Technology and the Public Interest
Books, essays, and commentary from John Palfrey
Essays
Notes from AI Action Summit in Delhi, India, February 2026
Reflections on AI, governance, and the public interest from the AI Action Summit in Delhi.
Read essayConcord Free Public Library 150th Anniversary Celebration
Remarks on libraries, civic institutions, and the enduring importance of public knowledge.
Read essayInvesting in the Arts—in Chicago and Beyond
Thoughts on philanthropy, culture, and why investing in the arts matters for public life.
Read essayCommentary from John Palfrey
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Testimony on Internet Filtering and Surveillance
Mister Chairman, distinguished members of the Committee: I would like to offer my deep appreciation for the Committee’s interest in this important matter. Congressional engagement is an important factor in deepening understanding of the nexus between global Internet freedom and corporate responsibility, and an essential element for ensuring that the Internet continues on its path…
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Digital Natives Myth-Busting Session at Berkman@10
Our session on Digital Natives as part of the unconference day 2 is focused on Myth-Busting. We put up on the conference wiki a bunch of myths online that we’ve been working to bust (or to affirm). Our mode is to put these myths to the attendees, see which ones they would like to discuss,…
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A Kick-Off for The Publius Project
This morning, at our 10th Anniversary celebration, we are talking about the future of politics and the Net. The notes I’ve prepared with my colleagues in advance of the session are here, on the conference wiki; have at them!) Before we start the real-space conversation, a quick pause to introduce a new project, called Publius. …
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Congratulations to Phil Malone and Wendy Jacobs
The Harvard Law School just announced the promotion of Phil Malone (in cyberlaw and intellectual property) and Wendy Jacobs (in environmental law) to the full-time faculty as clinical professors. Phil Malone has been the director of the Berkman Center clinical program for the past few years, first with Jeff Cunard and Bruce Keller as co-directors…
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Myth-Busting: Kids and Information Technology
We’re planning our session on Digital Natives for the Berkman@10 conference later this week. The idea is to hold a “myth-busting” session. A first pass of myths are up on the conference wiki. The idea is to discuss some of the common misconceptions about kids and technology that we explore in our forthcoming book, Born…
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Duke and Open Access
It’s been noted that Duke Law School has a long history of leadership in this area, beginning with an online repository for its faculty’s scholarship (dating from 2005) and its journals made accessible online (starting back in 1997!), both of which well predate HLS’s vote on an opt-out Open Access policy last week. Prof. Richard…
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HLS Goes Open Access, Unanimously
I’m just delighted that the Harvard Law School faculty has voted unanimously to adopt an open access policy. This policy is consistent with the policy adopted by the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences earlier this year. Here is what we approved: “The Faculty of the Harvard Law School is committed to disseminating the fruits…
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Changing Jobs, Search for New Executive Director
This summer, I’ll be moving to a new job at HLS, as vice dean for library and information resources. I’m very excited about this new challenge. I will still remain involved in the Berkman Center, as one of the faculty directors and in some research projects, but I’ll no longer be the executive director as…
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Apple Gets it Right After StopBadware et al. Send Warning
StopBadware and the rest of the Net community trying to keep the environment clean of bad code scored a good win this week in the public interest. The StopBadware team and others were all over a software update from Apple that operated as badware, offering new software installations disguised as product updates. StopBadware blogged about…
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Congratulations, PRX!
Our good friends at Public Radio Exchange, led by their executive director and Berkman fellow Jake Shapiro, have been awarded a huge honor from the MacArthur Foundation. PRX is one of a handful of 2008 “Creative and Effective Institutions.” I can think of no more deserving institution than PRX. Bravo!
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Live-blogging Class on Blogging
One of the great treats of co-teaching with David Weinberger is getting to be a student on the days that he leads discussion. Today, we’re taking up blogging, something he knows a thing or two about. You can also follow along with the class notes on The Web Difference class blog. A few of the…