Chris Cox

Chris Cox, a former U.S. congressman and SEC chairman, joins Ron Wyden, a U.S. Senator, to delve into the controversial implications of Section 230 as it pertains to generative AI. They discuss how Section 230 was intended to protect third-party content, not the creators of AI outputs. Wyden emphasizes that AI creators should be held liable, while Cox analyses how various factual contexts could challenge Section 230's applicability. The pair also touch on the need for careful legislative approaches to navigate the evolving landscape of technology and AI regulation.

Chris Cox, a former congressman who worked on Section 230, and lawyer Jake Szymanski, known for his role in the Stratton Oakmont case, dive deep into the internet's evolution. They discuss the landmark legal battles that shaped online speech, revealing how the early internet confronted defamation and libel issues. The duo highlights the bipartisan collaboration that led to Section 230, emphasizing its role in protecting platforms from legal repercussions while fostering responsible content moderation. Get a fresh perspective on the digital landscape!

Generative AI products have been tearing up the headlines recently. Among the many issues these products raise is whether or not their outputs are protected by Section 230, the foundational statute that shields websites from liability for third-party content.On this episode of Arbiters of Truth, Lawfare’s occasional series on the information ecosystem, Lawfare Senior Editor Quinta Jurecic and Matt Perault, Director of the Center on Technology and Policy at UNC-Chapel Hill, talked through this question with Senator Ron Wyden and Chris Cox, formerly a U.S. congressman and SEC chairman. Cox and Wyden drafted Section 230 together in 1996—and they’re skeptical that its protections apply to generative AI. Disclosure: Matt consults on tech policy issues, including with platforms that work on generative artificial intelligence products and have interests in the issues discussed.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.