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Deplatforming reduces overall attention to online figures – longitudinal study (techpolicy.press)
5 points by anigbrowl on Jan 6, 2024 | hide | past | favorite | 4 comments



>Ethical considerations. In this work, we only used data publicly available on the Web and did not interact with online users in any way. We study and make several deplatforming events available. Yet, each event was covered in news pieces and widely discussed on Reddit, leading us to believe that we are not infringing on reasonable privacy expectations

This is the ethical consideration of the mentioned paper in its entirety. As far as i could see not one word about about the risks of deplatforming or its safe use. I would call it negligent if malice wasnt an equally likely explanation. You apparently dont need safeguards if you just believe hard enough to have good intentions.


'Ethical considerations' is an academic term of art relating to the compilation and publication of the research, not to the subject matter.


Yet there are quite a few topics no publications exist one. Even if you can make a plausible argument that it wasnt you that harmed your participants. That might be related to a bunch of convicted war criminals having used that excuse unsuccessfully.


That's just 'Silencing the opposition' with extra steps.




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