Democratic Primary Debate: on Technology


Andrew Yang: Russian hacking of our elections is a hostile act

Q: Your response to Putin and Russia?

Andrew Yang: We have to let Russia know, "Look, we get it. We've tampered with other elections. You've tampered with our elections. And now it has to stop. And if it does not stop, we will take this as an act of hostility against the American people." I believe most Americans would support me on this. But Russian hacking of our democracy is an illustration of the 21st century threats: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, climate change, loose nuclear material, military drones and non-state actors. These are the threats that are going to require our administration to catch up in terms of technology. We all know we are decades behind the curve on technology. As Commander in Chief, I will help pull us forward, and that's going to be a huge responsibility of the next president.

Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

Andrew Yang: Concerned about how tech affects children

As the parent of two young children, I'm particularly concerned about screen use and its effect on our children. Studies clearly show that we're seeing record levels of anxiety and depression coincident with smartphone adoption and social media use. Breaking up the tech companies does nothing to make our kids healthier. What we have to do is we have to home in on the specific problems we're trying to solve and use 21st century solutions for 21st century problems.
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

Andrew Yang: Users should own their personal data, get paid for its use

The best way we can fight back against big tech companies is to say our data is our property. Right now our data is worth more than oil. How many of you remember getting your data check in the mail? It got lost. It went to Facebook, Amazon, Google. If we say this is our property and we share in the gains that's the best way we can balance the scales against the big tech companies.
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

Beto O`Rourke: We don't allow lies in books; why do we allow Facebook?

We need to set very tough, very clear transparent rules of the road. The kind of rules that we do not have today. That allow these social media platforms, where we the people have become the product, to abuse that public trust. Right now we treat them as a utility, when in reality they're more akin to a publisher. They curate the content that we see. We would allow no publisher to do what Facebook is doing. Treat them like the publisher that they are.
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

Kamala Harris: Same rules for everyone; Twitter should shut down Trump

We're talking about a grave injustice when rules apply to some but not equally to all. In particular when the rules that apply to the powerless don't apply to the powerful. Senator Warren, when I called on Twitter to suspend Donald Trump's account that you did not agree. I would urge you to join me because Donald Trump is using that platform as the president of the United States to openly intimidate witnesses, to threaten witnesses, to obstruct justice. He and his account should be taken
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

  • The above quotations are from Democratic Primary Debate in Ohio, hosted by CNN and the New York Times.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Technology.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Elizabeth Warren on Technology.
  • Click here for more quotes by Kamala Harris on Technology.
2020 Presidential contenders on Technology:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Feb 09, 2020