Renee DiResta's research detailed the mechanics of the 'big lie' regarding election manipulation, which angered individuals involved in spreading this misinformation. Her work has been spun into a conspiracy theory that she was part of a government scheme to censor right-wing speech, leading to harassment, subpoenas, and lawsuits.
The renewed interest can have a chilling effect on researchers and institutions, deterring them from continuing their work on content moderation and online misinformation. This could harm the public, especially children, by allowing harmful content to spread unchecked.
The SIO turned over all relevant documents and materials, which showed no evidence of any government-directed censorship. Despite this, the accusations and the resulting investigations did not lead to any apologies or corrections, and instead, moved the goalposts to new accusations.
Social media platforms are responding to public pressure and the political landscape. They face costs and risks associated with moderation, but they also recognize the public's desire for a safe and moderated environment. The platforms are trying to balance these considerations, often making decisions that align with the expectations and values of their dominant user base.
While foreign actors were present and attempting to influence the election, they were not as impactful as domestic factors. The platforms had improved their detection and response mechanisms, which likely mitigated the impact of foreign interference and AI-generated content.
Niche platforms allow users to find communities that align with their values and reduce harassment, but they also risk creating echo chambers where users are less exposed to diverse perspectives. This could exacerbate societal divisions and reduce opportunities for constructive dialogue.
The Fediverse is a network of independent servers using the same protocol (ActivityPub), allowing users to join and moderate their own communities. It offers more granular control over content and moderation, and allows interaction between different servers, creating a more community-focused and user-controlled social media experience.
Renee believes it is crucial to reach audiences that might not normally encounter her work or the facts she presents. Engaging in these spaces can help counter misinformation and provide a more nuanced understanding of complex issues, even if it invites harassment.
You probably shouldn't know Renee DiResta's name: She's a researcher who studies online bad behavior, not a celebrity. But the work DiReata did studying the "stop the steal" movement after 2020 has made her famous in some corners of the internet, and not in a good way: She's been harassed, pelted with subpoenas and sued twice.
Now things could get really unpleasant for her.
Donald Trump's victory means that a lot of people who have target dDiResta in the past are newly ascendant. But she tells me she's more worried about a chilling effect that could hamper anyone who's trying to learn about, and fix social media's ills. Also discussed here: what not to do when you go on Joe Rogan.
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