My name is Kathy Pham and I am a Harvard Berkman Klein Fellow for the 2017-2018
My name is Kathy Pham and I am a Harvard Berkman Klein Fellow for the 2017-2018

year. Having worked with both a large tech company, as well as within the
year. Having worked with both a large tech company, as well as within the

federal government, I constantly think about how do we build products that are
federal government, I constantly think about how do we build products that are

responsible and ethical and take into account our users? Another focus is the
responsible and ethical and take into account our users? Another focus is the

intersection of government and technology. How do we get policy folks interested in,
intersection of government and technology. How do we get policy folks interested in,

but also understanding technology, as well as getting technologists, whether
but also understanding technology, as well as getting technologists, whether

they're engineers, or product managers, or designers, interested in public service
they're engineers, or product managers, or designers, interested in public service

or working in the federal government. In my early days as a software engineer the
or working in the federal government. In my early days as a software engineer the

topics around users and the user experience of something, or even the
topics around users and the user experience of something, or even the

broader social impact of what we build wasn't always there, either. One of the
broader social impact of what we build wasn't always there, either. One of the

things that has come up here at Berkman is attacking it from the
things that has come up here at Berkman is attacking it from the

curricula level of really teaching our computer scientists and engineers how to
curricula level of really teaching our computer scientists and engineers how to

critically think about the effects in the long term, or even short term effects,
critically think about the effects in the long term, or even short term effects,

of what we build. Think about some of the implications of collecting data.
of what we build. Think about some of the implications of collecting data.

Think about what happens when the data is stored long term. Think about how
Think about what happens when the data is stored long term. Think about how

something can be misused or not used the way we intended for it to be used.
something can be misused or not used the way we intended for it to be used.

What can we do in the policy space that makes sense? You know, it gets tricky
What can we do in the policy space that makes sense? You know, it gets tricky

because we we get into the free speech realm of we don't want to restrict the
because we we get into the free speech realm of we don't want to restrict the

ability to build products or people's freedom of speech on different platforms,
ability to build products or people's freedom of speech on different platforms,

but what is the responsibility of tech companies in looking at their users? How
but what is the responsibility of tech companies in looking at their users? How

can we use technology to really provide better government services for people,
can we use technology to really provide better government services for people,

people who can't go in-person to different government service locations
people who can't go in-person to different government service locations

to get care, whether they're veterans, or people who need to get services. How can
to get care, whether they're veterans, or people who need to get services. How can

we use technology to really make their lives a lot better? I constantly think,
we use technology to really make their lives a lot better? I constantly think,

I'm very excited about different ways that technology can be used to provide
I'm very excited about different ways that technology can be used to provide

care services to maybe our most vulnerable populations or people who
care services to maybe our most vulnerable populations or people who

need help the most.
need help the most.