Behind the Mirror 1.1: Joan is awful

In this episode, Josh and Nayana discuss new rules and responsibilities for platforms in Europe’s Digital Services Act, explore a legal fight over a pair of popular Indian photoblogs, and react to updated social media guidelines for BBC presenters. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit skeptechs.substack.com

Josh and Nayana are back for season 6 of skeptechs! And there’s lots to catch up on, including rumours that the platform-formally-known-as-Twitter will get a paywall, the latest fragmentation in platform governance, and whether the Hollywood writing and acting strike will limit the use of AI in filmmaking. Note: this episode involves discussion of the allegations of sexual assault recently made against Russell Brand. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit skeptechs.substack.com

In a first for the show, in this episode Josh and Nayana discuss their own PhD research. First, Josh discusses his recently-completed PhD on the app store governance of fringe platform Parler, before Nayana explains her work on digital storytelling in India. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit skeptechs.substack.com

In the final episode of the Behind the Mirror miniseries, Josh and Nayana cover the final two episodes of Black Mirror: Mazey Day and Demon 79. They also discuss reactions to the season as a whole and speculate what the future might hold for Black Mirror. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit skeptechs.substack.com

This episode, Josh and Nayana are joined by Jon Nash and Charlie Smith, authors of an insightful new report for Demos on the future of data sharing online. Jon and Charlie argue for a new device-based approach to data sharing that prioritises consent, privacy and interoperability. You can read Jon and Charlie’s report here: https://demos.co.uk/research/rewiring-the-web-the-future-of-personal-data/Jon is @jonjnash and Charlie is @charliehrysmith on Twitter. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit skeptechs.substack.com

In the next episode of our Black Mirror miniseries, Josh and Nayana review the third episode of the new season, “Beyond the Sea”—which sees two astronauts face challenges back at home. Contains spoilers for this and earlier episodes of Black Mirror. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit skeptechs.substack.com

In the second episode of the Behind the Mirror miniseries, Josh and Nayana discuss “Loch Henry”, which sees a pair of filmmakers investigate a serial killer in a Scottish town and try to generate some great content. Contains spoilers for the second episode of the new season of Black Mirror. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit skeptechs.substack.com

In an exciting twist, we’re launching a new miniseries—Behind the Mirror—to recap each episode of the new season of dystopian tech sci-fi Black Mirror! In this first episode, Josh and Nayana break down Joan is Awful, which touches on pervasive surveillance, online shaming, and a barely disguised satire of Black Mirror’s real-life “engagement”-obsessed distribution platform Netflix. Contains spoilers of Episode 1 only. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit skeptechs.substack.com

This week, Josh and Nayana are joined by friend and University of Bologna PhD student Emmie Hine, who studies the ethics and human rights of extended reality. It’s a timely conversation given Apple’s unveiling of the Reality Pro headset, its first foray into the extended reality space. But if this is a new era of computing, what does it mean for society, culture, and human rights? Listen to find out!Find more of Emmie’s thoughts on technology ethics at ethicalreckoner.substack.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit skeptechs.substack.com

In a special episode, Josh and Nayana discuss the series finale of Succession, a show which satirised old and new media through the lives of the super-wealthy and emotionally unhealthy. *Be warned: spoilers throughout.* This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit skeptechs.substack.com