Adam Thierer

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Adam Thierer

  • Senior Research Fellow

Adam Thierer is a senior research fellow with the Technology Policy Program at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. He specializes in technology, media, Internet, and free-speech policies, with a particular focus on online safety and digital privacy. His writings have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the Economist, the Washington Post, the Atlantic, and Forbes, and he has appeared on national television and radio. Thierer is a frequent guest lecturer and has testified numerous times on Capitol Hill.

Thierer has authored or edited eight books on topics ranging from media regulation and child safety issues to the role of federalism in high-technology markets. His latest book is Permissionless Innovation: The Continuing Case for Comprehensive Technological Freedom.

He contributes to the Technology Liberation Front, a leading tech policy blog. Thierer has served on several distinguished online safety task forces, including Harvard University’s Internet Safety Technical Task Force and the federal government’s Online Safety Technology Working Group.

Previously, Thierer was president of the Progress & Freedom Foundation, director of telecommunications studies at the Cato Institute, and a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation. Thierer received his MA in international business management and trade theory at the University of Maryland and his BA in journalism and political philosophy from Indiana University.

Published Research

US Medical Devices: Choices and Consequences

Richard Williams, Robert Graboyes, Adam Thierer | Oct 21, 2015
A new paper for the Mercatus Center at George Mason University shows why the current system of medical device approval discourages technological innovation and ultimately affects patient choice. The approval process could be improved by introducing competition for approval—a process that already exists in the European Union.

The Sharing Economy and Consumer Protection Regulation: The Case for Policy Change

Christopher Koopman, Matthew Mitchell, Adam Thierer | May 15, 2015
When market circumstances change dramatically — or when new technology or competition alleviates the need for regulation — then public policy should evolve and adapt to accommodate these realities. This paper concludes with some proposals for further research in this area, and a call for a more informed regulatory approach that accounts for the innovations of the sharing economy.

The Internet of Things and Wearable Technology: Addressing Privacy and Security Concerns without Derailing Innovation

Adam Thierer | Feb 18, 2015
This paper highlights some of the opportunities presented by the rise of the so-called “Internet of Things” and wearable technology in particular, and encourages policymakers to allow these technologies to develop in a relatively unabated fashion. As with other new and highly disruptive digital technologies, however, the Internet of Things and wearable tech will challenge existing social, economic, and legal norms.

The Sharing Economy and Consumer Protection Regulation: The Case for Policy Change

Christopher Koopman, Matthew Mitchell, Adam Thierer | Dec 08, 2014
When market circumstances change dramatically—or when new technology or competition alleviates the need for regulation—then public policy should evolve and adapt to accommodate these realities. This paper concludes with some proposals for further research in this area, and a call for a more informed regulatory approach that accounts for the innovations of the sharing economy.
More Published Research

Working Papers

How the Internet, the Sharing Economy, and Reputational Feedback Mechanisms Solve the “Lemons Problem”

Adam Thierer, Christopher Koopman, Anne Hobson, Chris Kuiper | May 26, 2015
This paper argues that the sharing economy—through the use of the Internet and real time reputational feedback mechanisms—is providing a solution to the lemons problem that many regulators have spent decades attempting to overcome.

The Internet of Things and Wearable Technology: Addressing Privacy and Security Concerns without Derailing Innovation

Adam Thierer | Nov 19, 2014
This paper highlights some of the opportunities presented by the rise of the so-called Internet of Things in general and wearable technology in particular and encourages policymakers to allow these technologies to develop in a relatively unabated fashion. As with other new and highly disruptive digital technologies, however, the Internet of Things and wearable technology will challenge existing social, economic, and legal norms.

Removing Roadblocks to Intelligent Vehicles and Driverless Cars

Adam Thierer, Ryan Hagemann | Sep 17, 2014
This paper addresses some of the early policy concerns about “connected cars” and driverless vehicles and promotes “bottom-up” solutions to ensure that innovation continues to flourish in this space.

A History of Cronyism and Capture in the Information Technology Sector

Adam Thierer, Brent Skorup | Jul 01, 2013
The danger of creeping cronyism in the high-tech field is that it will dull entrepreneurialism and competition in this highly innovative sector. The opportunity costs of pursuing favors are significant.
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Charts

Deregulation Works: Monthly Mobile Phone Bills Hold Steady While Capital Investment Increasing

Adam Thierer | Dec 15, 2010
The data presented in this chart suggest that calls for more aggressive regulation of the wireless sector are unwarranted and would likely have a deleterious impact on consumer welfare.

Policy Briefs

The Internet, Sales Taxes, and Tax Competition

Veronique de Rugy, Adam Thierer | Oct 11, 2011
This paper considers the economic implications of an internet sales tax and its effect on trade and competition between states.

Unappreciated Benefits of Advertising and Commercial Speech

Adam Thierer | Jan 14, 2011
Consequences of regulating commercial advertising and marketing will hurt consumer welfare both directly and indirectly.

Testimony & Comments

Statement for the Record for Hearing Titled "Disrupter Series: Wearable Devices"

Adam Thierer | Mar 03, 2016
If America hopes to be a global leader in wearable technologies, as it has been for the Internet more generally over the past two decades, then the country first has to get public policy right. America took a commanding lead in the digital economy because, in the mid-1990s, Congress and the Clinton administration crafted a nonpartisan vision for the Internet that protected “permissionless innovation”—the idea that experimentation with new technologies and business models should generally be permitted without prior approval.

The Sharing Economy: Issues Facing Platforms, Participants, and Regulators

Christopher Koopman, Matthew Mitchell, Adam Thierer | May 26, 2015
The commission should shift enforcement efforts away from stopping private restraint of trade and toward stopping public restraint of trade. In light of George Stigler’s observation that “the state has one basic resource which in pure principle is not shared with even the mightiest of its citizens: the power to coerce,” the commission would be wise to adopt Commissioner Wright’s approach and shift resources toward fighting public restraint of trade.

Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Eli Dourado, Ryan Hagemann, Adam Thierer | Apr 24, 2015
The FAA must carefully consider the potential effect of UASs on the US economy. If it does not, innovation and technological advancement in the commercial UAS space will find a home elsewhere in the world. Many of the most innovative UAS advances are already happening abroad, not in the United States. If the United States is to be a leader in the development of UAS technologies, the FAA must open the American skies to innovation.

The Connected World: Examining the Internet of Things

Adam Thierer | Feb 11, 2015
We should remain patient and continue to embrace permissionless innovation to ensure that the Internet of Things thrives and American consumers and companies continue to be global leaders in the digital economy.
More Testimony & Comments

Research Summaries & Toolkits

Permissionless Innovation: A 10-Point Checklist for Public Policymakers

Adam Thierer, Michael Wilt | Mar 31, 2016
Technological innovation fuels economic growth. For innovation to flourish, though, policymakers must send entrepreneurs a clear green light signaling a general acceptance of risk-taking that challenges existing business models and traditional ways of doing things. This approach to policy can be labeled “permissionless innovation.” If there were one thing every policymaker could do to help advance long-term economic growth, it would be to commit to making permissionless innovation the lodestar for all future policy pronouncements and decisions.

Projecting the Growth and Economic Impact of the Internet of Things

Adam Thierer, Andrea Castillo | Jun 15, 2015
The next big wave of data-driven technological innovation will connect physical devices embedded with tiny computing devices to the Internet in an effort to seamlessly improve the measurements, communications, flexibility, and customization of our daily needs and activities. This “Internet of Things” (IoT) is already growing at a breakneck pace and is expected to continue to accelerate rapidly.

Video Marketplace Deregulation: The Battle Over Spectrum Policy and Retransmission Consent Reform

Adam Thierer | Jun 19, 2012
Even as viewing options multiply from new sources, America’s traditional video marketplace—broadcast television, cable TV, and satellite TV—remains encumbered with many layers of federal regulation. This prevents a truly free market in video programming from developing and simultaneously threatens to extend old regulations to new online platforms and services.

Online Privacy Regulation

Adam Thierer | Dec 06, 2010
Online privacy regulation could fundamentally alter the nature of online commerce and the future of how digital content and services are provided.

Speeches & Presentations

Internet of Things & Wearable Technology: Unlocking the Next Wave of Data-Driven Innovation

Adam Thierer | Sep 11, 2014
"Internet of Things & Wearable Technology: Unlocking the Next Wave of Data-Driven Innovation." A presentation by Adam Thierer made on September 11, 2014 at AEI-FCC Conference on "Regulating the Evolving Broadband Ecosystem."

“Permissionless Innovation” & the Grand Tech Policy Clash of Visions to Come

Adam Thierer | Jun 06, 2014
Successful innovation, which is essential to better health, safety and security, requires freedom to experiment and develop. But there is an array of government rules and processes that increasingly prohibit “permissionless” innovation.

The War on Vertical Integration in the Digital Economy

Adam Thierer | Nov 16, 2012
This presentation was delivered before the Southern Economic Association on November 16, 2012. Examines concerns about vertical integration in the tech economy and specifically addresses regulatory proposals set forth by Tim Wu (arguing for a "separations principle" for the tech economy) & Jonathan ZIttrain (arguing for "API neutrality" for social media and digital platforms.

Cronyism: History, Costs, Case Studies and Solutions

Adam Thierer | Nov 09, 2012
Cronyism generally refers to an unnatural and unhealthy closeness between government and special interests. �…
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Media Clippings

Curbing the New Corporate Power

Adam Thierer | May 05, 2015
Outlet: Boston Review

No ‘Free Parking’ for an App That Tried

Adam Thierer, Christopher Koopman | Jan 25, 2015
Outlet: The Wall Street Journal

Protecting Privacy, Preserving Innovation

Adam Thierer | Jul 03, 2014
Outlet: Real Clear Policy

In the Eye of the Right-to-Be-Forgotten vs. Right-to-Know Storm

Adam Thierer | May 16, 2014
Outlet: Tech News World
More Media Clippings

Expert Commentary

Mercatus Scholars on Barriers to Entry and Occupational Licensing

By Veronique de Rugy, Steven Horwitz, Christopher Koopman, Patrick McLaughlin, Matthew Mitchell, Adam Thierer, Edward J. Timmons |
Jul 29, 2015

Mercatus Center scholars have repeatedly documented the costs of occupational licensing and offered suggestions for how to reform or eliminate unnecessary licensing practices.

How Not to Strangle the Internet of Things

Politico
By Adam Thierer |
Jun 30, 2015

The Internet of Things is the hot new fixation in the world of technology, and it’s already raising concerns about safety, security, and privacy – many of which are persuasively documented in the special package just published here. We all face a host of new vulnerabilities in a world in which we’re always plugged into the Internet, and the objects around us are constantly sharing data about our personal and professional lives.

Curbing the New Corporate Power

Boston Review
By Adam Thierer |
May 05, 2015

Public utility regulations have not promoted consumer protection and they won’t today, even if public utility regulations were once justified on those grounds. There is nothing pro-consumer or progressive about foreclosing opportunities for greater choice, competition, and innovation. We should avoid extending such inefficient and anti-consumer policies to the exciting technologies and services that consumers now enjoy.

Uncle Sam Wants Your Fitbit: The Fight for Internet Freedom Gets Physical

Reason
By Adam Thierer |
Apr 28, 2015

We are at the dawn of the Internet of Things—a world full of smart devices equipped with sensors, all hooked up to a digital universe that will become as omnipresent as the air we breathe. Imagine every appliance in your home, every machine in your office, and every device in your car constantly communicating with a network and offering you a fully customizable, personalized experience.
More Expert Commentary

Contact

Adam Thierer

Research Areas

Broadband Regulation, Sharing Economy, Cybersecurity, Intermediary Liability, Privacy & Data Collection, Regulatory Process & OIRA, Spectrum Reform, Universal Service Reform, Regulation, Tech Policy, Study of American Capitalism

Videos

Adam Thierer | Internet of Things: Better Policy and Regulation | Regulation University

Adam Thierer | October 01, 2015

Adam Thierer Discusses Online Privacy Regulation at the Washington Legal Foundation

Adam Thierer | June 19, 2015

The FTC's Sharing Economy Workshop Featuring Adam Thierer

Adam Thierer | June 12, 2015

Adam Thierer Discusses Driverless Cars on CSPAN-2

Adam Thierer | October 13, 2014

Adam Thierer Discusses Ridesharing on Stossel

Adam Thierer | September 25, 2014
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Books

Permissionless Innovation: The Continuing Case for Comprehensive Technological Freedom

Adam Thierer | Mar 15, 2016
In this book, Adam Thierer argues that if the former disposition, “the precautionary principle,” trumps the latter, “permissionless innovation,” the result will be fewer services, lower-quality goods, higher prices, diminished economic growth, and a decline in the overall standard of living.
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Podcasts

Adam Thierer Discusses Permissionless Innovation on a16z

Adam Thierer | September 21, 2015
Adam Thierer joins this segment of the a16z podcast to discuss “technopanic” cycles; emerging areas of interest; and where “best practices” help or hurt when it comes to soft regulation.
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