Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., walks a fine line on technology issues: She represents Silicon Valley and has a track record of using data and technology to solve government problems. But at the same time, the first-term senator doesn’t shy away from questioning technology practices that may risk consumer privacy or national security.
To understand the tech background of the vice presidential candidate, Nextgov took a look at her record in the Senate, past statements and her work as attorney general of California. Though Harris is not always the leader on hot topics such as rural broadband access or protecting intellectual property, the first-term senator is savvy when it comes to technology, according to experts.
Daniel Castro, who works on tech policy issues as director of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation’s Center for Data Innovation, told Nextgov Harris could be a strong voice for using technology to improve government services in a potential Biden administration.
“It seems like there's going to be someone who has that hands-on experience of actually using digital technologies for transformation of government, and to me that's actually an exciting idea,” Castro said. “We haven't had someone in government at that high a level that has that kind of experience or insight and I think that's a major asset to the ticket.”
Transforming Government with Technology
Two key projects stick out in Harris’s record for transforming government using technology: her OpenJustice initiative, which she spearheaded as California’s attorney general, and a bill she introduced in 2019 that sets aside funding for state and local governments to improve government services using technology.
Castro said Harris first came on the radar for technology issues when she rolled out the perspective kamala harris could bring presidency
