Welcome to Burning Platforms: De-Coding the Power and Politics of Big Tech. Join Peter Lewis, Lizzie O’Shea (Digital Rights Watch), Dan Stinton (HealthEngine CEO), and guests, fortnightly for analysis of the politics of technology from some of Australia’s leading digital campaigners and industry experts. Brought to you by the Centre of the Public Square - an initiative of Per Capita.
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As 2025 crashes out we survey the highs and lows of the year in tech with long-time platform burner Human Technology Institute co-director Ed Santow.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis discuss:
the Government’s AI Plan
the Social Media Ban
and what to read over summer
Join us in discussing the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit: https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome
Help the Centre of the Public Square fund its research into AI and responsible technology - donate to Per Capita today: https://percapita.org.au/donate/
Ground Game with Cory Alpert (01:03:49)
While the vested interests wrestle with the intricacies of AI regulation, are community library conversations the best bet for shaping our tech future? On this week's episode of Burning Platforms, we meet the academic who is fighting the algorithm with words.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis will also discuss:
Meta’s latest Anti-Trust win
The News Media Bargaining Incentive
The case for an "AI Slop" Tax
Book a ticket for Cory’s late night show: https://events.humanitix.com/system-error-late-night-show
Read Lizzie’s Baffler piece: https://thebaffler.com/latest/antitrust-issues-oshea
Join us in discussing the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit: https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome
Carbon Footprints with Ketan Joshi (01:08:45)
How much energy will AI really burn? Climate writer and activist Ketan Joshi joins Burning Platforms to chat AI and Climate: what we know, what we don’t know and what data centres have to do with yogurt tubs.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss:
Meta’s sloppy business model
Apple’s arranged AI marriage with Google
The Federal Government’s AI mission
To find out more about Ketan’s work, go to: https://ketanjoshi.co/blog/
To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome
RadicalXChange with Jess Scully (01:04:48)
Is Big Tech’s domination of AI inevitable or are there different ways of organising our data to shift the power the dynamic? We discuss the RadicalXChange project with its new director, Jess Scully.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss:
Government blocks text and data mining
Human Rights over our brain waves
Sam Altman’s wank-bot
To find out more about RadicalxChange go to: https://www.radicalxchange.org/
To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome
Visit www.percapita.org.au for more on our research and events.
Per Capita's podcasts are recorded and produced on Wurundjeri land.
How Can Democracy Survive AI? LIVE IN PERTH (01:09:15)
AI is transforming our world at rapid speed, raising urgent questions about who benefits, who loses, and how we keep control of the future.
Panellists from the Burning Platforms podcast and guests, explore the promises and pitfalls of AI - and what’s at stake for all Australians.
Panellists include:
Lizzie O’Shea: Human Rights Lawyer & Chairperson, Digital Rights Watch
Peter Lewis: Executive Director, Essential Media & Fellow, Per Capita
Dan Stinton: CEO and Managing Director, Healthengine
Rikki Hendon: Secretary of Unions WA
Kate Chaney MP: Federal Member for Curtin
While the boosters of AI are rushing to transform the world, citizens are being left in the slipstream, with little chance to influence how this new technology takes shape.
AI systems are built by harvesting the ideas and creations of others, often without consent, and are already eroding jobs and reshaping culture on the promise of future productivity.
As the Luddites taught us, the way we adopt technology will be critical to whether it improves people’s lives or cuts a swathe through jobs for the benefit of the few.
Many Australians perceive more risk than upside in this new technology, so why is it being pushed so hard, with so few guardrails or controls in place?
This event is hosted by Digital Rights Watch with support from The Minderoo Foundation.
Bursting Bubbles with Dan McQuillan (01:05:48)
Is the rise of AI inevitable or just the latest cycle of hype for a sector that thrives on the vibes? The author of “Resisting AI’, Professor Dan McQuillan, joins the show to argue for a more fundamental response to Big Tech.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss:
the launch of AI’s new Sora video product
the push to sell advertising inside GPTs
and how consultants are embracing work slop
Join us for our live shows in capital cities around Australia
Adelaide: https://shorturl.at/ojQRX
Perth: events.humanitix.com/democracy-perth
Brisbane: events.humanitix.com/democracy-brisbane
Sydney: events.humanitix.com/democracy-sydney
Melbourne events.humanitix.com/democracy-melbourne
To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome
Cooking with Cam Wilson (01:08:53)
The co-author of ‘Conspiracy Nation’ takes us on his journey into the world of anti-vaxxers, wellness influencers and sovereign citizens.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss:
The call for AI Red Lines
The rise of Work Slop
And Murdoch’s Tik-Tok play.
In October we will beholding a series of live shows in capital cities and would love you to come along.
Adelaide: https://shorturl.at/ojQRX
Perth: events.humanitix.com/democracy-perth
Brisbane: events.humanitix.com/democracy-brisbane
Sydney: events.humanitix.com/democracy-sydney
Melbourne: events.humanitix.com/democracy-melbourne
To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome
Tech Check with Damian Kassabgi (01:05:58)
The tech industry is pitching data mining and new infrastructure as the key to national prosperity. But will it deliver? And if so, for whom?
Tech Council of Australia CEO, Damian Kassabgi joins regular panelists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis for the latest episode of Burning Platforms.
The show also covers:
fresh concerns over age verification
the creepy rise of intimate AI companions
And Nobel Prize winner Maria Ressa’s address to the National Press Club
To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome
Stolen Property with Peter Garrett (00:58:56)
“I’m concerned that AI and big tech – well, big tech with AI – has gone into a full-court press… particularly on the federal system...I’m concerned that without thinking it through clearly enough, policy makers won’t essentially subject the slogans to sufficient scrutiny.”
This week on Burning Platforms, we recorded our special briefing for cultural creators and those who value their work to discuss Big Tech’s push to mine our culture.
Our panel discusses:
How AI large language models have been built on the theft of the work of musicians, writers journalists and artists.
What the productivity Commission’s proposal to give AI companies a ‘right to mine data’ will do to Australian performers
How creatives and citizens can resist the attacks from AI
Featuring:
AI expert and author Professor Toby Walsh
Midnight Oil front man Peter Garrett
Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea
Australian Writers Guild CEO Claire Pullen
To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome
Industrial Base with Minister Tim Ayres (00:52:05)
New Federal industry and science minister Tim Ayres shares his take on industry policy, AI's opportunities and risks, and how we could steer through the latest wave of tech change.
With regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton, and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis
To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome
Digital New Deal with Johanna Weaver (01:02:33)
Can Australia play a leading role in imagining a tech future that isn’t controlled by either the US or China?
Johanna Weaver from the Tech Policy Design Institute expands on her recent essay ‘System Update - An Australian-led new deal for tech’ - https://www.australianforeignaffairs.com/essay/2025/06/tech-wars
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis will also discuss:
what the new Federal Parliament means for tech
how Cloudflare could rewrite the game in copyright
and the rise of Satanic Chat Bots
To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome
Poisoning AI with Prof Toby Walsh (01:04:22)
The Large Language Models are powered by stolen data but there are new and innovative ways to make the thieves pay. Professor Toby Walsh explains the tech-driven resistance to Big AI from data poisoning to responsible cloud computing.
With panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Editor of the Sizzle Cam Wilson, and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis we also discuss:
Qantas’ big data hack
Victoria’s foray into AI policing
and how Velvet Sunset’s fake music is bringing tears to Peter’s eyes
To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome
Scammed! With Alex Brooks (01:05:42)
"I thought old people got scammed. And actually young people are at greater risk because they have more confidence in dealing [with things] online."
This week on Burning Platforms, the team learns how the financial scam industry has become an enthusiastic early adapter of AI and how the banks are working around the clock to ensure they aren’t the ones liable for the ensuing harm.
With our regular panelists Digital Rights Watch Chair, Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton, Per Capita’s Peter Lewis, who are joined by co-founder of Scams Victims Alliance, Alex Brooks.
To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit. (https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome)
For more about Scams Victims Alliance go to: https://scamvictimalliance.org.au/
Dr Alondra Nelson’s Intelligence (01:05:09)
"What could things have become? You could imagine if the baton had been passed from the Obama administration to a Clinton administration... an American public much more ready... for the turns in AI that we are facing now."
On this week's Burning Platforms, our panel spends some quality time with the architect of the Biden Administration’s AI executive order, Dr Alondra Nelson.
With regular panelists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton, and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis.
Join the conversation. Get involved with the Burning Platforms community in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/
Grok-ing Out with Julie Inman-Grant (01:04:19)
Burning Platforms struggles to make sense of white genocide, design unicorns and the all-seeing Apple Eye.
E-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant joins regular panellists Digital Rights Watch founder Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis for our regular dive into the world of tech and politics.
Don't forget to subscribe to The Town Crier, the official newsletter of the Centre for the Public Square and Burning Platforms podcast: https://the-town-crier-2.ghost.io/
The Holy Trinity Edition (01:05:54)
Good things come in threes and this week’s Burning Platforms looks at the inspiration behind the new Pope’s decision to name himself Leo, the critical changes to the Labor Government’s front bench and Mark Zuckerberg maximum number of friends.
Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis and joined by Professor Dan Angus from QUT’S Digital Research Centre.
2025 Federal Election Special (or Much Ado About Nothing) (01:01:32)
With a federal election within days, Burning Platforms looks at the lack of discussion about tech and whether that is a good or bad thing.
With Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Per Capita’s Peter Lewis and special guests, Editor of The Sizzle, Cam Wilson and Dr Rys Farthing from Reset Australia.
Don't forget to subscribe to The Town Crier, the official newsletter of the Centre for the Public Square and Burning Platforms podcast: https://the-town-crier-2.ghost.io/
Support our guests by checking out their content and work.
Subscribe to The Sizzle! - https://thesizzle.com.au/
Reset Australia's work on the Child Online Privacy Code - https://au.reset.tech/news/welcoming-a-children-s-privacy-code/
Distilling the Slop (01:00:33)
As the world teeters on the brink of whatever comes after globalisation we dive deep into the way AI is transforming film-making with the director of the iconic Australian film Kenny, Clay Jacobson.
Our regular panel of Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss:
The theory that the Trump Tariffs were cooked up by a chatbot
The growing chance that the FTC anti-trust case against Meta is history; and
The backlash against Chat GPT’s appropriation of Studio Ghibli’s acclaimed work.
Don't forget to subscribe to The Town Crier, the official newsletter of the Centre for the Public Square and Burning Platforms podcast: https://the-town-crier-2.ghost.io/
Taxing Times (00:56:50)
On this week's episode of Burning Platforms, the gang looks at global efforts to force Big Tech to pay their share of tax with special guest Dr Mark Zirnsak from the Tax Justice Network.
With our regular panelists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis.
Don't forget to subscribe to The Town Crier, the official newsletter of the Centre for the Public Square and Burning Platforms podcast: https://the-town-crier-2.ghost.io/
The National Trust (01:01:58)
This week on Burning Platforms, we dive deep into a new initiative to understand the role of Trust in the relationship between society and technology with special guest, Professor Terry Flew.
With regular panelists Per Capita’s Peter Lewis, Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea and Health Engine Dan Stinton, we'll also look at:
Data Centre Diplomacy
will Google’s AI search eat itself?
and Digg’s reboot
Don't forget to subscribe to The Town Crier, the official newsletter of the Centre for the Public Square and Burning Platforms podcast: https://the-town-crier-2.ghost.io/
World Gone Wild (00:51:18)
Burning Platforms is back for 2025.
With the tech overlords in the ascendant, particularly following the US election, we take stock of the impending inferno with our regular panel Per Capita’s Peter Lewis, Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine Dan Stinton, and special guest, fresh from the Paris AI Summit, Professor Nick Davis from UTS’ Human Technology Institute.
Don't forget to subscribe to The Town Crier, the official newsletter of the Centre for the Public Square and Burning Platforms podcast: https://the-town-crier-2.ghost.io/
Setting the Guardrails (01:03:21)
In our final episode of 2024 we unpack the recent Senate Report into the Adoption of AI in Australia with Committee Chair Senator Tony Sheldon.
We also look at:
Woolworth's industrial dispute over workplace surveillance
Why Meta is building a deep sea cable to India
How TikTok was gamed to deliver an election boil over in Romania
With regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, HealthEngine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita's Peter Lewis.
Visit the Centre of the Public Square for more on our work around technology policy.
Don't forget to subscribe to The Town Crier, the official newsletter of the Centre for the Public Square and Burning Platforms podcast.
Strange Bedfellows (01:05:45)
Burning Platforms dives deep into the common ground between national security and individual privacy with cybersecurity expert Miah Hammond-Errey, host of the Technology and Security podcast.
Also this week:
* Bunnings wrapped over facial recognition
* Trump’s crypto bonanza
* and could the Social Media Ban have a silver lining?
Panelists:
* Digital Rights Watch chair, Lizzie O’Shea,
* Health Engine CEO, Dan Stinton
* and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis
Visit the Centre of the Public Square for more on our work around technology policy.
Support Miah at the TS podcast.
Don't forget to subscribe to The Town Crier, the official newsletter of the Centre for the Public Square and Burning Platforms podcast.
The Tech-Bro Election (01:00:42)
The upcoming US Presidential elections will shape - and be shaped by - the Web3 community. We talk with Mark Monfort from the Aus De-Fi Association on what the moment means.
He joins our panel of Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton, digital rights advocate Kate Bower and Peter Lewis from Per Capita’s Centre of the Public Square.
Also this week:
* The new front on chat-bot accountability
* Is Emotional Intelligence the next killer app?
* and has AI doomer-ism turned the corner?
Listen to Burning Platforms: https://tinyurl.com/3sck83b6
Warning - This episode mentions suicide. If you or anyone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or at lifeline.org.au, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or at beyondblue.org.au/forums.
The Digital Dark Age (01:02:12)
As researchers are locked out of digital platforms, we contemplate a new era of control and secrecy, with responsible tech academic Gina Neff.
She joins our panel of Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie OShea, Choice’s digital campaign lead Rafi Alam and Peter Lewis from Per Capita’s Centre of the Public Square.
Also this week:
The Social Media Summit takeaways
The eyes inside our cars
And the Nobel Prize’s AI extravaganza
Don't forget to subscribe to The Town Crier, the official newsletter of the Centre for the Public Square and Burning Platforms podcast: https://the-town-crier-2.ghost.io/
