Tech Policy Podcast

Thom Lambert (Mizzou Law) discusses the Trump II administration’s new right antitrust regulators. Stay calm everyone, they just want the discretion to reward friends and punish enemies.Links:‘New Right’ AntitrustNew Right vs. Conservative AntitrustThe Limits of Antitrust

In this engaging discussion, Scott Babwah Brennan, Director of NYU’s Center on Technology Policy, dives into the 2025 State Technology Policy Report. He highlights how states like California and Texas are shaping tech legislation, focusing on AI, online safety, and data privacy. Scott reveals emerging partisan patterns influencing these laws, such as Republicans prioritizing child safety while Democrats lean toward privacy. They also explore the complexities of regulatory fragmentation and predict future trends in AI and child safety measures.

Host Corbin Barthold offers some end-of-year reflections on the moral panic over kids’ use of social media and AI. Then we revisit Episode 405 (“No, Internet Age Verification Has Not Been ‘Solved’,” Apr. 30, 2025), in which Prof. Eric Goldman discusses his paper “The ‘Segregate-and-Suppress’ Approach to Regulating Child Safety Online.”Links:This Country Banned Social Media for Young Teens. Here’s how They’re Defying It.Australia’s Social Media Ban Goes Into Effect as Pretty Much Everyone Realizes It’s a Total MessThe “Segregate-and-Suppress” Approach to Regulating Child Safety OnlineTech Policy Podcast 417: Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton Is Wreaking Havoc

Pamela Samuelson (UC Berkeley) discusses the Supreme Court oral argument in Cox v. Sony, a copyright case that could have major ramifications for the internet.Links:Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment

Corbin heads over to the Techdirt Podcast, hosted by the one and only Mike Masnick, for a wide-ranging discussion about the state of social media.

Geoff Manne, a legal and economic scholar, joins to dissect Judge Boasberg's recent ruling on the FTC's antitrust case against Meta. They humorously navigate the absurdities of antitrust arguments, highlighting how user demand shapes market definitions. Geoff explains that increased ads can indicate better targeting rather than monopolistic practices. They critique the FTC's market definitions and explore why including competitors like TikTok and YouTube undermines claims of Meta's monopoly. The conversation mixes legal analysis with sharp insights into modern tech markets.

Ari Cohn, lead counsel for tech policy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, dives into alarming trends surrounding free speech under the Trump administration. He discusses law firms pressured by the government, questioning their ethical integrity. Cohn labels the administration's treatment of political opponents as potentially terroristic. The conversation also touches on pressure from the FCC on media outlets and the chilling effects on universities and international students. Cohn predicts a worrying future for free speech amidst rising censorship.

Ash Kazarian, a Senior legal fellow at the Future of Free Speech and former host, returns with insights on algorithms and Section 230. She argues that algorithms should be seen as tools rather than harmful entities. The conversation critiques the alarming court case Anderson v. TikTok and highlights the essential role of Section 230 in protecting online speech. Ash emphasizes the importance of transparency and education in tech, while also warning against the consequences of repealing protections that could stifle free expression.

Sri Muppidi (The Information) discusses OpenAI’s effort to overhaul its corporate structure—and the resulting power struggle over the company’s future.Links:OpenAI Says Its Business Will Burn $115 Billion Through 2029 OpenAI Executives Rattled by Campaigns to Derail For-Profit Restructuring OpenAI Says Nonprofit Parent Will Own Equity Stake in Company of Over $100 Billion 

Jeremy Neufeld (Institute for Progress) discusses how our immigration system works, why high-skilled immigrants are so important to the tech sector, what’s wrong with the Trump administration’s H-1B reforms, why America is so complacent about competing for global talent, and more.Links: Trump’s H-1B Changes Won’t WorkTalent Recruitment Roulette: Replacing the H-1B Lottery | IFPThe Talent Scout State | IFPTech Policy Podcast 317: Making Progress