This Week in Tech (Audio) TWiT 1061: Amy's Crazy Husband - Can One Build a Truly Anonymous Laptop?
Dec 8, 2025
Amy Webb, a noted futurist and AI author, joins forces with attorney Kathy Gellis and Brian Wolf, who is also her husband. The trio dives into the implications of the Cox–Sony copyright case, discussing how it could redefine internet liability. Brian shares his quest to build a truly anonymous laptop, revealing technical details and challenges of privacy in the digital age. They also explore FDA-approved glasses to combat childhood myopia and the innovative future of drone logistics. It's a fascinating mix of law, tech, and personal anecdotes!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Platform Liability Could Chill Speech
- The Cox v. Sony case could reshape intermediary liability and chill online speech if courts impose broad secondary liability on ISPs.
- Kathy Gellis warns the First Amendment angle was undersold during oral argument and should guide any workable standard.
Invoke First Amendment In Platform Defense
- Raise explicit First Amendment arguments when defending intermediaries to prevent massive liability that would suppress online expression.
- Consider constitutional limits before relying solely on tort or common-law doctrines in platform cases.
Building A Self‑Disassociated Laptop
- Brian Wolf built a laptop with no back-connection to his identity, using a VPN and public Wi‑Fi to register it anonymously.
- He used Molvad prepaid access, public libraries for first setup, and penetration testing by friends to verify anonymity.
