David Morar

I don’t know if I have a problem per se, but I just correctly guessed (without being prompted to do so) a tiny change in shape on a pastry I don’t normally get, at my second favorite bakery in DC.

the inside of the majestic Palais Garnier, including a substantial view of the ceiling, painted by Chagall, the dark stage, and several tops of heads, as the intermission begins!

A lovely little treat tonight, witnessing a great version of Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress at the Palais Garnier. The Paris Opera is stunning even just walking around, let alone enjoying a show!

A photo of a cliff in Lima, Peru, with the Pacific Ocean in the background

Happy Thanksgiving from the land of potatoes, corn and chocolate! No turkey this year for me, but I’m not complaining, since Peru generally, (and Lima particularly) is known for amazing food (both fine dining and normal cooking)!

A group of academics sitting at tables in a large ballroom, listening to Paul Decker, President of Mathematica, present an award at APPAM’s 2024 Fall Conference at National Harbor, Maryland, during the Awards and Presidential Address.

I may wander off, but I’ll never be far from my academic community! It’s great to be back at #2024APPAM! We’re technically “in DC” this year, at National Harbor! Right now, the @appam.bsky.social Awards and Presidential Address!

Is the DSA a New Dawn of Legislating Platform Governance Globally? Is the EU’s new Digital Services Act the path forward for platform governance legislation in other parts of the world?

Not sure if a literal “one time contributor” counts, but if so, would love to be in your starter pack (www.lawfaremedia.org/article/dsa-...). But it would also make sense if this is for recurring contributors! :)

Jamon is not just a good boy, he is the best boy!

Sometimes a little harp is everything needed to make a good song a great one!

Experts Provide Early Analysis of the American Privacy Rights Act | TechPolicy.Press Tech Policy Press invited privacy experts and advocates to share their early analysis of the American Privacy Rights Act (APRA). Respondents included the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), ...

Tech Policy Press invited privacy experts and advocates to share their early analysis of the American Privacy Rights Act (APRA). Here's what they said:-

@sarahkwiley.bsky.social
@jordfran.bsky.social
@morar.bsky.social
@caitrionafitz.bsky.social
@nathaliemarechal.net

On the AI Act’s Passage and Lessons for US Policymakers | TechPolicy.Press The EU AI Act is the first major comprehensive AI governance text. Some of its lessons to US policymakers are clear, says David Morar.

The EU #AIAct is now approved (pending potential changes by lawyer linguists)!

Learn more about the act here (via @techpolicypress.bsky.social ) www.techpolicy.press/ai-acts-pass...

Hear from EU officials and civil society on how it was created and negotiated www.newamerica.org/oti/events/o...

[ONLINE] - The EU AI Act: Lessons for US Policymakers

In about 30 minutes, join me and a bunch of EU experts and policymakers for a virtual chat about the #AIAct and what lessons the US can learn from it! www.newamerica.org/oti/events/o...

On the AI Act’s Passage and Lessons for US Policymakers | TechPolicy.Press The EU AI Act is the first major comprehensive AI governance text. Some of its lessons to US policymakers are clear, says David Morar.

This past week, I got the chance to write for @techpolicypress.bsky.social on the EU’s AI Act, what it does, and what US policymakers can learn from it. Worldwide AI policy is just starting to heat up!

It’s almost 2024, AirFrance wants to update our holiday movie discourse with some wild curve balls!

Making the Internet Work for Everyone Using Section 230 Although Section 230 comes with its own unintended consequences, preserving the policy is key to maintaining the free and open internet.

How to deal with intermediary liability is likely going to be a prominent part of the policy conversation in 2024. It’s important to keep in mind the consequences of reforming or repealing Section 230, especially on public interest orgs. More on this by me: newamerica.org/the-thread/i...

This is your reminder that CCPA zealots (CPPA+CA Gov & AG) deflated amazing momentum for comprehensive federal privacy legislation about a year ago and then it all went downhill. Needless interference after getting lotta substantial concessions. Will hold that grudge for the rest of my life.

EU’s #AIAct - done! What’s in it? Well, about 30+ hours of closed door sleepless horse-trading on top of years and years of diligent work and research. We’ll find out the details soon, but it’s important to remember the final product is more of a political compromise, than a policy document!

on the x-bird app: Access Now has the document: x.com/djleufer/sta...

Some updates on #AI in the EU
1) the AI Act negotiations are on pause after 22h non-stop. Agreement on found. model governance BUT, EU Commission is pushing for a wild set of AI-enabled surveillance practices to be allowed. Parliament should NOT agree!
2) see below

====================================We are dedicated to renewing the promise of America by continuing the quest to realize our nation's highest ideals, hones... The Intersection of Federal Privacy Legislation & AI Governance

On 11/15 I had the pleasure of moderating a great event for OTI on the intersection of federal privacy legislation and AI governance, with a keynote from Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and panelists Sara Collins, Willmary Escoto, Brandon Pugh, and Frank Torres. Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixyr...

Me in my best Spanish at a no frills restaurant in Buenos Aires: “La carta de postres por favor?”

The server, almost immediately, in English: “Oh the dessert menu? One second!”

I’ve walked a lot already in Buenos Aires, kinda used to the wild murals, but this one is truly wild. It reads “Sacred Sons of Argentina” featuring 2 actual Argies: Leo Messi, The Pope, and decidedly Irish-American comedy icon Conan O’Brien in the middle. Some confused looks, most just ignore it.

Loved hearing Deirdre Mulligan, US’s principal deputy CTO, bring up multistakeholderism, interoperability and governance across policy and technology as three crucial pieces of how to think of the AI future and how to govern it! Great convo at the Mozilla AI event #mozillameetup

DC folks: on 11/19 at 8pm at Union Stage (at the Wharf), we’re doing another humanitarian stand up show to benefit a collective that helps Ukrainian war amputees w prosthetics! The best foreign & 1st gen comedians in the DMV! Help out & laugh! $20 tix: www.unionstage.com/shows/stand-...

Tripti Sinha, ICANN’s Board Chair speaks at the Opening Ceremony on the stage, in front of a large mostly full auditorium, at ICANN78 in Hamburg, Germany.

#ICANN78 kicked off earlier today in Hamburg, 25 years after the first meeting! It will be a very packed week, and hopefully a productive one, too!

Road that reads “weak bridge 200 yards” with an arrow pointing left and then a max tonnage.

I guess one way the Brits deal with decaying infrastructure is by shaming it?

People that put on cream and don’t wait for their hands to be less sticky before they use high touch areas, especially apartment building front doors, deserve perpetually jagged toenail edges on both feet!

Which of the three sets were you at? This was the last one!

Carly Rae Jepsen performs to a sold out crowd in New York City on 8/7, minutes before lighting cancels the show!

Carly Rae Jepsen and her band are performing at a small venue (Rockwood Music Hall) in NYC after her official concert earlier that same night was cancelled. The crowd is at capacity, as Jepsen and her band, who are performing on borrowed instruments are rocking out!

Carly Rae Jepsen in a flowy wind-swept magenta dress performs one of her songs on a stage at the Pier 17 Rooftop in NYC, on 8/8, for a make-up show after her show was cancelled the night before.

Carly Rae Jepsen mid-song on top of a tiny riser on stage crouching down while holding a fist close to her heart, in the middle of her make-up concert in NYC, on 8/8

Last night’s NYC Carly Rae Jepsen show ended after 3 songs because of⚡️! A few hours later she put together a small show for 450 folks in a 150 person venue! Plus a rescheduled show today: an entirely joyful affair for everyone involved! Two and a quarter shows for the price of 1!

OTI is going to be hosting a Google Policy Fellow in the fall! As an alum I am very much a big booster of it as the best way to enter the tech policy world, so if you're a student in the US, APPLY NOW (specifically to join us at OTI)!
https://www.google.com/policyfellowship/usa/

Platform://Democracy Perspectives on Platform Power, Public Values and the Potential of Social Media Councils

Belatedly: a few months ago, with amazing thinkers from across the Americas, I participated in a research clinic on platforms and democracy hosted by two fantastic German institutions (HBI & HIIG). The report & my piece on enforcement: https://graphite.page/platform-democracy-report/#heading-505

How Tech Companies Can Make Recent AI Commitments Count Voluntary commitments on AI run the risk of falling short, say David Morar and Prem Trivedi from New America’s Open Technology Institute.

Last week, with Prem Trivedi, wrote a piece for @techpolicypress.bsky.social about what the White House Voluntary Commitments would need to be actually useful besides being a messaging experiment: https://techpolicy.press/how-tech-companies-can-make-recent-ai-commitments-count/