Adam Thierer
Senior Fellow, Technology & Innovation
R Street Institute
Adam Thierer
Senior Fellow, Technology & Innovation
R Street Institute
Adam Thierer is a senior fellow for the Technology & Innovation team at the R Street Institute in Washington DC. He works to make the world safe for innovators and entrepreneurs by pushing for a policy vision that is rooted in the idea of “permissionless innovation.”
Prior to R Street, Adam spent 12 years as a senior fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Before the Mercatus Center, he served as the president of the Progress and Freedom Foundation. Adam has also worked for the Adam Smith Institute, the Heritage Foundation and the Cato Institute.
Adam has published 10 books on a wide range of topics, including online child safety, internet governance, intellectual property, telecommunications policy, media regulation and federalism.
In 2008, Adam received the Family Online Safety Institute’s “Award for Outstanding Achievement.”
Adam has a master’s degree in international business management and a bachelor’s degree with a double major in political science and journalism.
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Contributions
Tech Roundup Episode 21 – The CHIPS Act, Immigration, and the Innovation Economy
In this Tech Roundup episode, Adam Thierer and Caleb Watney discuss what it takes to attract the world’s most brilliant minds and how the United States could maintain its competitive edge in the global race for talent.
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The Problem with AI Licensing & an “FDA for Algorithms”
Neil Chilson and Adam Thierer
Last year, we released a study for the Federalist Society predicting “The Coming Onslaught of ‘Algorithmic Fairness’ Regulations.” That onslaught has now arrived. Interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and its regulation has exploded at all levels of government, and now some policymakers are floating the idea of licensing powerful AI systems and perhaps creating a new “FDA for algorithms,” complete with a pre-market approval regime for new AI applications. Other proposals are on the table, including transparency mandates requiring government-approved AI impact statements or audits, “nutrition labels” for algorithmic applications, expanded liability for AI developers, and perhaps even a new global regulatory body to oversee AI development.
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Tech Roundup Episode 18 – The Future of AI Regulation: Examining Risks and Rewards
In this Tech Roundup episode, we delve into the discussions raised by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s recent hearing on AI regulation.
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Explainer Episode 44 – The Implications of AI Innovation and Regulation
Technology and data privacy experts discuss the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and what these new technologies mean for existing and future policy and technology innovation.
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Explainer Episode 36 – Restrictions on Direct Car Sales
Adam Thierer interviews Professor Daniel Crane regarding state restrictions on direct car sales and their implications for automobile markets.
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Tech Roundup Episode 17 – Governor Doug Ducey on Tech Policy and Innovation
Governor Ducey joined Brent Skorup and Adam Thierer to discuss initiatives aimed at boosting innovation Arizona has launched during his time in office.
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Deep Dive Episode 211 – Section 230, Common Law, and Free Speech
Kristian Stout and Brent Skorup joined Adam Thierer to debate how lawmakers and courts should approach Section 230 issues, political speech, and free speech online.
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Section 230, Common Law, and Free Speech
Kristian Stout and Brent Skorup joined Adam Thierer to debate how lawmakers and courts should approach Section 230 issues, political speech, and free speech online.
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Tech Roundup Episode 13 – Autonomous Vehicles: Where Are We Now?
Experts Marc Scribner and Adam Thierer join us to provide an update on autonomous vehicle policy.
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Why Capitalists in Space Are Good for Americans’ Future
William Rinehart and Adam Thierer
“Discouraging private space exploration would be a step backwards and undo positive reforms that have made space more accessible and affordable.”
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Deep Dive Episode 174 – Legal Issues for Commercial Drones: Privacy, Property Rights, and Federalism
Experts debate the issues of privacy, property rights, and federalism that have been raised the proliferation of commercial drones.
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Regulating Big Tech: Lessons from the “Hall of Fallen Giants”
How can recent history inform current debates over “Big Tech” companies?
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Deep Dive Episode 154 – Tech Policy Under the Biden Administration and 117th Congress
How might the approach to regulation of the new presidential administration and Congress impact innovation and the tech industry?
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FCC’s O’Rielly on First Amendment & Fairness Doctrine Dangers
Neil Chilson and Adam Thierer
Governing the Internet: Plenty of people claim to favor freedom of expression, but increasingly the First Amendment has more fair-weather friends than die-hard defenders.
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Tech Roundup Episode 10 – Trump’s Executive Order on Online Censorship
What is the legislative and legal background of the recent Executive Order on Preventing Online Censorship, how will it affect Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, and what may be the unforeseen consequences of this move? These and other questions are addressed in this episode.
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Tech Roundup Episode 9 – COVID-19 and the Internet: A Conversation with Ajit Pai
In this episode, Ajit Pai joins Adam Theirer and Brent Skorup to discuss the principles driving the Federal Communications Commission in recent years, the “Keep Americans Connected” pledge, and how things have changed for the FCC in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Tech Roundup Episode 7 – Driverless Cars and Artificial Intelligence
In this episode, Adam Thierer and Caleb Watney discuss the emerging questions surrounding the progress of driverless car technology and its regulation.
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Tech Roundup Episode 4 – The Future of Drone Policy: A Discussion with Sen. Mike Lee
In this episode, Adam Thierer and Brent Skorup speak with Senator Mike Lee on the current state of drone regulation. The senator speaks to his proposal for a cooperative, federal solution to regulatory holdup in drone technology innovation.
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Welcome to the New “Tech Roundup Podcast”
Adam Thierer
Looking to stay on top of breaking policy developments surrounding the world of emerging technology? The new “Tech Roundup Podcast” has you covered.
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Tech Roundup Episode 3 – The Download on California’s New Privacy Proposal
This podcast features a fascinating back-and-forth on the implications of new amendments to California’s privacy law, CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act).
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Tech Roundup Episode 2 – The Techlash: Big Tech and Antitrust
50 attorneys general have launched an investigation into Google for violations of antitrust law. Are they addressing real consumer harms? Is antitrust law the proper tool to address them? Adam Thierer, Geoffrey Manne, and Hal Singer debate.
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Reboot 2018 Fireside Chat: Disruption and Civil Disobedience
We used to praise disruptors who flagrantly challenged outdated regulations. But the boundary-pushing of some companies has left a bad taste. Has this chilled the willingness of the next wave of startups and investors to take the same kinds of risks? Has this made policymakers more willing to intervene early? What’s the best legal framework to approach disruptive technologies?
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Deep Dive Episode 12 – Can Government Regulation Keep Pace with Emerging Technology?
Greg McNeal (Pepperdine University) and Adam Thierer (Mercatus Center) discuss the law and policy frameworks impacting emerging technologies.
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