So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast

Did 26 words from an American law passed in 1996 create the internet? Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act says that interactive websites and applications cannot be held legally liable for the content posted on their sites by their users. Without the law, it's likely Facebook, Amazon, Reddit, Yelp, and X wouldn't exist — at least not in their current form. But some say the law shields large tech companies from liability for enabling, or even amplifying, harmful content. On today's show, we discuss Section 230, recent efforts to reform it, and new proposals for content moderation on the internet. Marshall Van Alstyne is a professor of information systems at Boston University. Robert Corn-Revere is FIRE's chief counsel. Timestamps 0:00 Intro 3:52 The origins of Section 230? 6:40 Section 230's "forgotten provision" 13:29 User vs. platform control over moderation 23:24 Harms allegedly enabled by Section 230 40:17 Solutions 46:03 Private market for moderation 1:02:42 Case study: Hunter Biden laptop story 1:09:19 "Duty of care" standard 1:17:49 The future of Section 230 1:20:35 Outro Show Notes - Show Transcript - Hearing on a Legislative Proposal to Sunset Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (May 22. 2024) - "Platform Revolution" by Marshall Van Alstyne - "The Mind of the Censor and the Eye of the Beholder" by Robert Corn-Revere - "Protocols, Not Platforms: A Technological Approach to Free Speech" by Mike Masnick - "Sunset of Section 230 Would Force Big Tech's Hand" By Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Frank Pallone Jr. - "Buy This Legislation or We'll Kill the Internet" By Christopher Cox and Ron Wyden - "Free Speech, Platforms & The Fake News Problem" (2021) by Marshall Van Alstyne - "Free Speech and the Fake News Problem" (2023) by Marshall Van Alstyne - "It's Time to Update Section 230" by Michael D. Smith and Marshall Van Alstyne "Now It's Harvard Business Review Getting Section 230 Very, Very Wrong" by Mike Masnick

J.P. Messina, author of 'Private Censorship', discusses private censorship in liberal society with topics such as regulating speech at work, on social media platforms, and search engines. The debate on social media and ISPs being public utilities and defining illiberalism outside of government censorship is also explored.

Kenneth Stern, lead drafter of the anti-Semitism definition in the act, clarifies its purpose as aiding data collectors. Debate covers hate speech codes, campus discrimination, and the impact of the Antisemitism Awareness Act on free speech. Stern questions the Senate's vote and explains the intention behind enshrining the IHRA definition in state laws.

FIRE colleagues discuss campus unrest and free speech principles, including exceptions to the First Amendment, protest limitations, and USC valedictorian controversy. They delve into censorship, hate speech, and the challenges of balancing safety and free speech on college campuses.

W. Wat Hopkins, a communication law expert, discusses the debate on whether hate speech should be protected by the First Amendment. They explore historical cases, the definition of hate speech, and the challenges in balancing free speech with preventing harm. The conversation delves into the complexities of regulating hate speech and the potential misuse of such regulations.

Historian, economist, and demographer Neil Howe discusses generational differences and civil liberties. Topics include historical patterns, the impact of Covid on younger generations, the Fourth Turning theory, and how generational cycles affect civil liberties. The conversation also explores the attributes of Gen-Xers, Millennials, and Gen-Z, as well as the connection between peaceful periods and inequality.

FIRE Chief Counsel Bob Corn-Revere and guests discuss Supreme Court's First Amendment cases including NRA v. Vullo, Murthy v. Missouri, Moody v. NetChoice, and more. They analyze government officials blocking critics on social media, legal analysis of concealed carry insurance policies, viewpoint discrimination in business insurance, government pressure on social media platforms, net choice legislation, and navigating Section 230 and the First Amendment on social media platforms.

Bitcoin-focused entrepreneur, writer, and philosopher Robert Breedlove debates whether money is speech, advocating for its autonomy from government control. Topics include Austrian economics, anonymity in Bitcoin, prediction markets, and the impact of information access on society.

The podcast delves into censorship in Russia, discussing Alexei Navalny's death, Putin's regime, and the anti-censorship platform Samizdat Online. They explore tactics to bypass censorship, potential threats to Putin, and ways to support freedom of expression against authoritarian regimes.

Join Alex Morey, Aaron Terr, and Ronnie London as they discuss a range of compelling topics on the podcast, from NetChoice oral arguments to Taylor Swift's cease and desist letter, doxxing incidents on college campuses, challenges with no-contact orders at Princeton University, and the legal implications of property destruction related to Satanic worship in public spaces. The conversation also touches on censorship issues in universities and debates surrounding viewpoint neutrality in public forums.