Did Facebook influence how people voted in the 2020 elections? This month, we’re focusing on a recent spate of studies published in Science and Nature studying how Facebook’s algorithms handle political content. First up is Laura Edelson, who was banned by Facebook for her work studying its ads through her project at NYU, the Ad… Continue reading 87. Before Laura Edelson was the DOJ’s chief antitrust technologist, Facebook deleted her account
Blog
“From Community Governance to Customer Service and Back Again: Re-Examining Pre-Web Models of Online Governance to Address Platforms’ Crisis of Legitimacy”
Ethan and Chand cover the history of “trust and safety” and talk about what it will take to build a safe Internet, from the standpoints of both technology and content moderation. Published by Social Media and Society, September 2023.
Prospect (UK): What happens when AI trains itself?
Ethan on the AI ouroboros.
“A Better Approach to Privacy for Third-Party Social Media Tools”
Ethan and Chand mark a case for middleware like Block Party in Tech Policy Press.
86. danah boyd on freaks, geeks, queers, and lying to the US Census
danah boyd is so fascinated by data and society that she founded a research institute called Data and Society. We brought her on Reimagining this week to talk about one of her long-running research interests—the social lives of teens online—and ended up with a sprawling conversation that touched on everything from anti-trans culture wars to… Continue reading 86. danah boyd on freaks, geeks, queers, and lying to the US Census
85. Timnit Gebru Looks at Corporate AI and Sees a Lot of Bad Science
Timnit Gebru is not just a pioneering critic of dangerous AI datasets who calls bullshit on bad science pushed by the likes of OpenAI, or a tireless champion of racial, gender, and climate justice in computing. She’s also someone who wants to build something different. This week on Reimagining, we talk to the thrilling, funny… Continue reading 85. Timnit Gebru Looks at Corporate AI and Sees a Lot of Bad Science
84. Ted Lasso’s Dylan Marron Wants to Redeem Jar Jar Binks
Jar Jar Binks, the human side of online harassment, restorative justice, the Friends writers room, solidarity with UPS, what life looks like in the creative gig economy after your show has won an Emmy. Dylan Marron (Ted Lasso, Welcome to Nightvale) joins us for a sprawling, poignant conversation about how social media has effected our… Continue reading 84. Ted Lasso’s Dylan Marron Wants to Redeem Jar Jar Binks
83. A History of Why the Internet Sucks Right Now with Dave Karpf
2010s online activism, the Reddit blackout, antitrust, academic data access, Newt Gingrich, enshitifcation. We brought scholar/activist Dave Karpf on to talk about his work leading fellow academics to fight for data access standards, and we ended up with a Reimagining greatest hits. Dave Karpf is associate professor in the School of Media and Public Affairs… Continue reading 83. A History of Why the Internet Sucks Right Now with Dave Karpf
Prospect (UK): Want to stop harmful technology? Just say no
Ethan on refusing AI.
82. Twitter Blocked Tracy Chou’s Anti-Harassment App. Now She Wants to Fix Your Browser.
When we had Tracy Chou on the show in 2021, she was rolling out software to give users a revolutionary toolset to block harassment on Twitter, and she was doing it with the Twitter corporation’s help. Fast forward to today, when she’s one of Time Magazine’s 2022 Women of the Year and her work has… Continue reading 82. Twitter Blocked Tracy Chou’s Anti-Harassment App. Now She Wants to Fix Your Browser.