Techdirt

Last month, Mike participated in the Cato Institute's Section 230 at 30 event to mark the 30th anniversary of the passage of Section 230. The event featured a series of fireside chats and panels that went deep on the past, present, and future of the all-important law, and you can watch videos of all of them on Cato's website — but for this week's episode of the podcast, we've got the audio of Mike's panel (moderated by Jennifer Huddleston and also featuring Jess Miers, Matt Perault, and Matt Reeder), all about how Section 230 and similar policies will apply to new technologies like decentralized protocols and artificial intelligence. Cato Event Videos: https://www.cato.org/events/section-230-30-past-present-future-online-speech-26-words-created-internet

Karl Bode, technology journalist who writes on policy and tech’s social impacts, joins a wide-ranging conversation about AI. They unpack why public anger runs high and when AI is actually useful. They debate industry politics, open downloadable models, regulation risks, geopolitics, and the long, messy road ahead for AI.

The Vision For The Decentralized Internet by Techdirt

Two weeks ago, we ran a bit of an AMA experiment, with a call on Bluesky for fans of Techdirt to ask Mike any questions they might have. We got lots of great responses and now, as promised, Mike is delivering the answers on this week's episode of the podcast!

Cathy Gellis, a legal and policy expert on technology and internet law, walks through recent Supreme Court attention to the internet. She covers early internet cases and Section 230, Tamna and common-law liability, NetChoice and moderation laws, TikTok and national security reviews, and upcoming privacy and Fourth Amendment rulings.

On a recent episode of our other podcast, Ctrl-Alt-Speech, Mike was joined by guest host Konstantinos Komaitis for a far-reaching discussion about online speech. One point that was briefly raised in that discussion was the question of whether AI tools are good or bad for user agency, and since Mike and Konstantinos didn't entirely agree, it seemed like a good question to unpack in more detail — and that's exactly what they do on this week's episode of the Techdirt Podcast. Ctrl-Alt-Speech Episode: https://www.techdirt.com/2026/01/29/ctrl-alt-speech-think-globally-stack-locally/

Alex Komoroske, a tech product designer and organizer of the Resonant Computing Manifesto, alongside Zoe Weinberg, a commentator on privacy and pro-social tech, dives into the future of the internet. They explore the contrast between 'resonant' and 'hollow' tech, emphasizing user agency and privacy. The guests discuss architectural metaphors in software design and the manifesto's five guiding principles. They highlight the need for decentralized, adaptable systems that foster community, while sharing inspiring reasons for hope in shaping a better digital landscape.

The relationship between journalism and AI has been off to an antagonistic start, with multiple court cases underway and plenty of discourse about what should happen next. There are various proposed approaches to setting up a better interplay between the two, but one person with an especially unique idea is Professor Jeff Jarvis, who joins the podcast this week to discuss the concept of an API for news that would help journalists embrace AI in a positive way.

In this engaging conversation, Alex Komoroske, entrepreneur and pro-social technology advocate, dives into the Resonant Computing Manifesto. He distinguishes between hollow and resonant technologies and discusses the potential for AI to be pro-social, cautioning against hyper-centralized platforms. Reflecting on internet centralization, he critiques current security models and promotes decentralized solutions like confidential compute. Alex explores how to design products that genuinely nourish users, emphasizing the need for long-term perspectives in tech innovation.

Mike Brock, a writer and commentator focused on democracy and technology, dives deep into the threats facing democracy today. He discusses the recent elections, highlighting how cultural narratives shaped voter behavior. Brock argues for reconciling liberal policies with progressive voices to combat economic power hoarding. He warns of Silicon Valley's concerning alignment with authoritarian interests and the urgent need for regulatory actions that ensure public accountability. This insightful conversation illuminates the path to safeguarding democracy in a precarious landscape.