Daniel Castro
Vice President and Director, Center for Data Innovation
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202-626-5742
Twitter: @castrotech
Daniel Castro is vice president at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and director of ITIF's Center for Data Innovation.
Castro writes and speaks on a variety of issues related to information technology and internet policy, including privacy, security, intellectual property, Internet governance, e-government, and accessibility for people with disabilities. His work has been quoted and cited in numerous media outlets, including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, USA Today, Bloomberg News, and Bloomberg Businessweek. In 2013, Castro was named to FedScoop’s list of the “top 25 most influential people under 40 in government and tech.” In 2015, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker appointed Castro to the Commerce Data Advisory Council.
Castro previously worked as an IT analyst at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) where he audited IT security and management controls at various government agencies. He contributed to GAO reports on the state of information security at a variety of federal agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. In addition, Castro was a visiting scientist at the Software Engineering Institute in Pittsburgh, PA, where he developed virtual training simulations to provide clients with hands-on training of the latest information security tools.
He has a B.S. in foreign service from Georgetown University and an M.S. in information security technology and management from Carnegie Mellon University.
Research Areas
Recent Publications
European Commission Threatens Free Online Services with Misunderstood Ads Ruling, Says ITIF
Following the European Commission notifying Meta of its preliminary finding that the social network’s advertising model violates European law, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) Vice President Daniel Castro issued the following statement.
Podcast: Information Technology Is Increasingly Critical and Increasingly Demonized, With Daniel Castro
Over the last several years, public opinion on technology and the use of data has shifted from excitement to skepticism to fear.
The Surgeon General’s Misleading Claims About Social Media’s Risk To Children Should Come With Its Own Warning Label
The U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy published a New York Times op-ed arguing that social media poses such a threat to children’s mental health that these platforms should come with a warning label like cigarettes and alcohol. However, his argument is flawed on multiple levels: There is no scientific consensus that social media is causing mental health issues among youth; social media use among youth does not present a similar level of risk as tobacco and alcohol use; and the alleged risks of social media come from interaction with specific types of content, not from the platforms themselves.
A Techno-Economic Agenda for the Next Administration
The next administration needs to place innovation, productivity, and competitiveness at the core of its economic policy. To that end, this report offers a comprehensive techno-economic agenda with 82 actionable policy recommendations.
State Department Risks Overlooking Potential of AI For Human Rights
President Biden’s 2023 executive order on artificial intelligence (AI) directed the State Department to work with other agencies and stakeholders to develop guidance for identifying and managing human rights risks associated with AI. As the State Department prepares this guidance, it should emphasize that in many cases, the risk of inaction—the missed opportunities to use AI to improve human rights—presents the most significant threat, and it should prioritize deploying AI to support and enhance human rights.
Podcast: Data-Driven Policy and Innovation With AI, Featuring Daniel Castro
Daniel Castro appeared on the AI50 podcast with Hanh Brown to discuss data governance, privacy policies, and the transformative power of data-driven innovation.
What Does the Public Think About AI?
In a nationally representative survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults, Public First and the Center for Data Innovation track public attitudes and perceptions of artificial intelligence.
Picking the Right Policy Solutions for AI Concerns
Some concerns are legitimate, but others are not. Some require immediate regulatory responses, but many do not. And a few require regulations addressing AI specifically, but most do not.
Comments to the UK Competition and Markets Authority Regarding the Microsoft-Mistral AI Partnership
Given that the Microsoft-Mistral AI partnership does not create a relevant merger situation, does not harm competition, and has a pro-competitive impact on the market, the CMA should not intervene.
Comments to the UK Competition and Markets Authority Regarding the Amazon-Anthropic Partnership
Given that the Amazon-Anthropic partnership does not create a relevant merger situation, does not harm competition, and has a pro-competitive impact on the market, the CMA should not intervene.
Comments to the UK Competition and Markets Authority Regarding Microsoft and Inflection AI
Given that Microsoft’s non-exclusive licensing of Inflection AI’s model and its hiring of former Inflection AI employees does not create a relevant merger situation, does not harm competition, and has a pro-competitive impact on the market, the CMA should not intervene.
Letter in Support of the “The Future of AI Innovation Act”
This legislation lays out a proactive agenda to foster responsible AI development and deployment in the United States.
Recent Events and Presentations
AR/VR Policy Conference 2024
Join the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and the XR Association for the fourth annual AR/VR Policy Conference.
Policy, Governance, and Ethical Considerations In AI
Daniel Castro spoke about policy, governance, and ethical considerations in AI at a conference hosted by the Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering and the National Academy of Engineering Forum on Complex Unifiable Systems.
Insights on US Public Opinion on AI
Watch now for a Capitol Hill event covering an in-depth survey by ITIF’s Center for Data Innovation and Public First about what of Americans thinks about AI, how these views have shifted over the past year, and the implications of these beliefs for businesses, policymakers, and society at large.
Data-Driven Policy and Innovation With AI
Daniel Castro speaks about data, tech and policy at an event hosted by Hanh Brown, CEO of AI50.
The Impact of Generative AI on Misinformation, Disinformation, and Malinformation
Daniel Castro spoke about the impact of generative AI on misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation at the Defiende La Verdad Summit for Latino Media Professionals hosted by NALEO.
Harnessing AI for Carbon Neutrality
Watch now for a panel discussion to explore the current landscape of AI applications in transitioning to a greener economy, identify key areas ripe for further exploration, and discuss actionable policy measures to foster innovation and adoption.
Generative AI and Congressional Action
Daniel Castro and Aswin Prabhakar speak at Broadband Breakfast's panel on generative AI and how that may impact legislation and congressional action this year.
Youth Online Safety at the 20th Annual State of the Net Conference
Daniel Castro spoke at the 20th Annual State of the Net Conference, joining an expert panel to discuss age verification, privacy, and free speech for youth online.
Unveiling AI Policy Insights: Global Trends and Regulatory Strategies
Daniel Castro speaks at the 34th Annual Greek Economic Summit on global AI policy.
Building the Foundations for a Successful Metaverse: Opportunities and Challenges
Daniel Castro speaks on a panel about how policymakers can support societal and economic benefits from the metaverse at an event in Washington, D.C. sponsored by The Economist.
Agreeing to Disagree: The Need for More Interoperable Tech Policies
Watch now for a panel discussion about the increasingly complex web of laws and regulations impacting the digital economy and the benefits, risks, and opportunities of creating more compatible tech policies.
AR/VR Policy Conference 2023
Join the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and the XR Association for the third annual AR/VR Policy Conference. The event will feature a series of expert talks and panels discussing critical policy questions covering: