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Techdirt

Techdirt
Social Media
Twitter
Generative AI
Trust and Safety
Artificial Intelligence
Design Code
Bluesky
Elon Musk
User Engagement
Blue Sky
AI Regulation
Content Moderation
Parental Controls
Civic Integrity
Decentralization
Data Portability
Character Limit
Parag Agrawal
Moderator Mayhem
Trust and Safety Tycoon

The Techdirt Podcast, hosted by Michael Masnick.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes453Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Techdirt

Latest Episodes

There's a notion that pops up in the comments here on Techdirt that Mike and our writer Karl Bode are deeply opposed in their opinions on AI and engaged in an epic ongoing debate. Alas, the truth is a little less spectacular: while they might have so... more

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... more

In the last few years, the Supreme Court has been paying a lot more attention to the internet than it ever has before, and the cases keep on coming. This is already having a big impact on how the internet functions, and it doesn't look likely to stop... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Karl Bodi
Techdirt writer
Techdirt
Episode: Mike And Karl Talk AI
Mike Masnick
Founder of Techdirt, author of Protocols Not Platforms
Techdirt
Episode: The Vision For The Decentralized Internet
Konstantinos Komaitis
A guest co-host discussing AI and user agency concerns
Episode: Does AI Remove Or Provide User Agency?
Jeff Jarvis
A media thinker and journalist with a focus on the intersection of media and technology.
Episode: Could News Publishers Embrace AI Via An API
Alex Komoroske
Entrepreneur and leader in the Resonant Computing Manifesto project
Resonant Computing
Episode: The Resonant Computing Manifesto
Corbin Barthold
Internet Policy Counsel at TechFreedom and host of the Tech Policy Podcast.
TechFreedom
Episode: Social Media Is Always Changing
Catherine Bracy
Founder and head of Tech Equity, former head of the Obama Tech Field Office in San Francisco.
Tech Equity
Episode: Venture Capital Is Eating The World
Marisa Kabas
Independent journalist and founder of the newsletter 'The Handbasket'
Episode: The New Generation Of Independent Journalists
Gabriel Weinberg
Founder and CEO of DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo
Episode: DuckDuckGo Wants You To Have More Control Over AI

Host

Mike Masnick
Host with a focus on technology policy, digital rights, and open protocols; connects policy analysis with tech implications.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 108 ratings
  • Love it!

    It’s obvious Mike puts extraordinary effort in covering salient topics and finding guests that are authentic and truly care about being a positive force in this space - the insights they bring to bear are still mind-blowing every. single. time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dan1777999877
    United States3 years ago
  • Literally does not understand tech or the law

    Opines CONSTANTLY on the first amendment, understands nothing of how that works. Doesn’t understand how IP law works, nor CDA 230. Worthless site and worthless commenters.

    Generally a politics blog pretending to be tech related.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Sir_Prometheus.
    United States3 years ago
  • People that don't know tech, attempt to talk about tech. Painful to listen to.

    Podcast Addict
    1
    Brad
    3 years ago
  • Literally does not understand tech or the law

    Opines CONSTANTLY on the first amendment, understands nothing of how that works. Doesn’t understand how IP law works, nor CDA 230.

    Worthless site and worthless commenters.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Sir_Prometheus.
    United States3 years ago
  • Good niche podcast

    Episodes either go really deep into a specific topic or introduce a niche subgenre of tech policy. Mike seems weirdly uncomfortable with hosting at times, but he is pretty thoughtful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jarnold palmer
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some reviews mention audio quality issues in guest segments.
Positive reception of guest diversity and willingness to challenge established players.
Listeners praise deep, thoughtful analysis and high-quality guests.
Audience values practical implications for policy and tech, with an emphasis on user empowerment and open standards.
Some critics note irregular schedules and off-topic detours in certain episodes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#232
New Zealand/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Vision For The Decentralized Internet
Q: What was the place from which you were writing Protocols, Not Platforms?
The guest explains that early social media optimism and later realization of platform power spurred the idea to push for a protocol-based, edge-empowered internet rather than centralized control.
The Vision For The Decentralized Internet
Q: What was the starting point for Techdirt and why write about technology at all?
The guest describes starting as a way to chronicle and think through the implications of technology and innovation, eventually turning writing into a full-time focus to explore how to improve innovation and policy.
Answering Your Questions
Q: How do you balance projects and staying current on news and social media activity?
Masnick suggests setting aside specific time blocks for writing and checking news, and using tools to stay focused.
Answering Your Questions
Q: What would you suggest are ways to improve Section 230 rather than just removing it?
Rather than removing Section 230, he believes it should expand, as reforms could lead to increased litigation risks for small companies.
Answering Your Questions
Q: Should Section 230 apply to generative AI, and where should it clearly not apply?
The question is complex; Section 230's traditional liability protections may not fit neatly into how AI outputs are created.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Techdirt

What is Techdirt about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp focus on technology policy, digital rights, and the evolving governance of online platforms drives conversations across episodes. Topics frequently center on the balance between openness and control, open protocols, decentralization, AI's impact on user agency, and the legal frameworks shaping the internet (Section 230, First Amendment, privacy). Guests tend to be researchers, entrepreneurs, and policy advocates who push for smarter regulation, new tech norms, and interoperable systems that empower users rather than extract value from them. The show often pairs long-form explorations of provocative ideas with practical implications for journalists, technologists, and policymakers, making it a thoughtful resource for listeners who wa... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Techdirt?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Techdirt:

1. On the Media
2. Better Offline
3. Hard Fork
4. Radio Atlantic
5. Decoder with Nilay Patel

How many episodes of Techdirt are there?

Techdirt launched 11 years ago and published 453 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Techdirt?

Recent guests on Techdirt include:

1. Karl Bodi
2. Mike Masnick
3. Konstantinos Komaitis
4. Jeff Jarvis
5. Alex Komoroske
6. Corbin Barthold
7. Catherine Bracy
8. Marisa Kabas

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