After Charlie Kirk's shooting, X's Grok and Google's AI Overviews spread false claims. Varsha Bansal explores how misinformation is laundered by AI during breaking news, and the challenges of moderating and regulating AI systems.

As a court weighs remedies in Google’s adtech monopoly case this week, will it shift power online or merely rearrange the company’s empire? Robin Berjon instead envisions a Wikipedia-scale ad platform alternative—built for the public interest—to sustain democracy online, rather than undermine it.

This is not an error...this is the point of these systems; one of the many reasons why academic institutions should be calling them out and not uncritically adopting them.

“The problem is that our rules assume technology is either a product (regulated for physical safety), a service (regulated for speech), or an app (governed through platforms). Embodied AI is all three, but no single regulatory agency or statute can oversee the full picture,” writes Matt Steinberg.

The US Department of Justice and Google will face off today in federal court to argue about what remedies the court should impose to unwind Google’s monopoly in the ad tech market. Karina Montoya from the Center for Journalism & Liberty at the Open Markets Institute breaks down what’s at stake:

As a court weighs remedies in Google’s adtech monopoly case this week, will it shift power online or merely rearrange the company’s empire? Robin Berjon instead envisions a Wikipedia-scale ad platform alternative—built for the public interest—to sustain democracy online, rather than undermine it.

After Charlie Kirk's shooting, X's Grok and Google's AI Overviews spread false claims. Varsha Bansal explores how misinformation is laundered by AI during breaking news, and the challenges of moderating and regulating AI systems.

The consolidation of sensitive federal datasets under DOGE has transformed the privacy threat landscape, writes Ben Neumeyer. Given these risks, platforms who want to share data responsibly should re-evaluate their approach in response to this new environment.

While the EU debates tech sovereignty, the UK is rolling out the red carpet for Trump and US tech giants—making deals and importing infrastructure that serves America’s AI ambitions. Tech Policy Press fellow Megan Kirkwood asks, what does it portend for Britain’s future?

Climate Week kicks off today in NYC. To get a head start, Justin Hendrix hosted a live podcast with The Maybe’s Alix Dunn, the Data & Society Climate, Technology, and Justice Program’s Tamara Kneese, and the Enabled Emissions Campaign’s Holly Alpine on “Setting a Tech Agenda for Climate Week.”

The consolidation of sensitive federal datasets under DOGE has transformed the privacy threat landscape, writes Ben Neumeyer. Given these risks, platforms who want to share data responsibly should re-evaluate their approach in response to this new environment.

People should ask whether automated decision-making provisions in Europe's GDPR and AI Act offer protections equal to human decisions, and whether AI explanations are reliably fit for purpose, writes Peter Douglas.

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The application for the 2026 Tech Policy Press fellowship is open! If you are looking to inform technology policy through rigorous original reporting or policy analysis, we want to hear from you! Read our announcement to learn more: buff.ly/vzachLy

“AI safety requires more than just preventing obviously harmful outputs. Systems must be capable of understanding context, maintaining consistency across languages… and navigating the subtle boundary between helpful and harmful assistance,” write Jen Weedon, Theodora Skeadas, and Sarah Amos.

While Google's News Showcase program has committed to spending a billion dollars on news globally, a new investigation finds that it has, in turn, bred financial dependence and compelled outlets to abandon copyright claims.

Given that cloud computing has become such a central part of our lives — and the serious harms already caused by concentration in this sector — it should be regulated as a public utility, Michelle Nie, Theodora Skeadas, Nick Garcia, and Elise Phillips write. buff.ly/ohdJrBM

“The very algorithms that reward conflict helped make Charlie Kirk famous, giving his supporters the affirmation they craved and his critics the outrage they expected. This turns the medium built for connection into a loop that scales devotion and division in equal measure,” writes Haileleol Tibebu.

Smart glasses could become the next tool for live-streamed extremist violence, writes Jordyn Abrams. But do they present novel policy challenges, and have tech firms considered how to curb their misuse before extremists turn them into tools for radicalization machines?

Lobbying efforts by technology companies diluted Indonesia's tech regulations by reducing burdens for algorithmic transparency, revenue sharing with publishers, and obligations to cooperate with media companies, Krisna Adhi Pradipta and Raymundus Rikang report.

People should ask whether automated decision-making provisions in Europe's GDPR and AI Act offer protections equal to human decisions, and whether AI explanations are reliably fit for purpose, writes Peter Douglas.

1000000% yes.

#DigitalDemocracy for CA! #FreeTheBear #LiquidDemocracy #eGov

I just wanted to give a shout out to @techpolicypress.bsky.social — it's always a pleasure to work on a piece for them. Keep them in mind for your hard-hitting tech policy writing! New piece coming out next week, watch this space ;-)

A growing number of children face online harms ranging from blackmail with intimate videos to AI-generated sexual images. Yet a law proposed in Colombia to help protect the mental health of minors was blocked after lobbying by major tech companies, according to a team of Latin American journalists.

While the EU debates tech sovereignty, the UK is rolling out the red carpet for Trump and US tech giants—making deals and importing infrastructure that serves America’s AI ambitions. Tech Policy Press fellow Megan Kirkwood asks, what does it portend for Britain’s future?

Given that cloud computing has become such a central part of our lives — and the serious harms already caused by concentration in this sector — it should be regulated as a public utility, Michelle Nie, Theodora Skeadas, Nick Garcia and Elise Phillips write.

US lawmakers held their first major hearing on the safety of AI chatbots in the wake of damaging reports that they have encouraged self-harm and exposed youth to sensual material. Check out highlights and a transcript of the session here:

The consolidation of sensitive federal datasets under DOGE has transformed the privacy threat landscape, writes Ben Neumeyer. Given these risks, platforms who want to share data responsibly should re-evaluate their approach in response to this new environment.

“The problem is not only in how people use AI systems or in which setting, but in how these systems are built to stimulate attachment without accountability. With regulation still lacking… it often appears that ‘everything goes,’” write Virginia Dignum, Petter Ericson, and Jason Tucker.

“The very algorithms that reward conflict helped make Charlie Kirk famous, giving his supporters the affirmation they craved and his critics the outrage they expected. This turns the medium built for connection into a loop that scales devotion and division in equal measure,” writes Haileleol Tibebu.

While the EU debates tech sovereignty, the UK is rolling out the red carpet for Trump and US tech giants—making deals and importing infrastructure that serves America’s AI ambitions. Tech Policy Press fellow Megan Kirkwood asks, what does it portend for Britain’s future?

In Brazil, Big Tech firms maintain a robust lobbying apparatus that successfully fends off civil society groups and the federal government to protect their interests in Congress, write Sergio Spagnuolo, Juliana Dal Piva, Sofia Costa, and Alexandre Orrico. Data pulled from LinkedIn shows the scale:

While Google's News Showcase program has committed to spending a billion dollars on news globally, a new investigation finds that it has, in turn, bred financial dependence and compelled outlets to abandon copyright claims.

While the EU debates tech sovereignty, the UK is rolling out the red carpet for Trump and US tech giants—making deals and importing infrastructure that serves America’s AI ambitions. Tech Policy Press fellow Megan Kirkwood asks, what does it portend for Britain’s future?

⏰ Webinar alert! ⏰ 📅 September 18 🕛 12 pm EDT Register Now!

In Brazil, Big Tech firms maintain a robust lobbying apparatus that successfully fends off civil society groups and the federal government to protect their interests in Congress, write Sergio Spagnuolo, Juliana Dal Piva, Sofia Costa, and Alexandre Orrico. Data pulled from LinkedIn shows the scale:

“The problem is not only in how people use AI systems or in which setting, but in how these systems are built to stimulate attachment without accountability. With regulation still lacking… it often appears that ‘everything goes,’” write Virginia Dignum, Petter Ericson, and Jason Tucker.

US lawmakers held their first major hearing on the safety of AI chatbots in the wake of damaging reports that they have encouraged self-harm and exposed youth to sensual material. Check out highlights and a transcript of the session here:

Given that cloud computing has become such a central part of our lives — and the serious harms already caused by concentration in this sector — it should be regulated as a public utility, Michelle Nie, Theodora Skeadas, Nick Garcia, and Elise Phillips write.

Tech Policy Press will record a live podcast on THURSDAY (Sept 18) at 12 pm EDT, asking: What should a tech agenda for Climate Week include? Speakers include: Justin Hendrix, Alix Dunn, Tamara Kneese, and Holly Alpine. Register NOW! luma.com/ldvku6rk

Lobbying efforts by technology companies diluted Indonesia's tech regulations by reducing burdens for algorithmic transparency, revenue sharing with publishers, and obligations to cooperate with media companies, Krisna Adhi Pradipta and Raymundus Rikang report.

While Google's Showcase program has committed to spending a billion dollars on news globally, a new investigation finds that it has, in turn, bred financial dependence and compelled outlets to abandon copyright claims.

The Digital Childhood Institute recently accused Apple of violating the FTC Act and COPPA, arguing that the tech giant's parental controls were unfair and deceptive. Meg Leta Jones, Abby Rochman, and Celeste Valentino break down the complaint.

“As lawmakers prepare for tomorrow’s hearing, the question is not just whether AI chatbots are safe for children, but whether Congress can reconcile its divided approach and craft meaningful protections before the technology becomes even more entrenched,” write Liana Keesing and Isabel Sunderland.

“Real inclusion means shaping the agenda, not just speaking at the end. In the context of AI companions, it means teen and neurodivergent users help define the safety bar and the product roadmap,” writes Noah Weinberger.

New podcast! Justin Hendrix spoke to Vivek Bharathan, a member of the No Desert Data Center Coalition in Tucson, Arizona, and Steven Renderos, executive director of MediaJustice, an advocacy organization that just released a report titled “The People Say No: Resisting Data Centers in the South.”

From Brazil to Chile, El Salvador, Mexico and Paraguay, the data center industry is pushing ahead while using its heft to pursue a wish list of deregulation and tax cuts. But promises of prosperity often meet harsh realities on the ground.

After a sweeping social media ban, Nepal saw its bloodiest unrest in decades. What has happened in Nepal is a warning to other democracies to tread carefully with efforts to contain online expression, writes Samik Kharel.

The AI Modalities Resolution is a milestone, but its success will hinge on independence, resources, and inclusive participation, write Vidisha Mishra and Nicole Manger.