Radio Davos

Tinder Swindler: how 'romance fraud' became a multi-billion dollar cybercrime

May 16, 2024

 • 41 minutes

The Netflix documentary 'The Tinder Swindler' is a mind-boggling case of so-called 'romance fraud' in which a charming, handsome - and apparently very rich - man meets women on a dating app - gets them to fall in love with him - and then cons them out of lots of money. Cecilie Fjellhøy is the Norwegian woman at the centre of the documentary whose life was torn apart by the actions of a conman. A survivor of romance fraud on a grand scale, she now advocates for the rights of, and support for, others who find themselves in similar grim circumstances. We also hear from Sean Doyle, who works at the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Cybersecurity, on just how widespread romance fraud really is, why it’s a multinational, multi-billion form of cyber crime, and what is being done to combat it.

The Netflix documentary 'The Tinder Swindler' is a mind-boggling case of so-called 'romance fraud' in which a charming, handsome - and apparently very rich - man meets women on a dating app - gets them to fall in love with him - and then cons them out of lots of money. Cecilie Fjellhøy is the Norwegian woman at the centre of the documentary whose life was torn apart by the actions of a conman. A survivor of romance fraud on a grand scale, she now advocates for the rights of, and support for, others who find themselves in similar grim circumstances. We also hear from Sean Doyle, who works at the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Cybersecurity, on just how widespread romance fraud really is, why it’s a multinational, multi-billion form of cyber crime, and what is being done to combat it.

Spatial computing: why the future of the internet is 3D

May 9, 2024

 • 36 minutes

'Spatial computing', 'blended reality', 'the metaverse'. For those of us who still use screens and keyboards to access the digital world, those phrases might not mean very much. But many experts believe the '2D' internet will soon be a thing of the past, and we will all be, one way or another, in a 3D metaverse. With Apple's Vision Pro headset renewing interest in virtual reality, we speak to two proponents of the metaverse who see both huge opportunities and significant risks. Guests: Yonatan Raz-Fridman, CEO of Supersocial and host of the podcast “Into the Metaverse” Brittan Heller, lecturer on International Law, Technology, and Human Rights, Stanford University.

'Spatial computing', 'blended reality', 'the metaverse'. For those of us who still use screens and keyboards to access the digital world, those phrases might not mean very much. But many experts believe the '2D' internet will soon be a thing of the past, and we will all be, one way or another, in a 3D metaverse. With Apple's Vision Pro headset renewing interest in virtual reality, we speak to two proponents of the metaverse who see both huge opportunities and significant risks. Guests: Yonatan Raz-Fridman, CEO of Supersocial and host of the podcast “Into the Metaverse” Brittan Heller, lecturer on International Law, Technology, and Human Rights, Stanford University.

Where are the innovations that can make mining more sustainable?

Apr 29, 2024

 • 33 minutes

Mining, an industry that many of us probably rarely think about, but one that provides the raw materials for so many of the things we use, not least the modern technologies such as smart phones and electric vehicles that require certain minerals that are not always in abundant supply. The International Energy Agency predicts that the demand for minerals will double by 2040. So how can we meet that demand in the most energy efficient and sustainable way? UpLink, the open innovation platform of the World Economic Forum, is inviting entrepreneurs who have answers to that question to take part in its Sustainable Mining Challenge - a competition that aims to pick the most promising startups in the field. On this episode we speak to Vivek Salgaocar, the founder of Prospect Innovation, which is the leading funder and business partner of the Sustainable Mining Challenge, and to Megan O'Connor, CEO and Co-founder of Nth Cycle, a company which is innovating in ways to better recycle mining waste.

Mining, an industry that many of us probably rarely think about, but one that provides the raw materials for so many of the things we use, not least the modern technologies such as smart phones and electric vehicles that require certain minerals that are not always in abundant supply. The International Energy Agency predicts that the demand for minerals will double by 2040. So how can we meet that demand in the most energy efficient and sustainable way? UpLink, the open innovation platform of the World Economic Forum, is inviting entrepreneurs who have answers to that question to take part in its Sustainable Mining Challenge - a competition that aims to pick the most promising startups in the field. On this episode we speak to Vivek Salgaocar, the founder of Prospect Innovation, which is the leading funder and business partner of the Sustainable Mining Challenge, and to Megan O'Connor, CEO and Co-founder of Nth Cycle, a company which is innovating in ways to better recycle mining waste.

Advanced Energy Solutions: scaling up the tech that can help us get to net zero

Apr 25, 2024

 • 46 minutes

What are the new technologies that can help us reach net zero? And how do we bring them to scale fast enough? World Economic Forum Managing Director Jeremy Jurgens joins us to talk about the Advanced Energy Solutions community, and we hear from three of its members, from widely different sectors and geographies, implementing the energy solutions of tomorrow. Guests: Ann Mettler, Vice President, Europe, Breakthrough Energy VK Samudrala, President, Amara Raja Energy & Mobility Maarten Michielssens, Founder and CEO, EnergyVision

What are the new technologies that can help us reach net zero? And how do we bring them to scale fast enough? World Economic Forum Managing Director Jeremy Jurgens joins us to talk about the Advanced Energy Solutions community, and we hear from three of its members, from widely different sectors and geographies, implementing the energy solutions of tomorrow. Guests: Ann Mettler, Vice President, Europe, Breakthrough Energy VK Samudrala, President, Amara Raja Energy & Mobility Maarten Michielssens, Founder and CEO, EnergyVision

Why it's time for the 'middle powers' to step up on geopolitics

Apr 18, 2024

 • 36 minutes

In a polarised world, with the most powerful nations and the UN unable to prevent or end many wars, could the so-called 'middle powers' step up? This week's two guests, both members of the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on Geopolitics, think so, and say those countries might even consider setting up an 'M-10' of middle powers seeking to resolve conflicts and other problems. Guests: Susana Malcorra, Senior Advisor at Spain’s IE University and former Argentinian foreign minister and UN Secretary General Chief of Staff. Bruce Jones, Senior Fellow with The Brookings Institution Co-host: Nicolai Ruge, Lead, Geopolitics and Trade at the World Economic Forum.

In a polarised world, with the most powerful nations and the UN unable to prevent or end many wars, could the so-called 'middle powers' step up? This week's two guests, both members of the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on Geopolitics, think so, and say those countries might even consider setting up an 'M-10' of middle powers seeking to resolve conflicts and other problems. Guests: Susana Malcorra, Senior Advisor at Spain’s IE University and former Argentinian foreign minister and UN Secretary General Chief of Staff. Bruce Jones, Senior Fellow with The Brookings Institution Co-host: Nicolai Ruge, Lead, Geopolitics and Trade at the World Economic Forum.