2018-SOTN

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Recap: Media, Diversity, and Milestones from #SOTN2018

Five weeks ago the Internet stakeholder community came together for the 14th annual State of the Net Conference, the nation’s most prominent Internet policy summit. They grappled with the most pressing issues facing the Internet in 2018 including the Internet’s effect on democracy, free expression, blockchain and much more. 
Below is a recap of #SOTN2018 with links to video on YouTube, FacebookLive, and C-SPAN. We’ve also detailed our record setting statistics on diversity, livestream viewership, audience composition, and social media trending.
State of the Net will be back in January 2019 for its 15th annual summit. For now, our staff is hard at work curating debates for the Congressional Internet Caucus Academy and hosting the Congressional App Challenge. 
Save the date for next year’s #SOTN2019!

Agenda, Video, Photos
SOTN 2018 is over. Our recap page includes links to the program agenda, speakers, videos, and photos. 

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Livestream Views Skyrocket

The Fox News livestream of the fireside chat between Rod Rosenstein and Kim Hart (Axios) surpassed 350,000 views on Facebook. Additionally, the Internet Society’s livestreams have vastly increased viewership by expanding to a worldwide audience in the past few years.

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Massive C-SPAN Coverage

C-SPAN not only broadcasted the plenary and breakout discussions from State of the Net, but the show also recorded dozens of panelist interviews that are airing throughout the month on their cable show, “The Communicators.” This includes Katie Harbath, whose interview can be viewed by clicking the video link on the right. 

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LEADERSHIP: DIVERSITY & BALANCE

State of the Net works assiduously to make our panels as diverse as possible. This year, 46.81% of the speakers were men and 53.19% were women. We are very proud of these results.  

GENDER BREAKDOWN OF SPEAKERS

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46.81% of the speakers were men and 53.19% were women.

While the gender diversity of speakers at #SOTN2018 slightly exceeds national averages, it dramatically exceeds the averages in our space.

#SOTN2018 ATTENDEES 

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Our attendees are also diverse with regard to sectors represented. Our percentage of government staff attendees (36.7%) is exceptional, and the amount of registered press is unmatched. 

#SOTN2018 ATTENDEES
750+ registered attendees.
300+ government policy staff
70+ members of the press.
(Does not include livestream viewership.)

Video and Photos From Every Keynote and Panel

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Watch YouTube videos of keynotes, fireside chats, and panels from #SOTN2018

View and use photos from #SOTN2018. Photos have permissible Creative Commons licenses.

Additional keynote speeches can be found at the YouTube links below.

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FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel Keynote Address (top left) – DHS Deputy Secretary Elaine Duke Address (top right) – Chairman Goodlatte and Bill Moore Fireside Chat (bottom left) – Senator Klobuchar Keynote Address (bottom right).

#SOTN2018 Trending #1 on Twitter in Washington D.C.

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#SOTN2018 was the #1 Trending topic in the Washington D.C. area for over 6 hours during the Conference. 

179 users and 226 tweets (170 RTs) in 1 week made #SOTN2018

8 Verified Accounts Helped Get Us to A Trending Topic (Klobuchar, House of Comm, Etc)

 

#SOTN2018 was the #6 Trending Topic in the US

 

Press Coverage of State of the Net 2018

State of the Net 2018 ushered in an impressive amount of media coverage over numerous outlets. Below is just a sample of the different stories that derived from last month’s conference. 

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Diversity and Balance at #SOTN2018

State of the Net works assiduously to make our panels as diverse as possible. This year, 46.81% of the speakers were men and 53.19% were women. We are extremely proud of these numbers, as they illustrate our goal to build panels step by step in order to insure an appropriate balance of perspectives and gender. It is thanks to all the wonderful speakers who came together to make this happen.

Our attendees are also diverse with regard to sectors represented. Our percentage of government staff attendees (36.7%) is exceptional, and the amount of registered press is unmatched. There are also a great number of students from across the country who added another dimension to the diversity of attendees this year.

*These statistics reflect the agenda 72 business hours before the start of the conference. Two female speakers canceled their appearances one business hour before the conference due to a family emergency, and a third female speaker canceled her appearance 72 hours before the conference due to a family emergency.*

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Election Hacking, Misinformation & More: State of the Net 2018 Tackled Big Controversies

At the 2018 State of the Net Conference, we talked about some of the biggest issues facing the tech industry and policymakers.

From Senator Amy Klobuchar highlighting Russia’s attempts to hack twenty-one state election systems in 2016, to our panel with FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub examining whether the Internet is disrupting democracy, to our robust discussion of regulating Internet speech, #SOTN2018 covered some of the thorniest issues in the tech policy sphere. 

Senator Klobuchar's keynote address can be found on our YouTube.
Senator Klobuchar’s keynote address can be found on our YouTube.
Watch "Is the Internet is Disrupting Democracy?" Panel on YouTube
Watch “Is the Internet is Disrupting Democracy?” Panel on YouTube

Moderator: Miranda Bogen, Upturn
Hon. Ellen Weintraub, Commissioner, FEC
Katie Harbath, Global Politics, and Government Outreach Director, Facebook
Dr. Candice Hoke, Founding Director, Cleveland-Marshall Center for Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection
Sanja Kelly, Director, Freedom on the Net

Watch the Internet Speech Panel on YouTube channel.
Watch the Internet Speech Panel on YouTube channel.

Moderator: Tiffany Li, Resident Fellow, Information Society Project at Yale Law School
Ambassador Karen Kornbluh, Senior Fellow for Digital Policy, Council on Foreign Relations
Mike Masnick, CEO & President, TechDirt 
Dr. Whitney Phillips, Assistant Professor of Literary Studies and Writing, Mercer University
Dr. John Samples, Vice President; Director of Center for Representative Government, CATO Institute

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Leading Cable Television Program Features State Of The Net Interviews On The Internet’s Impact On Democracy

The Communicators” aired interviews with panelists from the “Is the Internet Disrupting Democracy?” discussion at this year’s State of the Net Conference. The four interviews featured are with Katie Harbath, Facebook, Candice Hoke, Director of the Cleveland-Marshall Center for Cybersecurity & Privacy, Karen Kornbluh, Former Ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and Miranda Bogen, Upturn.

If you’d like to watch now the segment is streaming on C-SPAN’s website here. This is the first of several segments that “The Communicators” produced at State of the Net. We will keep you updated on the other segments from airing on C-SPAN throughout the week.

 

 

To watch the full interviews from "The Communicators" before they air tonight on C-SPAN click here
To watch the full interviews from “The Communicators” before they air tonight on C-SPAN click here

“The Communicators” drew inspiration from the State of the Net panel called “Is the Internet Disrupting Democracy?” which featured Candice, Miranda, Karen, and Katie. The panel explored whether the Internet is being used to disrupt citizens’ trust in the election process. If you would like to watch that panel click the video icon below to watch on our YouTube channel. “The Communicators” focuses on leaders in technology about topics shaping our digital future. To learn more about the show click here.​

Full video of "Is the Internet Disrupting Democracy Panel" with Katie Harbath, Candice Hoke, Karen Kornbluh, and Miranda Bogen click here
Full video of “Is the Internet Disrupting Democracy Panel” with Katie Harbath, Candice Hoke, Karen Kornbluh, and Miranda Bogen click here
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We Moved Beyond Bitcoin at #SOTN2018

Cryptocurrencies are trendy now, but the State of the Net dealt with them way back in 2014 and 2015 with panels and a keynote by Coinbase’s CEO Fred Ehrsam. This year #SOTN2018 moved beyond virtual currencies and explored how the blockchain can be used as an authentication ledger for all sorts of purposes. If you missed our panel on “Blockchain Beyond Bitcoin: Authentication in a Post-Equifax World” the video is now available.

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Our forward-looking panel discussed its growing use as a versatile ledger for all sorts of authenticated transactions beyond currency. Realtors are using blockchain to streamline real estate listings. Human resource companies are exploring blockchain technology to provide efficient access to employee benefits. Internet platforms are exploring blockchain to reduce advertising fraud and to keep out fake news bots and trolls. The applications are endless. 

Just yesterday we were flattered to see that the House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology followed suit and held a remarkably similar hearing on “Beyond Bitcoin: Emerging Applications for Blockchain Technology.“

The 2018 State of the Net conference covered the most important policy issues facing the Internet today. Congressional and administration leaders engaged with stakeholders on issues such as digital inclusion, freedom of expression, trust & tribalism, broadband fragmentation, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and much more. As always, State of the Net is your first look at the new players and the new issues that will take center stage in 2018. Whether it’s artificial intelligence or cybersecurity policies, State of the Net is the best place to debate them all. The conference has been consistently lauded for its balanced blend of perspectives and its provocative thinkers. In an increasingly polarized policy space, State of the Net is the most important stakeholder gathering that brings you together with key people with whom you disagree (respectfully). That’s the point. 

Keynote speakers have included Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Futurist Amy Webb, FCC Chair Tom Wheeler, UBER Founder/CEO Travis Kalanick, Dropbox Founder/CEO Drew Houston, Comcast NBC CEO Brian L. Roberts and many others. Find out more about our past speakers here.

State of the Net attracts over 600 attendees by providing unparalleled opportunities to network and engage on key policy issues. 

Follow us on Twitter for news and updates from this past State of the Net conference.

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Vrge State of the Net Poll Shows: Society Under Strain

Society Under Strain: Americans Struggle with Technology’s Impact, Look to Policymakers and Internet Companies for Solutions

After a Year of Fake News and Russian Manipulation Allegations, Americans Worry that Democracy is Weakened by New Technologies

Americans Leery of Bitcoin, Skeptical About Ability to Secure Internet

Washington, DC, Jan. 29, 2018 — A new wave of technologies has left Americans unsettled, worried about its impact on democracy, the future of the Internet and how its changing our financial system, according to a new survey released in conjunction with the annual State of the Net conference hosted by the Internet Education Foundation.

So-called fake news and allegations of Russian manipulations of social networks to influence the 2016 election have raised concerns about its negative impact, with 56 percent of Americans saying its weakened American democracy.

In addition, Americans are concerned about financial innovations that many don’t understand. For example, sixty-one percent said they would be uncomfortable accepting a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin as a payment.

At the same time, a vast majority of Americans surveyed report that the Internet has had a positive impact on their lives. Eighty-five percent said it’s had a positive impact, underscoring that while Americans see troubling issues with technology, they still understand the broader value.

The State of the Net conference is being held at the Newseum on Monday, Jan. 29. Information on how to attend the conference or participate via livestream or Twitter are included below. The Vrge Analytics survey polled 886 Americans on Jan. 25, 2018.

“Americans have high hopes for what the Internet can mean to their lives, but as technology advances it creates new concerns that ultimately end up before Congress and regulators,” said Tim Lordan, Executive Director of the Internet Education Foundation. “Getting ahead of those issues helps citizens, companies and government by easing the disruption on the economy and society.”

For example, Americans are mixed on whether artificial intelligence and virtual assistants enabled by it will be beneficial or harmful. Thirty-seven percent said it will benefit them by making their life and work easier; nearly the same amount (36 percent) said it will be harmful by creating security and privacy issues.

Americans look to policymakers for answers. A majority (53 percent) believe that the laws and regulations that we have today aren’t working to deal with the issues that arise due to the Internet. We should rethink the laws and regulations and change them to reflect a changing world.

And Americans look to Internet companies to keep the Internet protected from cyberattacks. When asked which entity is most responsible for protecting the Internet, 52 percent said Internet companies, 19 percent said the government and 18 percent said it should be the consumers who use it. At the same time, nearly half of Americans (48 percent) believe that while some incidents can be prevented the “Internet cannot be protected from most cyberattacks.” Forty-three percent hold out hope it can be secured.

About the Internet Education Foundation

The Internet Education Foundation (IEF) is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. IEF takes no positions on legislation or regulation. Rather, it’s a neutral platform where thought leaders debate important technology issues that shape legislative and administration policy in an open forum. We vigilantly adhere to our mission to curate balanced and dynamic debates among Internet stakeholders. Our volunteer board members ensure that we dutifully execute that mission. More information on the IEF is available at www.neted.org.

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Blockchain Beyond Bitcoin: 2018 State of the Net

Forget Bitcoin and Ethereum – you learned about virtual currency policy at SOTN way back in 2014 and 2015 and heard from Coinbase’s CEO then. This year we’re moving beyond those issues because there’s so much more to blockchain than cryptocurrency. The speakers on our panel Blockchain Beyond Bitcoin: Authentication in a Post-Equifax World will discuss how blockchain technology could help stanch the flood of identity theft, better manage HR benefits, and even fight fake news. You always see what’s coming next at SOTN – see the future of policy today by attending the 14th Annual State of the Net Internet Policy Conference on January 29, 2018.

Register Now
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This year, the conference will feature a number of high-profile speakers, including Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Deputy DHS Secretary Elaine Duke, Representatives Bob Goodlatte and Greg Walden, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary David Redl, Federal Election Commission Vice-Chair Ellen Weintraub, Zello CEO Bill Moore, Futurist Amy Webb, former Ambassador Karen Kornbluh, and many more.

In the last few years the conference has featured keynote speakers including Senators John Thune and Brian Schatz, Representatives Susan DelBene, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and Anna Eshoo, FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez, Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell, United States CTO Megan Smith, FTC Commissioner Terrell McSweeney, Coinbase Co-Founder Fred Ehrsam, Privacy Advocate Max Schrems, and Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary Suzanne Spaulding. 

Follow us on Twitter for conference news and updates as we finalize the conference agenda and announce our final panelists and keynote speakers. Registration is free for all government staff, press and media, and a limited number of student tickets are available. Discounted tickets are available for non-profit and academic attendees.

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Templates for SOTN Social Media Posts

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Help us promote this year’s State of the Net Conference by posting on your Twitter or Facebook using these social media templates.  You can also attach the photos to your posts at the end of this post. Follow us on twitter @SOTN and like the Internet Education Foundation’s new Facebook page for more updates as the conference approaches. 

Sample Tweets for Speakers/Panelists

“So excited to be moderating (name of your panel)  at the 2018 @SOTN Conference with (@ the other members of your panel)!”

“Looking forward to debating policy issues surrounding (Name of your panel or issues your panel is discussing) with (@ other members of your panelists) at this year’s @SOTN Conference! #SOTN2018”

“So excited to keynote @SOTN this year. State of the Net is America’s premier tech policy conference where we will be debating with some of the most influential people in both the private and public sector. #SOTN2018”

“Looking forward to discussing important issues facing the tech industry with my colleagues at this year’s State of the Net Conference @SOTN #SOTN2018”

“(@whoever is interviewing you)  and I will be chatting at the 2018 @SOTN Conference about __________.  can’t wait to see you all there!  #SOTN2018”

“Join me and (@member(s) of your panel) “  ________” ” ___________”  for  lively debate on (your panel’s topic) at @SOTN on January 29th at the Newseum. RSVP at https://stateofthenet2018.sched.com/  #SOTN2018”

Generic Promo Tweets 

“Interested in pursuing a career in tech/tech policy? Join me at @SOTN, America’s premier tech policy conference where leaders in government and the tech industry will be discussing the next big issues in tech policy. Check out the list of speakers and RSVP at https://stateofthenet2018.sched.com/tickets  #SOTN2018”

“Save the date!  The 2018 State of the Net Conference is January 29th at the Newseum in Washington D.C. RSVP now https://stateofthenet2018.sched.com/tickets @SOTN #SOTN2018”

“Are you a student interested in a career in tech/tech policy?  Join @NetEdFound for their annual @SOTN Conference where leaders from the public and private sector will be debating the emerging issues facing this industry. FREE ADMISSION for Students. Use the hashtag #SOTN2018 and let us know if you’re going!”

Sample Facebook Posts*

“Are you a student interested in a career in tech/tech policy?  Join @InternetEducationFoundation for their annual State of the Net Conference (Share the event page which is called State of the Net Conference 2018) where leaders from the public and private sector will be debating the emerging issues facing this industry. FREE ADMISSION for Students!!!! Use the hashtag #SOTN2018 and let us know if you’re going!”

*These posts can be used interchangeably on both platforms (Twitter and Facebook) but MAKE SURE you are using the appropriate handles for the Internet Education Foundation and State of the Net.

State of the Net DOES NOT have a Facebook page of its own instead it has an event page that you will click “going” and then share the event with your Facebook audience. If you do plan on posting to your Facebook audience, please share the “State of the Net Conference 2018” Event Page and Like the Internet Education Foundation on Facebook.

IEF and SOTN Social Media Handles

Facebook page for IEF: https://www.facebook.com/InternetEducationFoundation/

Facebook handle: @InternetEducationFoundation

FB SOTN: https://www.facebook.com/events/785501631642205/

Twitter for SOTN: @SOTN

Hashtag: #SOTN2018

Twitter for IEF: @NetEdFound

Link to the schedule for SOTN: https://stateofthenet2018.sched.com/

Link to RSVP for SOTN: https://stateofthenet2018.sched.com/tickets

Social Media Images 

SOTN Image Twitter
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Just Out: Agenda for #SOTN2018 New Panels, Speakers

The 2018 State of the Net Conference agenda has arrived, with even more speakers and conversations to be announced next week. As always, the State of the Net lays out the key issues challenging Internet policy in 2018 with diverse perspectives and thoughtful speakers.

Full Agenda
Headlining the agenda are keynotes from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Chairmen Bob Goodlatte and Greg Walden, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, Assistant Commerce Secretary David Redl, Futurist Amy Webb, and Zello CEO Bill Moore. The continually updated list of all speakers can be found here. 

Panels will address growing threats in cybersecurity, the intersection of the Internet and democracy, blockchain technology, digital trade, Internet governance, and more. The conference schedule is subject to change.

If you haven’t already, be sure to register ASAP. The conference is free to attend for government staff, students, and Foundry Fellows. Discounts are available for nonprofits, academics, and Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee members.
Register Now
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Congressman Bob Goodlatte Talks With Zello CEO Bill Moore at State of the Net

We are excited to announce that the CEO of Zello Inc, Bill Moore, will participate in a keynote conversation with Representative Bob Goodlatte, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, at State of the Net on January 29.

Zello is an app that transforms mobile phones into walkie-talkies, even with minimal network connection, making it especially useful during disasters. This fall, rescue workers in Texas relied on Zello to find and save flood victims stranded by Hurricane Harvey. It became the communication hub for the “cajun navy.” Zello was recently featured in the Washington Post, the New York Times, Buzzfeed, Recode, CNN, and many other outlets. Bill Moore is also the founder of the audio streaming service TuneIn, which offers thousands of radio stations on demand to more than 75 million users.

Media Outlets

Every year, key Internet policy makers and thinkers gather at State of the Net. Join them on January 29, 2018 at the Newseum’s Knight Conference Center in Washington, D.C. to be part of the Internet policy conversation.

REGISTER NOW

The keynote conversation with Chairman Bob Goodlatte will cover the power of the Internet — via extraordinary apps — to save lives. The pair will also discuss the Internet’s role in enabling new technologies and new companies. We look forward to seeing you there.

About Bill Moore: Zello Inc.’s CEO, Bill Moore, joins State of the Net to tell the story of building and scaling Zello, a simple technology that has wide ranging applicability, from saving lives in disasters to driving efficiency in business. Mr. Moore has been CEO of Zello for over six years, growing the company’s user base to about 100 million.

About Representative Bob Goodlatte: Representative Bob Goodlatte proudly represents the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia in the United States House of Representatives. In the 113th Congress, Rep. Goodlatte was elected to serve as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, where he continues to serve as Chairman today. For many years Rep. Goodlatte has served as one of the four co-chairs of the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional Internet Caucus, one of the most prestigious and active Caucuses on Capitol Hill.

The upcoming State of the Net Conference will cover the most important policy issues facing the Internet today. Congressional and administration leaders will engage with stakeholders on issues such as digital inclusion, freedom of expression, trust & tribalism, broadband fragmentation, innovation, and many more. As always, State of the Net will be your first look at the new players and the new issues that will take center stage in 2018. Whether it’s artificial intelligence or cyber security policies, State of the Net is the best place to debate them all. This conference is unique. It’s been consistently lauded for its balanced blend of perspectives and its provocative thinkers. In an increasingly polarized policy space, State of the Net is the most important stakeholder gathering that brings you together with key people with whom you disagree (respectfully). That’s the point. 

Past keynote speakers include: FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, UBER Founder/CEO Travis Kalanick, Dropbox Founder/CEO Drew Houston, Comcast NBC CEO Brian L. Roberts and many others. Find out more about our recent past speakers here.

State of the Net attracts over 600 attendees by providing unparalleled opportunities to network and engage on key policy issues. 

Want to know more about what State of the Net does? Here are video highlights of the conference to give a better sense of what the event does.

Follow us on Twitter for conference news and updates as we finalize the conference agenda and announce our final panelists and keynote speakers. Registration is free for all government staff, press and media, and a limited number of student tickets are available. Discounted tickets are available for non-profit and academic attendees.

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