R Street Institute
Sept
10
Time4:30PM — 7:30PM EST LocationSonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar, 223 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, D.C., 20003
Events hosted by RSI AND In-Person

Free Speech and Section 230 in the Age of AI: Should LLMs Be Liable for Misinformation?

Issues: Artificial Intelligence, Federal Government Affairs, Online Content Policy, Technology and Innovation

Register today to join us!

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Fireside Chat Featuring

Ashkhen Kazaryan, Senior Legal Fellow, The Future of Free Speech at Vanderbilt University

Maria Giannopoulos, Content Creator, TikTok (@greekmaria)

Panel Featuring

[Moderator] Spence Purnell, Resident Senior Fellow, Technology and Innovation, R Street Institute 

Matt Perault, Head of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy, Andreessen Horowitz

Becca Branum, Deputy Director, Free Expression Project, Center for Democracy and Technology

Overview

Large language models (LLMs) are transforming how we create and consume information, but they also present a growing challenge: How responsible should we hold these powerful AI systems for generating false or misleading content?

Join the R Street Institute and The Future of Free Speech at Vanderbilt University for a deep dive into the complexities of LLM liability for misinformation. We’ll explore whether current legal frameworks—particularly Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act—are equipped to handle AI-generated falsehoods and grapple with critical implications for the First Amendment, including the proper balance between protecting free speech and combating the spread of AI-driven misinformation.

Expect a lively debate as experts unpack these pressing questions: Should developers be held accountable for an LLM’s “hallucinations”? Does AI-generated content qualify for the same protections as human speech? What does this mean for the future of information integrity? 

The Future of Free Speech at Vanderbilt University will feature a 10-minute conversation on Section 230 and algorithmic recommendations. Senior Legal Fellow Ashkhen Kazaryan will be joined by TikTok creator Maria Giannopoulos to explore how platform liability intersects with the way content is recommended, amplified, and sometimes misused. It’s part policy talk, part creator insight showing how debates in Congress connect to what shows up on your screen.

Agenda

  • 4:30 PM     Reception
  • 4:50-5:00 PM     Fireside Chat
  • 5:00-6:00 PM     Panel
  • 7:30 PM     Closing