Microsoft and Amazon Web Services Executives Withdraw from Tech Conference Amid Fake Female Speaker Controversy

Several executives from Microsoft and Amazon Web Services have decided to cancel their participation in the DevTernity Conference after accusations arose that the event organizers had listed fake female panelists on their website. The conference, which was scheduled to take place from December 7th to 8th, had already sold out tickets and featured speakers from major tech companies.

Accusations of Fake Speaker Profiles

Gergely Orosz, the author of the tech-focused newsletter "The Pragmatic Engineer," brought attention to the fake speaker profiles through a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on November 25th. Orosz pointed out that one of the profiles, belonging to a speaker named Anna Boyle, was completely fabricated, complete with an AI-generated image and a made-up position at Coinbase.

In response to the accusations, Eduards Sizovs, the founder of the DevTernity Conference, apologized for the confusion caused. He explained that two female panelists had initially confirmed their participation but later withdrew. Sizovs admitted that he had neglected to remove their profiles from the website while searching for replacement speakers.

The third fake profile, according to Sizovs, was a "demo persona" that had been auto-generated with random details. This profile has since been removed from the website. Sizovs clarified that the inclusion of these fake profiles was not an attempt to improve the conference's diversity, but rather an oversight on his part.

Impact on the Conference

As a result of the controversy, nearly half of the listed speakers, totaling 23, have withdrawn from the conference. Scott Hanselman, a Microsoft executive who pulled out from the event, expressed disappointment in the situation and emphasized the importance of an inclusive lineup for conferences.

Sizovs, while acknowledging the mistake and making necessary changes to the website, has faced criticism and backlash on social media. He defended himself and the conference, stating that he had not committed any wrongdoing and did not feel guilty. Representatives for Sizovs and the DevTernity Conference have not yet responded to requests for comment.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining transparency and ensuring the accuracy of speaker profiles at conferences. The tech industry, with its focus on diversity and inclusion, must strive to uphold these values in all aspects of event planning and organization.

Source: Business Insider

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By: ktan@businessinsider.com (Kwan Wei Kevin Tan)
Title: Microsoft and Amazon Web Services Executives Withdraw from Tech Conference Amid Fake Female Speaker Controversy
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/tech-conference-organizer-accused-of-using-fake-female-panelists-2023-11
Published Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2023 07:01:20 +0000