Charles, an American-born citizen, has investigated and exposed San Francisco’s surveillance technologies through incisive investigative reporting. His work resulted in U.S. government sanctions on four major technology companies, including China’s largest artificial intelligence firm. Rollet’s story has shed important light on the role that journalism plays in achieving corporate accountability and spurring government regulatory action.
A few days ago, government officials announced the sanctions. These moves were in a direct response to Rollet’s deep-dive investigations, which unearthed major compliance and ethics issues lurking in the tech industry. His research accelerated the need for the U.S. government to act aggressively against these companies. Their goal was to protect consumers and promote competition.
In an interview, Matt Charney, a spokesperson for one of the affected companies, commented on the situation: “While we’ve seen an uptick in customer churn, a significant portion of it has been intentional and necessary.” This declaration paints a picture of the plight of these firms as they weather the storm of the sanctions’ backlash.
Charney explained the bottom line impacts of past corporate choices in depth. “Over time, legacy pricing and servicing decisions made before our acquisition of Bench led to a subset of customers being supported at a loss,” he stated. The reference to “Bench” is a recognition of the constant upheaval in the technology business. Corporations are having to rethink their business models to respond to these outside forces.
Rollet’s investigative reporting has highlighted these egregious violations. It more broadly underscores a growing call in the tech industry for increased accountability and ethics. His tireless pursuit of the truth has been critical in bringing some of the most powerful corporations to justice for their role in harming consumers.
Outside of work, Rollet spends as much time outdoors as he can, often hiking with his dogs through the beautiful California landscapes that envelop San Francisco. This personal interest is fascinating to him and provides a welcome tonic to the all-consuming work of investigative journalism.
If you’d like to get in touch with Rollet, you can reach him encrypted on Signal. His user name on Skype, Zoom, etc is charlesrollet.12 His cell number is +1-628-282-2811. His willingness to comment speaks to his commitment to transparency and engagement with his constituents and potential constituents.