Ryan Calo

Ryan Calo is an assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Law and a former research director at CIS. A nationally recognized expert in law and emerging technology, Ryan's work has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, NPR, Wired Magazine, and other news outlets. Ryan serves on several advisory committees, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, and the Future of Privacy Forum. He co-chairs the American Bar Association Committee on Robotics and Artificial Intelligence and serves on the program committee of National Robotics Week.

You can read Ryan's work on SSRN and follow him on Twitter.

Women & The Rise Of Code: Is Power A Moving Target?

By Ryan Calo • February 15, 2009 at 5:04 pm

Outside of a J.R.R. Tolkien novel, power does not reside in any one person, object, or place. But it does cluster. An enormous percentage of those “in power,” that is, in a position to make decisions of societal scope, are trained as lawyers. Nearly every judge has been to law school, as have the majority of legislators, many industry and non-profit leaders, and 26 out of the past 44 U.S. presidents. Read more » about Women & The Rise Of Code: Is Power A Moving Target?

Sixth Circuit Invalidates Broad Construction of the Community Decency Act

By Ryan Calo • February 5, 2009 at 4:14 pm

Author: Robert Lopez

John Doe sued SexSearch.com, an online adult dating service, alleging fourteen violations of Ohio law. Each count attempted to hold SexSearch.com liable for Doe’s illicit relationship with a minor who misrepresented her age in violation of SexSearch.com’s terms of use. The Sixth Circuit upheld the ruling of the Northern District of Ohio, but refused to adopt its reading of the Communications Decency Act (CDA). 47 U.S.C § 230(f)(2). The court stated that the district court “read § 230 more broadly that any previous Court of Appeals decision” and that such a reading could “potentially abrogat[e] all state or common-law causes of action brought against interactive Internet services.” Instead, the Sixth Circuit invalidated all fourteen claims holding that each one failed to state a valid claim under Ohio law. Read more » about Sixth Circuit Invalidates Broad Construction of the Community Decency Act

Google Books Reaches Settlement With Publishers And Authors

By Ryan Calo • February 5, 2009 at 4:08 pm

Author: Matt Kellogg

Google recently reached a settlement agreement with the authors and publishers who in 2005 sued the company for copyright infringement. As part of the arrangement, copyright owners will not only receive fees from Google for the use of digitized copies of their books in Google Book Search, they will also have the ability to choose how much—if any—of their works they wish to be displayed. The settlement provides for the creation of an independent organization to oversee its administration as well as special modes of access for public and university libraries. Read more » about Google Books Reaches Settlement With Publishers And Authors

Second Circuit Partially Invalidates National Security Letters Section of the Patriot Act on First Amendment Grounds

By Ryan Calo • February 5, 2009 at 4:00 pm

Author: José Mauro Decoussau Machado

Citing the First Amendment, the Second Circuit invalidated provisions of the Patriot Act that permit the FBI to impose a nondisclosure requirement on National Security Letters without having to seek judicial review. The court also declared unconstitutional provisions that consider as conclusive a governmental official’s certification that disclosure may endanger the national security of the United States or interfere with diplomatic relations. Read more » about Second Circuit Partially Invalidates National Security Letters Section of the Patriot Act on First Amendment Grounds