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Australia is famous for doing elections well, from the wholesome school hall set ups, to the much loved democracy sausage and of course scrutineering from the AEC - - its a pretty well oiled machine. But with technological advancements in e-voting, perhaps it's time we re-think how elections are run to make them more efficient and convenient.  This week we discuss electronic voting to online misinformation, counting machines to social media blackouts. Can we have convenience and our sausage too?

First up, how and why has TikTok become Google for Gen Z?  Plus, how an upcoming election at the UN could determine the future of the internet, the latest on Elon Musk's painful courtship with twitter and don't look up, NASA is about to go head to head with an asteroid.

When the big mobile phone manufacturers release a new phone, as Apple did this week, have we reached the limit of what we can expect?  Plus, big tech hits back at the federal government's localisation requirements for data storage. Does it matter where our data lives? And our panel has a go at redesigning MyGov. Guests Manal al-Sharif, author and presenter of the Tech4evil podcast  Josh Taylor, reporter at Guardian Australia

Cambridge research has found that a 60cm-tall humanoid called Nao helped children open up about feelings. Is there something in this for adults?

An unconventional piece of proposed technology that will change the accent of people in call centres has opened up a can of worms for where our prejudices and expectations lie ... and it's messy. And will there ever be a day when petrol fuelled vehicles are banned in Australia? One US state has already set a date.

TikTok has announced new steps to ensure influencers understand the rules around paid political ads. Could this be a model for countering misinformation? Plus, a social media giant has been accused of recording every single letter you type on your keyboard And Google wins in the High Court.  Guest Seamus Byrne, Head of Content at Byteside

A trial took place at the Commonwealth Games last weekend to see whether esports could join traditional sports like swimming and athletics. Should they be included? Plus, Elon Musk is cashing in on shares as he gears up for a legal war with social media giant Twitter. And why a robot from the team behind Facebook is critiquing the company that created it. Guests Alice Clarke, freelance technology journalist Kunal Kalro, founder and CEO of Eugene Labs

A new image website set up to try and capture an authentic, unfiltered snapshot of a user's life is finding a global user base. Could it be the future of social media? Plus, Australian investors have been left with nothing as cryptocurrency giant Celsius goes bankrupt. And the US city fighting back against surveillance. Guests Ariel Bogle, ABC Technology Reporter Michael Cowling, Associate Professor in Information and Communication Technology at CQUniversity Australia

The latest in social media, consumer electronics, digital politics, hacktivism and more.

Instagram has reversed some changes to the app following a backlash that saw influencer royalty Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian turning on the platform. Plus, TikTok stands up to the Chinese government by refusing to host a disguised account. And why we'll be seeing fewer "unicorns" and more "zebras" in a post-lock down world. Guests Sam Koslowski, Co-founder of the Daily Aus Manal al-Sharif, Author and presenter of the Tech 4 Evil podcast

An Instagram redesign has left thousands of people wondering where their friends went. What does this new direction mean for the app? Plus the surplus of streaming services has led to a renaissance in video piracy. Can it be stopped? And could Snapchat's ambition and ideas lead to it's resurrection? Guests Cam Wilson, associate editor at Crikey Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson, News Corp National Technology Editor

A global investigation has revealed how Uber secretly lobbied governments across the world on its rise to ridesharing supremacy. What can we learn from the leak? Plus, could a partnership between Netflix and Microsoft create a new model for online advertising. And are TikTok "kindness videos" really that kind? Guests Ariel Bogle, ABC Technology Reporter Reinhardt Sosin, co-host of the Tech 4 Evil podcast

Death is unavoidable, but can technology play a role in making it easier for those who love you to remember you?  We discuss the range of apps and services that can help you leave messages, and plan out your social media accounts after you die.  Plus, the saga of one of the worlds richest men and twitter and why it could send them both to court in Delaware. And all you need to know about avoiding injury when doing a viral dance challenges on TikTok. Guests Angharad Yeo, presenter and journalist Meg Coffey, Managing Director, Coffey & Tea

Technology has created countless problems for humankind. Some, like global warming, or nuclear weapons, pose an existential threat. On today's episode, two transhumanists make the case for technology as the solution to our problems, but human life could be irrevocably changed in the process. Guests Elise Bohan, Senior Research Scholar at the University of Oxford's Future of Humanity Institute and author of Future Superhuman: Our transhuman lives in a make-or-break century Peter Xing, Cofounder of Transhumanism Australia and Digital & Data Solutions Lead at KPMG

How many millions of dollars makes the difference between calling something water resistance and water proof? One tech manufacturer certainly found out the hard way. Plus, smart speakers want to bring your grandparents back from the dead to read you a story book. And why apps tracking periods could become legally dangerous in the USA Guests Tegan Jones, Global Reviews Editor at Finder, and co-host of Queens of the Drone Age Kunal Kalro, Founder and CEO of Eugene Labs

After 27 years Microsoft has retired Internet Explorer, a product which transformed the way people engaged with the web. A timely end, or gone to soon? Plus, new data reveals that Australian border force searched more than 40,000 mobile devices in five years. Can they all be justified? And, Instagram introduces parental controls to a curb mental health crisis. Guests Peter Marks, national technology editor, Access Informatics Alice Clarke, technology journalist

A senior Google software engineer who claimed that the company's artificial intelligence chatbot had gained sentience was suspended on Monday. Should we be wary?  And the EU deal will force iPhones to use USB-C charger by 2024. Will charging technology have been moved on by then? Plus, Japanese scientists have developed a 'living human skin' on a robotic finger. Guests Seamus Byrne, Head of Content at Byteside Manal al-Sharif, Author and presenter of the Tech 4 Evil podcast

Terms like e-sports and wifi all have their roots in the English language but given how wide reaching the web is, should it not reflect more languages? And, why one major tech company has been ordered to pay an Australian politician $700 thousand dollars. Plus, one of the most important people in the life of Facebook quits. Guests Amy Bainbridge, ABC National Consumer Affairs Reporter Michael Cowling, Associate Professor in Information and Communication Technology at CQUniversity

A controversial new website that allows users to search the internet for images of their face has proven to be astoundingly accurate. Could it be a privacy nightmare in the making? Plus, Twitter has been hit with a $150 million dollar fine in the US for selling user data. Will the tech giant change its ways? And Dyson is setting up a major robotics research centre in the UK in an attempt to develop home robots. Guests Natasha Gillezeau, product manager at Flux Finance Cam Wilson, associate editor at Crikey

The election is finally over. What role did online advertising play in the result? And are our rules and regulations up to the job in a world of disinformation? Plus, should tech companies be operating in Russia, even if they claim to be helping the opposition to Putin. And did Facebook block access to emergency services in Australia? Regulators are dealing with whistle blower allegations. Guests Meg Coffey, Managing Director at Coffey & Tea Josh Taylor, reporter at Guardian Australia

How do you feel about watching Netflix with ads? That might be coming before the end of the year. Why? Plus, just how many fake accounts are there on Twitter? And will it be enough to stop billionaire Elon musk from taking over the social media company? And a much much loved piece of technology is about to be killed off. Guests Elise Bohan, author of Future Superhuman: Our transhuman lives in a make-or-break century Jessie Hughes, Creative Technologist at Josephmark

Remember when Facebook blocked all news outlets in Australia over a row about paying news providers, but then "accidentally" blocked fire and state health services? Whistle-blowers have claimed that it may have been a deliberate negotiating tactic. And, with Elon's takeover of Twitter apparently imminent, there's been some buzz around Mastodon as an alternative. Is it worth the hype? Plus, the Federal election is just around the corner and social media is being plastered with political advertising. Will it make a difference to the outcome? Guests Jen Dudley-Nicholson, National technology editor, News Limited Reinhardt Sosin, Presenter of the Tech 4 Evil podcast

The creators of snapchat have announced a new augmented reality online shopping tool. Is it likely to catch on? Plus, a crypto crimewave forces police online. And the Meta verse TikTok war ramps up. Guests Kunal Kalro, Founder & CEO of Eugene Labs Tegan Jones, Tech Journalist

In the UK, people using self-driving cars might be allowed to watch television on built-in screens. So who do we blame if something goes wrong? Plus, Netflix is losing subscribers and money. What does this mean for the future of streaming? And, Google, Meta, and others will have to explain their algorithms under new EU legislation Guests Alice Clarke, journalist and game reviewer Sam Koslowski, co-founder of the Daily Aus

Facebook doesn't have the best track record when it comes to political advertising. Will things be different for election campaign 2022? Plus, Elon Musk ups the stakes in his bid for Twitter. And why your weather app might be selling your data. Guests Peter Marks, National Technology Editor, Access Informatics Manal al-Sharif, presenter of the Tech 4 Evil podcast

The world's richest man, Elon Musk, has become Twitter's biggest shareholder. What does it mean for the future of the site? Plus, Telstra steps up to take on scam texts. Will it work? Guests Emily van der Nagel, Social Media Lecturer at Monash University Seamus Byrne, Head of Content at Byteside

Facebook has been accused of contracting a political lobbying firm to help sway public opinion against TikTok. What does it say about the fight for social media dominance? Plus, is social media content moderation destroying potential evidence that could be used to prosecute war crimes? And Amazon workers unionize. Guests Natasha Gillezeau, product manager at Flux Finance Michael A. Cowling, Associate Professor at Central Queensland University

Who makes Artificial Intelligence, and how should it be made differently – if at all? All technology is the product of humans. But just who are the people behind technology? Whose interests shape how it's created? Which values and voices are prioritised, and which ones are excluded? And what factors influence why technologies are designed in certain ways for certain purposes? Guests: Dr Jathan Sadowski, Research Fellow in the Emerging Technologies Research Lab & Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making & Society, Monash University. Part of the ABC's 2021 TOP 5 Humanities residency. Ellen Broad, Senior Fellow in the 3A Institute, Australian National University. Dr Thao Phan, Research Fellow in the Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making & Society, Monash University *This program was originally broadcast in November 2021

Skyrocketing petrol prices mean that many Australians are consider going electric. Will this spur an uptake? Plus, a new announcement from Netflix means the days of sharing your account with others might be coming to an end. And should we vote in elections online? Guests Amy Bainbridge, ABC National Consumer Affairs Reporter Cameron Wilson, Associate Editor at Crikey

Ukraine has raised millions of dollars in cryptocurrency in the weeks since Russia invaded. Could this be the future of donations? Plus, is violent speech online ok during war? Meta is trying to decide. And would you pay to get a background check on a Tinder date? Guests Ariel Bogle, journalist at ABC Investigations Daniel Van Boom, senior writer at CNET

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has already proven to be a devastating conflict on the ground, for soldiers and civilians alike, but this has also been a battle over information and technology. This week, a special episode of Download this Show explores the Russia-Ukraine war in cyberspace - from DDoS attacks, to disinformation, to censorship. What impact might it have on the conflict in the real world? Guests Katherine Mansted, Senior Fellow in the Practice of National Security at the ANU National Security College, and Director of Cyber Intelligence at CyberCX Tom Uren, Author of Seriously Risky Business cyber security newsletter on Substack, and  Senior Fellow at ASPI

In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, what can you do to tell truth from fiction in a fast paced war ready made for digital consumption? Plus, China launches a state backed cryptocurrency. And can Tumblr work without adult content? Guests Jocelyn Brewer, founder of Digital Nutrition Josh Taylor, reporter at Guardian Australia

A retinal-implant manufacturer has shifted its focus, leaving it's users with no product support. Where can you turn if your eye breaks down? Meanwhile, as millions are poured into NFT's, scammers are circling to try and take advantage. Plus, is Apple's Tim Cook really worth 99 million dollars? And has the New York Times ruined Wordle? Guests Jessie Hughes, Creative Technologist at Josephmark Peter Marks, software developer at Access Informatics.

​The ASIO Director-General has suggested that dating apps are becoming a go to tool for foreign espionage, while Tinder is trying out a blind dating feature. Will it be a catch?  Plus, are cars becoming too smart for their own boots? Guests Sam Koslowski, Co-founder of the Daily Aus & Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson, News Corp National Technology Editor

Facebook's total user base has declined for the first time ever, while its parent company Meta is searching for solutions to stop harassment in the virtual world. Plus, a new scam alert triggers anxiety about the increasing prominence of cryptocurrencies. Guests Meg Coffey, social media strategist at Coffey & Tea Kunal Kalro, founder and CEO of Eugene Labs

American podcaster Joe Rogan has one of the most lucrative licencing arrangements in podcasting, but after playing host to COVID misinformation on his show, Spotify is facing a major backlash. Plus - Apple moves to stop stalkers, and TikTok takes on holocaust deniers. Guests Liam Ridgeway, Co-Founder INDIGITEK and NGNY Tegan Jones, Global Reviews Editor, Finder

Wordle, the free online word game flooding social media, has attracted global engagement by embracing the best of online culture. Plus, the European Union plans to take on targeted ads, and the Australia government takes on online bullies. But will these legislators be able to make a difference? Guests: Alice Clarke, Freelance Award-Winning Technology Journalist Seamus Byrne, Editor of CNet Australia

It was a year of lockdowns and border closures, and for many of us technology was a key part of how we worked, played, and connected with loved ones. On this episode, the last for 2021, we look at the year that was in technology, culture and media, gleaning what we can learn from the year and forecasting what we can expect next year.     Guests: Amanda Yeo, co-host of the Queens of the Drone Age podcast  Cam Wilson, Associate Editor at Crikey 

The Australian Federal Police are testing a new technology that predicts what a criminal looks like from the DNA left at a crime scene, making this use of forensic analysis an Australian first for law enforcement. Meanwhile, Uber is set to pay $9 million to settle a sexual assault complaint and Twitter mistakenly suspends accounts after extremists abuse new policy. Plus, the Productivity Commission says white goods and electronics should have clear labels outlining repair information and ‘expiry' dates. Guests: Ariel Bogle, Technology journalist Jonno Seidler, Creative Lead at Unyoked

Some of the toughest ‘anti-troll' legislation in the world is to be introduced in Australia, so how will it work? Meanwhile, the estate of Lord of the Rings creator JRR Tolkien has successfully blocked a crypto-currency called JRR Token. Plus, 193 countries have adopted the first global agreement on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and the US blocks the export of quantum computing technology to Chinese organizations.   Guests: Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson, News Corp National Technology Editor Alice Clarke, Freelance Award-Winning Technology Journalist

The trading of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin has been declared forbidden for Muslims in Indonesia. So, what does this mean for the 6.5 million cypto investors in Indonesia? Meanwhile Tinder and Queensland Police launch a new campaign to combat assaults. It's a world first but is it enough and what can other dating apps learn from it? And would you replace your own iPhone's screen, battery or camera if it was broken? Well, if you're brave enough, you now can as Apple makes parts and tools available for customers to fix their own devices. Plus, the almighty power of the singer Adele makes Spotify do something it's never done before. Guests: Josh Taylor, Technology journalist at The Guardian Meg Coffey, Social media strategist and manager of digital marketing agency Coffey & Tea

The Commonwealth Bank is adding cryptocurrencies to its banking app, becoming the first Australian bank to offer such a service. Plus, Twitter launched its new subscription product, Twitter Blue, in the US this week but some experts are asking why some simple features are hiding behind the paywall. And the US Justice Department is suing Uber over allegations it has been overcharging disabled people. Guests: Natasha Gillezeau - Technology, Marketing and Media journalist at The Australian Financial Review Peter Marks - Software developer at Access Informatics