It’s not a war you fucking idiots. It’s an exchange of violence between two polities to impose a political outcome through conflict.
06.03.2026 13:12
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It’s not a war you fucking idiots. It’s an exchange of violence between two polities to impose a political outcome through conflict.
As I have said, you can throw a dart at an historical calendar (or at least one going back to the 1868 decision in R. v. Hicklin) and wherever it hits you will find grievous (and sincere) concern over the harmful effects of a communications medium over young people.
& the argument is always "but this medium is really different because unlike the previous ones it is ____" [psychologically manipulative (jazz, heavy metal), uniquely interactive (video games), designed to appeal specifically to children (comic books), habit-forming (comic books, video games), etc.]
A common refrain I've heard from (often well-meaning) people is that they agree that Section 230 is important, but they'd like to reform it so it doesn't apply to algorithmically recommended content. I think that's a bad idea and finally wrote a long thing explaining why.
Sharing this *excellent* explainer by @lawfaremedia.org 's Isabel Arroyo on the current stage of digital age assurance definitions and laws.
Bookmark it, it's a fabulous resource:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/to-r...
I’m teaching child safety cases to my class today, and it’s super hard to distill down key points in the deluge. But maybe I’ll just start by quoting @corbinkbarthold.bsky.social.
What does meaningful work look like in a world of genius machines?
On a new Tech Policy Podcast, Brent Orrell (AEI) and @corbinkbarthold.bsky.social explore and debate how AI will disrupt the job market.
podcast.techfreedom.org/episodes/429...
“‘having lawyers get up and give speech contests in front of a jury’ is one of the worst ways he can imagine of settling the scientific disputes about social media and its effects on mental health.” — @corbinkbarthold.bsky.social
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
Nothing says "there will be no technical glitches with age verification so need to worry about privacy!" like the guy from the age verification trade association being surprised when each new slide he shows starts playing music while a small dog yaps incessantly in the background
LIVE today: FTC Age Verification Workshop. I'll livestream commentary here, starting at 9 ET/6 PT
www.ftc.gov/news-events/...
Relax, they just want the discretion to reward friends and punish enemies.
On a new Tech Policy Podcast, Thom Lambert (Mizzou Law) and @corbinkbarthold.bsky.social discuss the Trump II administration’s new right antitrust regulators.
podcast.techfreedom.org/episodes/428...
5 year old at bedtime: “You‘re the best dad ever. I hope you never die. But you will.”
Wrote about Rand Paul totally flipping his position on Section 230... because someone was mean to him on the internet. But also, he's blatantly violating the law he himself proposed to make it illegal for gov't employees to demand internet companies remove any content.
You should maybe look at this piece bc it has my thoughts on a hypocritical (possibly theocratic?) FTC commissioner named Mark Meader.
But you should definitely look at it bc I convinced @mmasnick.bsky.social to put a picture (!) on top of a Techdirt article.
www.techdirt.com/2026/01/20/c...
🙏🫡
It is fair to say that @corbinkbarthold.bsky.social and I don't always see eye to eye, but I think he's dead on with this one.
open.substack.com/pub/corbinkb...
🙏🙏🙏
This is a must-read from friend of the show @corbinkbarthold.bsky.social about the state of the FTC (not great, Bob!) and the hypocritical balls-and-strikes, finger-wagging rhetoric coming from one of its most politicized actors.
Go check it out!
corbinkbarthold.substack.com/p/can-you-tr...
🚨 SO MUCH STATE TECH POLICY 🚨
Ring in the new year with (what else?) a tech policy podcast. (Ahem, *the* Tech Policy Podcast.)
First: Some thoughts from me on the tech + kids moral panic.
Then: We revisit an epic 2025 episode on age verification, featuring the great @ericgoldman.bsky.social.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...
🇦🇺: 67% support the new legal ban on all social media for minors under 16 BUT only 29% will actually enforce that for their own kids
“Bans for thee and thine, but not for me and mine!”🤦♂️
Attention Internet law nerds!
The legendary Pamela Samuelson joined me this week to talk about Cox v. Sony -- a SCOTUS case in which Internet access is under threat from rampaging copyright law.
It was an honor to have her on the show. Do check it out.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/4...
New Tech Policy Podcast!
@pamelasamuelson.bsky.social (UC Berkeley) and @corbinkbarthold.bsky.social discuss the Supreme Court oral argument in Cox v. Sony, a copyright case that could have major ramifications for the internet.
podcast.techfreedom.org/episodes/426...
Two amazing First Amendment litigation spots are open at Protect Democracy. Deadline is December 7th.
This is someone's dream job and they may not know about it, so please send to good lawyers you know!
protectdemocracy.recruitee.com/o/counsel-fi...
Hey folks: this morning we're launching a monthlong fundraiser for @techdirt.com. Over the last year, we've been steadfast in not self-censoring, not capitulating, not sanewashing bullshit. But that's come at a cost. And we need help: rtb.techdirt.com/products/fri...
In which Mike Masnick and I have a long talk about the state of social media, and Mike still finds a way to wrap things up with a note of optimism.
Crossover time!
On a new Tech Policy Podcast, @corbinkbarthold.bsky.social heads over to the @techdirt.com Podcast, hosted by the one and only @mmasnick.bsky.social, for a wide-ranging discussion about the state of social media.
podcast.techfreedom.org/episodes/425...
This is, of course, a fascinating thread from Kate asking why Google is effectively cannibalizing its own market for both digital ads on third party properties and search ads, by effectively taking away the incentive to click through to third party sites. I have a theory as to why they're doing it.
They promised us free speech—but all they’ve given us is hypocrisy!
On a new Tech Policy Podcast, @aricohn.com (@thefireorg.bsky.social) and host @corbinkbarthold.bsky.social survey the Trump administration’s many attacks on the First Amendment.
podcast.techfreedom.org/episodes/423...
I couldn’t be more delighted to announce that I’ve accepted an offer to join the faculty of Tulane Law School. law.tulane.edu/news/tulane-...