Obama talks tech, globalization and tacos on Texas trip
AUSTIN–President Barack Obama kicked off the South by Southwest Interactive on March 11 with a keynote talk calling on technology leaders to drive change in three areas: improve government and services through digitalization, tackle big problems in new ways and ensure technology eases civic participation.
Obama made the remarks in an interview with Evan Smith, CEO and editor-in-chief of The Texas Tribune.
“We are at a moment in history where technology, globalization, our economy is changing so fast,” Obama told the enthusiastic crowd. “This gathering, South by Southwest, brings together people who are at the cutting edge of those changes.”
He said advancements in technology create valuable opportunities but also the potential for “disruptive, unsettling,” actions. “They empower individuals to do things that they could have never dreamed of before, but they also empower folks who are very dangerous to spread dangerous messages. Part of my challenge since I’ve been president is trying to find ways in which our government can be a part of the positive change that’s taking place and can help convene and catalyze folks in the private sector and nonprofit sector in being part of the bigger civic community in tackling some of our biggest challenges. This group I think is primed to make a difference.”
Obama hit a high note with the Austin crowd when he talked about his stop at Torchy’s Tacos on the way into town from the airport. For the uninitiated, tacos, particularly breakfast tacos, are a big deal in Austin and Torchy’s is a very popular locally-based chain.
“I ordered The Democrat, but then I ordered a Republican and an Independent because I wanted to give all people a proper hearing. I wanted to be fair.”
The Democrat taco is shredded beef barbacoa, avocado, queso fresco, cilantro, onions and lime. The Republican is jalepeno sausage, shredded cheese, pico de gallo and poblano sauce and the Independent fried portobello mushroom strips, refried black beans, roasted corn, escabeche carrots, queso fresco, cilantro and avocado with an ancho aioli.
Obama also commented on the unfolding battle between tech giant Apple and the FBI. The feds want Apple to override security measures on an iPhone associated the San Bernardino shooters while Apple argues the action would set a dangerous precedent regarding access to private information.
Apple argued in a recent court filing, “Responding to these demands would effectively require Apple to create full-time positions in a new ‘hacking’ department to service government requests and to develop new versions of the back door software every time iOS changes, and it would require Apple engineers to testify about this back door as government witnesses at trial.”
“I am of the view that there are very real reasons we want to make sure that the government can’t just willy-nilly get into everyone’s iPhones,” Obama said. “I suspect the answer will come down to how do we create a system where the encryption is as strong as possible,” but access is still “accessible by the smallest number of people possible for the smallest of issues. I am confident this is something we can solve.”
