Ben Wizner

Joining the discussion are Ben Wizner, the ACLU’s director of Speech, Privacy, and Technology with a focus on civil liberties, and Ilya Shapiro, a constitutional studies expert at the Manhattan Institute. They dive into the complexities of free speech today, debating the nuances of cancel culture and campus controversies. The conversation touches on government pressures, the Supreme Court's shadow docket, and personal anecdotes from their own experiences in the realm of speech rights. Plus, they share light-hearted 'goat-grinders' about sports and sitcoms!

Brené sits down with Ben Wizner, an ACLU attorney and director of its Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, who has defended crucial cases like Edward Snowden's. They dive into the complexities of free speech and the pitfalls of misinformation. The conversation explores the balance between protecting free expression and the harms that come with it. They also discuss the role of tech companies in regulating content and the importance of tone in public discourse. It's a nuanced look at how to engage in debates without losing sight of the truth.

Journalist Mark Scott, Minister Karina Gould, and ACLU representative Ben Wizner discuss the influence of the internet on democracy, including Facebook's EU election war room and Canada's new law on online political ads. The podcast also explores Ukraine's battle against fake news, highlights the importance of offline conversations, and addresses the risks of targeted political ads.