Feature Friday with Lyrissa Lidsky on the next episode of “Did You Know That?” with Host Sean O’Rourke

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Episode 2021:8

It can be argued these 45 words are the most important in this country.  The breadth of protections offered by the amendment is in some ways the entire foundation for the democratic structure of the United States.  But like any right, there have been challenges; some nefarious, others cultural.  The current challenge comes from technology.

The rise of any new technology that expands our capabilities is often met with irrational exuberance.  We almost always fall for the utopian visions put forward by the technology’s proponents, forgetting that it will be human beings – good, bad, and indifferent – who will mold the technology going forward.  Thus, what evolves is both a blessing and a bane.  The Internet is the 21st Century’s ultimate example of this phenomenon (so far).

What impact has the Internet had on the 1st Amendment, primarily free speech?  My next guest on Did You Know That? is well versed on this question.  Lyrissa Lidsky is the Dean of the University of Missouri School of Law and an authority on the intersection of free speech and the Internet.  It’s a timely conversation that may change your thoughts about what you write/read on the World Wide Web.

To learn more about Lyrissa and her extensive work around the 1st Amendment, follow her via the links below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyrissa-lidsky-192815103/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LidskyLidsky

MizzouLaw on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MizzouLaw

Research on SSRN Author page: https://ssrn.com/author=247860

#1stamendment #freedomofspeech #dataprivacy #didyouknowthat #indulgeyourcuriosity #youtubechannel