Ep. 237: A tech policy bonanza! The FCC, FTC, AI regulations, and more

Does a cat stand on two legs or four? 


The answer to that question may tell you all you need to know
about the government involving itself in social media content
moderation.


On today’s show, we cover the latest tech policy developments
involving the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade
Commission, AI regulation, and more.


 


Guests:


- Ari Cohn, FIRE’s lead counsel, tech policy.


- Adam Thierer, a resident technology and innovation senior
fellow at the R Street Institute  


- Jennifer Huddleston, a technology policy senior fellow at the
CATO Institute


 


Timestamps:


00:00 Intro


01:30 Section 230


06:55 FCC and Section 230


14:32 Brendan Carr and “faith-based programming”


28:24 Media companies’ settlements with the Trump


30:24 Brendan Carr at Semafor event


38:37 FTC and social media companies


48:09 AI regulations


01:03:43 Outro


 


Read the transcript.


 


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Show notes:




“Seeing reports that the FCC plans to take a vague and
ineffective step on Section 230 to try to control speech
online…” FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez via X (2025)




“Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr taking
first steps in eroding key legal protection enjoyed by Big
Tech” New York Post (2025)




Section 230 text




“Federal Communications Commission” Brendan Carr via Project
2025 (2022)




“Bless Ron Wyden and his steady defense of Section 230. He is
absolutely right: 230 is a pro-competition law.” Adam
Kovacevich via X (2025)




“If Google is looking to block faith-based programming on
YouTube, they are doing a really really bad job at it…” Adam
Thierer via X (2025)




“I have received complaints that Google’s @YouTubeTV is
discriminating against faith-based programming…” Brendan Carr
via X (2025)




“FCC’s Carr defends broadcast probes, slams social media
‘threat’” Semafor (2025)




“Petition for rulemaking of the national telecommunications
and information administration” National Telecommunications
and Information Administration (2020)




“FCC Chair Brendan Carr taking first steps in eroding key
legal protection enjoyed by Big Tech” New York Post (2025)




“Big Tech censorship is not just un-American, it is
potentially illegal…” FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson via X (2025)




“Federal Trade Commission launches inquiry on tech
censorship” FTC (2025)




“Moody v. NetChoice” (2024)




“The FTC is overstepping its authority — and threatening free
speech online” FIRE (2025)




“Wave of state-level AI bills raise First Amendment problems”
FIRE (2025)




“AI regulatory activity is completely out of control in the
U.S…” Adam Thierer via X (2025)  




“Cyber rights: Defending free speech in the digital age” Mike
Godwin (1995)




“Greg Lukianoff testimony before the House Judiciary
Committee, February 6, 2024” FIRE (2024)




“Technologies of Freedom” Ithiel de Sola Pool (1984)