Kamala Harris as VP: Decoding Kamala Harris’s Stance on Big Tech

With connections in Silicon Valley and Wall Street, Kamala Harris could be the face America needs. As the running mate for presidential candidate Joe Biden, can Harris resolve the burgeoning tech issues like facial recognition bias, cybersecurity, and data privacy?

This week, the US politics witnessed a historic decision made by the democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden. To rattle his rivals Donald Trump and Mike Pence, Biden announced California Senator, Kamala Harris, as his vice president. Harris became the first African American and the first Asian American woman to be chosen as a US vice president.

I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked @KamalaHarrisOpens a new window — a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants — as my running mate.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 11, 2020Opens a new window

Harris as VP could be a sigh of relief for the Silicon Valley and tech industry. Known as a progressive prosecutor and an ally of Bay Area tech companies, Harris has vouched for tech companies as a solution rather than a threat and has always taken a moderate approach with the tech companies. Unlike Sen. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, Harris didn’t favor breaking up tech giants like Facebook, Google, and Amazon. In fact, Harris is a part of the antitrust committee against the big four – Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Apple.

The synergy of Biden-Harris can make impactful changes in the technology sector ranging from data protection, antitrust enforcement, AI racial bias, cybersecurity, and various other tech policies. Let’s delve deeper into the ties between Harris and the tech world and what the tech industry can expect from the Biden-Harris ticket. 

Mobile App Privacy Protection

During her state attorney general days, Harris had a strong stance on consumer’s online privacy protection. In 2012, Harris inked a mobile app privacy agreement with six prominent tech companies- Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, and Research in Motion. The agreement attempted to align mobile apps with the California Online Privacy Protection Act, which mandates mobile app developers to share privacy policies with users.

Harris saidOpens a new window , “Your personal privacy should not be the cost of using mobile apps, but all too often it is. By ensuring that mobile apps have privacy policies, we create more transparency and give mobile users more informed control over who accesses their personal information and how it is used.”

Moreover, in 2018, Harris even scrutinized Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg about data privacy. On winning the election, Biden-Harris would focus more on consumer data protection and bring stronger data privacy laws to give consumers more control and visibility of their personal information. 

Addressing the Facial Recognition Bias Issue

In 2018, Harris showed her concerns over the growing adoption of automation and AI by federal agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). With other members of the US Senate, Harris wrote letters to the federal agencies to address the racial bias controversies around facial recognition technology. In the same year, Harris and other US senators established AI in Government Act, a bill to regulate AI usage across the federal government with technical expertise and research.

Harris explained Opens a new window the racial bias of emerging technologies, including AI and machine learning. In the light of racial profiling and mass surveillance, tech titans, including IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, have halted their facial recognition software sales to the law enforcement agencies.

If Biden-Harris wins the election, their administration would enforce stricter anti-bias policies in employment, housing, retail, healthcare, and criminal justice. Harris will focus on AI algorithmic accountability, identify technical flaws in facial recognition, and reduce gender and racial bias. 

Cyberattack: A War Without Blood

Harris has always strived to stem the tide of cyberattacks, breaches, and cyberbully. In 2013 Harris addressed cyber exploitation and sentenced Kevin Bollaert, founder of UGotPosted.com, to 18 years in prison. In 2018, she reintroduced an economic espionage bill to address theft of US intellectual property and trade secrets. Upon winning the election, Harris might pass laws that will reduce cyberattacks and fuel tech mavens’ innovative cybersecurity projects.

Tech World’s Reaction

LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman cheered Biden’s decision of Harris as a running mate on Twitter.

Congratulations to new #VPPickOpens a new window @KamalaHarrisOpens a new window ! And to @JoeBidenOpens a new window , for adding such a strong, experienced, and inspiring leader to the team. The two of them together will help restore the values and ideals that America needs to prosper in the 21st century.

— Reid Hoffman (@reidhoffman) August 12, 2020Opens a new window

Despite Harris’s firm stand against Zuckerberg, Facebook’s COO, Sheryl Sandberg congratulated and celebrated Harris’ selection as VP candidate.

View this post on Instagram

Today @kamalaharris became the first Black woman to be nominated for Vice President of the United States. This is a huge moment for Black women and girls all over the world – and for all of us. Our nation has a history of great women like Shirley Chisholm who have fought to lead and now, for the first time, we’ll see a Black woman on the ticket for the highest office in the land. In a world where there are still far too few Black women leaders in our companies and government, that really matters – because you can’t be what you can’t see. Research shows that women running for office face obstacles that men don’t. People are more likely to question their qualifications, criticize their looks, or simply dislike them. For women of color, this gender bias is compounded by racial bias. Black women candidates face double discrimination on the campaign trail, including criticisms of being “too ambitious” or “out for herself.” There’s no denying that Kamala Harris is ambitious – and that’s something we should be celebrating. Today, I am hopeful that many more Black women and girls will be inspired to run for office at every level. It’s only when everyone can compete and get a fair shot that we’ll get a government that truly represents all of us.Opens a new window

A post shared by Sheryl SandbergOpens a new window (@sherylsandberg) on Aug 11, 2020 at 2:28pm PDT

Ben Thompson, anchor at WCNC Charlotte., shared a tweet poll asking his followers if Harris was a strategically smart pick as VP for Joe Biden and 57.2% agreed that she would make a difference.

Regardless of your political affiliation, do you think @KamalaHarrisOpens a new window was a strategically smart pick as a running mate for Joe Biden? #WakeUpCLTOpens a new window

— Ben Thompson (@Bentnews) August 12, 2020Opens a new window

To sum it up, the tech industry can expect more focus from Harris on consumer data protection, stronger data privacy laws, solid anti-bias policies, and stricter laws to reduce cybersecurity attacks. Harris may have to shift focus to AI, facial recognition, and drone surveillance during a Biden administration. If Biden wins the 2020 election, Harris may just be the change that the US needs right now. From boosting the minimum wage, paid family leave, affordable housing, and stricter data privacy policies to criminal justice, Biden-Harris have robust strategies to solve American citizens’ growing issues. However, experts think that Harris is more likely to play a larger role in bigger issues like intellectual property and immigration, instead of reforming tech policies.

How do you think Harris’ appointment will change tech? Comment below or let us know on LinkedInOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window . We’d love to hear from you!