November 14, 2025 — The Australian Technology and Information Industry Association (ATIIA) hosted a thought-provoking youth salon this month under the theme “Technology Boundaries & Algorithmic Power.” The event brought together emerging researchers, technology professionals, and civil society advocates to reflect on the social and ethical dimensions of algorithm-driven technologies.
Held in a workshop-style format, the salon welcomed over 60 participants from universities, think tanks, community organizations, and the broader tech industry. Unlike traditional forums, this session emphasized open dialogue and co-creation, with youth participants leading discussions on digital agency, algorithmic transparency, and power asymmetries in data-driven systems.
The event began with a provocation titled “Who Designs the Rules We Obey?”, delivered by Anais Byrne, a doctoral researcher in technology policy and digital sociology. Her remarks focused on how everyday algorithms — from content recommendation to credit scoring — are shaping perception, access, and inequality. “Technology is never neutral,” Byrne stated. “Behind every algorithm is a value system, a context, and a consequence.”
Breakout circles then explored issues such as:
Bias in automated decision-making systems;
The role of young people in tech governance and standards-setting;
Creative resistance to surveillance and profiling tools;
Re-imagining digital rights for the algorithmic age.
Participants used visual mapping, collective writing, and case-based reflection to surface real-world tensions and possible interventions. One group co-created a prototype for a "publicly accountable AI labeling" system, while another drafted a youth-led charter of digital fairness principles.
“This was not about critique alone,” said ATIIA Inclusion & Society Program Officer Malik Grant, who co-facilitated the event. “It was about reimagining participation — ensuring the next generation of technologists, policymakers, and citizens have a stake in shaping the systems that shape them.”
The salon forms part of ATIIA’s ongoing commitment to supporting public dialogue and ethical reflection in tech development. It also complements the association’s efforts to align industry innovation with inclusive governance frameworks.