Digital Identity: Can the UK Get It Right This Time?
Episode Title: Digital Identity: Can the UK Get It Right This Time?Podcast Host: Paddy DhandaGuest: David Birch, Author and Global Authority on Digital IdentityEpisode Summary: Paddy Dhanda is joined by David Birch to explore the UK's renewed push for a national digital identity scheme. They discuss why the previous attempt failed, how technology and public attitudes have changed, and what a successful, privacy-preserving infrastructure could look like today.Key Topics Covered: ✔️ Why the Blair-era ID scheme failed✔️ The difference between identification, authentication, and authorisation✔️ How cryptographic credentials can reduce fraud and friction✔️ The role of banks in identity infrastructure✔️ How AI will reshape identity and customer interactionResources & Links: 🔗 David Birch’s books: Identity is the New Money, The Currency Cold War, Money in the Metaverse🎧 Listen on Substack: qaltd.substack.com▶️ Watch on YouTube: QA Podcast Playlist🎧 Spotify: Listen here🍎 Apple Podcasts: Listen here This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit qaltd.substack.com
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A Year of Tech Failures - and What They Can Teach Us
Episode Title:A Year of Tech Failures - and What They Can Teach UsPodcast Host:Paddy DhandaGuest:Charlotte Jee, News Editor at MIT Technology ReviewEpisode Summary:In this episode, Paddy is joined by Charlotte Jee to explore MIT Technology Review’s annual list of the worst tech failures. From astronauts stranded in space to AI image generators gone rogue, the episode dives into the most memorable missteps of 2024 — and what they reveal about the state of modern technology.Charlotte shares behind-the-scenes insights into how the list is compiled, the common patterns behind tech failures, and why humility, simplicity, and user empathy are more important than ever.Key Topics Covered:✔️ Boeing’s Starliner disaster and the fragility of modern tech ✔️ AI slop, shrimp Jesus, and the dangers of unchecked generative tools ✔️ CrowdStrike’s outage and the ripple effects of a single update ✔️ Why 80% of cloud features go unused - and what that says about product design ✔️ The growing disconnect between tech creators and usersNotable Quotes:🔹 “Tech loves repeating the same mistakes - and we love pointing them out.” 🔹 “AI will always hallucinate. That’s not a bug - it’s the product.” 🔹 “We’re building faster than ever, but not necessarily better.”Resources & Links:🔗 Read the MIT Technology Review list: MIT Technology Review 🎧 Listen now on Substack, YouTube, or your favourite podcast platform. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit qaltd.substack.com
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Why Most Companies Still Struggle with Data - and What to Do About It
Episode Title:Why Most Companies Still Struggle with DataPodcast Host:Paddy DhandaGuest:Amma Ainsley, Strategic Account Executive at DatabricksEpisode Summary:In this episode of When Technology Goes Wrong, host Paddy Dhanda is joined by Amma Ainsley from Databricks to explore one of the most common and costly tech failures of our time: the failure to make the most of data. Despite the hype around AI and data-driven decision making, many organisations are still stuck with outdated tools, siloed teams, and a lack of data literacy.Amma shares her insights on how Databricks helps organisations overcome these challenges, the importance of data governance, and how generative AI is reshaping the future of analytics.Key Topics Covered:✔️ Why data maturity varies so widely across organisations✔️ The role of data literacy and organisational culture✔️ How Databricks unifies data without moving it✔️ The impact of generative AI on analytics and decision-making✔️ Advice for leaders looking to become more data-drivenNotable Quotes:🔹 “If you want to thrive and survive in the current economy, you need to be good at data.” – Amma Ainsley🔹 “You can have the best technology, but if the culture isn’t ready, it won’t work.”Resources & Links:🔗 Learn more about Databricks: https://www.databricks.com🎧 Listen now on Substack, Spotify, YouTube, or your favourite podcast platform. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit qaltd.substack.com
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The Rise and Demise of Helix: The First Big Dark Web Cryptocurrency Mixer
Episode Title:When Technology Goes Wrong: The Rise and Demise of Helix – The First Big Dark Web Cryptocurrency MixerPodcast Host:Paddy DhandaGuest:Geoff White, investigative journalist, author of Rinsed, and host of The Lazarus HeistEpisode Summary:In this episode of When Technology Goes Wrong, host Paddy Dhanda is joined by investigative journalist Geoff White to expose the story of Helix – the first major cryptocurrency mixer on the dark web. What began as a tool for privacy quickly became a hub for laundering billions in illicit funds.Geoff, author of Rinsed and presenter of the BBC podcast The Lazarus Heist, explains how Helix operated, how its creator Larry Harmon profited from criminal activity, and how law enforcement finally brought the operation down – with the help of a Google Glass selfie.Together, they explore the murky intersection of privacy, innovation, and criminal exploitation in the digital age.Key Topics Covered:✔️ What crypto mixers are and how Helix became the go-to tool for criminals✔️ How law enforcement traced Larry Harmon using blockchain forensics and Google Glass✔️ The ethical debate around privacy tools and their misuse✔️ The role of regulators and the challenges of policing the dark web✔️ Lessons for tech leaders, developers, and policymakersNotable Quotes:🔹 “It’s the ultimate. It’s a white glove privacy service.” – Geoff White🔹 “Every tech innovation opens up new space for money launderers to do their work in.”Resources & Links:🎙 The Lazarus Heist podcast – BBC Sounds📘 Rinsed by Geoff White – available on Bookshop.org, Amazon, and audiobook platforms🌐 More from Geoff White – geoffwhite.tech🎧 Listen now and discover how a seemingly clever privacy tool became a global criminal enabler. If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, rate, and review to support the show.Would you like this formatted into a downloadable file or added to a podcast platform description template? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit qaltd.substack.com
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When Technology Goes Wrong: Data Breaches and Fake Companies, with Graham Barrow
Episode Title: When Technology Goes Wrong: The Shiseido Data Breach and the Rise of Fake Companies Podcast Host: Paddy Danda Guest: Graham Barrow, financial crime specialist, co-host of The Dark Money Files, and co-founder of Risk Alert 247 Episode Summary: In this gripping episode of When Technology Goes Wrong, host Paddy Dhanda is joined by financial crime expert Graham Barrow to uncover the shocking ripple effects of data breaches. What begins as a leak of employee data quickly escalates into a sprawling web of fraud, with over 2,000 fake companies created using stolen identities. Graham shares how his obsession with uncovering fake companies led to the discovery of this massive fraud network—and why the UK’s company registration system is a goldmine for criminals. Together, they explore the vulnerabilities in corporate systems, the human cost of data breaches, and what needs to change to stop it. Key Topics Covered: ✔️ How stolen HR data was used to create thousands of fake companies ✔️ The role of Companies House ✔️ Why corporate bank accounts are easier to exploit than personal ones ✔️ The psychological and financial toll on victims ✔️ What tech leaders and regulators must do to protect data Notable Quotes: 🔹 "You can create a company without anybody looking at the details." – Graham Barrow 🔹 "Criminals aren’t interested in stealing data—they’re interested in what the data can do for them." 🔹 "There’s always a victim. White-collar crime isn’t victimless." Resources & Links: 🎙 The Dark Money Files Podcast 🔍 Risk Alert 24/7 🎧 Listen now to uncover how a single breach can spiral into a nationwide fraud epidemic. If you enjoy the episode, subscribe, rate, and review to support the show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit qaltd.substack.com
When Technology Goes Wrong explores real-world tech failures to understand what happened and what we can learn, alongside the people involved and the experts who can help us unpack. From system outages to security lapses, each episode offers practical insights for building better technology - and using it effectively.
Hosted by Paddy Dhanda, Head of Product Discovery and Agile Practices at QA, the UK’s largest tech training provider. qaltd.substack.com
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