The Democratization of Technology: A Discussion on the Accessibility of Innovation

While individuals today have unprecedented opportunities for technological innovation, this has also created challenges as policy struggles to keep pace with technology.

On Tuesday, June 14, the Hill hosted a conversation on open source and the democratization of technology. Topics of discussion included: How can making technological innovation more accessible diversify the marketplace? What security challenges are posed by the ability to modify and repurpose applications by the masses? Policymakers and industry leaders considered the delicate balance between the desire to stay at the cutting-edge of technology and the protection of intellectual property and data security.

Featured speakers included:

REP. BLAKE FARENTHOLD (R-TX-27), Co-Chair, Congressional Open Source Technology Caucus

REP. JARED POLIS (D-CO-2), Co-Chair, Congressional Open Source Technology Caucus

MARK JAMISON, Senior Vice President, Global New Product Design, Visa

MARGARET SHEPARD, Managing Director, 1776

MORGAN REED, Executive Director, ACT | The App Association