Join the City of Portland for a virtual panel exploring how Oregonians can shape the future of digital rights, access, and responsible technology use. This year's event highlights the City's ongoing work to ensure technology serves the public good — from expanding digital access and protecting privacy to responsibly using data and artificial intelligence.

Please RSVP on Meetup if you have an account

Come out and join us to network with local cloud native peers.

Agenda: 5:00pm to 5:30pm – Munchies and Networking! Food sponsored by Red Hat

5:45pm - A conversation (or maybe surprise talk!) with Kelsey Hightower

Kelsey is a renowned software engineer, developer advocate, and speaker—celebrated for his role in shaping Kubernetes and cloud-native infrastructure, and previously a Distinguished Engineer at Google Cloud

6:15pm - The -ization of Containerization by Eric Ernst, Apple

The recent open sourcing of Apple Containerization framework and Container tooling projects enable developers to create and run Linux container images directly on their Mac in a way that focuses on security and privacy. In this talk we’ll talk about the container CLI tool and how it utilizes Containerization to provide simple yet powerful functionality to build, run and deploy Linux containers on Mac. We’ll talk about the architecture, why we wrote the framework and tool in Swift, what future development looks like, and how the community can get involved.

6:45pm - Kubernetes Operators by Wuxin Zeng, Red Hat

7:30pm – Networking and Board games!

None of this would be possible without our amazing sponsors:

Thanks to Reperio Health for sponsoring the meetup space
Thanks to Red Hat for sponsoring the food

Join Community Broadband PDX for a virtual meetup on May 6, 2025 from 7pm to 8pm. We'll go over our post-election campaign strategy to encourage investment in a publicly owned broadband network, talk about our block area fiber network testbed project in cooperation with Personal Telco, and catch you up on our mutual aid work around digital privacy and safety.

If you can't make this meeting, we hope to see you on June 3, 2025 in person at a location TBD.

Contact [email protected] for issues joining the video meeting

Women's Wealth & Wellness: The conversation no one is having.

Join us for Women’s Wealth & Wellness, a dynamic panel discussion focused on empowering women in technology leadership to take charge of their relationship with money. This event will help women understand the connection between money, self-esteem, and success. You will leave this event with tips and actionable strategies for making more confident career and money decisions.

Key Discussion Topics:

Why money matters – resources to improve financial literacy & independence. How financial independence shapes career and life choices. How to talk about money – tips & tricks for salary negotiations. How to navigate financial risks and career transitions with confidence. How financial choices impact your health & wellness. This event is designed for women at all stages of their careers, from emerging leaders to seasoned professionals. Gain insights, share experiences, and walk away with practical steps to strengthen your financial future.

Meet our Panel:

Lori Gilyard, Vice President of IT, Ardon Health, is an experienced IT leader with a strong background in managing large teams and optimizing technology operations. As Vice President of IT at Ardon Health, she oversees IT solutions and support for key business functions. She has led teams of up to 140 full-time employees and contractors, managed outsourced IT production support, and coordinated multiple vendor relationships. Over the past 13 years, her teams have provided IT support and solutions for Human Resources, Quality Assurance, Business Operations, North America Geography, Global Sales, and IT Service Management. Lori focuses on efficient IT management, vendor coordination, and delivering reliable technology support.

Aimee Keeney, Wealth Advisor, Firenze Wealth Management, is an experienced Financial Planner who brings strategy and simplicity to financial planning for busy professionals. She is a collaborator, connector, educator and leader in Financial Services and Risk Protection, with over 25 years experience working with Small Business owners, Individuals and Families. Aimee helps clients understand their relationship to money, build a strong, comprehensive vision, and set realistic goals to secure Retirement and achieve Financial Independence.

Prior to training as a Psilocybin Facilitator, Michelle Harrell, Founder, Tree of Life Facilitation Services & Purple City Retreats enjoyed a successful international corporate career working primarily in Human Resources and Information Technology. For over 20 years, Michelle supported global teams through various change programs, from organizational restructures to implementing new process and technology systems, to standing up entirely new functions and teams. Through her work, she realized how difficult change is for most people and she enjoyed supporting others through their own life transitions, big and small. Living and working abroad while raising two children overseas provided opportunity to work with individuals of all backgrounds, cultures & nationalities. She aims to bring this passion for diversity and personalized service to her facilitation practice. Michelle’s own experiences with psilocybin created a paradigm shift in how she saw herself, how she saw the world and how she related with others, resulting in positive changes to her life overall. She felt called to pivot and make one of the biggest changes in her career, becoming a licensed psilocybin facilitator. She is excited and humbled to serve others as they embark on their own healing journeys to improved mental health, wellness, and relationships.

Vidhya Chanderasekaran is a seasoned technology leader with over 20 years of experience in software engineering. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Engineering and Chief Information Security Officer at Fond, where she oversaw software engineering practices, product delivery, resource planning, budgeting, data privacy, and compliance—ensuring alignment with business goals. Vidhya is known for driving a "shift-left" approach to quality, embedding it throughout the software development lifecycle, and advocates for applying the same principles to security. She has led teams through agile transformations, introduced automated testing, and implemented process improvements to boost efficiency and product reliability. Passionate about team development, Vidhya prioritizes coaching and mentoring to help individuals grow in their careers. She remains committed to continuous learning and staying adaptable in the fast-moving tech industry.

Our Moderator:

Jennifer Waldrip, Vice President, Client & Talent Services at ProFocus Technology, drives growth by leading sales and delivery teams. She focuses on hiring, training, and developing talent while helping shape key growth strategies. With extensive staffing experience, she bridges the corporate and talent worlds. Before joining ProFocus, she consulted with a strong focus on quality. Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys adventures with her husband and three children. She loves the outdoors, especially running, walking, or biking. Passionate about giving back, she serves on the Astoria High School Scholarship Board and volunteers at her church teaching youth and self-reliance courses.

Agenda

4:30 - 5:00 Networking 5:00 - 6:00 Panel Discussion 6:00 - 6:30 Open Group Discussion and Q & A

Join the Portland AWS User Group for a full day of AI Governance!

We are thrilled to invite you to the first AI Governance Day hosted by the Portland AWS User Group. Learn from expert speakers and tech leaders about AI governance, ask your burning questions, network with fellow techies, and join interactive demonstrations. Join us for one session or come hang out all day!

📍 Location: AWS Elemental (PDX13) 📍 Address: 1320 SW Broadway #400, Portland, OR 97201 Access: You MUST be registered on Meetup.com and bring a photo ID to attend this event.

Schedule:

9:00 - 9:30 am Doors & Donuts & Coffee Sponsored by ProFocus Technology 9:45 - 10:00 am Welcome from AWS User Group Leaders! 10:00 - 11:00 am Role of Data Engineering in AI Governance with Andrew Kalik 11:00 - 11:15 am BREAK 11:15 - 12:15 pm The Weaponization of AI, Its Impact on Organizations, and How to Respond with Trey Blalock 12:15 - 1:15 LUNCH - Lite bites & snacks provided! 1:15 - 2:15 Use AWS Well-Architected to Navigate & Evolve Enterprise AI Governance with Logan Kleier & Emily Soward 2:15 - 2:45 Interactive Session with Logan Kleier & Emily Soward 2:45 - 3:00 pm BREAK 3:00 - 4:30 pm Hands-on Workshop: AI Governance Tools with Karthik Rajendran 4:30 - 4:45 pm Closing Remarks! 5:00 pm Event Close - Please plan to leave the building before 5 pm. Speaker Bios: Trey Blalock is a highly respected Chief Information Security Officer and security researcher who has performed extensive work in almost every security domain for some of the world's largest corporations and governments. He has managed all aspects of security for one of the world's largest financial transaction hubs, performed hundreds of penetration tests for Fortune 500 companies, and has performed forensics for several high-profile cases such as "Donald Vance vs. Donald Rumsfeld."

Andrew Kalik is the Director of Data Engineering at NBCUniversal, leading data-driven solutions for business insights. He is an AWS Community Builder in the Data category and a Certified Scrum Master and Scrum Product Owner. With a background in computer science, he actively contributes to the tech community and participates in industry events, including the Portland AWS User Group.

Logan Kleier is a technical product manager with 10 years of experience across startups and enterprise environments. He's currently a Senior Product Manager at AWS for Trusted Advisor and Well Architected. He's also built Oracle Cloud's Center for Internet Security foundational benchmarks and a concert ticket comparison platform that predicts with 95% accuracy when concert ticket prices go up or down. His career path includes roles as a startup founder twice over, creating ML systems that saved clients 30% on Office 365 costs and serving as the City of Portland's CISO where he built PCI-DSS compliant payment systems handling $180M annually, and developing one of America's largest public WiFi networks. With expertise in cloud computing, and security and compliance, Logan brings a balanced blend of technical knowledge and plain English focus on what do customers and users actually want.

Emily Soward is a leader in AI, ML, and Generative AI Security & Privacy, fostering collaboration between AI and Security communities while advising AWS customers, including Fortune 100 companies and public sector organizations, on AI vision and production readiness. With expertise in AI SDLC, AI Observability, and large-scale strategic AI initiatives, she focuses on governance, compliance, and operational resilience across industries such as critical infrastructure, healthcare, and manufacturing. A contributor to AWS' Well-Architected Framework and Cloud Adoption Framework, she plays a key role in Responsible AI, Generative AI Security, and AI Privacy.

Karthik Rajendran is a Senior Solutions Architect at AWS, with diverse Enterprise architecture experience across Finance, Retail, Insurance and energy sectors. He has over 20 years of experience architecting and building distributed, hybrid, and cloud native applications. His passion is helping enterprise customers with their cloud migration journey. Outside work passions include Milky Way photography and motorcycles.

🔗 Join our Slack community: AWS Portland User Group Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and level up your cloud skills!

You’re invited to a casual, friendly gathering where you can connect with the regulators shaping Oregon’s privacy landscape. This is your opportunity to get to know the team at the Oregon Department of Justice, hear about their priorities, and gain insight into how they engage with the privacy and business community.

We’ll kick things off with a fireside chat between Assistant Attorney General Kristen Hilton, the Department’s privacy unit lead, and Lauren Reid of The Privacy Pro. Kristen will share insights and lessons learned from the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act’s first 6 months in effect, and let us know what’s on the horizon for 2025 and beyond. Following that, we’ll have plenty of time for drinks, snacks, and networking.

Whether you’re a seasoned privacy professional, new to this space, or trying to figure out how the OCPA applies to your business, this is a great chance to build relationships and have meaningful conversations—no deep policy dives, just good company and insightful discussions.

Why Attend? Meet and connect with Oregon’s privacy regulators in an informal setting Hear about their priorities and approach to engagement Network with fellow privacy professionals over drinks and snacks Enjoy a relaxed evening with meaningful conversation

Event is free, registration via Eventbrite is required

Session Synopsis

AI Governance involves managing the trade-offs between innovation and risk management for artificial intelligence. This session will cover the following topics based on Sunil Soares’ books on AI Governance:

Agentic AI Governance – Best practices to implement governance within the context of Human-out-of-the-Loop.

People – Emerging roles and groups, such as the AI executive sponsor, AI governance leader, AI oversight board, AI steward, and AI center of excellence.

Process – 13 components and 100+ controls for AI governance.

Technology – Reference architecture to support AI governance including tools and vendors.

Regulations – Mappings of controls to regulations such as the EU AI Act.

Industry Standards – Mappings of controls to industry standards such as the NIST AI Risk Management Framework, OWASP Top 10 LLM and MITRE ATLAS.

Sunil Soares, Private Equity Exit/IAPP AIGP

Speaker Bio

Sunil Soares is the Founder and CEO of YDC, focused on AI Governance. Prior to this role, Sunil was the Founder and CEO of Information Asset, a data management firm, which he sold to private equity.

Sunil is the author of 12 books on data management and AI governance, including The IBM Data Governance Unified Process, Selling Information Governance to the Business, Big Data Governance, Data Governance Tools, Data Governance Guide for BCBS 239 and DFAST Compliance, The Chief Data Officer Handbook for Data Governance, and AI Governance. In the past, Sunil also worked as an auditor at PwC and as a management consultant at Booz and Company. Sunil was a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and has an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Sunil also holds the Artificial Intelligence Governance Practitioner (AIGP) certification from the International Association of Privacy Professionals. He has also successfully completed the IEEE CertifAIedTM Assessor Training for AI ethics assessments.

City governments and police everywhere use drones -- to help fight fires, monitor bridge equipment, or respond to critical incidents. But drones have their dark sides, and their potential for invasive over-surveillance and harmful privacy impacts is profound.

Portland City Council voted unanimously in September to expand Portland Police Bureau’s drone program. Join Portland Investigative Journalist and Researcher Kate Kaye to learn about Portland Police Bureau’s drones, what these flying devices can do, how police have actually used them, and what city policy addressing drones and other surveillance tech does – and does not do. Kate will also share how others can help conduct similar research, and save lots of time for your questions.

Did you know:

• Portland Police Bureau drone use has increased drastically - rising from between six and 18 times each month from June 2023 through October 2024 to more than 40 times in November 2024.

• Some of Portland Police Bureau’s drones include cameras that can zoom-in on people and vehicles and track them from a far-off distance.

• In many cases, PPB’s drones have been flown in neighborhoods where more people of color live and where poverty rates are higher than in other parts of the city and in Portland as a whole.

• Portland Police have flown drones inside a family’s apartment and to monitor or search for people including juveniles.

• PPB’s gun violence unit has patrolled neighborhoods in unmarked vehicles equipped with drones ready to deploy.

Please RSVP via Meetup or by sending an email to [email protected].

Speaker bio:

Kate Kaye is a journalist and researcher living in north Portland. She has reported on tech data use and its impacts for more than twenty years. The project and investigation described here was conducted entirely in her personal time. Kate’s reporting has been seen and heard in MIT Technology Review, NPR, Protocol, Bloomberg CityLab, OneZero, WSJ, Fast Company, and other media outlets. Kate is the founder of RedTailMedia.org, home to some of her work investigating algorithmic and surveillance tech use and policy in Portland including Banned in PDX, a podcast series about Portland’s facial recognition ban, and an investigation of the city’s collapsed partnership with Replica, a Google-affiliated location and mobility tracking company. Kate is the author of Campaign ’08: A Turning Point for Digital Media, a 2009 book on voter data use and digital politics.

By attending this TA3M meeting, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct: https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/

{short} Code of Conduct Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Mondays is dedicated to providing an informative and positive experience for everyone who participates in or supports our community, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, caste, or creed.

Our events are intended to educate and share information related to technology and activism, and anyone who is there for this purpose is welcome. Because we value the safety and security of our members and strive to have an inclusive community, we do not tolerate harassment of members or event participants in any form.

Audio and video recording are not permitted at meetings without prior approval.

Our Code of Conduct (https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/) applies to all events run by Portland's TA3M. Please report any incidents to the event organizer.

Join the Portland ASW User Group's Kick-Off Part at Lucky Labs in NW on Thursday, January 23rd from 6-9 pm.

Location: Private room at Lucky Labs NW! Food: Pizza & Salads provided! Drinks: Drink ticket provided!

Agenda: Networking & Food/Drinks AWS User Group Updates for 2025 w/ Emily Soward, AI Security & Privacy Technology Leader @ AWS re:Invent Recap w/ Andrew Kalik Director, Data Engineering @ NBCUniversal Tech Talk & Group Discussion w/ TBD Next event: Tech Talk?!

We are excited to be back for 2025! If you or someone you know would like to give a tech talk or presentation at any point in the coming year, please reach out to us.

Join our slack channel: https://join.slack.com/t/awsportlandusergroup/shared_invite/zt-2x5s7rxp3-Rizg87INFOQZjZzCZRxlDQ

The People’s Digital Safety Fair is a community event dedicated to building our collective knowledge to protect our safety and well-being in an increasingly digital world. Get helpful information and resources on how to keep yourself and your family safe online. Learn from experts through tabling, workshops, talks, and interactive activities on topics like personal data privacy, internet access, artificial intelligence, surveillance, and more.

In the absence of a federal privacy law, states have been enacting their own laws to protect the privacy of their residents. California began the trend by passing the California Consumer Privacy Act, which became effective as of January 1, 2020. Since then, eighteen other states have passed comprehensive privacy legislation, including Oregon, the eleventh state to do so. Oregon's new law, the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act (OCPA), took effect on July 1, 2024 and gives Oregonians a new and powerful set of consumer privacy rights and protections.

The OCPA defines personal and biometric data broadly, protects consumer data rights holistically, and holds companies that have access to our data to high standards. The Act also gives consumers control over how businesses use their personal data and guarantees Oregonians affirmative rights to manage and safeguard their personal data.

More information about the OCPA is available here: https://www.doj.state.or.us/consumer-protection/id-theft-data-breaches/privacy

While this new law may seem complicated, Dr. Katie Blevins, a Privacy Analyst with the Oregon Department of Justice, will join us this month to explain how the new law works. She'll detail both consumer rights and business obligations set forth by the new law, and she'll also discuss exemptions to the law and how any future federal laws might affect Oregon's law. Additionally, she'll share information about what you should do if you believe your rights have been violated and what happens then.

Bring your questions, and come learn what the OCPA means for you and your privacy!

This event is co-hosted by PDX Privacy and Portland's Techno-activism 3rd Mondays. Please RSVP via this Meetup page or by sending an email to [email protected].

Speaker bio: Dr. Katie Blevins is a Privacy Analyst in the Civil Enforcement of the Oregon Department of Justice. She received her Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University. Prior to her arrival at the Oregon DOJ, she was a tenured professor at the University of Idaho, where she was a member of the School of Journalism & Mass Media, Co-Director of the Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies Program, and a part time member of UI’s School of Law. She has published on issues around privacy, government transparency, telecommunications law, and fourth-wave feminism. In her role at the DOJ, she generates privacy policy, helps implement and enforce relevant privacy laws, and performs outreach on behalf of the citizens of Oregon.

By attending this TA3M meeting, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct: https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct

{short} Code of Conduct Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Mondays is dedicated to providing an informative and positive experience for everyone who participates in or supports our community, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, caste, or creed.

Our events are intended to educate and share information related to technology and activism, and anyone who is there for this purpose is welcome. Because we value the safety and security of our members and strive to have an inclusive community, we do not tolerate harassment of members or event participants in any form.

Audio and video recording are not permitted at meetings without prior approval.

Our Code of Conduct applies to all events run by Portland's TA3M. Please report any incidents to the event organizer.

Join us at the AI Portland Meetup for an insightful panel discussion on the intersection of generative image AI and the creative industries. Our panelists, each with their unique expertise, will shed light on how professionals in various creative fields are harnessing the power of AI tools while preserving the essence of their craft.

April's Panelists:

Aaron Hockley, Author and Photographer Aaron Hockley is a photographer, author, and speaker who merges his expertise in photography and technology to help others find success. He’s a PPA Master Photographer and Photographic Craftsman and has represented Team USA in the World Photographic Cup. He writes and speaks about technical aspects of photography, photo businesses, and the industry as a whole. He's spoken to audiences of photographers, marketers, and media professionals on stages of all sizes nationwide. Aaron’s recent ventures have focused on how Artificial Intelligence impacts how photographers capture, edit, and manage their images with an eye toward the shifting future of the industry. Find Aaron: https://techphotoguy.com https://youtube.com/@techphotoguy https://instagram.com/techphotoguy

Karly Hand, Brand Developer & Creative Lead Seasoned brand developer and creative director Karly Hand blends strategic insight with creative vision to craft compelling brand narratives. With a distinguished portfolio spanning two decades, she has cultivated and propelled lifestyle brands like Aspen Snowmass, Verb Products, Smith Optics, Microsoft, and Adidas, shaping their identities and communicating their core value through strategic, artful brand expressions.

Karissa Liloc, Principal Product Manager Karissa Liloc (she/her) is a Principal Product Manager at Getty Images focused on Generative AI and other tools that make it easier for customers to find and use imagery. Previously at Disney and Gap, Inc, she has a track record of bringing cross-functional teams together to provide solutions to user problems and business challenges. Her most recent work has been bringing Generative AI by Getty Images to market, offering commercially safe, easy-to-use, AI image generation that compensates creators.

Emily Maass, Attorney Emily represents cutting edge companies as privacy and product counsel, general counsel, and a data protection and cybersecurity advisor. She helps clients navigate complex privacy frameworks, contract negotiations, regulatory compliance, and daily business operations, and she provides ongoing counsel for product development, launch, and management. Emily supports companies in AI, web3, gaming, automation, and software applications serving a broad range of industries.

This event promises a deep dive into the world of generative image AI, providing valuable insights for photographers, designers, AI enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the intersection of technology and creativity. Whether you're an artist seeking to enhance your craft or a business professional curious about the possibilities of AI, this meetup is your opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of the subject and engage in thought-provoking discussions.

In February of last year, Portland's City Council passed a surveillance policy resolution to increase transparency and accountability in the use of surveillance technologies in Portland. As part of the resolution, Smart City PDX has been tasked with designing and implementing a citywide inventory of surveillance technologies owned or used by City Bureaus. During the summer, Smart City PDX and the Office of Equity and Human Rights held a series of public events and released a survey to gather input from local communities to help determine what information should be included in the inventory.

After analyzing the public comments, Smart City PDX recently released a draft version of the surveillance technologies inventory specification, which is available here: https://www.portland.gov/bps/smart-city-pdx/surveillance-policy/documents/surveillance-technologies-inventory-specification/download

At this month's meeting, Hector Dominguez, Open Data Coordinator at Smart City PDX, within Portland's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, will join us to discuss the draft surveillance technology inventory specification and to share details of how you can still give input into the inventory.

Come to the meeting, and learn about Portland's surveillance inventory, and bring your questions!

This event is co-hosted by PDX Privacy and Portland's Techno-activism 3rd Mondays. Please RSVP via the Meetup page or by sending an email to [email protected].

Speaker bio:

Hector Dominguez is the Open Data Coordinator at the City of Portland. In 2009, Portland became the first city in the United States to adopt an Open Data Resolution to encourage the expansion of the technological community by promoting open data and partnerships between City government and the public, private and nonprofit sectors, academia, and labor.

By attending this TA3M meeting, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct: https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/

{short} Code of Conduct Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Mondays is dedicated to providing an informative and positive experience for everyone who participates in or supports our community, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, caste, or creed.

Our events are intended to educate and share information related to technology and activism, and anyone who is there for this purpose is welcome. Because we value the safety and security of our members and strive to have an inclusive community, we do not tolerate harassment of members or event participants in any form.

Audio and video recording are not permitted at meetings without prior approval.

Our Code of Conduct applies to all events run by Portland's TA3M. Please report any incidents to the event organizer.

Last month, we heard about the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in our educational system, but these technologies are also being incorporated into many other commercial and social enterprises that impact our daily lives, including the fields of medicine, journalism, finance, human resources, law enforcement, and transportation, just to name a few.

While AI technologies may be beneficial to society, how do we know that the systems being developed are trustworthy and that they actually do what their creators claim? Can developers explain how their AI systems work and demonstrate that the outputs they generate are not biased? How might governments regulate these systems? Should companies be allowed to regulate themselves? How might governments and companies work together to ensure fairness and understandability of what the systems are doing?

Last year, World Privacy Forum, a privacy-focused research nonprofit, studied various AI governance tools currently in use around the world. They recently published their findings via a report that was co-authored by Pam Dixon, executive director of World Privacy Forum, and Kate Kaye, deputy director of the organization: https://www.worldprivacyforum.org/2023/12/new-report-risky-analysis-assessing-and-improving-ai-governance-tools/

At this month's meeting, World Privacy Forum’s Kate Kaye will join us to share the details of their research methodologies and what they learned about how governments are overseeing the implementation of AI in their countries. She'll give an overview of what AI is and what it does, and she'll also present some examples of both effective and ineffective approaches to good governance of these systems.

Bring your questions and thoughts about AI governance, and come join the discussion!

Please RSVP via this Meetup page or by sending an email to [email protected].

Speaker bio:

Kate Kaye is a Portland resident and deputy director of World Privacy Forum, a nonpartisan public-interest research nonprofit. Her research focuses on the implications of AI, digital identity and health data ecosystems, data governance, and other issues related to data collection, use and privacy.

Before joining World Privacy Forum, Kate worked for more than 20 years as an award-winning journalist covering data, emerging technology and the impact of tech on people and society. Her reporting has been seen and heard in MIT Technology Review, NPR, Protocol, Bloomberg CityLab, OneZero, WSJ, Fast Company, and other media outlets.

Kate is the founder of tech and AI ethics reporting website RedTailMedia.org. RedTail has been home to some of her work investigating algorithmic and surveillance tech policy and use in Portland including Banned in PDX, a podcast series about Portland’s facial recognition ban, and an investigation of the city’s collapsed partnership with Google-sibling Replica, a location and mobility tracking company. Kate is the author of the 2009 book on digital voter data use, Campaign ’08: A turning point for digital media.

By attending this TA3M meeting, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct: https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/

{short} Code of Conduct Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Mondays is dedicated to providing an informative and positive experience for everyone who participates in or supports our community, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, caste, or creed.

Our events are intended to educate and share information related to technology and activism, and anyone who is there for this purpose is welcome. Because we value the safety and security of our members and strive to have an inclusive community, we do not tolerate harassment of members or event participants in any form.

Audio and video recording are not permitted at meetings without prior approval.

Our Code of Conduct (https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/) applies to all events run by Portland's TA3M. Please report any incidents to the event organizer.

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is currently in the news almost every day — chatbots like ChatGPT, image generators like Dall-E, and a host of other tools are now available and being put to use in a variety of ways.

While these software algorithms can potentially help us to work faster and smarter, there are many issues to consider in whether and how to implement them. Details that must be addressed include: What data is being used to train the language models? Who owns the source data and the outputs that are generated? How accurate are the models? How much human oversight of the model-building process is there? And what are the potential harms when things go wrong?

These algorithms are already being used to make decisions about people’s lives, like whether a person gets a job or a bank loan and how much time a person convicted of a crime might spend in jail, but students in particular are having their lives and actions analyzed more and more every day. For instance, proctoring software tries to determine whether students are cheating on exams, other software looks for plagiarism in student essays and reports, and there’s even software that analyzes emotions and/or physical objects — Is the student happy or angry? Are they holding a cellphone or a gun?

This month, leaders from Encode Justice Oregon — Maansi Singh, Sahana Srinivasan, and Julianne Huang — will join us to share their experiences and their work on drafting policy recommendations for use of AI in schools. They’ll speak about their concerns and how they think these technologies should be used in educational settings. They'll also discuss the upcoming Youth Citizens Assembly, which will give students an opportunity to add their voices to the digital privacy conversation and pitch their own ideas.

Come join us, and bring your questions and thoughts about AI in schools!

Please RSVP via the Meetup link or by sending an email to [email protected].

Speaker bios:

Encode Justice is a global coalition of youth activists fighting for justice and accountability in the digital age. Oregon’s chapter, Encode Justice Oregon, works to educate their school, local and statewide communities about algorithmic fairness while supporting legislation that encourages the safe and effective implementation of new technologies. From working with the Oregon DOJ's Consumer Privacy Task Force to engaging in connections with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Smart City PDX, PDX Privacy, and Rose Haven, Encode Justice Oregon has established a statewide presence centered around furthering the digital privacy and equitable technology movement.

Maansi Singh is a senior at Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Encode Justice Oregon Chapter. Maansi has participated in discussions surrounding the role of youth advocacy in AI ethics with organizations such as the United Nations, Washington Post, Google, ACLU, Meta and the World Economic Forum. Maansi believes that intellectual curiosity and the pursuit of new questions surrounding AI are ontological components of the ongoing discussion about human rights. Through Encode Justice and other efforts, she has pursued the intersection between computer science, ethics, policy and education.

Sahana Srinivasan is a sophomore at Jesuit High School. She is the Director of Education for Encode Justice Oregon. She is especially interested in the intersection of AI in medicine. AI ethics is important to her because in the medical field, it is critical that AI systems are both accurate, reliable, and without bias.

Julianne Huang serves as the Co-Director of Research for Encode Justice’s Oregon Chapter. Her position allows her to bring a youth voice into the AI Ethics conversation and inspires her to continue being an advocate for people like her who have grown up in a tech-centered world. Outside of EJ, she is a math and science enthusiast who enjoys participating in dance and choir.

By attending this TA3M meeting, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct: https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/

{short} Code of Conduct Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Mondays is dedicated to providing an informative and positive experience for everyone who participates in or supports our community, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, caste, or creed.

Our events are intended to educate and share information related to technology and activism, and anyone who is there for this purpose is welcome. Because we value the safety and security of our members and strive to have an inclusive community, we do not tolerate harassment of members or event participants in any form.

Audio and video recording are not permitted at meetings without prior approval.

Our Code of Conduct (https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/) applies to all events run by Portland's TA3M. Please report any incidents to the event organizer.

How to run a Large Lanuage Model on your PC or Laptop

Large language models are essentially large files (think GB in size!) that contain information somone can draw upon with a prompt. You've undoubtedly heard of (or used) OpenAI, which uses the ChatGPT LLM.

All OpenAI is is someone else's computer with a large language model installed. So why not do the same thing on your home computer?

For this event I'll walk through how to install an interface to chat with an AI model, download a model that works for you, and how to interface it.

This is intended to be more of a workshop, but since it takes a long time to install and download the models, this is more of a class format (it will be recorded and shared later with attendees).

After the tutorial attendees will be able to contact me with any questions about the process.

What will you need for the tutorial?

A computer. And, of course, an Internet connection. If you have a computer with a graphic card, opt for that, but you can use a local LLM on your laptop all the same.

To Make the Most of the Class

This isn't required, but if you have the technical know-how, I'd highly recommend doing the following:

• downloading (and installing) https://github.com/oobabooga/text-generation-webui for your platform.
• Once it's installed, use the "Download Models" tab to download TheBloke/dolphin-2.6-mistral-7B-GGUF (model info here: https://huggingface.co/TheBloke/dolphin-2.6-mistral-7B-GGUF)

Again, if these instructions don't make sense or you find them confusing, don't worry! I'm not expecting anyone to have done this.

Still have questions? Feel free to reach out to me on XMPP: xmpp://[email protected]

As you likely know, cities around the world are increasingly adopting surveillance technologies in the hope of solving a variety of problems. While these technologies may have potential benefits for a city's residents, they can also harm some communities and can have a negative impact on people's civil liberties.

Earlier this year, Portland's City Council passed a surveillance policy resolution to increase transparency and accountability in the use of surveillance technologies in Portland. As part of the resolution, Smart City PDX has been tasked with designing and implementing a citywide inventory of surveillance technologies owned or used by City Bureaus — and they want your input!

At this month's meeting, Hector Dominguez, Open Data Coordinator at Smart City PDX, within Portland's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, will join us to share information about the surveillance technology inventory and how its development is progressing.

His team has put together a survey where you can submit your thoughts about what information should be included in the inventory: https://arcg.is/10u9Cf0

Take the survey; then come to the meeting, and bring your questions and ideas about what information should be included in the inventory!

Please RSVP via this Meetup page or by sending an email to [email protected].

Speaker bio:

Hector Dominguez is the Open Data Coordinator at the City of Portland. In 2009, Portland became the first city in the United States to adopt an Open Data Resolution to encourage the expansion of the technological community by promoting open data and partnerships between City government and the public, private and nonprofit sectors, academia, and labor.

By attending this TA3M meeting, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct: https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/

{short} Code of Conduct Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Mondays is dedicated to providing an informative and positive experience for everyone who participates in or supports our community, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, caste, or creed.

Our events are intended to educate and share information related to technology and activism, and anyone who is there for this purpose is welcome. Because we value the safety and security of our members and strive to have an inclusive community, we do not tolerate harassment of members or event participants in any form.

Audio and video recording are not permitted at meetings without prior approval.

Our Code of Conduct (https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/) applies to all events run by Portland's TA3M. Please report any incidents to the event organizer.

Last year, staff at the City of Portland Auditor’s Office joined us to discuss the results of their audit of police intelligence gathering and surveillance during the 2020 protests. The objective of the audit was to answer the question "Did police gather intelligence and conduct criminal investigations in a manner that protected privacy and civil liberties during the protests that occurred between May 2020 and May 2021?".

Further details about the audit are available here: https://www.portland.gov/audit-services/news/2021/8/17/police-intelligence-gathering-and-surveillance-audit-end-planning

As part of their report, the auditors made a number of recommendations to the city on ways to better protect the privacy and civil liberties of the community during protests and any related investigations.

What were the auditor's recommendations? How many of the proposed changes were implemented, and what are the results so far? What is the likelihood that any remaining suggestions will also be put into effect? Have any new practices or procedures been adopted in the past year that go against the auditor's guidance?

Join us this month when Elizabeth Pape, from the City of Portland Auditor’s Office, shares an update on the status of the recommendations and their enactment. She'll also provide details about the path forward on future police surveillance in the city. Bring your questions, and join the conversation!

Please RSVP via this Meetup page or by sending an email to [email protected].

Speaker bio:

Elizabeth Pape is a Performance Auditor at the City of Portland Auditor’s Office in Portland, Oregon. She has a seventeen-year background working in diverse government settings from Washington County Oregon, to New Orleans, Louisiana, to Prague, in the Czech Republic. Elizabeth just finished an audit related to the process the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) uses to inspect and pay for capital projects. She also coordinates the Fraud Hotline for the Portland City Auditor. Elizabeth has a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning degree from Portland State University.

By attending this TA3M meeting, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct: https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/

{short} Code of Conduct Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Mondays is dedicated to providing an informative and positive experience for everyone who participates in or supports our community, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, caste, or creed.

Our events are intended to educate and share information related to technology and activism, and anyone who is there for this purpose is welcome. Because we value the safety and security of our members and strive to have an inclusive community, we do not tolerate harassment of members or event participants in any form.

Audio and video recording are not permitted at meetings without prior approval.

Our Code of Conduct (https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/) applies to all events run by Portland's TA3M. Please report any incidents to the event organizer.

The recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and then Signature Bank prods the question, "Is my money safe?”

Might public banking help?

What are public banks, and how do they work? Who owns them, and how do they differ from private banks and credit unions? Would they replace our current system of banks, and could they prevent bank runs like those that recently led to the collapse of both Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank?

Why should I care, and what do public banks have to do with privacy?

At this month's event, Professor Rohan Grey, of Willamette University, will join us to talk about public banking and to answer these questions. He'll explain the difference between private and public banks and how public banking could help people, states, and communities in crisis.

Bring your questions, and come learn about public banking!

Please RSVP via this Meetup page or by sending an email to [email protected].

Speaker bio:

Professor Grey’s research focuses on the legal design and regulation of money and finance, including digital fiat currency, as well as broader issues of law and political economy. He teaches Contracts, Business Organizations, and Securities Regulation. He previously co-taught seminars on Fintech and Monies with Professor Robert Hockett at Cornell Law School, where he was a fellow with the Clarke Business Law Institute’s Program on the Law and Regulation of Financial Institutions and Markets, and facilitated a reading group on Law, Money, and Finance at Columbia Law School with Professor Jeffrey N. Gordon.

By attending this TA3M meeting, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct: https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/

{short} Code of Conduct Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Mondays is dedicated to providing an informative and positive experience for everyone who participates in or supports our community, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, caste, or creed.

Our events are intended to educate and share information related to technology and activism, and anyone who is there for this purpose is welcome. Because we value the safety and security of our members and strive to have an inclusive community, we do not tolerate harassment of members or event participants in any form.

Audio and video recording are not permitted at meetings without prior approval.

Our Code of Conduct (https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/) applies to all events run by Portland's TA3M. Please report any incidents to the event organizer.

Karen Lopez, Data Evangelist for InfoAdvisors, Space Enthusiast, & TeamData Coach

Karen is a senior project manager and architect with an extensive background in development processes and information management. She specializes in taking practical approaches to systems development. She has 20+ years of public speaking (keynotes, speeches, and demonstrations). She wants attendees to have fun, gain insights and take away inspiration for working with new technologies and methods.

She’s known for her slightly irreverent and practical approach to IT training and speaking. She wants you to be part of #TEAMDATA.

Abstract

Modern database systems have introduced more support for security, privacy, and compliance over the last few years. We expect this to increase as compliance issues such as GDPR and other data compliance challenges arise. In this session, Karen will be discussing the newer features from a data modelers/database designers' point of view, including:

Data Masking End-to-End encryption Row Level Security New Data Types Data Categorization and Classification

What You Will Learn

We'll look at the new database and modeling tool features, why you should consider them, where they work, where they don't. We will also discuss how to negotiate on behalf of data protection in a world of Agile, MVP, Lean and DevOps.

Cost

Free!

If you’ve paid any Data PDX or DAMA membership dues during 2019-2021 or are an employee of a corporate member, please choose Member RSVP.

Where

RSVP for join code, this is an VIRTUAL event via Google Meet Date – Friday, May, 19th Noon – 1pm

Registration is required to attend this event. Please register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pdxwit-aws-and-hydrolix-present-how-to-prepare-for-a-technical-interview-tickets-622054340277

Are you looking for a new role in tech? A new role in a tech-adjacent industry? If you answered yes, then join PDXWIT, AWS, and host Hydrolix for a mash-up of our two most popular events: Get Hired Up! and How to Prepare for a Technical Interview!

Get Hired Up! will feature resume reviews by experts, so don’t forget to bring a hard copy of your resume! You’ll also have opportunities to network with recruiters, along with organizations like Women In Cyber Security (WiCyS), the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), and Women in Big Data.

Looking to land a technical role? Then you’ll want to be sure to register for AWS’s How to Prepare for a Technical Interview (and bring a hard copy of your resume if you’d like advice from our expert reviewers!). By the end of the workshop, you’ll having a better understanding of:

• What to expect the day of the interview
• Approaches to navigate the coding test
• Where you can find more information and resources

Space is limited, so register early! If you have any questions after reviewing the agenda and FAQs, you can reach out to us at [email protected].

Important: During registration, please be sure to select the appropriate ticket: How to Prepare for a Technical Interview ONLY Get Hired Up! ONLY Both

If you’d like your resume reviewed, select “Yes” to the question “Do you want your resume reviewed?” during registration. Limit one resume review per participant.

Agenda:

4:15pm Doors Open for Workshop Attendees 4:30pm Resume Review for Workshop Attendees 5:00pm Welcome, Introductions, Announcements 5:05pm How to Prepare for a Technical Interview Workshop w/AWS 6:00pm Doors Open for Get Hired Up & Networking Attendees 6:15pm Get Hired Up/Networking/Resume Review 7:30pm Event Ends

Please note: all attendees will be required to show proof of a COVID vaccination or a negative COVID test within 48 hours of the event start.

PDXWIT is building a better tech industry by creating access, dismantling inequities and fueling belonging. Our events are inclusive. ALL people who support our purpose are welcome.

COVID Safety FAQ: Q: Will masks be required in indoor spaces? Will masks be required outside? Will hand sanitizer be provided and plentiful? A: Masks are optional and our host will provide hand sanitizer. We will ask all attendees to show proof of vaccination OR have a negative COVID test within 48 hours of the event.

Event FAQ

Q: What is the in-person event capacity? A: How to Prepare for a Technical Interview: 200. Get Hired Up & Networking: 300.

Q: Can I attend only the How to Prepare for a Technical Interview workshop and still get my resume reviewed? A: Yes. Resume reviews for workshop attendees will begin at 4:30pm PDT.

Q: Will there be gender neutral restrooms? A: Yes

Q: Is the space ADA accessible? A: Yes

Q: Will there be food and drink at this event? A: Yes.

Q: What is the parking situation? A: Nearby parking recommendations are: Broadway Tower (PDX17 building garage) - Entry off of SW Columbia between SW Broadway and SW Park | $5/hour, $17/day maximum

Unitus Plaza garage - Entry off of SW 5th between SW Jefferson and SW Columbia | $5/hour, $15/day maximum

Ladd Tower garage - Entry off of SW Jefferson between SW Broadway and SW Park | $5/hour, $15/day maximum

Metered Parking - 2 hour metered street parking | Meter rates and additional public parking resources are available here

Q: Is there any special information that might help me find the entrance? A: Entrance to the building is on SW Broadway between SW Jefferson and SW Columbia. Doors lock for the day at 5pm. After 5pm a volunteer will be posted near the doors to assist you.

Q: Is there secured bike parking? A: There are bike racks off SW Broadway in front of the building that can be utilized. There is no bike parking in the building.

Q: Should I consider using public transportation? A: Yes.

Q: Can I bring my dog? A: Sadly, no.

Q: Are the exits clearly marked? A: Yes.

Business start-ups play an important role in driving economic growth, promoting innovation, creativity, and creating new opportunities for individuals and communities.

Over the past few decades, Portland was a hub for entrepreneurs and start-ups. The city’s deep talent pool, prime location, relative affordability, and access to natural resources made the Rose City an ideal location for launching and growing a business. As recently as 2020, Portland was ranked as one of the best places in the country to start a new business.

But that was then. Flash forward three tumultuous years and we have to ask ourselves: is Portland still a good market for start-ups?

Join the Portland Business Alliance for our final Forum Breakfast of the season, as we explore the state of start-ups in Portland. Our panel of experts will share perspectives on the current ecosystem, highlight emerging local businesses, and reflect on what it will take to better support all of Portland’s entrepreneurial start-ups.

Speakers:

• Kristy Edwards, Co-founder and CEO of Privacy Code
• Steve Eichenlaub, Managing Director, Portland Seed Fund
• Cara Turano, President and Executive Director, Oregon Entrepreneur Network
• Ben Nahir, Venture Principal, Elevate Capital

Moderated by Malia Spencer, Tech Reporter, Portland Business Journal

$55 Members Only

Registration is required to attend this event. Please register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pdxwit-presents-april-happy-hour-pathways-into-privacy-and-security-tickets-594859870887

At this month’s Happy Hour, PDXWIT, Women in CyberSercurity (WiCyS), and our host RadarFirst are excited to present a panel on Pathways into Privacy and Security. Our panel of experts will demystify the privacy & cybersecurity industry. Looking to pivot into this industry? They’ll also reveal the skills you already have that you can leverage to find a new career.

Our panelists include: Harsimran (Harry) Narula - Principal Project Manager, Microsoft Olga Kislinska - Senior Privacy Compliance Manager, Nike Ann Wallace - Cybersecurity, GRC and Engineer Leader

Agenda: 5:00pm Doors Open 5:30pm Welcome, Introductions, Announcements 5:45pm Panel Begins 6:15pm Audience Q&A 6:30pm Networking 7:00pm Event Ends

Please note: all attendees will be required to show proof of a COVID vaccination or a negative COVID test within 48 hours of the event start.

PDXWIT is building a better tech industry by creating access, dismantling inequities and fueling belonging. Our events are inclusive. ALL people who support our purpose are welcome.

COVID Safety FAQ: Q: Will masks be required in indoor spaces? Will masks be required outside? Will hand sanitizer be provided and plentiful? A: Masks are optional and our host will provide hand sanitizer. We will ask all attendees to show proof of vaccination OR have a negative COVID test within 48 hours of the event.

Event FAQ Q: What is the in-person event capacity? A: 125

Q: Will there be gender neutral restrooms? A: No.

Q: Is the space ADA accessible? A: Yes

Q: Will there be food and drink at this event? A: Yes.

Q: What is the parking situation? A: There is street parking, and the location is accessible via TriMet bus and Max lines. There are also several parking garages located within walking distance.

Q: Is there any special information that might help me find the entrance? A: The entrance is at 520 SW 6th Avenue. The doors to the building will be locked and staff will be in the lobby to open doors and assist you with the elevator to the 2nd floor.

Q: Is there secured bike parking? A: No.

Q: Should I consider using public transportation? A: Yes. The location is accessible via TriMet bus and Max lines.

Q: Can I bring my dog? A: Sadly, no.

Q: Are the exits clearly marked? A: Yes

Join us for a community forum on surveillance sponsored by Sisters of the Road, Carceral Tech Resistance Network, Freedom to Thrive, the Oregon Justice Resource Center, and PDX Privacy!

The two-hour, hybrid event will take place at Grinds & Vines (3520 SE Yamhill) and online on March 14th, 2023, at 6pm, and will feature presentations from:

• Sarah T. Hamid of Carceral Tech Resistance Network
• Aje Amaechi of Freedom to Thrive
• Amanda Lamb of Oregon Justice Resource Center
• Chris Bushick of PDX Privacy

Panelists will discuss community concerns around the recent gunshot detection programs being considered by the city of Portland, including ShotSpotter, Eagl, Twenty20/Acoem, and Flock. They will discuss specific issues with these products and also review the larger, systemic concerns of racism, bias, and the harmful impacts of surveillance culture. The event will include a presentation from each and a chance to ask questions and have dialogue.

The event is free and open to the public, and city officials and staff have also been invited.

RSVP here to attend in person: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-forum-stop-surveillance-tickets-574906901017

Or, to join the event remotely, email [email protected] for the online link.

The Data Privacy Group welcomes you back to Lewis & Clark Law School for the 4th Annual Data Privacy Forum!

The event will feature three panels of experts discussing emerging issues in privacy law:

• Panel 1 - Sword & Shield: Offensive and Defensive Uses of Data
• Panel 2 - Data Privacy in Employment and Consumer Products
• Panel 3 - Health & Reproductive Privacy

Immediately after the panels, join attorneys, privacy professionals, and students interested in privacy law for a Community Building Reception from 5:30-7:00 P.M.

Last year, the Smart City PDX team and Portland's Office of Equity and Human Rights began work to create a surveillance policy for the City of Portland. They held several events over the course of the year: some were intended to educate the local community about the policy and why one is needed, while others provided an opportunity for community members to give input on what they felt should be included in the surveillance policy. A draft of the proposed legislation is now ready and will be presented to city council later this year: https://www.smartcitypdx.com/news/2022/9/20/september-2022-surveillance-technologies-policy-updates

At this month's meeting, Hector Dominguez, Open Data Coordinator at Smart City PDX, within Portland's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, will join us to share the details of the proposed policy along with information about how you can still participate in the process.

Come to the meeting, and learn about the plan for surveillance policy in Portland!

Please RSVP via this Meetup page or by sending an email to [email protected].

Speaker bio: Hector Dominguez is the Open Data Coordinator at the City of Portland. In 2009, Portland became the first city in the United States to adopt an Open Data Resolution to encourage the expansion of the technological community by promoting open data and partnerships between City government and the public, private and nonprofit sectors, academia, and labor.

By attending this TA3M meeting, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct: https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/

{short} Code of Conduct Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Mondays is dedicated to providing an informative and positive experience for everyone who participates in or supports our community, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, caste, or creed.

Our events are intended to educate and share information related to technology and activism, and anyone who is there for this purpose is welcome. Because we value the safety and security of our members and strive to have an inclusive community, we do not tolerate harassment of members or event participants in any form.

Audio and video recording are not permitted at meetings without prior approval.

Our Code of Conduct (https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/) applies to all events run by Portland's TA3M. Please report any incidents to the event organizer.

Remember the TransPacific Partnership (TPP)?

Trade deals are often negotiated at a high level, out of sight from our daily lives, so we often don't hear much about them until negotiators have already reached agreement on the final deal. Typically, the only groups involved in negotiations are the US Trade Representative, corporate lobbyists, trade advisors, and representatives from the various countries involved in the deal.

Well, there's a new trade deal currently in work, and here's an early opportunity to learn about it and how it might affect you!

The deal is called the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), and one of it's pillars addresses cross-border data flows and the digital economy. Since several of the countries that will be a party to this agreement do not have strong human rights protections, advocates at the Trade Justice Education Fund (TJEF) are concerned that lower standards set at the international level will have a negative impact on US laws.

Join us this month when Yimei Shao, PNW Regional Organizer for TJEF, will talk about the IPEF international trade deal and how it could impact consumer data privacy, workplace surveillance, and other issues that intersect with labor and technology.

You can read more about deal in the US Trade Rep's fact sheet: https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2022/may/fact-sheet-asia-president-biden-and-dozen-indo-pacific-partners-launch-indo-pacific-economic

Come learn about this trade deal and how you can make your voice heard!

Please RSVP via this Meetup page or by sending an email to [email protected].

Speaker bio:

Yimei Shao (they/them) is the PNW Regional Organizer for the Trade Justice Education Fund (TJEF), and also serves as the Chair of the Global Justice Committee at Portland Jobs with Justice (PDX JWJ). TJEF is a national organization that promotes awareness about international trade justice, including workers’ rights, environmental and public health issues impacted by trade. PDX JWJ is a coalition of 100+ labor, faith, community and student organizations taking action for workers rights and economic justice.

By attending this TA3M meeting, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct: https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/

{short} Code of Conduct Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Mondays is dedicated to providing an informative and positive experience for everyone who participates in or supports our community, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, caste, or creed.

Our events are intended to educate and share information related to technology and activism, and anyone who is there for this purpose is welcome. Because we value the safety and security of our members and strive to have an inclusive community, we do not tolerate harassment of members or event participants in any form.

Audio and video recording are not permitted at meetings without prior approval.

Our Code of Conduct (https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/) applies to all events run by Portland's TA3M. Please report any incidents to the event organizer.

As you've likely seen in local media lately, gun violence in Portland has been on the rise. In response, the City of Portland commissioned a task force to study the issue and recommend actions that city commissioners can take to address the issue and solve the problem (reduce gun violence). After several months of meetings, the Focused Intervention Team / Community Oversight Group (FIT/COG) submitted a recommendation to Mayor Ted Wheeler in favor of adopting ShotSpotter gunshot detection technology.

What is ShotSpotter, and how does it work? Are its results accurate and is the technology effective? Has it been successful in other cities that have implemented it? What are the trade-offs, and would the benefits outweigh the costs — in terms of both financial and negative impacts to the community?

Join us for a two-part event to learn more about ShotSpotter and other gunshot detection systems and forms of acoustic surveillance! Decide for yourself whether this tool might be effective in solving Portland's gun violence problem.

During the event's first half, learn from our panelists how ShotSpotter and other gunshot detection technologies work and how they've performed in other cities.

The second half of the meeting will be a workshop, where you can learn more about what happens with the FIT/COG recommendation. Ways you can provide input into whether ShotSpotter should be installed in Portland.

Bring your questions, and come learn how you can make your voice heard on this issue!

Please RSVP via this Meetup page or by sending an email to [email protected].

Speaker bios:

Aje Amaechi (aka Je) (she/they) is a first-generation Jamaican-American born from Immigrant parents and raised in New Jersey. She has an educational background in the Philosophy of Mind and Critical Race Theory. As a student at Florida State University, she became involved with organizing for farmworker rights, environmental justice, and other causes related to Black and indigenous self-determination. Je currently works at Freedom to Thrive, an organization devoted to abolishing the punishment-based carceral systems through transformative organizing, strategic partnerships and convening shared learning spaces. Her work centers around combating crimmigration– the intersection of criminal justice and immigration enforcement– using a Pro Black, gender-affirming lens.

Sarah T. Hamid (she / her / no preference) leads the policing technology campaign at the Carceral Tech Resistance Network, an archiving and knowledge-sharing network for organizers building community defense against the design, roll-out, and experimentation of carceral technologies. Sarah co-founded the inside/outside research collaboration, the Prison Tech Research Group, sits on the board of the Lucy Parsons Lab in Chicago, and helped create the #8toAbolitioncampaign: a police and prison abolition resource built during the 2020 uprisings against state violence. Follow her work on Twitter at @tsnvaa.

Lia Holland (she/they) is a social artist, writer, and activist in Portland, OR, USA. She currently serves as Director of Campaigns and Communications at national digital rights organization Fight for the Future.

By attending this TA3M meeting, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct: https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/

{short} Code of Conduct Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Mondays is dedicated to providing an informative and positive experience for everyone who participates in or supports our community, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, caste, or creed.

Our events are intended to educate and share information related to technology and activism, and anyone who is there for this purpose is welcome. Because we value the safety and security of our members and strive to have an inclusive community, we do not tolerate harassment of members or event participants in any form.

Audio and video recording are not permitted at meetings without prior approval.

Our Code of Conduct (https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/) applies to all events run by Portland's TA3M. Please report any incidents to the event organizer.

Earlier this year, the Oregon State Legislature was considering adoption of bill HB 4136, which would have required the Secretary of State to establish a digital voting system allowing voters to cast their ballots electronically—via a computer, electronic tablet, cellphone, or another digital device.

The measure remained in committee and never came to a vote, but legislators may be planning to introduce a new version of the bill in next year's longer session.

Should you be happy or concerned about the prospect of cellphone voting?

Currently, over twenty pilot programs are in place across the country to test the feasibility of mobile voting. Proponents argue that cellphone voting could increase voter turnout, and voting from the comfort of your mobile phone sounds easy, right? But is it really a good idea?

Before giving this technology a stamp of approval, we need to consider some of the issues around the process of electronic voting. For example, is it secure? Does it protect voter privacy? And how would we verify election results?

Dr. Stephanie Singer and Sheila Golden have been focused on election systems for many years. Ms. Golden is well known in Oregon for her advocacy around election technology, while Dr. Singer is known nationwide for her expertise on election technology and processes. They'll join us this month to explore the pros and cons of voting via cellphone and will explain how such a system would work, who's behind the effort to adopt mobile voting, and why voting from our phones may or may not be a good course of action.

Bring your questions, and come learn how you can make your voice heard on this issue!

Please RSVP via Meetup or by sending an email to [email protected].

Speaker bios:

Sheila Golden is an activist focusing on election integrity, civil liberties/immigrant rights, and climate justice. She works with the League of Women Voters-OR and Scrutineers.

Stephanie Singer is a data scientist and former election official. She has assembled, analyzed and explained data for private business, public agencies, campaigns and election oversight. Her public service projects have been funded by the National Science Foundation and the Knight Foundation. In 2020 she created the VoteVisualizer, a web app allowing users to explore election results from across the country. Her client list includes the Orange County Registrar of Voters and the nonpartisan nonprofit Verified Voting. She has advised elected officials across the country, including Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan. From 2012-2016 she served on the Philadelphia County Board of Elections -- including one year as chair -- where she made data freely available, used data analysis to fight unconstitutional burdens on the voting process, and introduced "I Voted Today" stickers to all Philadelphia polling places. She won the post by defeating a 36-year incumbent in a citywide election. Singer co-chaired the statewide Election Reform Committee of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania. Singer studied math and computer science at Yale and Stanford, completed a Ph.D. at New York University and earned tenure from Haverford College. She has written two books on mathematical physics.

By attending this TA3M meeting, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct: https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/

{short} Code of Conduct Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Mondays is dedicated to providing an informative and positive experience for everyone who participates in or supports our community, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, caste, or creed.

Our events are intended to educate and share information related to technology and activism, and anyone who is there for this purpose is welcome. Because we value the safety and security of our members and strive to have an inclusive community, we do not tolerate harassment of members or event participants in any form.

Audio and video recording are not permitted at meetings without prior approval.

Our Code of Conduct (https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/) applies to all events run by Portland's TA3M. Please report any incidents to the event organizer.

Last year, staff at the City of Portland Auditor’s Office performed an audit of police intelligence gathering and surveillance, and their report has just been released to the public. The objective of the audit was to answer the question "Did police gather intelligence and conduct criminal investigations in a manner that protected privacy and civil liberties during the protests that occurred between May 2020 and May 2021?".

Further details about the audit are available here: https://www.portland.gov/audit-services/news/2021/8/17/police-intelligence-gathering-and-surveillance-audit-end-planning

And the full report is here: http://www.portland.gov/police-intelligence-gathering

At this month's meeting, Elizabeth Pape, from the City of Portland Auditor’s Office, will join us to share the results of the audit. Come and learn about the audit process, why this specific topic was chosen, and the conclusions reached as a result of the audit. As City legislators look to enact a surveillance ordinance for Portland, considering the impacts of surveillance on privacy and civil liberties is an important step in setting the course for Portland's use of surveillance technologies.

We hope you'll attend!

Please RSVP via this Meetup page or by sending an email to [email protected].

Speaker bio:

Elizabeth Pape is a Performance Auditor at the City of Portland Auditor’s Office in Portland Oregon. She has a fifteen-year background working in diverse government settings from Washington County Oregon, to New Orleans Louisiana, to Prague in the Czech Republic. Elizabeth just finished an audit of police intelligence gathering and is starting a new one about access and navigation for homeless services. She also coordinates the audit follow-up process and the Fraud Hotline for the Portland City Auditor. Elizabeth has a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning degree from Portland State University.

By attending this TA3M meeting, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct: https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/

Our events are intended to educate and share information related to technology and activism, and anyone who is there for this purpose is welcome. Because we value the safety and security of our members and strive to have an inclusive community, we do not tolerate harassment of members or event participants in any form.

Audio and video recording are not permitted at meetings without prior approval.