This episode features Julio Sharp-Wasserman, Former STLR Notes Editor, talking with Evan Mascagni about Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, or SLAPPs. A SLAPP is a non-meritorious lawsuit brought to retaliate against a defendant’s constitutionally-protected speech, or to silence a defendant from criticizing the plaintiff, even when such criticism is completely legal. Evan Mascagni is the Policy Director of the Public Participation Project, which is working to get congress to pass...

This episode features Lloyd Lee, STLR Staffer, talking with Vivek Narayanadas and Andy Dale about changing spaces in data privacy in the US and abroad. We’d love your help in making this podcast better. If you like what we’re doing, please subscribe, rate, and give a review on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d also love to hear from you. Please send us an email at [email protected]. Nothing in this podcast should be considered legal advice. If you think...

This episode features Isha Agarwal, STLR Staffer, talking with Dr. Thomas Holland about DNA and the Fourth Amendment As DNA analysis becomes more ubiquitous in our lives and in the criminal justice system, it is important to examine the current legal landscape of abandoned evidence in the context of genetic data. Abandoned evidence has a long and rich judicial history, from Russian spies to prison barbers. But abandoned DNA may not fit so neatly into this mold under the Fourth Amendment, and...

This episode features Sam Matthews, STLR Executive Submissions Editor, discussing the constitutionality of compulsory vaccine laws Professor Vincent Racaniello of Columbia University and Dean Erwin Chemerinsky of Berkeley Law School. —- Vincent Racaniello is Higgins Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Columbia University. He has done laboratory research on viruses for over 30 years. Following on his belief that scientists must communicate their work to the public, he has co-authored a...

This episode features Jennifer Ange, STLR Staffer, talking with Dr. Moran Yemini about the freedom of speech in the new digital age. In his recent article published on STLR, Dr. Yemini argues that the digital age presents a new irony of free speech. The popular concept that the Internet promotes freedom of expression may be too simplistic. In his view, the Internet, while it strengthens our capacity of expression, also limits the liberty aspect of expression. Dr. Yemini received his Ph.D. in...

Section 230 prevents some online intermediaries, such as operators of websites, from being sued for the actions of third parties. For example, if someone uploads a defamatory video to YouTube, the person being defamed could sue the creator of the video, but couldn’t sue YouTube itself. Julio argues that, in the specific context of speech torts, there are other protections for online intermediaries, and the results of lawsuits against them might be the same, even if Section 230 didn’t exist.

The Columbia Science and Technology Law Review (STLR) is starting a Podcast! This podcast will feature a mix of in-depth interviews with authors published in our journal and surveys of legal topics from industry experts. Our first episode will be released later this month. It will feature an interview with STLR note author Julio Sharp-Wasserman about Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, possibly the most important law you may never have heard of. Listen to our introduction to learn...