Today’s political climate inextricably links the tech industry to politics, despite the industry’s resistance to threats of hacking, foreign influence, and #fakenews. Disruptive technologies like AR, VR, machine learning, and blockchain can address these threats. The presidential hopeful who best understands and leverages these tools will be the last candidate standing, if history is any indicator.
This panel of experts explores the phenomenon of candidates winning unwinnable presidential elections by using disruptive technology. It also identifies strategies that 2020 candidates can adopt to leverage disruptive technology. This includes both campaign integration and proposed policies, particularly the regulation of tech companies and “corpocurrencies” like Facebook’s Libra.
6. There are growing fears over Russia’s past and
future election meddling
7. In the past century, four
long-shot presidential
candidates defied the
odds and won …
And they all adopted the
disruptive technology of
their day
8. 32
FDR used radio and fireside
chats because he did not
trust the newspapers that, he
argued, published mostly
negative stories.
9. 35
JFK’s youthful juxtaposition to
Nixon’s beleaguered TV
debate appearance was a
game-changer. Radio
listeners had a completely
different experience.
10. 44
Through the use of web-
based grassroots organizing
and social media, Obama
overtook an unsuspecting
heir apparent, Hillary Clinton.
11. 45
Few took Trump seriously
until he overcame seemingly
insurmountable odds, with
the help of foreign social
media bots, to win the
Electoral College.
14. Learning Outcomes
• Leading examples in history of
candidates successfully leveraging
tech to win unwinnable elections
• Today’s most disruptive
technologies for the 2020 election
cycle, especially blockchain
• Strategies 2020 candidates and tech
companies can take in this crowded
field of a high-stakes election to
beat the odds and win
