From Military Data Analyst to Anti-Trafficking Technologist: Chris White's Path

At a glance

Chris White of Microsoft Research worked in 2010 at DARPA, the U.S. defense research agency, on using data analysis to prevent violence and protect soldiers during the Afghanistan war. He later shifted to technology that stops crimes that harm people. This article is a transcript of a podcast conversation.

Key points

1. 1

   White worked as a university researcher before taking on the job of leading field technology operations in Afghanistan.

2. 2

   He later worked on building dark web search tools (internet areas that are hard to find with regular search engines) used to fight human trafficking (crimes where people are deceived or forced to be bought and sold).

3. 3

   In the conversation, he also discussed how choosing the right problem matters greatly for innovation.

4. 4

   White said he has seen many terrible crimes but keeps his hope alive because he believes the work really helps people.

Why it matters

It shows what research means when technology is directly connected to the safety of real people.