Interview Questions for Dan Keyserling, Jigsaw's Chief Operating Officer
Jigsaw, a Google-backed organisation, is on a mission to make the world safer using technology. The organisation focuses on a certain set of problems where emerging technologies are at the core of the issue.
One of the key areas Jigsaw focuses on is disinformation. They aim to forecast threats that are one to three years in the future, helping to combat the spread of misinformation and online extremism. Their approach adapts as new issues evolve over time.
Jigsaw has launched several innovative projects to address these challenges. One such project is the Redirect Method, which focuses on the role of technology in the recruitment process for violent extremist organisations. Another project, Perspective, uses machine learning to spot abuse and toxicity in language, helping publishers and platforms moderate conversations on their sites.
In the realm of cybersecurity, Jigsaw provides free protection to news organisations and human rights groups against DDoS attacks through Project Shield. They also offer a free suite of tools called Protect Your Election to political organisations worldwide, helping them defend against cyber threats such as phishing, hacking, and DDoS attacks.
Jigsaw also addresses the issue of DNS poisoning, a method through which entities can intercept your connection with the DNS, and governments can block certain websites. To combat this, they have developed Intra, a tool that safeguards individuals from DNS manipulation attacks.
In addition, Jigsaw's Outline tool helps people create virtual private networks (VPN) as a protection against censorship and surveillance. This tool is particularly useful in countries where internet freedom is limited.
Political campaigns around the world are increasingly acknowledging the importance of these tools in addressing cyber threats. Jigsaw has provided training in countries like Ukraine, Venezuela, and Kenya on how to use these tools to protect individuals and campaigns from cyber threats.
As the nature of Jigsaw's work is that there are always new issues that need to be addressed, they continue to identify opportunities to address geopolitical challenges using technology. Their work is not only about finding solutions to existing problems but also about anticipating and preparing for future threats.
In a world where technology plays an increasingly significant role in our lives, Jigsaw stands as a beacon of hope, using advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning to tackle global security challenges that were previously difficult to address with traditional methods.
