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July 22, 2024
The Power of Tumblr
The social networking website Tumblr is a shadow of its former self now, but from about 2010 to 2016 something new was arising in it. It was generally referred to as remix culture at the time, but today, it’s clear that the site helped germinate something more specific and central to a lot of debates: woke culture. …
July 22, 2024
Unpacking the Data Dilemma
Systems of categorization and classification have played important roles throughout history, from ancient religious texts organizing moral codes to modern scientific frameworks. Among these is the modern digital data system, which encompasses information from personal details and online interactions to scientific measurements and business transactions. However, concerns have been raised about what information is being…
July 15, 2024
The Supreme Court Term in Review
“A film is born three times,” French filmmaker Robert Bresson once famously remarked. “First in the writing of the script, once again in the shooting, and finally in the editing.” So too is a law. First, it is written and passed by Congress. Then, it is implemented by administrative agencies. And finally, its legality is…
July 12, 2024
Busting Tech Myths
Myths about technology are constantly in flux, from companies claiming to have made the next great thing to rumors about the latest smartphone. These myths often seep into social discourse, making it challengiung to separate fact from fiction. To sort through some of these common misunderstandings, I spoke with Robert Atkinson and David Moschella, authors of Technology Fears and…
July 10, 2024
The Challenges of Age-Prediction: Where Current Technology Falls Short
In an era where digital identity verification is becoming increasingly important, age-prediction software has emerged as a potential solution for age-gating and access control. However, recent evaluations by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have shed light on the complexities and limitations of this technology. Here are my key concerns surrounding the accuracy of age…
July 5, 2024
Reversing Course: The Need to Renew American Antitrust
America’s system of government is founded on the protection of freedom in all aspects of life, including business. This freedom has fueled the nation’s prosperity, transforming it into a beacon of opportunity that millions worldwide aspire to join. Yet, under the Biden administration’s misguided approach to antitrust, this economic freedom is now under threat. The Biden…
July 1, 2024
The Haphazard Road to Rural Broadband
I recently got a message asking me what I thought about this Washington Times article by Susan Ferrechio on the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. As part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed in November 2021, Congress set aside $42.45 billion to fund BEAD, whose goal was to help close the broadband gap. But Ferrechio’s article…
June 28, 2024
Securing the Web with Route Origin Authorizations
As part of the initiative to bolster cybersecurity defenses, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is championing the widespread adoption of Route Origin Authorizations (ROAs), a security mechanism to prevent cyber-attacks on the internet’s routing system. ROAs prevent unauthorized parties from hijacking IP prefixes or re-routing legitimate network traffic to malicious destinations. On June…
June 24, 2024
The Lurking Dangers in State-Level AI Regulation
An ordinary bill signing became extraordinary last month when Colorado Gov. Jared Polis used the occasion to deliver a detailed critique of the bill he was signing, Senate Bill 24-205. The bill is one of the first pieces of legislation that regulates cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Still, Polis isn’t totally convinced that it’s ready for prime time:…
June 18, 2024
Transformative Growth with AI Is Likely. Explosive Growth Is Science Fiction.
A couple weeks back, Tim Lee, the author of the Understanding AI Substack, put out the following plea on X: “I really wish there were more economists involved in discussions of the implications of superintelligence.” He added, “The most obvious example is people predicting mass unemployment without thinking through the impact of high productivity on fiscal and monetary…