In this first episode of Where I Stand, I sit down with Andy Briercliffe, an online harms consultant and SHIELD Board member, to talk about what community means when everything is connected, why the biggest challenge isn’t AI but human behavior, and what gives him hope for the future of digital safety. This isn’t just another conversation about tech. It’s about how tech shapes our communities.

Andy doesn’t shy away from the hard truths: regulation matters, AI is evolving fast, but behind every algorithm is a human choice. He shares why collaboration across education, tech, and grassroots communities is the only way forward, and why protecting young people and vulnerable groups must stay at the center.

This conversation is part of what SHIELD stands for: amplifying voices that remind us technology is powerful, but responsibility is non-negotiable. If you care about online safety, ethical AI, and building a safer digital future, this episode is for you.

This content is also available in video form, which you can find here: https://youtu.be/vRgy9koLQAs