Tech Life

Latest Episodes:

Facial recognition technology and the war in Ukraine Apr 15, 2022

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A controversial facial recognition company helps identify the dead in Ukraine. And a look at whether age verification tech can stop children viewing pornography online.

What next for Twitter now Elon Musk is on board? Apr 08, 2022

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This week, Tech Tent speaks to Professor Brooke Erin Duffy about what Elon Musk investing in Twitter could mean for the social platform. The curator of TED, Chris Anderson, gives details about the return of the conference in person. And Kay Wackwitz, from Drone Industry Insights, considers a major expansion of deliveries by unmanned aircraft in the US.

A huge, new crypto heist Apr 01, 2022

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We report on the latest high-profile, high value theft of cryptocurrency. David Canellis, from the website, Protos, analyses what happened. The space expert Dr Teasel Muir-Harmony explains why the US and Russia continue to co-operate over the International Space Station. And Alex Bornyakov, the Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, describes how tech workers there are taking the fight to Russia.

The tech of war crime investigation Mar 25, 2022

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This week's episode features an interview with Wendy Betts, who is involved with an app developed for war crimes investigators. John Hultquist, who’s Vice President of the cyber security firm, Mandiant, speaks about the cyber threat Russia poses to the US. And Tom Gerken reports on the millions of dollars raised by people playing Fortnite for the Ukrainian humanitarian effort.

Tech goes to the aid of Ukrainian refugees Mar 19, 2022

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This week's guests include Ina Burgstaller, who set up an online service for victims of the war needing medical treatment. One of the volunteer medics, Dr Lawrence Barnes also explains why he got involved. We hear about the lift-sharing scheme dubbed Uber for refugees, helping to get Ukrainians to safety. And a new trial to see if gaming can ease pain.

The cyber conflict in Ukraine Mar 05, 2022

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Alongside the physical conflict in Ukraine, battles are also being fought online. What do they tell us about the evolving nature of hacking attacks and disinformation ? And as volunteer hackers and hacktivists join the fray is there a risk they could provoke a response that takes the conflict to a new level? We also hear how digital businesses in Ukraine are adapting to the sudden arrival of war, and look at the positives and negatives of using satellite broadband to stay online.

The return of Trump? Feb 18, 2022

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Donald Trump is banned on Twitter and Facebook. Can he make a social media comeback? James Clayton and Jasmin Dyer discuss Trump's plans for his own social media platform 'Truth Social', and hear from Jason Miller, a former Trump adviser and founder of the GETTR platform. Plus we hear how US authorities tracked down billions of stolen Bitcoin, and the growing trend of celebrities advertising cryptocurrency to the masses.

(Photo: Donald Trump at a recent rally, Credit: Getty Images)

A major chip deal collapses Feb 11, 2022

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Chip maker Arm won't be bought by Nvidia after all. Jane Wakefield speaks to the new Arm CEO Rene Haas about the future for the UK firm. Plus the BBC's James Clayton in Silicon Valley tells us about the sexual content evading the moderators on children's gaming platform Roblox, and the challenges of policing the nascent metaverse. And Pete Snyder from the privacy-focused web browser Brave discusses the prospect of an internet without cookies.

(Photo: Arm logo, Credit: Getty Images)

Facebook's metaverse gamble Feb 04, 2022

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Facebook is losing users, will it's pivot to the metaverse pay off? Chris Fox speaks to Parmy Olson, technology columnist at Bloomberg about Facebook's parent company Meta, and the challenge of developing its own technology for the virtual world. Plus the co-chair of the Facebook Oversight Board Helle Thorning-Schmidt tells us why organisations like hers are helping Meta become more transparent in the way it moderates its platforms. And the BBC's Joe Tidy reports from Kazakhstan on the central Asian country's boom in Bitcoin mining, and the impact it's having on the environment.

(Photo: Meta headquarters in Silicon Valley, Credit: Getty Images)

Making microchips in the US Jan 28, 2022

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Chris Fox and Jane Wakefield discuss Intel and US efforts to make more microchips at home amid the continuing global chip shortage. Plus we hear from the inventor of a car that turns into an airplane at the push of a button, and find out why video gamers are leading the backlash against NFTs.

(Photo: US President Joe Biden holds a microchip at a press conference in February 2021, Credit: Getty Images)