Professor Johanna Weaver on AI, international humanitarian law and cyber security

Technology and Security (TS)

Dr Miah Hammond-Errey is joined by Professor Johanna Weaver, founding Director of the Tech Policy Design Centre, to discuss the recent 2023–2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy, including its funding, implementation and challenges, the relationship between hacktivism and international humanitarian law and the different ways of thinking about AI risk and harms. They also discuss their highlights for 2023, Australia’s important position in driving change in multilateral forums, myGov and digital government services and their hopes for the tech policy conversation in 2024.

Professor Johanna Weaver is the founding Director of the Tech Policy Design Centre at the Australian National University (ANU). Before joining ANU, she was Australia’s independent expert and lead negotiator on cyber issues at the United Nations. Johanna also led the Cyber Affairs branch at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is on the global advisory board on digital threats during conflict at the International Committee of the Red Cross and a former commercial litigator. Johanna also hosts the Tech Mirror podcast, which hosts discussions reflecting on technology and society.

Technology and Security is hosted by Dr Miah Hammond-Errey, the inaugural director of the Emerging Technology program at the United States Studies Centre, based at the University of Sydney.

Resources mentioned in the recording:

• (Tech Policy Design Centre, ANU) Homepage
• (Professor Johanna Weaver’s podcast) Tech Mirror
• (Minister of Home Affairs) 2023–2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy
• (Department of Home Affairs) Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre
• (Dr Miah Hammond-Errey) Big Data, Emerging Technologies and Intelligence: National Security Disrupted
• (Tech Policy Design Centre) Combatting Ransomware
• (Dr Miah Hammond-Errey, Quad Tech Network) Building the Quad Technology Workforce Pipeline and Research Relationships
• (Professor Johanna Weaver, The Conversation) Governments and hackers agree: the laws of war must apply in cyberspace
• (International Committee of the Red Cross) Global Advisory Board on the digital threats during conflict
• (Tilman Rodenhäuser and Mauro Vignati, International Committee of the Red Cross blog) 8 rules for “civilian hackers” during war, and 4 obligations for states to restrain them
• (Dr Miah Hammond-Errey, Forthcoming) Tech Wrap for 2023
• (Professor Johanna Weaver, Tech Mirror Podcast) Beyond the Pause: Australia’s AI Opportunity Part 1 & Part 2
• (White House) Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of AI
• (European Union) EU AI Act
• (United Kingdom) AI Safety Summit
• (United Kingdom) The Bletchley Declaration by Countries Attending the AI Safety Summit, 1-2 November 2023
• (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan) G7 Leaders Statement on the Hiroshima AI Process
• (Department of Industry, Science and Resources) Supporting responsible AI: discussion paper
• (Technology and Security, Episode 6) Cyber security, critical infrastructure and ransomware taskforce with Home Affairs’ Hamish Hansford
• (Tech Policy Design Centre) Cultivating Coordination
• (Professor Johanna Weaver, The Conversation) Clampdown on chip exports is the most consequential US move against China yet
• (Justin Hendry, InnovationAus) Dominello to lead myGov advisory group
• (Neal Stephenson) Cryptonomicon
• (Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff) The Illuminae Files
• (Alli Sinclair) The Codebreakers
• (Jackie Ui Chionna) Queen of Codes
• Miah’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Miah_HE

The USSC website: https://www.ussc.edu.au/

Making great content requires fabulous teams. Thanks to the great talents of the following.

Research support and editorial assistance: Tom Barrett

Production: Elliott Brennan

Podcast design: Susan Beale

Music: Dr. Paul Mac

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Ngunnawal people, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging — here and wherever you’re listening. We acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.