Encryption has become a cornerstone of digital trust — but who bears the costs of maintaining it, and what is at stake when governments seek greater access to private communications? Join Udbhav Tiwari (Vice President of Strategy and Global Affairs at Signal) for a conversation on "The Encryption Equation: Trust, Technology, and the Public Good."
Drawing on his work, Tiwari will unpack the logic behind end-to-end encryption, the financial and technical challenges of sustaining secure communications infrastructure, and the growing pressure posed by government mandates and surveillance demands — and what these tensions mean for user trust, platform responsibility, and the public interest.
Susan McGregor (Research Scholar at Columbia University's Data Science Institute) will serve as the discussant.
This event is part of the Digital Governance for Democratic Renewal webinar series, hosted by Tech Policy Press, Columbia World Projects, and the Centre for Digital Governance at the Hertie School. The series brings together leading voices in technology, policy, and academia to explore how we can redesign digital infrastructures to serve democracy rather than erode it. This event is open to the public. Whether you work in policy, technology, research, civil society, or are simply concerned about the future of privacy and democratic governance in the digital age, we invite you to join the conversation.