Technology and Innovation
Technology and innovation drive greater opportunity, choice, and mobility throughout society. But among policymakers, these market drivers face a precautionary approach that has resulted in a convoluted labyrinth of permits and red tape that encumber entrepreneurial activities in the name of keeping Americans safe. Mercatus research makes the case that a permissionless approach grounded in the notion that experimentation with new technologies and innovations should generally be permitted by default.
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Latest work in Technology and Innovation
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Privacy Policy and the Future of the Online Economy
How Changes in Policy May Affect Digital Advertising and the Market for Online Services
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Optimism, AI (and the End of Homework!) | "Call Me Back with Dan Senor"
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Bots, Bootleggers and Baptists | NPR's "Planet Money"
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Psychopathology of Digital Life | Discourse
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
ChatGPT Is Also an Impressive Feat of Marketing | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Occupational Licensing for AI? | National Review's "The Corner"
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Could AI Help Us Humans Trust Each Other More? | Bloomberg Opinion
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- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Reading the F-Tea-C Leaves | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI Experts Aren’t Always Right About AI | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
EV Tax-Credit Restrictions Shortchanging U.S. Consumers | The Detroit News
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Who Gets the Algorithm? The Bigger TikTok Danger | Lawfare
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
President Biden's Push to Make Things In America Again | The NPR Politics Podcast
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Four Horsemen of the Bureaucratic Apocalypse Come for AI | Truth on the Market
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Call Out Crony Crops | Farming Abundance
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI Could Spell the End of Big Business | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Achieve Agricultural Abundance by Challenging the Status Quo | Farming Abundance
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI Alignment and Future Threats | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Who Should Be Held Liable for AI’s Harms? | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI: What's In a Name? | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Taxman Will Eventually Come for AI, Too | Bloomberg Opinion
Latest work in Technology and Innovation
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Privacy Policy and the Future of the Online Economy
How Changes in Policy May Affect Digital Advertising and the Market for Online Services
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Optimism, AI (and the End of Homework!) | "Call Me Back with Dan Senor"
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Bots, Bootleggers and Baptists | NPR's "Planet Money"
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Psychopathology of Digital Life | Discourse
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
ChatGPT Is Also an Impressive Feat of Marketing | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Occupational Licensing for AI? | National Review's "The Corner"
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Could AI Help Us Humans Trust Each Other More? | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Reading the F-Tea-C Leaves | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI Experts Aren’t Always Right About AI | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
EV Tax-Credit Restrictions Shortchanging U.S. Consumers | The Detroit News
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Who Gets the Algorithm? The Bigger TikTok Danger | Lawfare
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
President Biden's Push to Make Things In America Again | The NPR Politics Podcast
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Four Horsemen of the Bureaucratic Apocalypse Come for AI | Truth on the Market
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Call Out Crony Crops | Farming Abundance
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI Could Spell the End of Big Business | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Achieve Agricultural Abundance by Challenging the Status Quo | Farming Abundance
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI Alignment and Future Threats | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Who Should Be Held Liable for AI’s Harms? | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI: What's In a Name? | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Taxman Will Eventually Come for AI, Too | Bloomberg Opinion
Latest work in Technology and Innovation
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Which States Are Prepared for the Drone Industry? (2021 edition)
The Second Edition of the 50-State Report Card
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Working Papers Working Papers
Drone Technology, Airspace Design, and Aerial Law in States and Cities
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Working Papers Working Papers
Drone Technology, Airspace Design, And Aerial Law In States And Cities
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Narrowing the Rural Digital Divide with Consumer Vouchers
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
POLICY SPOTLIGHT: How to Create a Fresh Start Initiative in Your State
A Step-by-Step Guide
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Books Books
Evasive Entrepreneurs and the Future of Governance: How Innovation Improves Economies and Governments

- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Aggregated Smartphone Location Data to Assist in Response to Pandemic
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Journal Articles Journal Articles
The “Value” of Propaganda: Machine Predictions of Rare Events Based on Text Data
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
How Drones Can Help Fight the Coronavirus
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Which States Are Prepared for the Drone Industry? (2020 edition)
A Fifty-State Report Card
- | Healthcare Healthcare
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Medical Drones in the United States and a Survey of Technical and Policy Challenges
- | Healthcare Healthcare
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Overcoming Technological and Policy Challenges to Medical Uses of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Working Papers Working Papers
Smart Cities, Dumb Infrastructure
Policy-Induced Competition in Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Systems
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Innovation Unbound
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, September 2019

- | Regulation Regulation
- | Working Papers Working Papers
The Erosion of Publisher Liability in American Law, Section 230, and the Future of Online Curation

- | International Freedom and Trade International Freedom and Trade
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Can Blockchain Technology Facilitate International Trade?
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
How the United States Should Respond to China’s Intellectual Property Practices
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Technological Innovation and Economic Growth
A Brief Report on the Evidence
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- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
5G Basics and Public Policy
Latest work in Technology and Innovation
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Remember FAANG? | TechFreedom's "Tech Policy Podcast"
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- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Implications of Semiconductor Chip Production Moving Back to the US | The Lars Larson Radio Show
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Autonomous Vehicles: Where Are We Now? | RTP's Fourth Branch Podcast
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
“Federal, State and Local Lawmakers: You Need to Get Ahead of This. The Lawsuits Are Coming.” | The Overton Window Podcast
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Drones and Federalism w/ Brent Skorup
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Brent Skorup and Adam Thierer on the Deep Dive Podcast - Legal Issues for Commercial Drones
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Brent Skorup on KJZZ - Drone Policy
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Brent Skorup on C-SPAN - Antitrust Policy Pt. 1
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Brent Skorup on C-SPAN - Antitrust Policy Pt. 2
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Brent Skorup on C-SPAN - Antitrust Policy Pt. 3
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Brent Skorup on C-SPAN - Antitrust Policy Pt. 4
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Weifeng Zhong on The Lars Larson Show - Semiconductor Shortage
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Brent Skorup on ABC News Radio - Drone Report Card
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Adam Thierer on American Radio Journal - The Great Deplatforming
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Adam Thierer on The Dan Proft Show - The Great Deplatforming
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Brent Skorup on The John Batchelor Show - Google Antitrust
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Brent Skorup on POTUS Channel
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Jennifer Huddleston on the John Batchelor Radio Show
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Mercatus Original Podcasts Mercatus Original Podcasts
Interpreting CDA Section 230 and its Future
Is Section 230 due for a reform? And if so, how?

- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Christine McDaniel on France 24
Latest work in Technology and Innovation
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
The FCC Should Modernize Over-the-Air Reception Device Rules
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
The Importance of Balancing Privacy with Innovation, Consumer Benefits, and Other Rights in the FTC’s Approach to Consumer Data Privacy
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Safety, Innovation, and Autonomous Vehicles
Testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Safety Exemptions and the Regulatory Approach to Autonomous Vehicles
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Colorado Broadband Policy Should Focus on Competition and Deployment
Testimony before the Colorado House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
The Freedom to Innovate and Eliminating Barriers for More Innovators
Testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
American Spectrum Policy Should Allow More Compensation to Agencies for Clearing and More Geographic-Based Sharing
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Lifting Barriers to Entrepreneurship
A "Permissionless Innovation" Approach to Competition and Consumer Protection Policies
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Leased Access Mandates Infringe on the First Amendment Rights of Cable Operators, and the FCC Should Decline to Enforce the Regulations
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
University-Industry Collaboration for Stronger Innovation
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
The Internet of Things and Consumer Product Hazards
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Creating an Environment for Permissionless Innovation
Testimony before the US Congress Joint Economic Committee
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Montana Should Urge Scrutiny and Reform of the Universal Service Fund Subsidy Programs
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Informational Injury in FTC Privacy and Data Security Cases
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
In the Matter of Restoring Internet Freedom
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
In the Matter of Modernization of Media Regulation
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
The Department of Transportation’s Proposed Vehicle-to-Vehicle Technology Mandate Is Unprecedented and Hasty
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Highly Automated Vehicle Policies in Pennsylvania
Testimony before the Pennsylvania Joint Senate and House Transportation Committees
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Creating an Environment of Permissionless Innovation in Outer Space
Testimony before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittee on Space
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Comment on the Federal Automated Vehicles Policy
Latest work in Technology and Innovation
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Call Out Crony Crops | Farming Abundance
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI Could Spell the End of Big Business | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Achieve Agricultural Abundance by Challenging the Status Quo | Farming Abundance
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI Alignment and Future Threats | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Who Should Be Held Liable for AI’s Harms? | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI: What's In a Name? | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Taxman Will Eventually Come for AI, Too | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI Alignment and Future Threats | Discourse
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Biomedical Revolution Needs a Few Good Economists | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Introducing AI Progress | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Introducing Our AI Policy Guide | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Feature Feature
AI Policy Guide
A digital resource designed to equip policymakers with the core concepts needed to identify, understand, and address artificial intelligence policy challenges

- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
By Pausing AI, We’d Only Be Hurting Ourselves | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Why a Pause, Should Give You Pause | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Introducing AI Progress | Discourse
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How AI Will Make Land More Valuable | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI Is About To Transform Childhood. Are We Ready? | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Early Thoughts on GPT-4's Policy Implications | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Welcome to Digital Spirits!
Applying Classical Liberal Thought to AI Policy
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary