Tech Policy Podcast

Ari Cohn, Lead Counsel for Tech Policy at FIRE, and Tom Kurland, Partner at Patterson Belknap, dive into the hot topic of product liability lawsuits against social media and AI companies. They explore the intricacies of tort law and how mass production complicates legal accountability. Discussion points include the misconception of social media addiction and the responsibilities of AI developers in this evolving landscape. Their insights challenge the legal frameworks around digital speech and the implications of algorithmic recommendations.

Host Corbin Barthold (TechFreedom) discusses why Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton is wrong, how it muddies First Amendment law, and how it is already causing wider harm.Topics include:FSC v. Paxton: a result-oriented rulingA credulous courtPoRn iS sCArYAshcroft v. ACLU is sitting right there!tEcH Is ScARyRIP First Amendment 101The porn-to-social media litigation pipeline States cite FSC v. Paxton 1,000 timesLinks:Tech Policy Podcast 373: Porn and the First Amendment

Shoshana Weissmann (R Street) discusses the disastrous Online Safety Act, the growth of censorship in the UK, and more.Topics include:Protect the children, they said . . .The SpongeBob videos must stopSolve problems? Or just shut people up?How dare you comply with our law!Age verification in practicePeter Kyle: polite demagogueLet’s kill KOSAUK: global speech police?“Rights”: you keep using that word . . .Links:U.K.’s Online Safety Act Censors the Internet—A Preview of U.S. ProposalsTech Policy Podcast 405: No, Internet Age Verification Has Not Been “Solved”Tech Policy Podcast 404: The Worst Possible Moment to Break EncryptionTech Policy Podcast 356: The UK Targets End-to-End EncryptionTech Policy Podcast 354: Online Age Verification (Sucks)

From November 8, 2020 (Episode 279): Billy Easley sits down with former host Ashkhen Kazaryan. They remind us of the value of the free and open Internet.Links:Revising the Law That Lets Platforms Moderate Content Will Silence Marginalized VoicesFree Speech and Tech Policy at the US Supreme Court, 2025 (AEI Event)

Matt Perault (a16z) joins Corbin Barthold (TechFreedom) for a wide-ranging discussion of AI bills, AI laws, and AI vibes. Part of the WLF-TechFreedom Tech in the Courts webinar series.Topics include:Why did the AI moratorium die?Activity in the statesRegulate outcomes, not models?Next steps in Congress“Transparency”: so hot right nowThe AI panicLawsuitsLinks:Recorded Tech in the Courts Webinar—The State of AI Regulation

Nico Perrino, Executive Vice President at FIRE and host of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, and Ari Cohn, Counsel lead for tech policy at FIRE, dig into pressing issues affecting technology and free speech. They discuss the end of the AI moratorium and its implications for regulation. The duo examines a controversial lawsuit involving an AI chatbot and its First Amendment rights, alongside the complexities of the FTC's censorship campaign and Europe's Digital Services Act, which threaten American freedom of expression.

Richard Morrison, a Senior Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, discusses the intriguing intersection of AI and culture. He highlights how AI might redefine art and music, questioning traditional definitions of creativity. Morrison touches on cultural shifts, the fears surrounding technological evolution, and the dual nature of AI as both a tool for innovation and a potential ethical challenge. He even delves into the whimsical world of AI-generated personalities. It's a captivating exploration of how AI could reshape our cultural landscape.

Join Jim Dunstan, Senior Counsel at TechFreedom and a space law expert, as he delves into the turbulent leadership changes at NASA and the challenges facing the Artemis program. The discussion weaves through the dynamic roles of private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin in shaping space exploration's future. Dunstan also illuminates the concept of regulatory sandboxes, advocating for reforms to spur innovation and job creation in the burgeoning space sector. Explore the delicate balance between political will and economic realities that could drive America’s interplanetary aspirations.

FTC commissioners Rebecca Slaughter, Alvaro Bedoya, and Bill Kovacic speak with hosts Bilal Sayyed and Jessica Melugin at the 2025 TechFreedom / CEI Policy Summit: Constitutional Limits of FTC, FCC & DOJ Interference in Media and Speech.Links:Constitutional Limits of FTC, FCC and DOJ | Day 1Constitutional Limits of FTC, FCC and DOJ | Day 2SCOTUS Should Not Hand Sweeping Removal Powers to this PresidentSupreme Court order in Wilcox v. NLRBTech Policy Podcast 410: The FTC and Online Speech: What’s Next?Tech Policy Podcast 409: The FTC's Quixotic Social Media InquiryTech Policy Podcast 402: Can Trump Fire FTC Commissioners at Will?

Maneesha Mithal, a partner at Wilson Sonsini and former FTC privacy division head, dives into the FTC’s ongoing investigations into social media giants. She shares intriguing insights about the agency's looming decisions on regulating online speech and the potential impact on First Amendment rights. The conversation touches on challenges small companies face compared to larger firms and the complex interplay between regulatory authority and content moderation. Mithal also delves into privacy legislation's future amidst evolving tech policies.