Tech translator

Throughout her career, Ryan Triplette, L’03, has worked at the intersection of technology and the law.

Early on, she served as chief intellectual property counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee before transitioning to director of government relations for Intel. Triplette then went to work as a principal for Franklin Square Group, a boutique government relations firm in Washington, D.C., where she advised technology companies facing existential legislative and regulatory issues in the U.S. “I like to think of myself as a translator between technology companies and governments,” she said.

Four years ago, Triplette broadened her scope by launching Canary Global Strategic. She now splits her time between Paris and Washington helping technology companies understand the regulatory implications of entering new markets and craft strategic ways of introducing new products and their impact to relevant policymakers.

She also co-founded the Global Brain Data Foundation in January 2020. The nonprofit looks at international regulations related to neurotechnology, from existing products like the Muse meditation and brain-sensing headband to next-generation wearables that will go beyond tracking behaviors and, for instance, provide personalized recommendations for improving overall wellness.

Much as at-home DNA tests raise questions about the privacy of health information, neurotechnology creates potential risks to the safety of brain data. Triplette and the GBDF want to create conditions that further innovation among emerging and disruptive technologies while ensuring that protecting individuals — and their personal data — remains a priority. They’re particularly focused on looking beyond traditional legislative processes to help companies identify potential liabilities and on recommending best practices that will likely align with future legislation.

“The legislative process is too slow to handle the development of these technologies — and it should be slow,” Triplette said. “You’re talking about questions of liability and individual rights, and these are all things you need to have debated and thought through. But at the same time, these technologies need to have greater clarity and guidance for development.”