Justin Hendrix
As seen in:
Tech Policy Press,
Medium,
MSN,
HuffPost,
TIME,
Yahoo News Malaysia,
Aol,
NBC News,
New York Daily News,
Newsweek,
TechCrunch
and
Concerned with technology, media & democracy. Editor at @techpolicypress. Research & Adjunct Professor at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Opinions mine.
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Justin Hendrix
The 'Jenga Politics' Threatening the US Census
By Justin Hendrix In the United States, the census touches tech policy at more points than you might realize. It's a massive data collection operation and a piece of democratic infrastructure all at once.
Age Checks, AI Regulation and Censorship Put Internet Freedom Under Pressure
People with their mouths taped participate in a protest against internet shutdowns, arrests, and executions in Iran outside the Palacio Nacional de Belem in Lisbon, Portugal, on May 10, 2026. (Photo by Luis Boza/NurPhoto via AP) Since its launch, Tech Policy Press has covered the findings of the annual Freedom on the Net report from Freedom House, a nonprofit organization founded in 1941 to advance democracy and human rights.
OpenAI Faces Lawsuits, Subpoenas and EU Scrutiny in a Single Week
The Tech Policy Press newsletter is published every Sunday. Subscribe here to receive it in your email inbox. Open AI CEO Sam Altman does a television interview with CNBC's Kate Rooney before delivering the keynote address at the OpenAI developers conference at Fort Mason on September 29, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) Good morning! Before we get started with this week’s newsletter, I want to invite you to give us your feedback.
Another Week of Lawsuits Piling Up at OpenAI
A finger is poised to tap the ChatGPT app icon displayed on a smartphone screen in Creteil, France, on October 1, 2026, as OpenAI begins rolling out Dots in ChatGPT, its new system of autonomous AI agents. (Photo by Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto via AP) August’s landmark settlement with Meta may have only whetted the appetite of state attorneys general to take on Big Tech.
Multiple Polls Find Most Americans Think AI is Moving Too Fast
Protesters demonstrate outside of the OpenAI DevDay 2026 conference, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Following multiple incidents over the past several months where AI agents operated by OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta intruded on third party systems, industry leaders including Anthropic’s Dario Amodei called for moderating the pace of AI development. But the Trump administration has rejected calls for a slowdown.
Coding Kids, Drone Wars and Algorithmic Realism
The Tech Policy Press newsletter is published every Sunday. Subscribe here to receive it in your email inbox. In this photo provided by Ukraine's 65th Mechanized Brigade press service, A Ukrainian serviceman launches a drone towards Russian positions at the front line in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Wednesday Oct. 7, 2026.
An AI Accord, a New Czar and an Autonomous Warfare Command
The Tech Policy Press newsletter is published every Sunday. Subscribe here to receive it in your email inbox. President Donald Trump holds a press conference on the North Lawn of the White House with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and other tech leaders on September 29, 2026.
Why Social Media Platforms Should Adopt a 'Militant Democracy' Framework
Subscribe to the Tech Policy Press podcast via your favorite service here. What should social media platforms do when the state itself becomes a threat to democracy?
Senate Hearing on 'Rogue AI: Securing the Homeland Against AI Agent Attacks'
Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Disaster Management, District of Columbia, and Census Chair Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Ranking Member Andy Kim (D-N.J.) confer before a hearing on 'rogue' artificial intelligence on Capitol Hill on Sept. 30, 2026. (Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images) On Sept.
September 2026 US Tech Policy Roundup
Rachel Lau and Shirley Frame work with leading public interest foundations and nonprofits on technology policy issues at Freedman Consulting, LLC. Justin Hendrix is editor of Tech Policy Press, and Ashley Faler is assistant editor.
Eight Years On, Cambridge Analytica Scandal Catches Up With Meta in Santa Fe
Illustration from a screenshot of Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s July 14, 2026, deposition in New Mexico v Facebook. On Friday, a jury in Santa Fe, New Mexico, found that Meta, formerly Facebook, misled the public in statements about the Cambridge Analytica data privacy scandal and its policies on hate speech, violence and misinformation.
What Non-Western Governments Said About AI at the UN
Analysis Ramsha Jahangir, Justin Hendrix / Sep 28, 2026 Sam Altman (seated on top right end), CEO of OpenAI, arrives to speak at a UN Security Council meeting on Artificial Intelligence during the 81st United Nations General Assembly, United Nations Headquarters, NY, September 23, 2026.
At the UN and in Washington, Leaders Clash on Approach to AI
CEO of OpenAI Sam Altman speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting on artificial intelligence and international security under “Maintenance of International Peace and Security” on September 23, 2026 in New York City. Tech industry leaders including the CEOs of OpenAI, Anthropic and Hugging Face briefed ambassadors on the risks of artificial intelligence. (Photo by Alexi J.
Gil Durán Maps the Rise of the 'Nerd Reich'
Podcast Justin Hendrix / Sep 27, 2026 Audio of this conversation is available via your favorite podcast service. On September 23, Tech Policy Press hosted an event at Betaworks in New York City with Gil Durán, the author of The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy, the New York Times bestselling book published by Simon & Schuster. Alice Marwick, research director at Data & Society, joined the discussion. What follows is a lightly edited transcript of the event.
AI Hacks, a Possible War Crime, and a Near Miss With China Set Stage for Trump-Xi Meeting
The Tech Policy Press newsletter is published every Sunday. Subscribe here to receive it in your email inbox. United States President Donald Trump steps off from Marine One upon his arrival at the Ellipse just outside of the White House, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Good morning! AI risks and what to do about them continue to dominate headlines around the world.
'Pace the Frontier,' They Say. But Who Sets the Pace?
The Tech Policy Press newsletter is published every Sunday. Subscribe here to receive it in your email inbox. People participate in a march to protest the opening of AI data centers, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Good morning! The frenzy of headlines about AI safety over the past several days has made it difficult to keep up.
AI Governance Reaches Crisis Point Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit
Audio of this conversation is available via your favorite podcast service.
Across the US, School Districts Wrestle With Classroom AI Policy
Podcast Justin Hendrix, Chris Mills Rodrigo, Laura Karpas / Sep 8, 2026 Audio of this conversation is available via your favorite podcast service. Just ahead of the start of the new school year, districts across the United States are issuing new policies on the use of artificial intelligence applications in classrooms.
Virginia Eyes AI Chatbot Rules as Observable Risks Warrant Action
Audio of this conversation is available via your favorite podcast service. State legislatures across the United States are actively developing new laws on a range of issues related to artificial intelligence. In Virginia, that process is informed by an entity established by the Virginia General Assembly called the Joint Commission on Technology and Science. To learn more about the Joint Commission and some of its recent work on AI chatbots, I spoke to its chief policy analyst, Dr. Kira Allmann.
August 2026 US Tech Policy Roundup
Rachel Lau and Shirley Frame work with leading public interest foundations and nonprofits on technology policy issues at Freedman Consulting, LLC. Justin Hendrix is editor of Tech Policy Press, and Ashley Faler is assistant editor. Members of California's legal team leave court after a settlement was reached in a multi-state lawsuit accusing Meta of causing harm to children on social media outside the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and US Courthouse on Wednesday, Aug.
This week's Meta settlement will reverberate across the world for years
Good morning! Some weeks it’s difficult to prioritize what news to focus on in the first paragraphs of this newsletter. This is not one of those weeks. Wednesday’s announcement of Meta’s landmark settlement with attorneys general from US states and territories over teen safety on Instagram and Facebook will reverberate for months, if not years. As Tech Policy Press contributors and readers digested the terms of the settlement and its implications, many expressed skepticism.
What's in Meta's Teen Social Media Settlement—and What Hinges on Its Rivals
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg attends UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Last Tuesday, Meta lawyers entered a courtroom in Oakland, California to face a judge and jury over alleged harms to children in a bellwether trial brought by state attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey. The trial was expected to last through October.
Solana Larsen Named Managing Editor of Tech Policy Press
We’re thrilled to announce that Solana Larsen has joined Tech Policy Press as its new Managing Editor. Solana has more than two decades of experience working in senior editorial roles at publications and with communities dedicated to analyzing technology’s role and impact on society, including with Mozilla, Global Voices, openDemocracy, the Open Knowledge Foundation, and more.
What to Do With a Data Center Pause — and Unpacking the ‘Censorship-Industrial’ Complex Narrative
Saline, Michigan, December 1, 2025: A sign on a rural Michigan road opposes a planned $7 billion data center on southeast Michigan farm land. Opponents say the data center could raise residential electricity rates and endanger the water supply.
How the 'Censorship-Industrial Complex' Narrative Went From Fringe to Trump Policy
Podcast Justin Hendrix / Aug 23, 2026 Audio of this conversation is available via your favorite podcast service.
AI Meets the US Midterm Elections
Good morning! Headed into the US midterm elections season, the information environment continues to evolve. Millions of people now use AI chatbots, both to retrieve information about elections and to create it. Last week, the Brennan Center for Justice put out an expert brief tackling the question, “Does AI Fight or Fuel Election Disinformation?” For the podcast, I spoke to one of its authors, Larry Norden, vice president of the Elections and Government Program at the Brennan Center.
How AI Is Reshaping Election Information Ahead of the 2026 US Midterms
Audio of this conversation is available via your favorite podcast service. Headed into the US midterm elections season, the information environment continues to evolve. Millions of people now use AI chatbots, both to retrieve information about elections and to create it. Last week, the Brennan Center Justice put out an expert brief tackling the question, “Does AI Fight or Fuel Election Disinformation?” I spoke to one of its authors.
At NCSL, Geoffrey Hinton Warns State Lawmakers Not to Buy Big Tech's Anti-Regulation Pitch
The 2026 National Conference of State Legislatures in Chicago. Photo by Justin Hendrix. Good morning! This week I saw some members of the Tech Policy Press community in Chicago last week at the National Conference of State Legislatures, the annual gathering of state lawmakers, policy experts and the lobbyists who hope to influence them.
Court Deems Meta a 'Public Nuisance,' a First for Social Media
Newsletter Justin Hendrix / Aug 9, 2026 Good morning! On Thursday, the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe, New Mexico issued a decision in the remedies phase of State of New Mexico v. Meta Platforms Inc. The court found Meta created a public nuisance by contributing to the youth mental health crisis and by facilitating child sexual exploitation.
Casey Michel on Breaking the Tech Oligarchy's Grip
Podcast Justin Hendrix / Aug 9, 2026 Audio of this conversation is available via your favorite podcast service. The rise of the tech oligarchy threatens democracy in the United States and abroad.
New Mexico Court Orders Meta to Establish $567 Million Fund to Abate Harms to Youth
Attorney General Raul Torrez, is joined by a group of mothers advocating for a change to social media, at a news conference outside First District Court, in Santa Fe, N.M., Monday, May 4, 2026. (Eddie Moore/The Albuquerque Journal via AP, Pool) On Thursday, the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe, New Mexico issued a decision in the remedies phase of State of New Mexico v. Meta Platforms Inc.
July 2026 US Tech Policy Roundup
Rachel Lau and Shirley Frame work with leading public interest foundations and nonprofits on technology policy issues at Freedman Consulting, LLC. Justin Hendrix is editor of Tech Policy Press, and Ashley Faler is assistant editor. OpenAI founder and CEO Sam Altman is seen with aides in an elevator after a meeting with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Capitol Hill on July 29, 2026.
Taking Stock of the UK Tech Policy 'Muddle'
Audio of this conversation is available via your favorite podcast service. The United Kingdom has a new prime minister, and as Tech Policy Press fellow James Ball reported last week, he has already moved to put his mark on tech policy—scrapping a scheme for digital ID, shuttering the Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT), shifting the Government Digital Service (GDS) to the Department of Culture, Media, and Sports, and reshuffling responsibility for AI policy.
At NCSL, Geoffrey Hinton Warns State Lawmakers Not to Buy Big Tech's Anti-Regulation Pitch
The 2026 National Conference of State Legislatures in Chicago. Photo by Justin Hendrix. Good morning! This week I saw some members of the Tech Policy Press community in Chicago last week at the National Conference of State Legislatures, the annual gathering of state lawmakers, policy experts and the lobbyists who hope to influence them.
A Roadmap for Confronting the Chilling Effects of Censorship, Surveillance and New Technology
Podcast Justin Hendrix / Jul 26, 2026 Audio of this conversation is available via your favorite podcast service. Across the world, despots and and wannabe dictators are deploying new tools, both legal and technological, to stifle dissent and oppress. Today’s guest is Jonathon W.
How the OpenAI-Hugging Face Hack May Affect the Geopolitics of AI Governance
Audio of this conversation is available via your favorite podcast service. On July 16, Hugging Face, a company that provides a platform for AI models, datasets, and other machine learning applications, posted a “security incident disclosure” to its blog about an “intrusion” into its infrastructure. But this was no typical hack.
Despots, DSA Fines, and an 'Autonomous' AI Attack
Illustration of red, white, and blue surveillance cameras. Good morning! On July 16, Hugging Face, a company that provides a platform for AI models, datasets, and other machine learning applications, posted a “security incident disclosure” to its blog about an “intrusion” into its infrastructure. But this was no typical hack.
The World Cup Ends Today. The Surveillance Will Continue.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JULY 19: Nico Williams of Team Spain takes a corner kick during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 to win the tournament. (Photo by Liu Lu/VCG via AP) Good morning! The World Cup final will get underway in just a few hours, and here in New York the excitement is palpable.
The AI sovereignty problem, from Brussels to Bengaluru
Good morning! When the fictional near-future scenario Europe 2031 was published in June, it set off an immediate debate in Brussels and beyond. Co-authored by a group of AI researchers, its purpose was to provoke. The scenario attempts to demonstrate that Europe risks economic and political irrelevance if it fails to compete at the frontier of AI development.
Tech, Power, and the Struggle for American Democracy
Good morning! The July 4 fireworks ended in my neighborhood in Brooklyn at about 6 a.m., so do forgive any errors I may make in this edition of the newsletter. I celebrated the day with my family at the main branch of the New York Public Library, where we viewed a copy of the Declaration of Independence handwritten by Thomas Jefferson.
GLAAD Maps Where AI Fails LGBTQ People and How to Fix It
Podcast Justin Hendrix / Jul 5, 2026 Audio of this conversation is available via your favorite podcast service. Since 1985, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, GLAAD, has produced research and advocacy on LGBTQ representation in media. Now the organizations has turned its attention to artificial intelligence.
Imagining Broadband Policy of, by, and for the People
Podcast Justin Hendrix / Jun 28, 2026 Audio of this conversation is available via your favorite podcast service. Access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet is a prerequisite for nearly every part of modern life, from finding work and finishing schoolwork to seeing a doctor or staying in touch with family. Yet millions of American households remain stranded on the wrong side of the digital divide.
Nine Things Platforms Could Do Now to Help Blunt Political Violence in the United States
Good morning! As the United States approaches its 2026 midterm election cycle, the nation faces a volatile set of circumstances. Polarization and political violence have risen sharply: unprecedented levels of threats against public officials both on- and offline have coincided with a bout of assassination attempts and acts of targeted violence.
What Online Platforms Can and Must Do to Help Mitigate Escalating Political Violence
The is post is cross-published with Just Security. A charred piano, left, is visible inside the Pennsylvania governor's official residence after a man was arrested in the alleged arson that forced Gov. Josh Shapiro, his family and guests to flee in the middle of the night on the Jewish holiday of Passover, Sunday, Apr. 13, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy) Political violence is on the rise in the United States.
Local Reporter Neil Strebig on Covering xAI's Expansion in Memphis and Beyond
Audio of this conversation is available via your favorite podcast service. Two years ago this month, the Greater Memphis, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce announced a deal to host a substantial new computing facility with Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI. Dubbed "Colossus," the data center was built in an old Electrolux factory.
The Debate Over xAI's Expansion in Memphis, Two Years In
MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 25, 2025: Demonstrators gather outside of Fairley High School in opposition to xAI's use of gas turbines for its data center ahead of a public comment meeting on the project. (Photo by Brandon Dill for The Washington Post via Getty Images) Good morning! Two years ago this month, the Greater Memphis, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce announced a deal to host a substantial new computing facility with Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI.
Early Edition: June 15, 2026
Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here. A curated guide to major news and developments over the weekend. Here’s today’s news: IRAN WAR – CEASEFIRE Yesterday morning, Hezbollah launched several drones at northern Israel; hours later, Israel struck a Hezbollah command center in Beirut, the Israeli army said. The Israeli military notified U.S. Central Command shortly before the Beirut strike, Israeli and U.S. officials say.
Unpacking the Great American Artificial Intelligence Act of 2026
Audio of this conversation is available via your favorite podcast service. In the United States, polling shows a broad bipartisan appetite for AI regulation. An Annenberg Public Policy Center survey conducted earlier this year found 65% of Americans say the government has done too little to regulate AI, including 77% of Democrats and 53% of Republicans. On June 4, Reps.
Anthropic's Mythos Recall and the White House's Missing AI Safety Playbook
Justin Hendrix is editor of Tech Policy Press. This piece is co-published with Just Security. Anthropic's Co-Founder and CEO, Dario Amodei on stage at the Code with Claude developer conference on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 in San Francisco.
House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Hosts Hearing on AI Security
The dome of the US Capitol building.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Justin
Contact Justin, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack