WPP AUNZ is invested in getting under the skin of our clients’ audiences and this involves constantly building our knowledge to better understand the attitudes and behaviours of Australians and New Zealanders.

Secrets & Lies is WPP AUNZ’s major thought leadership platform created by our Chief Strategy Officer Rose Herceg.

Rose Herceg, Chief Strategy Officer, WPP AUNZ

Each of the research studies explores the difference between what we say out loud and what we really think across a range of topics that are particularly relevant to our clients.

What are the public values reported versus the private truths hidden? What are the secrets and the lies and where are the opportunities to engage and connect that lie in these cracks.

As technology plays an even more important role than ever in how we function as a society, what better time to examine ‘humanity and the machine’ and explore our relationship with tech.

How is humanity being improved by technology?

What are the innovative ways emerging technologies are reshaping how we work, live and transact? What do we really feel about the role of technology in our lives? And where do ethics fit in a global pandemic when the old rules no longer apply?

Our findings from the report with contributions from The Ethics Centre and others, show that 82 per cent of Australians believe technology has benefitted humanity and 75 per cent say it has greatly improved their life.

However, 80 per cent want more oversight on the ethical questions around new tech and 63 per cent feel anxious about how quickly technology is changing our lives.

Other key findings from the report include:

• Parents worry about their children’s online behaviour and believe they should vet the profiles they create. Most Australian parents (83 per cent) say they would force their child to delete a digital profile that makes them uncomfortable.
• Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) mistakenly believe that they own their child’s digital footprint until they turn 18.
• Most Australians (80 per cent) would never want photos of children and family made available to third parties. This privacy concern was higher than for any other type of data or information.

For all the extraordinary benefits and breakthroughs, we’re constantly seeking the humanity in tech check out the panel.

How will it help us, protect us, enable us? How should we shape the relationship between humanity and the machine? Will this tech protect our secrets and expose the lies?

WPP AUNZ’s CEO Jens Monsees

Chief Strategy Officer Rose Herceg and our special guest panel:

Melanie Silva, VP & Managing Director, Google Australia & NZ

Pip Marlow, CEO & Executive Vice President, ANZ , Salesforce​

Lee Hickin, National Technology Officer, Microsoft

Dr Matt Beard, Fellow, The Ethics Centre

And host: The Insiders’ David Speers​