Mike Benz has spent his career tracking how governments, institutions, and technology platforms shape the flow of information online. As executive director of the Foundation for Freedom Online, he has built a body of research examining internet policy, censorship, and the relationship between state power and digital platforms. He shared that research with Sean Kelly on the Digital Social Hour.
The conversation covers a wide range of territory, from Mike Benz's view of how cryptocurrency is reshaping global finance to his research into universities, media ownership, and the institutions he says influence public discourse.
About Mike Benz
Mike Benz is the executive director of the Foundation for Freedom Online, an organization focused on researching internet policy, free speech, and the intersection of technology and government. He previously worked at the U.S. State Department, where his focus included cyber and technology policy.
Since leaving government, Benz has built a public platform around presenting his research into how institutions, from universities to media organizations, intersect with government influence over information online. His analysis draws on his background in policy and his ongoing research into these systems.
What Mike Benz and Sean Kelly Talked About
- Mike Benz's view on how stablecoins and crypto liquidity connect to U.S. dollar dominance
- His research into how the European Union's Digital Services Act affects online speech
- His perspective on the relationship between government watchlists and free expression online
- How he describes the role of disinformation governance efforts in shaping public discourse
- His account of how large institutions and media ownership intersect with information flow
- His research into Harvard's endowment history and its ties to foreign policy
- His stated view on the origins of Russian studies programs at American universities
- Where he sees crypto and geopolitics intersecting in the years ahead
Why This Conversation Matters
Mike Benz brings a research-driven perspective to topics that sit at the intersection of technology, policy, and institutional power. His conversation with Sean Kelly lays out, in his own words, the connections he has spent years studying between government, finance, and the platforms that shape public conversation.
▶ Watch the full episode on YouTube
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About Sean Kelly & the Digital Social Hour
Sean Kelly is an entrepreneur and the host of the Digital Social Hour, one of the fastest-growing interview podcasts in the world, where he sits down with entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and cultural voices for candid, long-form conversations. The show draws over 100 million views a month across platforms. Explore more guest features on SeanKelly.io.
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