Commentary
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Setting the Policy Agenda on Innovation Issues
- Alongside our in-depth policy reports, ITIF’s long-running Innovation Files blog serves as a forum where analysts provide quick takes, quips, and commentary on the latest in technology and innovation policy.
- Other blogs from ITIF include In the Arena, Rob Atkinson’s notes on the battle of ideas (also on Substack at policyarena.org), plus special series, such as The Brussels Effect, examining how the EU exports its regulatory agenda; Defending Digital, examining spurious critiques of the tech industry; and Innovate4Health, covering the intersection between intellectual property and life sciences innovation.
- ITIF analysts also frequently contribute op-eds and commentary pieces to leading publications around the world.
October 16, 2026|Blogs
Data Center Opposition Threatens Millions of Jobs and Billions in Economic Activity
Growing opposition to data centers threatens U.S. economic growth, with $260 billion in canceled investments in 2026 potentially costing more than 2 million jobs and $294 billion in economic activity. Policymakers should address local concerns without discouraging responsible data center development.
October 15, 2026|Blogs
US No Longer Embraces Innovation: China Does
China embraces innovation. America gets in its own way. Conflicting rulebooks and resistance to technological adoption are helping China win and America lose.
October 15, 2026|Blogs
Calibrating the Right Policy Response to the AI-Driven Memory Chip Shortage
As AI demand drives memory chip prices to more than triple in 2026, Washington should resist short-term fixes that pick who gets scarce supply or deepen reliance on Chinese producers and instead expand U.S. memory production capacity for the long term.
October 13, 2026|Blogs
Policymakers Should Reject Calls to Freeze the Evolution of Information Provision
Policymakers should reject calls to intervene after the dismissal of Chegg’s and PMC’s antitrust lawsuits over Google’s AI-generated search summaries. Protecting businesses from the effects of technological change isn’t the same as promoting competition and innovation.
October 13, 2026|Blogs
Fact of the Week: China Now Produces 57 Percent of the World’s Elite AI Talent
A recent study found that in 2025, 57 percent of the world’s top AI researchers received their undergraduate degrees in China, up from 46 percent in 2022.
October 13, 2026|Blogs
How Existing Laws Can Address Surveillance Fears About Smart Glasses
As smart glasses become more widespread, concerns about privacy and surveillance are prompting calls for bans and new regulations. Rather than imposing technology-specific restrictions, policymakers should use existing laws to address misuse and strengthen privacy protections through comprehensive federal legislation.
October 9, 2026|Blogs
Backlash to Flock Cameras Is a Trust Issue, Not a Tech Issue
At its core, the backlash against Flock has little to do with automated license plate readers. Instead, amid growing opposition to AI and federal law enforcement, Flock cameras have suffered from being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
October 8, 2026|Blogs
Techno-Doom Panics Are Wired Into Our Brains
Our brains are wired to react to uncertainty with fear before reason catches up. However, giving in to techno-doom panics is bad for humanity.
October 7, 2026|Op-Eds & Contributed Articles
Sovereignty by Control, Not Passport
Canada should pursue digital sovereignty through contractual safeguards and resilient systems, rather than Canadian ownership requirements that raise costs and create trade risks.
October 6, 2026|Blogs
European Courts Set a Dangerous Precedent for Platform Liability
A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads based on how its algorithms rank content, potentially expanding platform liability under the EU’s Digital Services Act. Instead of discouraging platforms from using these algorithms, policymakers should preserve knowledge-based liability protections and focus enforcement on the fraudsters responsible for scam ads.
