video of my debate with Jonathan Zittrain at New America Foundation

by on November 6, 2008 · 8 comments

This afternoon at the New America Foundation, Jonathan Zittrain and I engaged in a spirited debate about his provocative new book, The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It. As always, Jonathan gave an us an interesting and highly entertaining show, and it was a great honor for me to be given the opportunity to provide some feedback about his book. I’ve been quite critical of the thesis that Jonathan sets forth in his book, and I have discussed my reservations in a lengthy book review and a series of follow-up essays here and elsewhere. (Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).

Jonathan opens with about 45 minutes of remarks and I come into the conversation around the 49 mark of the video. Michael Calabrese of NAF also has some comments about Jonathan’s book after I speak and then there is some interaction with the audience.

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About Adam Thierer

Adam Thierer is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. He previously served as President of The Progress & Freedom Foundation, as Director of Telecommunications Studies at the Cato Institute, and as a Fellow in Economic Policy at the Heritage Foundation. He is the author or editor of six books on technology and media policy and also writes a weekly column for Forbes called "Technologies of Freedom." Thierer earned his bachelor's degree in political science and journalism at Indiana University and received his master's degree in international business management and trade theory at the University of Maryland. His passions in life (besides technology and liberty, of course) are fast cars, fine cigars, and good beer.

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  • http://bennett.com/blog Richard Bennett

    Zittrain has so little commitment to his alleged ideas he doesn't even try to defend them in a serious way. The pictures of cats are amusing, but isn't this guy a law professor?

    Congratulations for sitting through his “performance” without throwing up.

  • http://www.asangansi.wordpress.com Ime

    And that's good, more on the scientist side that the solicitor's side. Are scientist suppose to vigorous defend and get committed to their observations and interpretations or allow 'truth' to emerge?

  • http://www.asangansi.wordpress.com Ime

    And that's good, more on the scientist side that the solicitor's side. Are scientist suppose to vigorous defend and get committed to their observations and interpretations or allow 'truth' to emerge?

  • http://www.asangansi.wordpress.com Ime

    And that's good, more on the scientist side that the solicitor's side. Are scientist suppose to vigorous defend and get committed to their observations and interpretations or allow 'truth' to emerge?

  • http://techliberation.com/2009/01/22/catos-kuznicki-on-zittrains-overblown-fears/ Cato’s Kuznicki on Zittrain’s Overblown Fears | The Technology Liberation Front

    [...] to Stop. He’s echoing a lot of the same concerns and criticisms I have raised here many times before about how overblown Zittrain’s fears are regarding the supposed death of digital generativity [...]

  • http://techliberation.com/2009/07/20/zittrains-pessimistic-predictions-and-problematic-prescriptions-for-the-net/ Zittrain’s Pessimistic Predictions and Problematic Prescriptions for the Net — Technology Liberation Front

    [...] take away your digital rights.  And so, as I have done here many times before (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 + video!), I will offer a response arguing that Jonathan’s cyber-Chicken Little-ism is largely [...]

  • http://techliberation.com/2010/09/07/dont-miss-the-concurring-opinions-symposium-about-zittrains-future-of-the-internet/ Don’t Miss the Concurring Opinions Symposium about Zittrain’s Future of the Internet

    [...] option-filled it’s ever been.” Terrific! I am glad to hear that because the crux of my repeated critiques of his book, The Future of the Internet, over the past two years has been focused on its [...]

  • http://techliberation.com/2010/09/09/on-defining-generativity-openness-and-code-failure/ On Defining Generativity, Openness, and Code Failure

    [...] camp for games. We squabbled over this at a New America Foundation event in 2008 (video here) where I protested such assignments on the grounds that there are only so many squares of [...]

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