Pranav Dixit's guest appearances

Pranav Dixit

The Arts of Travel

Big Tech

Big Technology Podcast

Peter Thiel

Donald Trump

Elon Musk

Nir Eyal

Lawrence Lessig

Gary Vaynerchuk

Ben Scott

Zach Coelius

Amy Klobuchar

Hussein Kesvani

Jeff Bezos

Jonathan Haidt

Matt Stoller

Scott Galloway

Shahid Buttar

OwlTail

Tech platforms from around the world have turned their attention to the India as a new area for user growth. These tech giants are keen to see mass adoption of their products and services by the one-billion-strong Indian market. At the same time, politicians in India have leveraged the platforms’ powers to entrench their own power. In late May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government announced new “IT rules” that give authorities power to ask platforms and digital news media to trace chats, break encryption and block content. The companies must weigh the importance of the Indian market to their bottom line against their users’ right to privacy. In this episode of Big Tech, Taylor Owen speaks with Pranav Dixit, tech reporter for BuzzFeed News. Dixit has been reporting on tech-related news in India since 2016. A article for Buzzfeed, “I Thought My Job Was To Report On Technology In India. Instead, I Got A Front-Row Seat To The Decline Of My Democracy,” explored the current platform governance landscape in India. Pranav and Taylor discuss how India’s approach to platform governance is similar to that of other Western-style democracies, and how the same rules that can be used to target hate speech can also be used to stifle political dissent. 

Tech platforms from around the world have turned their attention to the India as a new area for user growth. These tech giants are keen to see mass adoption of their products and services by the one-billion-strong Indian market. At the same time, politicians in India have leveraged the platforms’ powers to entrench their own power. In late May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government announced new “IT rules” that give authorities power to ask platforms and digital news media to trace chats, break encryption and block content. The companies must weigh the importance of the Indian market to their bottom line against their users’ right to privacy. In this episode of Big Tech, Taylor Owen speaks with Pranav Dixit, tech reporter for BuzzFeed News. Dixit has been reporting on tech-related news in India since 2016. A article for Buzzfeed, “<a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/indian-government-using-tech-destroy-democracy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I Thought My Job Was To Report On Technology In India. Instead, I Got A Front-Row Seat To The Decline Of My Democracy</a>,” explored the current platform governance landscape in India. Pranav and Taylor discuss how India’s approach to platform governance is similar to that of other Western-style democracies, and how the same rules that can be used to target hate speech can also be used to stifle political dissent.

Pranav Dixit on Modi’s Moves to Manipulate Platforms

In India, the Narendra Modi government is threatening to put Twitter officials in jail unless they block approximately 250 accounts of people they don’t like. They include activists, political commentators, a movie star, and an investigative news magazine.That’s why we’re doing a bonus, emergency podcast on this quick developing situation, and what it means for the future of speech on the internet, and social media more broadly. Joining us to discuss is Pranav Dixit, a reporter at BuzzFeed News based in India who has been covering this closely and brings us the perspective from the ground.

In India, the Narendra Modi government is threatening to put Twitter officials in jail unless they block approximately 250 accounts of people they don’t like. They include activists, political commentators, a movie star, and an investigative news magazine. That’s why we’re doing a bonus, emergency podcast on this quick developing situation, and what it means for the future of speech on the internet, and social media more broadly.  Joining us to discuss is Pranav Dixit, a reporter at BuzzFeed News based in India who has been covering this closely and brings us the perspective from the ground.

Bonus: India vs. Twitter, with Pranav Dixit of BuzzFeed News

We spoke with Pranav Dixit (Twitter: @PranavDixit) on the recent protests in India, how Tech is aiding the current Modi/BJP Government's turn towards authoritarianism, and how Silicon Valley, with its 'move fast and break things' motto, has broken countless promises and lives within India.It's a fascinating conversation with one of my favorite journalists. For more of Pranav's writing, I recommend the following stories he's written:• On the creation of Nation-wide Facial Recognition Database and the India companies competing to become the next Palantir: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/india-is-creating-a-national-facial-recognition-system-and• On how Whatsapp Rumors destroy the social fabric of India's villages and have led to violence: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/whatsapp-destroyed-village-lynchings-rainpada-india• On how Twitter, despite claiming India to be their most "important market" constantly shows a lack of understanding and sensitivity to Caste and Regional Languages : https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/in-secret-meeting-top-twitter-execs-blindsided-by-reports • On Netflix signing agreement's with India's Government to (potentially) allow censorship of content: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/netflix-self-censorship-code-india• On the disappearance of Kashmiris from Whatsapp groups and the "digital siege" being led by India's government on Kashmir: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/hundreds-of-kashmiris-are-disappearing-from-their-whatsapp• On how empowerment and capitalism can become intertwined within programs to help India's women access the internet: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/facebook-women-undercover-india• And (my personal favorite) how White Westerners use YouTube and Bollywood to gain fans in India. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/youtube-americans-reaction-videos-indiaBeat is 'Copycats' by Eskry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ehcfRHv_6oCover Art credit to Express VPN: https://www.expressvpn.com/blog/india-mass-surveillance-bill/

We spoke with Pranav Dixit (Twitter: @PranavDixit) on the recent protests in India, how Tech is aiding the current Modi/BJP Government's turn towards authoritarianism, and how Silicon Valley, with its 'move fast and break things' motto, has broken countless promises and lives within India. It's a fascinating conversation with one of my favorite journalists. For more of Pranav's writing, I recommend the following stories he's written: • On the creation of Nation-wide Facial Recognition Database and the India companies competing to become the next Palantir: <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/india-is-creating-a-national-facial-recognition-system-and" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/india-is-creating-a-national-facial-recognition-system-and</a> • On how Whatsapp Rumors destroy the social fabric of India's villages and have led to violence: <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/whatsapp-destroyed-village-lynchings-rainpada-india" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/whatsapp-destroyed-village-lynchings-rainpada-india</a> • On how Twitter, despite claiming India to be their most "important market" constantly shows a lack of understanding and sensitivity to Caste and Regional Languages : <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/in-secret-meeting-top-twitter-execs-blindsided-by-reports" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/in-secret-meeting-top-twitter-execs-blindsided-by-reports</a> • On Netflix signing agreement's with India's Government to (potentially) allow censorship of content: <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/netflix-self-censorship-code-india" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/netflix-self-censorship-code-india</a> • On the disappearance of Kashmiris from Whatsapp groups and the "digital siege" being led by India's government on Kashmir: <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/hundreds-of-kashmiris-are-disappearing-from-their-whatsapp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/hundreds-of-kashmiris-are-disappearing-from-their-whatsapp</a> • On how empowerment and capitalism can become intertwined within programs to help India's women access the internet: <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/facebook-women-undercover-india" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/facebook-women-undercover-india</a> • And (my personal favorite) how White Westerners use YouTube and Bollywood to gain fans in India. <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/youtube-americans-reaction-videos-india" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/youtube-americans-reaction-videos-india</a> Beat is 'Copycats' by Eskry: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ehcfRHv_6o" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ehcfRHv_6o</a> Cover Art credit to Express VPN: <a href="https://www.expressvpn.com/blog/india-mass-surveillance-bill/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.expressvpn.com/blog/india-mass-surveillance-bill/</a>

Big Brother, Big Tech & Big Modi: Pranav Dixit of Buzzfeed News on Survelliance and Silicon Valley's Broken Promises in India