturally, that’s exactly what we’re getting. Emile Donovan Read Article 29 Mar 2023 Newsroom AI chatbots are merely a cool toy – for now Large Language Models such as GPT-4 can do grunt work, but they lack judgment and originality. Creativity, discernment, research skills, and high-level thinking are only going to get more important, and more valuable. Allyn Robins Read Article 29 Mar 2023 Newshub Govt says it's monitoring artificial intelligence's implications as hundreds of tech leaders call to pause its development Some of the biggest names in technology have pushed the alarm button over the rise of artificial intelligence. They say it could pose a "profound risk to society and humanity". Lauren Hendricksen Read Article 27 Mar 2023 Newshub Should you delete TikTok? One-and-a-half million kiwis have the video-sharing app on their phone. If you don't, there's a very good chance your child does. But with world governments racing to ban Tiktok - should you do the same in your home? The Project Read Article 22 Mar 2023 Newshub New AI chatbot GPT4 takes world by storm, even more powerful than predecessor Brainbox Senior Consultant, Allyn Robins, told Newshub that it's "hard to overstate the impact this will have. It's going to touch every area of the economy." Finn Hogan Read Article 9 Mar 2023 Stuff Newsable today: Can AI replace us? TikTok's wooden spoons trend, and Fun Fact Friday Could AI host a podcast? Spoiler alert – no. Emile Donovan Read Article 1 Mar 2023 Newshub Why the White House wants TikTok deleted from federal devices within next 30 days The White House on Monday gave government agencies 30 days to ensure they do not have Chinese-owned app TikTok on federal devices and systems. Ashleigh Yates Read Article 17 Feb 2023 Newsroom Radio silence on Govt plan to regulate Big Tech Government plans to subject tech companies like Facebook and Google to the same content regulations as news media and advertisers may have been put on hold, Marc Daalder reports Marc Daalder Read Article 25 Nov 2022 Newsroom Govt weighs up police access to encrypted data A cross-agency group will examine the relative risks and benefits of end-to-end encryption and advise ministers on whether to regulate the technology. Marc Daalder Read Article 22 Nov 2022 Careers with STEM Meet the ethical entrepreneurs mixing law and tech Meet two Uni of Ontago law grads who launched a new business to help government and industry navigate legal, ethical and political questions around new tech Gemma Chilton Read Article 29 Oct 2022 Newshub Experts concerned over the rise of deepfake technology Experts are calling for more protection for New Zealanders from the harms of deepfakes and other synthetic media. Deepfakes, artificially generated mimicries of real people, have been prominent online since 2018. Finn Hogan Read Article 1 Sept 2022 Lawfare Platforms Are Testing Self-Regulation in New Zealand. It Needs a Lot of Work. On July 25, New Zealand adopted a new industry-led mechanism designed to provide guidance for social media platforms to enhance safety and mitigate online harm: the Aotearoa New Zealand Code of Practice for Online Safety and Harms. Curtis Barnes, Tom Barraclough, Allyn Robins Read Article 19 Aug 2022 Critic AI Can See You Naked Christchurch has produced many good things over the years. It has also produced Michael James Pratt, a fugitive sex trafficker on the FBI’s most wanted list with a $70,000 bounty on his head. Fox Meyer Read Article 18 Aug 2022 Newsroom Govt harbours concerns over Netsafe’s online code The Government privately shares concerns that a new code of practice for online safety is actually an effort by tech companies to deflect regulation, Marc Daalder reports Marc Daalder Read Article 29 Jul 2022 Stuff Law loopholes around 'deepfakes' a threat to justice, police and law experts warn Ambiguous gaps remain in legislation against the use of harmful deepfake technology, as police, legal and tech experts predict widespread implications for the justice system. Sophie Cornish Read Article 24 Jul 2022 Stuff Social media giants agree to 'first of its kind' code of conduct in Aotearoa Social media giants including TikTok and Meta will soon become more accountable for the content on their platforms in New Zealand, voluntarily signing up to a code of conduct led by Netsafe, which targets issues such as hate speech and misinformation. Sophie Cornish Read Article 14 Mar 2022 Newsroom Media law review raises thorny freedom of expression issues New Zealand has been trying to update its media laws for the modern digital environment for over a decade. Experts warn there are no simple solutions, so has the Government now bitten off more than it can chew? Ximena Smith Read Article 30 Jan 2022 Newshub Artists, music listeners ditching Spotify over vaccine disinformation Canadian folk singer Joni Mitchell has joined her compatriot Neil Young in pulling her catalogue from streaming service Spotify. Giles Dexter Read Article 26 Jan 2022 RNZ ACC goes back to drawing board over failed $1.4m navigation service A new $1.4 million service designed to help people understand ACC's systems and disputes process has failed to achieve many of its objectives, forcing the agency back to the drawing board. Anusha Bradley Read Article 20 Jan 2022 Capital Monitor Engaging with Facebook and Twitter is “like talking to kids” When investors try to flag concerns to Facebook and Twitter about social media-related issues, the two tech giants often respond with stonewalling and obstruction. Google appears little better. Here we set out why. Paul Hodgson Read Article 16 Dec 2021 NZ Herald Do we need to panic over the 'Jacinda Ardern' deepfake clip? A viral video that manipulated footage of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to make it look like she was smoking crack has reanimated debate over "deepfake" technology. Chris Keall Read Article 17 Nov 2021 Futurefive The deepfake dilemma: How it affects privacy, security & law in Aotearoa On a YouTube channel called Genuine Fake, a video shows Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as the character of Maleficent. Her husband Clarke Gayford then appears shortly afterwards. Even National Party leader Judith Collins looks a bit like a forest fairy princess. Sara Barker Read Article 19 Oct 2021 Stuff NZ Super Fund ends campaign to reform Facebook, Alphabet and Twitter in the wake of the Christchurch terror attack The NZ Super Fund is wrapping up its campaign to get Facebook​, Alphabet (Google)​ and Twitter ​to prevent violent and objectionable content being broadcast on their social media platforms. Rob Stock Read Article 30 Sept 2021 Stuff Calls for 'transformative' disability law change to make Aotearoa accessible A WorkSafe-type body should be set up so disabled people can identify and remove access barriers, a new report says. Josephine Franks Read Article 29 Sept 2021 Scoop Access Alliance Calls For Life Changing Accessibility Legislation To Remove And Prevent Barriers Access Alliance, New Zealand’s largest alliance of Disabled Persons Organisations, disability advocacy groups, and service providers, calls on the government to implement the legal framework outlined in the report released today, Access Alliance Read Article 9 Sept 2021 RNZ Covid-19 pandemic driving a 'downgrading of social discourse', researcher says The Delta outbreak has unleashed a greater willingness to use derogatory and offensive slurs as part of public discourse, according to a University of Auckland research fellow. ​ Read Article 29 Jun 2021 Scoop Half Of NZ Has At Least One Misinformed Belief – Expert Reaction A survey from the Classification Office offers a glimpse at how pervasive misinformation is in New Zealand, and how it’s affecting our beliefs. Science Media Centre Read Article 7 May 2021 Stuff Letter from the editor: Trying to instil trust in the news There’s an old trope about journalists jostling with used car salesmen and real estate agents for last place in most-trusted rankings. In some cases – when tabloid hacks rifle through rubbish bins or voicemail baskets, or paparazzi hound people in the streets – this has been deserved. Anna Fifield Read Article 14 Dec 2020 RNZ Bringing the justice system into the 21st century A legal researcher at the intersection of law, policy and technology has developed a tool to access legal information digitally. Nine To Noon Read Article 23 Sept 2020 Newsroom NZ ‘underprepared’ for election interference With the US election fast-approaching there’s a lot of chatter about foreign operations aimed at influencing the elections. Laura Walters asks experts why we’re not having the same discussion in New Zealand Laura Walters Read Article 18 Aug 2020 Stuff Those who shared Covid-19 rumour could be liable to the Harmful Digital Communications Act, Netsafe says The man believed to be behind the recent Covid-19 outbreak rumour said he’s willing to accept the consequences of his actions, describing them as “the worst things I’ve ever done”. Katie Kenny Read Article 17 Aug 2020 Newsroom ‘Infodemic’ evolves as Covid-19 returns to NZ Analysis: The return of Covid-19 to New Zealand has been accompanied by conspiracy theories about the virus and the Government's response. How big a problem is this and what can - or should - we do about it? Marc Daalder reports Marc Daalder Read Article 17 Aug 2020 NZ Herald Coronavirus Covid-19: Why 'that' Facebook post spread like wildfire "Seen this?" Those were probably two words that countless Kiwis read over the weekend, when a friend or family member forwarded them a bogus, hyper-viral and now notorious Facebook post. Jamie Morton Read Article 27 Jul 2020 Newsroom Deep fakes and synthetic media Deep fakes, synthetic media - the latest and most advanced techniques to spread disinformation and deception. Emile Donovan Read Article 26 Jul 2020 RNZ The deep fake threat If you watch television, you may have come across an advertisement for Spark which shows Lord Ernest Rutherford sitting in an armchair, pontificating over the remarkable rate of human technological progress. The Detail Read Article 23 Jul 2020 Stuff The Government wants to filter the internet. Is that a good idea? The Government plans to filter out the worst excesses of the internet. Experts think it will have almost no impact, other than introducing a series of grave risks. National Correspondent Katie Kenny reports. Katie Kenny Read Article 22 Jun 2020 Newsroom Government still pursuing CovidCard After a trial in Nelson Hospital in May, the CovidCard proposal is still in the running as a government-sponsored contact tracing tool, Marc Daalder reports Marc Daalder Read Article 22 Jun 2020 Newsroom Ardern: ‘Enthusiasm’ about exploring CovidCard Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that there was 'enthusiasm' for the Government to continue looking into the CovidCard proposal, Marc Daalder reports Marc Daalder Read Article 29 Apr 2020 The Spinoff Covid-19: The tough questions on a digital contact-tracing app It’s a crucial factor in keeping the spread of the virus under control, but there’s a whole lot more the government needs to consider than what is technically possible, writes Andrew Chen. Andrew Chen Read Article 17 Apr 2020 Newsroom NZ considering $100m contact tracing ‘CovidCard’ The Government is considering handing out a Bluetooth-enabled CovidCard to every New Zealander to aid with contact tracing efforts, Marc Daalder reports Marc Daalder Read Article 5 Apr 2020 RNZ Covid-19: Major IT groups not consulted over race to speed up contact tracing The country's three major IT groups have been left out of the loop by the government in the race to speed up critical contact tracing of virus carriers. Phil Pennington Read Article 3 Apr 2020 Newsroom Can tech solve the next big Covid-19 challenge? Contact tracing is a crucial part of the Covid-19 puzzle and technology might prove essential to scaling up New Zealand's tracing capacity, Marc Daalder reports Marc Daalder Read Article 1 Apr 2020 NZ Herald Coronavirus Covid-19: Can smartphones help NZ stop spread? One of the best weapons we have to throw against Covid-19 may be found in our pockets. Jamie Morton Read Article 9 Dec 2019 Newshub Snapchat unleashes deepfakes feature called 'Cameo' Deepfakes - putting a person's face on another person's body in a video - are about to go mainstream. So far best-known for internet pranksters putting celebrity heads on pornstars' bodies, the controversial technology is currently being tested by messaging app Snapchat. Dan Satherley Read Article 29 Nov 2019 The Guardian Saving the Whanganui: can personhood rescue a river? Adam Daniel wades waist deep through the glassy water. Pumice stones spiral in the shallow eddy, while the shrill whistles of a male whio (blue duck) echo upstream through the green canyon walls. Jeremy Lurgio Read Article 4 Sept 2019 Stuff Can Kiwis tell fact from fake news in the leadup to the 2020 elections? Young people are criticised for not engaging in politics but experts say adults today are less likely to be able to tell fact from fake news. Katie Kenny and Tommy Livingston report on the risks of a post-truth political landscape. Katie Kenny, Tommy Livingston Read Article 2 Jul 2019 NZ Herald NZ expert sounds warning after DeepNude app goes viral The latest in "deep fake" technology is DeepNude - an app that uses AI to transform an image of a clothed woman into a realistic rendering of what she might look like naked. Chris Keall Read Article 11 Jun 2019 Stuff Has an elf or alien been caught on film or is this just another hoax? Proof of alien life, a prank or a digitally altered hoax? Brittney Deguara takes a look at a viral clip and the dangers of deep fakes. An alien? An elf?! What is that thing in the driveway? Brittney Deguara Read Article 8 Jun 2019 Otago Daily Times Talking tech, cheese rolls and scones Computers and government have been a major issue this past fortnight with the fallout from National accessing Budget data still proving dangerously radioactive to a range of politicians and civil servants. Mike Houlahan Read Article 21 May 2019 Newsroom Don’t believe everything you see, or hear Synthetic media and "deepfakes" pose a new threat to democratic processes, if used in the wrong way, write Brainbox Institute co-directors Curtis Barnes and Tom Barraclough. Curtis Barnes, Tom Barraclough Read Article 21 May 2019 Stuff Deepfakes and synthetic media: The new age of disinformation is growing Amidst the threats identified in a new report of the digital threats to democracy are two challenges with sinister sounding names - deepfakes and synthetic media. But what are these emerging risks and why should we care about them? Michael Daly Read Article 20 May 2019 Newshub 'Deepfake' videos could be next social media minefield - researchers There's growing concern about the damage sophisticated fake videos can have on the public. A new Law Foundation report says deepfake media could prove troublesome to tech companies and the Government, following the Christchurch Call. Katie Fitzgerald Read Article 20 May 2019 NZ Herald NZ study highlights the risk of 'deep fakes' on social media - and why our lawmakers should leave it alone A new study funded by the Law Foundation highlights the risk of "deep fakes" on social media - which co-author Tom Barraclough says "make it look or sound like something happened when it didn't". Chris Keall Read Article 20 May 2019 RNZ Deepfakes, synthetic media a threat to democracy Thanks to Donald Trump the phrase "fake news" is, for better or worse, forever embedded in our collective consciousness. But fake news - false information which is spread deliberately to deceive people - is just the tip of the iceberg threatening our democracy. Morning Report Read Article 9 Nov 2018 Stuff Could the Acosta video be the start of a worrying trend? OPINION: At the first White House press conference following the midterm election, there was a verbal altercation between the President Donald Trump and CNN reporter Jim Acosta. Curtis Barnes, Tom Barraclough Read Article 16 Nov 2015 Otago Daily Times Researchers of access to ACC given $150,000 A $150,000 grant from the New Zealand Law Foundation will help Dunedin researchers find practical ways for injured New Zealanders to have their human rights upheld in seeking justice over ACC cases. John Gibb Read Article 28 Aug 2015 Otago Daily Times Successful but hearing 'stressful' Dunedin ACC claimant Dr Denise Powell found the experience of representing herself at an ACC review hearing ''stressful'' but was successful in her claim. John Gibb Read Article 23 Jul 2015 Community.Scoop Research finds overwhelming barriers to access to justice Research carried out by a team of researchers in partnership with Acclaim Otago (Inc) has found serious barriers to access to justice for people challenging ACC decisions through the court system. Acclaim Otago Read Article 27 Feb 2015 Otago Daily Times Research grant thrills campaigner ACC campaigner Denise Powell is ''over the moon'' about a New Zealand Law Foundation research grant of up to $38,000 to ACC claimant support organisation Acclaim Otago. John Gibb Read Article 19 Sept 2014 Scoop UN Experience Beneficial Acclaim Otago representatives have just completed their participation at the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability examination of the New Zealand government in Geneva, Switzerland. Acclaim Otago Read Article In the Media

Project lead, the Action Coalition on Meaningful Transparency (ACT) Current Project Brainbox is the project lead for the Action Coalition on Meaningful Transparency (ACT), a global multi-stakeholder coalition pushing for effective tech transparency that promotes human rights. The coalition includes tech companies, regulators, civil society organisations, and academics. Learn more Machine readable legal materials Current Project Legal materials like legislation, regulations, and other rules are still published in a way that prioritises paper-based display. Brainbox is working through Syncopate Lab to prepare publicly available machine-structured legislation, to enhance usability and collaboration among stakeholders. Learn more Syncopate Lab Current Project Increasingly, law and legal activities are implemented and performed through digital systems. This presents both risk and opportunity. Brainbox is working with long-time partner, Verb, to conduct public-facing experiments showing how technology itself can be used for regulatory purposes. We are doing this through Syncopate Lab. Learn about Syncopate Digitising the Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules Past Project In partnership with Verb via Syncopate Lab (formerly known as the Digital Legal Systems Lab), Brainbox worked with Taumata Arowai to implement water quality rules for drinking water into digital reporting systems. Learn more Content regulation and disinformation in New Zealand Past Project New Zealand is among the countries around the world looking to regulate disinformation and other user-generated content. Brainbox is conducting legal research with funding from the Borrin Foundation and InternetNZ to investigate how disinformation can be approached as a policy problem without undermining human rights principles. Learn more Tribal digital identity project with Āhau Past Project In partnership with Verb and the Digital Legal Systems Lab (now known as Syncopate Lab), Brainbox carried out legal research and design with Āhau, a platform developing a decentralised digital identity services for iwi and hapū to register their tribal affiliations. Learn more Appropriate frameworks for social media analysis: Report for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (NZ) Past Project Governments increasingly perceive analysis of social media activity as an operational necessity, and not always in a law enforcement context. But if such analysis is to be performed, it must be done transparently, accountably, and with adequate safeguards to protect human rights, justify public trust, and preserve the public good. This report prepared for New Zealand's Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet lays out the challenges to doing so and makes the case that any systematic social media analysis should be performed by an independent entity that sits outside of government. Learn more Assessing Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet for institutional investors Past Project Institutional investors representing $13 trillion issued an ultimatum after the Christchurch attacks: platform companies must do better. Two years on, how have they performed? What is the trend of global regulation? Access the Report Transparency-based approaches to social media regulation Past Project Brainbox worked with the University of Otago and the Global Partnership on AI's responsible AI working group. GPAI was proposing collaborative study of how social media recommendation systems deal with terrorist content. Learn more Presentation to the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (legal frameworks working group) Past Project Following our work on social media regulation for the investor coalition and for GPAI, we were asked to present our findings by New Zealand's Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, responsible for online safety and the Christchurch Call. Accessing the slides Submission on proposed national internet filter Past Project Brainbox submitted to the Government Administration Committee on a proposed national internet filter, drawing on our research and consulting in related areas. See more Is the New Zealand legal system ready for deepfakes? Past Project In 2018, Brainbox received support from the New Zealand Law Foundation to publish a report called 'Perception Inception', which looked at the legal implications of emerging synthetic media technologies, including "deepfakes". See more Designing legislation from outside government Past Project A global and national movement has led progress toward enforceable rights for disabled people. Brainbox collaborated to design legislation that would enforce Accessibility for all New Zealanders. See more Can and should we transform legislation into computer code Past Project A global movement called "rules as code" claims law should be translated into computer languages. Legislation could be drafted and implemented as code. What are the merits of this concept and what should policy makers know? Learn more Assisting the Human Rights Commission on responding to COVID-19 Past Project COVID-19 policy is moving rapidly, cutting across a range of policy areas and fundamental human rights. We worked with Antistatic to prepare a series of briefings to support the Commission to fulfil its statutory role. Learn more New Zealand law and synthetic pornography Past Project New Zealand law doesn't make it clear whether synthesising sexual imagery of someone without their consent is criminal. We made a submission to the Justice Committee outlining how the law should be fixed. See more Can we build a system for analysing judicial decisions at scale Past Project Brainbox collaborated with Openlaw NZ to build an open source research tool for analysing case law at scale. In the process, we outlined a superior system of judicial publishing that would increase access to decisions. Learn more Dispute resolution systems and access to justice Past Project Brainbox has published work on dispute resolution systems and access to justice: in medico-legal disputes; and in an online safety context. See our submission on the proposed New Zealand voluntary code on online harms and safety. See more Presentation and discussion to government agencies about deepfakes Past Project Following the publication of our report about the legal implications of deepfake technology and synthetic media, we organised and hosted a forum of around 13 government agencies and regulators to share our findings. See more A disinformation response strategy for Aotearoa: NetHui presentation Past Project With Serena Chen, Tom Barraclough hosted a session at InternetNZ's annual conference, NetHui, in 2019. See more Projects Filter by Status Select Status

< Back Digitising the Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules Past Project 2022-2023 The Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules are a comprehensive and multifaceted piece of secondary legislation, applying different "modules" to varied types of suppliers. Originally published as a single PDF, these rules could present navigation challenges for suppliers, which might contribute to misunderstandings or inconsistencies in rule interpretation. One risk is that suppliers might submit inconsistent data, or worse, omit crucial data – factors that could contribute to unsafe drinking water and unreliable reporting. To address these challenges, Syncopate Lab (as a partnership between Brainbox Institute and Verb) undertook a meticulous manual process to translate these rules into machine-readable formats for specific uses. In close partnership with Taumata Arowai, we checked the accuracy and reliability of this transformation. Our efforts resulted in the creation of interoperable assets that enhance both reporting systems and data analysis capabilities. These assets enable the conversion of rules into various formats, including rule builders, API specifications, and data structures, thereby informing and improving the algorithmic analysis of compliance data. Read more about the project Back to Projects Previous Next

< Back Machine readable legal materials Current Project Current Legal materials like legislation, regulations, and other rules are still published in a way that prioritises paper-based display. Brainbox is working through Syncopate Lab to prepare publicly available machine-structured legislation, to enhance usability and collaboration among stakeholders. In early 2024, Syncopate Lab published a paper calling on government agencies to publish digital copies of regulation. Find out more about this work by checking out the Syncopate Lab website, or following Syncopate on LinkedIn . Visit Syncopate Lab website Back to projects Previous Next