This Week in Tech (Audio) TWiT 1039: Mmmm Ham Shack - YouTube Piracy on the Rise
Jul 7, 2025
Cathy Gellis, an attorney specializing in IP law and Supreme Court contributor, joins Nicholas De Leon, a senior electronics reporter at Consumer Reports. They dive into the alarming rise of YouTube piracy, revealing over 9,000 pirated films with 250M+ views. The conversation navigates recent Supreme Court cases impacting digital free speech, the complex world of copyright laws affecting creators, and the significant ramifications of AI on cybersecurity. Intriguing insights into the tech industry's challenges and legal implications make for a thought-provoking discussion.
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New Child-Obscene Speech Category
- The Supreme Court's recent ruling introduces a new, somewhat protected category of speech for content obscene to children but legal for adults.
- This challenges traditional First Amendment law, which had no age-based test for protected speech.
Tailor Child Content Laws Narrowly
- Laws restricting children's Internet access require narrow tailoring to avoid violating adult users’ free speech rights.
- Overly broad laws can harm anonymous speech and set dangerous precedents for censorship.
Age Verification Threatens Privacy
- The Supreme Court decision enables states to impose universal age verification on Internet users, potentially invading privacy.
- Adults must identify their age online, endangering anonymous speech, a core First Amendment right.
