We’re checking in on the latest news in tech and free speech.
We cover the state AI regulation moratorium that failed in Congress, the ongoing Character A.I. lawsuit, the Federal Trade Commission’s consent decree with Omnicom and Interpublic Group, the European Union’s Digital Services Act, and what comes next after the Supreme Court’s Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton decision.
Guests:
Ari Cohn — lead counsel for tech policy, FIRE
Corbin Barthold — internet policy counsel, TechFreedom
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:38 State AI regulation moratorium fails in Congress
20:04 Character AI lawsuit
41:10 FTC, Omnicom x IPG merger, and Media Matters
56:09 Digital Services Act
01:02:43 FSC v. Paxton decision
01:10:49 Outro
Read the transcript here: https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/so-speak-podcast-transcript-tech-check-ai-moratorium-character-ai-lawsuit-ftc
Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more. If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack’s paid subscriber podcast feed, please email sotospeak@thefire.org.
Show notes:
-
“The AI will see you now” Paul Sherman (2025)
-
Megan Garcia, plaintiff, v. Character Technologies, Inc. et. al., defendants, United States District Court (2025)
-
Proposed amicus brief in support of appeal - Garcia v. Character Technologies, Inc. FIRE (2025)
-
“Amplification and its discontents: Why regulating the reach of online content is hard” Daphne Kelly (2021)
-
“Omnicom Group/The Interpublic Group of Co.” FTC (2025)
Popular Podcasts
Fudd Around And Find Out
UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd brings her championship swag to iHeart Women’s Sports with Fudd Around and Find Out, a weekly podcast that takes fans along for the ride as Azzi spends her final year of college trying to reclaim the National Championship and prepare to be a first round WNBA draft pick. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a world-class athlete in the public spotlight while still managing schoolwork, friendships and family time? It’s time to Fudd Around and Find Out!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.