Welcome to the Techdirt podcast! Each week (-ish, no promises), we'll post an episode here on Techdirt, or you can subscribe via Soundcloud, RSS or iTunes. Each episode begins with an essay, followed by a discussion, covering topic areas that are less news driven and instead more about larger ideas/concepts that we think are worth discussing. Enjoy!

Techdirt Podcast Episode 87: An Interview With Kim Dotcom's Lawyer

Legal Issues

from the from-the-front-lines dept

Tue, Aug 23rd 2016 1:00pm — Leigh Beadon

Ira Rothken is a lawyer on the front lines of many major legal battles relating to copyright and piracy, including defending Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom and, most recently, taking up the defense of Kickass Torrents operator Artem Vaulin. This week, Ira joins us on the podcast to discuss the ins and outs of these and other cases where the entertainment industry has come down hard on consumers and innovators.

Follow the Techdirt Podcast on Soundcloud, subscribe via iTunes, or grab the RSS feed. You can also keep up with all the latest episodes right here on Techdirt.

Filed Under: artem vaulin, copyright, ira rothken, kickass torrents, kim dotcom, megaupload, podcast

12 Comments

Techdirt Podcast Episode 86: Have Platforms Killed The Open Internet By Replacing Protocols?

(Mis)Uses of Technology

from the open,-close dept

Tue, Aug 16th 2016 1:00pm — Leigh Beadon

The internet is built on a solid foundation of open protocols: TCP/IP, HTTP and SMTP especially, plus more modern entrants like RSS and BitTorrent. But even those aren't so new anymore, and it seems like the era of the open protocol might be coming to an end, supplanted by the drive to create proprietary closed platforms. This week, we discuss whether the open protocol is dead, and what that means for the future of the open internet.

Follow the Techdirt Podcast on Soundcloud, subscribe via iTunes, or grab the RSS feed. You can also keep up with all the latest episodes right here on Techdirt.

Filed Under: platforms, podcast, protocols

15 Comments

Techdirt Podcast Episode 85: Is Your Algorithm Racist?

(Mis)Uses of Technology

from the and-what-can-be-done-about-it? dept

Tue, Aug 9th 2016 1:04pm — Leigh Beadon

Algorithms have become a powerful force in the world, but for all the impressive good they do, they sometimes show some worrying tendencies. Algorithms that discriminate are a problem that nobody's found a solution for yet. This week, we discuss why some algorithms appear to be racist, and whether there's anything that can be done about it.

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Filed Under: ai, algorithm, biases, inputs, racist, sexist

11 Comments

Techdirt Podcast Episode 84: Is It The 'Pokemon' Or The 'Go' That Matters?

Overhype

from the killer-app-or-one-hit-wonder? dept

Tue, Aug 2nd 2016 1:00pm — Leigh Beadon

Pokémon Go is an undeniable phenomenon, and the first mass-appeal hit from the world of augmented reality — a technology people have been expecting would transform gaming for years. That leaves a big question, though: is its popularity a sign of the future for AR, or is the game an isolated phenomenon that owes more to the popularity of its brand? This week, we discuss what we can learn from Pokémon Go, and whether we can truly learn anything at all.

Follow the Techdirt Podcast on Soundcloud, subscribe via iTunes, or grab the RSS feed. You can also keep up with all the latest episodes right here on Techdirt.

Filed Under: augmented reality, podcast, pokemon, pokemon go, video games

3 Comments

Techdirt Podcast Episode 83: 'Disruption' Is Not An Excuse For Lying

Innovation

from the the-bad-side-of-a-good-thing dept

Tue, Jul 26th 2016 1:13pm — Leigh Beadon

Silicon Valley has produced lots of disruptive technologies — ways to solve problems by upending entrenched industries and, often enough, routing around protectionist regulations. But not all regulations are meaningless, not all industries are easy to disrupt, and sometimes "fake it until you make it" becomes plain old lying. This week, we discuss what happens when "disruption" goes wrong.

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Filed Under: disruption, innovation, lying, podcast
Companies: theranos, zenefits

Techdirt Podcast Episode 82: Chatbots: Fad Or The Future?

(Mis)Uses of Technology

from the what's-old-is-new-again dept

Tue, Jul 19th 2016 1:06pm — Leigh Beadon

Chatbots have been around for a very long time in some form or another, but now they appear to be making a comeback — or at least attempting one. This week, Mike and regular co-host Dennis (who is working on a chatbot startup) are joined by special guest Veronica Belmont to discuss the potential of chatbots and just how much skepticism is warranted.

Follow the Techdirt Podcast on Soundcloud, subscribe via iTunes, or grab the RSS feed. You can also keep up with all the latest episodes right here on Techdirt.

Filed Under: chatbots, podcast, veronica belmont

7 Comments

Techdirt Podcast Episode 81: Senator Wyden On The Expansion Of FBI Surveillance

Techdirt

from the privacy-and-liberty dept

Tue, Jul 12th 2016 12:47pm — Leigh Beadon

It should surprise nobody that the FBI is seeking even broader digital surveillance powers by changing the warrant requirements and expanding the power of national security letters. If you're a regular Techdirt reader, it also won't surprise you to learn that Senator Ron Wyden is working hard to hold the line against this kind of expansion. This week, we're joined by Senator Wyden to discuss what the FBI is up to and what the public needs to know about it.

Follow the Techdirt Podcast on Soundcloud, subscribe via iTunes, or grab the RSS feed. You can also keep up with all the latest episodes right here on Techdirt.

Filed Under: fbi, hacking, national security letters, nsls, ron wyden, rule 41, surveillance, techdirt podcast

8 Comments

Techdirt Podcast Episode 80: Can Direct Democracy Work?

Politics

from the good-vote-bad-vote dept

Tue, Jul 5th 2016 12:45pm — Leigh Beadon

Technology has made "direct democracy" — letting citizens vote on specific, granular issues instead of just electing representatives — more viable than ever, but does that mean it's a good idea? This week, we discuss the ins and outs of direct democracy, including a special addendum on the surprising results of the Brexit referendum.

Follow the Techdirt Podcast on Soundcloud, subscribe via iTunes, or grab the RSS feed. You can also keep up with all the latest episodes right here on Techdirt.

Filed Under: brexit, direct democracy, podcast, politics, voting

17 Comments

Techdirt Podcast Episode 79: What's Next For Net Neutrality?

Broadband

from the it-ain't-over dept

Tue, Jun 28th 2016 12:45pm — Leigh Beadon

Net neutrality has a long and complicated history, and despite some recent victories, that story is far from over. This week, Mike is joined by resident broadband expert Karl Bode to discuss what's next for net neutrality, and what we need to do to fight for it.

Follow the Techdirt Podcast on Soundcloud, subscribe via iTunes, or grab the RSS feed. You can also keep up with all the latest episodes right here on Techdirt.

Filed Under: broadband, net neutrality, podcast, wireless

5 Comments

Techdirt Podcast Episode 78: What's Next For Online Video?

Innovation

from the watch-and-listen dept

Tue, Jun 21st 2016 12:45pm — Leigh Beadon

Netflix, HBO Go, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Twitch — online video is still booming. But it also still struggles under the weight of exclusive deals and content silos, and it feels like there's still plenty of innovation to be done. But where will that innovation come from? This week, we discuss the future of online video.

Follow the Techdirt Podcast on Soundcloud, subscribe via iTunes, or grab the RSS feed. You can also keep up with all the latest episodes right here on Techdirt.

Filed Under: movies, online video, podcast, television
Companies: amazon, hbo, netflix

5 Comments

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12:45	Techdirt Podcast Episode 77: The Link Between Credit And Surveillance (15)
12:45	Techdirt Podcast Episode 76: Tech Policy Goes Local (0)
12:49	Techdirt Podcast Episode 75: What Happened At The Oracle Google Trial? (2)
12:45	Techdirt Podcast Episode 74: Why Is Tesla So Successful? (9)
12:51	Techdirt Podcast Episode 73: Is There Enough Demand For The On Demand Economy? (0)
12:45	Techdirt Podcast Episode 72: The Tough Choices Platforms Make (0)
12:42	Podcast Episode 71: Should Internet Companies Sway Elections? (12)
12:44	Techdirt Podcast Episode 70: Is It Futile To Draw Borders On The Internet? (0)
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12:45	Techdirt Podcast Episode 65: Net Neutrality, Zero Rating & The Games Internet Providers Play (1)
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12:45	Techdirt Podcast Episode 60: Barry Eisler On Truth, Fiction And The Surveillance State (Part One) (3)
12:45	Techdirt Podcast Episode 59: Does The Internet Create More 'Winner Take All' Companies? (5)
12:40	Techdirt Podcast Episode 58: Just How Bad Is The TPP? (3)
12:44	Techdirt Podcast Episode 57: Can Silicon Valley Help 'Disrupt' ISIS? (3)
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12:35	Techdirt Podcast Episode 55: How Much Surveillance Is Acceptable? (17)
12:45	Techdirt Podcast Episode 54: It Ain't Easy To Give Away $45 Billion (11)
12:45	Techdirt Podcast Episode 53: Why Intermediary Liability Is The Most Important Question Online (1)
12:45	Techdirt Podcast Episode 52: The EU Has Set Privacy & Free Speech On A Collision Course (4)
12:45	Techdirt Podcast Episode 51: Bubbles, Busts & Unicorns (2)
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11:45	Techdirt Podcast Episode 49: A Whirlwind Tour Of Current Policy Issues In Tech (1)
Tuesday
12:45	Techdirt Podcast Episode 48: Our Hacking Laws Are A Mess (2)
12:44	Techdirt Podcast Episode 47: Trademarks: Intellectual Property Or Consumer Protection? (6)

Techdirt Podcast Episode 87: An Interview With Kim Dotcom's Lawyer

from the from-the-front-lines dept

Techdirt Podcast Episode 86: Have Platforms Killed The Open Internet By Replacing Protocols?

from the open,-close dept

Techdirt Podcast Episode 85: Is Your Algorithm Racist?

from the and-what-can-be-done-about-it? dept

Techdirt Podcast Episode 84: Is It The 'Pokemon' Or The 'Go' That Matters?

from the killer-app-or-one-hit-wonder? dept

Techdirt Podcast Episode 83: 'Disruption' Is Not An Excuse For Lying

from the the-bad-side-of-a-good-thing dept

Techdirt Podcast Episode 82: Chatbots: Fad Or The Future?

from the what's-old-is-new-again dept

Techdirt Podcast Episode 81: Senator Wyden On The Expansion Of FBI Surveillance

from the privacy-and-liberty dept

Techdirt Podcast Episode 80: Can Direct Democracy Work?

from the good-vote-bad-vote dept

Techdirt Podcast Episode 79: What's Next For Net Neutrality?

from the it-ain't-over dept

Techdirt Podcast Episode 78: What's Next For Online Video?

from the watch-and-listen dept

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