Don't Be Awful: Roger Myers and Paul Carr

TL;DR

A lawyer shares insights on censorship, privacy issues, and the importance of knowing when to fight legal battles.

Transcript

hey everyone thank you for coming to our incredibly experimental hackathon non-hackathon ideas festival live 24-hour broadcast excuse for me to wear flannel kitten pajamas at 3am in public all sorts of things festival no i mean i'm going to wait until it's overnight yeah yeah i know i mean i i want minimal humiliation this is the internet there's n... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍💻 Censorship, both governmental and private, is a significant concern in the tech industry.
• 🙈 Startups should not ignore legal issues and should seek external legal advice when necessary.
• 🥶 Legislative solutions should strike a balance between protection and free speech.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is considered "awful" behavior in the tech industry?

According to Roger Myers, the most concerning behavior is censorship, whether it's conducted by the government or facilitated by companies. This includes cases like the suppression of Wikileaks and the violation of free speech by Yahoo in China.

Q: When is it appropriate to fight legal battles as a startup?

Myers suggests not ignoring legal issues and seeking advice from external lawyers who can provide a broader perspective. Startups should consider whether they can afford to fight or not, keeping in mind the potential impact on the company's growth.

Q: What are the potential drawbacks of legislative solutions in combating issues like revenge porn?

Legislative solutions can be valuable, but there is a risk of going too far. Myers cites the example of the California revenge porn law, which only addressed minors posting explicit content, failing to tackle the wider problem. Legislative measures must strike a balance between protecting individuals and preserving free speech.

Q: What are the implications of legal startups that simplify the legal process?

Myers acknowledges the potential benefits but highlights the importance of the quality of advice provided by such startups. State bars may resist the rise of legal startups due to concerns about job displacement for lawyers. The effectiveness of these startups will depend on their ability to offer reliable and accurate legal guidance.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The event aims to bring together people who can be part of the solution in addressing the issues of censorship and censorship facilitation by companies in the tech industry.

• Roger Myers, a lawyer, shares his experience representing clients like Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and Wikileaks, highlighting the importance of fighting for free speech and avoiding censorship.

• He discusses the concept of "awfulness" in the realm of technology and entrepreneurship, focusing on the need to address censorship both on a governmental and private level.