Tech Policy Podcast 422: Algorithms Rule the Internet (and Ash Feels Fine)
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Nov 3, 2025 Ash Kazarian, a Senior legal fellow at the Future of Free Speech and former host, returns with insights on algorithms and Section 230. She argues that algorithms should be seen as tools rather than harmful entities. The conversation critiques the alarming court case Anderson v. TikTok and highlights the essential role of Section 230 in protecting online speech. Ash emphasizes the importance of transparency and education in tech, while also warning against the consequences of repealing protections that could stifle free expression.
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Algorithms Are Tools, Not Villains
- Ash Kazarian: algorithms are neutral tools that organize vast internet content and often serve useful, sometimes problematic, functions.
- Regulating algorithms risks undermining First Amendment and Section 230 protections by reframing speech regulation as conduct regulation.
Anderson Threatens The Internet's Structure
- Ash warns Anderson v. TikTok threatens Section 230 by denying protection for algorithmic recommendations.
- If algorithms lose Section 230 shield, the internet’s present structure and many services would fundamentally change.
Defend Section 230 To Protect Diverse Voices
- Section 230 lets platforms moderate freely and avoid crippling litigation costs that would chill hosting third-party speech.
- Preserve Section 230 to protect marginalized voices and small sites from being sued into silence.