The Irreversible Impact of Technology: The Ethical Dilemmas We Face When We Can’t Uninvent Our Creations | An Australian Cyber Conference 2024 in Melbourne Conversation with Mikko Hypponen | On Location Coverage with Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli

Guest: Mikko Hypponen, Chief Research Officer (CRO) at WithSecure [@WithSecure]

On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypponen/

On Twitter | https://twitter.com/mikko

Hosts: 

Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast [@RedefiningCyber]

On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/sean-martin

Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast & Audio Signals Podcast

On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/marco-ciappelli

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Episode Notes

During the AISA CyberCon 2024 in Melbourne, Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli sat down with Mikko Hypponen to discuss the irreversible nature of technology, the challenges it presents, and its impact on society. The discussion focused not on the event itself but on broader issues and ideas that shape our relationship with technological innovation.

The Irreversible Nature of Innovation

Mikko emphasized that once a technology is invented, it cannot be uninvented. Strong encryption was one of his key examples: it secures communication for individuals and organizations, yet it is also used by criminals to evade detection. This duality underscores the reality that every innovation carries benefits and drawbacks. Mikko noted, “Even if we wanted to get rid of strong encryption, it’s not possible. Criminals would still use it.”

The conversation also touched on artificial intelligence. Mikko highlighted how innovations build on past advancements. Decades of progress in digitizing information, developing the internet, and creating cloud infrastructure have made today’s AI capabilities possible. He reflected on how large technological revolutions often take longer than anticipated to develop but eventually surpass expectations in scope.

Technology as a Double-Edged Sword

The group explored societal challenges posed by technology, such as the impact of social media on youth and ethical questions around ransomware. Mikko pointed to the breach of the Vastamo psychotherapy center in Finland, where hackers stole sensitive patient records and demanded ransoms from both the clinic and its patients. He argued that, in some cases, paying the ransom might result in less harm, even though it contradicts the principle of not funding criminal activity.

Marco raised the issue of preparing young people for social media, comparing it to teaching a child to drive before handing over car keys. The discussion emphasized the importance of gradually introducing tools and systems while fostering understanding of their risks and responsibilities.

Building on the Past

Marco noted how foundational technologies, like the internet, enable further innovations. Mikko agreed, citing how AI’s rapid rise was made possible by decades of previous work. He stressed that each technological leap requires the groundwork laid by earlier developments, creating platforms for new ideas to flourish.

The group also discussed the limitations of regulation. For example, cryptocurrencies, built on mathematical principles, cannot be fundamentally altered by laws. Instead, regulation can only address interactions