Mike Masnick 0:07

Hello, and welcome to Control Alt Speech, the podcast where the complexities of online speech run headlong into the realities of trust and safety. I'm Mike Masnick, the creator of TechDirt, where I've covered the intersections of technology, policy, and law for over 25 years now.

Ben Whitelaw 0:23

And I'm Ben Whitelaw, founder and editor of Everything in Moderation, a weekly newsletter which keeps trust and safety professionals up to date on the fast moving world of content moderation. Together, Mike and I are going to be going deep on internet speech. By bringing you the latest news, insights, and expert opinions from both sides of the Atlantic. Subscribe now to make sure you don't miss an episode of Control Alt Speech. That's CTRL Alt Speech.

Mike Masnick 0:47

In each episode, we're going to tackle the key stories that are shaping online speech today. We're talking about the latest court rulings, important regulatory shifts, new technologies and services, and much, much more.

Ben Whitelaw 0:57

And it won't be just us either. We'll be bringing in experts. Those on the front lines of trust and safety. Legal scholars, technologists, and policy makers to discuss what's happening and why it matters to you.

Mike Masnick 1:09

So why are we doing this? Both of us have been writing about online speech for many, many years. And as we keep discovering, there are so many issues that are worth discussing. So the two of us decided that we'd create a podcast that lets us and other experts that we'll bring in explore and debate these issues each and every week.

Ben Whitelaw 1:26

The fact is that the internet has become the de facto town square nowadays. But it's one that's both vast and complex. The issue of who gets to speak online influences politics, culture, and even our personal relationships.

Mike Masnick 1:38

And these issues are evolving at a breakneck pace. New technologies like AI and machine learning are changing how content is created, but also how it's being moderated. Meanwhile, we have lawmakers around the world who are really grappling with how to regulate online spaces, and in theory, trying to do so without stifling free expression or innovation.

Ben Whitelaw 1:58

And that's why each episode will not only cover the latest news, But provide you with context and analysis to help you understand the difficult trade offs at play. Each week, we'll dissect one or two key stories in depth, exploring different angles and unpacking the implications. But we'll also give you a quicker roundup of other important stories that you should be aware of as well.

Mike Masnick 2:17

And we promise to keep it engaging. We'll have lively discussions, debates, and hopefully a few laughs along the way.

Ben Whitelaw 2:24

In our first few episodes, you can expect us to look at a whole range of different stories. Europe's Digital Services Act, the Net Choice cases in the Supreme Court, And even the platform suppression of speech in the Middle East. These are big, big stories with significant implications for the internet and everyone who uses it.

Mike Masnick 2:40

And of course, we'll also be examining how different countries around the world are approaching regulation, as well as the challenges of using AI for content moderation, and we can never forget the innovative ways in which users are getting around platform policies.

Ben Whitelaw 2:56

So if you're a company or organization that wants to be part of Control Alt Speech, then we've got some good news for you. We're officially looking for sponsors to take part in episodes and help support the running of the show. We've shared more details about how to get in touch in today's show notes.

Mike Masnick 3:10

So thanks for listening to this teaser episode of Control Alt Speech. To make sure that you don't miss an episode, you know what to do. Subscribe to Control Alt Speech on your favorite podcast platform. Until then, I'm Mike Masnick.

Ben Whitelaw 3:22

I'm Ben Whitelaw. Speak to you soon.

Bumper 3:26

Control ALT speech is produced with financial support from the future of online Trust and safety Fund, a fiscally sponsored multi-donor fund at Global Impact that supports charitable activities to build a more robust, capable, and inclusive trust and safety ecosystem.