Human communication is inherently vulnerable to distortion by various means: psychological (e.g., cognitive biases), linguistic (ambiguity and vagueness), social (cultural assumptions and groupthink), and structural (e.g., economic incentives in media). Legal systems in liberal societies focus on political distortions (e.g., censorship and legal regulation). Technology in the digital age presents an additional means of distorting expression, including the rapid spread of false or misleading information via social media and digital platforms; algorithmic manipulation (prioritizing engagement over accuracy, creating echo chambers and distorting public discourse); and deepfakes and synthetic media (artificial intelligence [AI]-generated videos, audio, and images that can fabricate events difficult to distinguish as true or false).

In a broad-gauged, well-researched, engagingly written analysis, Jared Schroeder focuses on the disruptive role of AI, algorithms, and technology monopolies. These phenomena shape public discourse in ways that defeat the classical liberal model so important to much First Amendment jurisprudence: the “marketplace of ideas.” That Enlightenment-inspired metaphor likens the competition of ideas to unregulated economic exchange. It suggests that the best ideas will prevail through open discussion and debate, not government control