Can the internet be reclaimed from Big Tech?
Summary
Fordham Law professor Olivier Sylvain argues that viewing the internet as a neutral "digital town square" is a harmful myth that grants Big Tech excessive power. He explains how Section 230 immunity allows companies to profit from user data while avoiding accountability for misinformation and societal harms. Sylvain advocates for narrowing legal protections, implementing comprehensive data privacy laws, and increasing algorithmic transparency to rebalance power between users and tech giants.
Topics discussed
Intro: The myth of the internet as a digital town square
Sponsors: Dell, Fisher Investments, and Mint Mobile
1990s libertarian ideals and the Reno v. ACLU case
Section 230 immunity and the problem of externalities
Tech companies as attention harvesters, not neutral platforms
Proposed reforms: Narrowing Section 230 and data laws
AI regulation parallels and repeating internet mistakes
Credits and sponsors: Mint Mobile and Tiny Desk Tour
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