Securing Trust: Tackling Counterfeits and Fraud in 2025 with Janet Napolitano of UC Berkeley

Janet Napolitano, Founder of the Center for Security in Politics at UC Berkeley, former US Secretary of Homeland Security, former Governor of Arizona, and former President of the University of California, discusses critical security issues facing our society. From the challenges posed by social media and disinformation in elections to AI safeguards and fraud, as well as the role of regulations, she shares her vision of uniting leaders across multiple sectors and fields to develop holistic approaches to the problems and threats citizens face.

Key Takeaways:

(03:12) The Center for Security and Politics’ AI summit brought together leaders across sectors to address AI authentication and security issues.

(04:09) AI misuse during elections highlights the need for stricter authentication measures.

(06:30) The Center for Security and Politics, in collaboration with law enforcement, academia, and the private sector, is tackling the issue of CSAM (child sexual abuse material) online.

(08:58) Gift card fraud has resulted in over $1 billion in consumer losses since 2019.

(09:10) Maryland is the first state to enact legislation addressing gift card fraud.

(12:33) Law enforcement is focusing on identifying major players behind gift card fraud, using strategies similar to those employed in drug cases.

(14:47) Trust is fundamental to the gift card and cryptocurrency industries; regulation may intervene when trust is compromised.

(17:40) Retailers are well-positioned to adopt fraud-prevention technologies.

Resources Mentioned:

Center for Security and Politics at UC Berkeley

Red Hook Initiative 

Retail Associations