Tech Policy Podcast

Scott Babwah Brennan is the director of NYU’s Center on Technology Policy. Scott and his team have just released their 2025 State Technology Policy Report—a thorough and thoughtful survey and analysis of the tech legislation coming out of statehouses across the country. Scott joins the show to discuss the report and break down how states are shaping the regulatory landscape on AI, child online safety, data privacy, and more.Links:The Center on Technology Policy: State Technology Policy Report 2025

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 (ICLE) returns! He and Corbin break down a judge’s ruling (politely) laughing the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit against Meta out of court.Topics include:The bizarro world of antitrust trash tweeting“‘Antitrust’ means what I want it to mean!”Back in reality: a straightforward rulingMaybe Zuck just . . . knows what he’s doing?Users want what they want ¯\_(ツ)_/¯Does your market definition pass the laugh test?Links:Tech Policy Podcast 384: The Facebook Antitrust Case Tech Policy Podcast 393: Herbert Hovenkamp on the State of Antitrust Law