AI chatbots refuse to produce ‘controversial’ output − why that’s a free speech problem

AI chatbot makers’ restrictive use policies hinder people’s access to information.

Jacob Mchangama, Research Professor of Political Science, Vanderbilt University • conversation
April 18, 2024 • ~10 min

Visual misinformation is widespread on Facebook – and often undercounted by researchers

The flood of misinformation on social media could actually be worse than many researchers have reported. The problem is that many studies analyzed only text, leaving visual misinformation uncounted.

Trevor Davis, Fellow, Tow Center for Digital Journalism, Columbia University • conversation
June 30, 2023 • ~6 min

Antisemitism on Twitter has more than doubled since Elon Musk took over the platform – new research

New research shows that antisemitic posts surged as the ‘free speech absolutist’ took over the social media giant. And it has settled at a higher level since.

Carl Miller, Research Fellow, King's College London • conversation
March 20, 2023 • ~8 min

Beyond Section 230: A pair of social media experts describes how to bring transparency and accountability to the industry

A key piece of federal law, Section 230, has been credited with fostering the internet and allowing misinformation and hate speech to flourish. Here’s how it could be reformed.

Jon Pfeiffer, Adjunct Professor of Law, Pepperdine University • conversation
Jan. 4, 2023 • ~9 min

Mass migration from Twitter is likely to be an uphill battle – just ask ex-Tumblr users

The communities that call Twitter home might decide to pack their bags. If they do, they are unlikely to be able to completely reconstitute themselves elsewhere.

Casey Fiesler, Associate Professor of Information Science, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
Nov. 3, 2022 • ~8 min

Meta’s AI chatbot hates Mark Zuckerberg – but why is it less bothered about racism?

BlenderBot3’s distaste for its creator sits uncomfortably with its taciturn approach to hate speech.

Marcus Tomalin, Senior Research Associate in the Machine Intelligence Laboratory, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge • conversation
Sept. 1, 2022 • ~6 min

Big Tech's rejection of Parler shuts down a site favored by Trump supporters – and used by participants in the US Capitol insurrection

Millions of supporters of Donald Trump flocked to the far-right social media platform, where hate speech and calls for violence thrive. The US Capitol insurrection could be the platform's undoing.

Alex Newhouse, Research Lead, Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism, Middlebury Institute of International Studies • conversation
Jan. 12, 2021 • ~12 min

Parler is bringing together mainstream conservatives, anti-Semites and white supremacists as the social media platform attracts millions of Trump supporters

Millions of supporters of Donald Trump have flocked to the far-right social media platform Parler, where heat speech thrives.

Alex Newhouse, Research Lead, Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism, Middlebury Institute of International Studies • conversation
Nov. 27, 2020 • ~11 min

4 science-based strategies to tame angry political debate and encourage tolerance

A psychologist explains how to reestablish civil political conversation in your own life.

Beverly B. Palmer, Professor Emerita of Psychology, California State University, Dominguez Hills • conversation
Feb. 27, 2020 • ~7 min

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