Dean Jackson
@dwj88.bsky.social
Unreal birb.
Principal, Public Circle Research & Consulting
Contributing Editor, Tech Policy Press
Senior Fellow, UPitt CTRL
Views my own with apologies to the reader
Learn more: https://www.publiccircle.net/home
Principal, Public Circle Research & Consulting
Contributing Editor, Tech Policy Press
Senior Fellow, UPitt CTRL
Views my own with apologies to the reader
Learn more: https://www.publiccircle.net/home
Pinned
Provocations for the University of Pittsburgh's Communication Technology Research Lab (CTRL) Symposium on Threats to Knowledge and US Democracy | TechPolicy.Press
Tech Policy Press is a nonprofit media and community venture intended to provoke new ideas, debate and discussion at the intersection of technology and democracy. We publish opinion and analysis.
www.techpolicy.press
I'm excited to announce a series of short essays in @techpolicypress.bsky.social, published in conjunction with CTRL at the University of Pittsburgh, on
"Threats to knowledge and US Democracy"
All the pieces will be made available here:
www.techpolicy.press/category/pro...
"Threats to knowledge and US Democracy"
All the pieces will be made available here:
www.techpolicy.press/category/pro...
Reposted by Dean Jackson
Still early with more to unfold, but one thing is clear: this is what the rule of law looks like in a democratic system. A breach occurred (deception, ad opacity, blocked access),the public interest was affected, the enforcement mechanism established by democratic mandate is functioning as intended.
Don't let anyone tell you that the Commission's DSA enforcement against X is about speech or censorship.
That would, indeed, be interesting. But this is just the EU enforcing some normal, boring laws that would get bipartisan support in the U.S. (I bet similar bills *have* had that support.) 1/
That would, indeed, be interesting. But this is just the EU enforcing some normal, boring laws that would get bipartisan support in the U.S. (I bet similar bills *have* had that support.) 1/
December 5, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Still early with more to unfold, but one thing is clear: this is what the rule of law looks like in a democratic system. A breach occurred (deception, ad opacity, blocked access),the public interest was affected, the enforcement mechanism established by democratic mandate is functioning as intended.
Reposted by Dean Jackson
🧵 of reporting and perspective on @techpolicypress.bsky.social today on the EU's enforcement action against Elon Musk’s X, with items from @ramshajahangir.bsky.social, @dwj88.bsky.social, @viacristiano.bsky.social, and @daphnek.bsky.social.
December 6, 2025 at 2:15 AM
🧵 of reporting and perspective on @techpolicypress.bsky.social today on the EU's enforcement action against Elon Musk’s X, with items from @ramshajahangir.bsky.social, @dwj88.bsky.social, @viacristiano.bsky.social, and @daphnek.bsky.social.
Reposted by Dean Jackson
I have a new paper coming out in Inquiry called ‘The Perils of Epistemic Idealism': philpapers.org/rec/SHITPO-40. I argue that especially in applied, political work, philosophers have a tendency to assume that political harms are primarily a product of false beliefs and misguided concepts.
Matthew Shields, The Perils of Epistemic Idealism - PhilPapers
I argue that philosophers are vulnerable to an occupational hazard that I call ‘epistemic idealism.’ This is the assumption that a practice in our epistemic lives with harmful political consequences i...
philpapers.org
December 5, 2025 at 3:40 PM
I have a new paper coming out in Inquiry called ‘The Perils of Epistemic Idealism': philpapers.org/rec/SHITPO-40. I argue that especially in applied, political work, philosophers have a tendency to assume that political harms are primarily a product of false beliefs and misguided concepts.
It's almost five so naturally the dogs are circling me like sharks, waiting to see if I die so they can scavenge my body
December 5, 2025 at 9:37 PM
It's almost five so naturally the dogs are circling me like sharks, waiting to see if I die so they can scavenge my body
Lots of news on the bullshit-industrial complex this week.
1. the EU does not have a censorship crisis
2. X was not fined for anything to do with content
3. Other countries get to make and enforce laws too
4. The Trump admin wants to make Europe "great" again
www.techpolicy.press/white-house-...
1. the EU does not have a censorship crisis
2. X was not fined for anything to do with content
3. Other countries get to make and enforce laws too
4. The Trump admin wants to make Europe "great" again
www.techpolicy.press/white-house-...
White House 'Censorship' Grievance Fantasy Kicks Into High Gear | TechPolicy.Press
Three related stories are each part of the larger geopolitical contest which now defines transatlantic relations, writes Dean Jackson.
www.techpolicy.press
December 5, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Lots of news on the bullshit-industrial complex this week.
1. the EU does not have a censorship crisis
2. X was not fined for anything to do with content
3. Other countries get to make and enforce laws too
4. The Trump admin wants to make Europe "great" again
www.techpolicy.press/white-house-...
1. the EU does not have a censorship crisis
2. X was not fined for anything to do with content
3. Other countries get to make and enforce laws too
4. The Trump admin wants to make Europe "great" again
www.techpolicy.press/white-house-...
Reposted by Dean Jackson
If you include the earlier Reuters deal, then 50% of the sourcing of U.S. news-related AI answers for Meta chatbots will come from outlets ostensibly trying to serve a broad, diverse national audience...and the other 50% come from explicitly, self-defining conservative outlets. Good times.
Exclusive: Meta strikes multiple AI deals with news publishers
Meta's new partners include USA Today, People Inc., CNN, Fox News, The Daily Caller, Washington Examiner and Le Monde.
www.axios.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:58 PM
If you include the earlier Reuters deal, then 50% of the sourcing of U.S. news-related AI answers for Meta chatbots will come from outlets ostensibly trying to serve a broad, diverse national audience...and the other 50% come from explicitly, self-defining conservative outlets. Good times.
Reposted by Dean Jackson
Don't let anyone tell you that the Commission's DSA enforcement against X is about speech or censorship.
That would, indeed, be interesting. But this is just the EU enforcing some normal, boring laws that would get bipartisan support in the U.S. (I bet similar bills *have* had that support.) 1/
That would, indeed, be interesting. But this is just the EU enforcing some normal, boring laws that would get bipartisan support in the U.S. (I bet similar bills *have* had that support.) 1/
December 5, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Don't let anyone tell you that the Commission's DSA enforcement against X is about speech or censorship.
That would, indeed, be interesting. But this is just the EU enforcing some normal, boring laws that would get bipartisan support in the U.S. (I bet similar bills *have* had that support.) 1/
That would, indeed, be interesting. But this is just the EU enforcing some normal, boring laws that would get bipartisan support in the U.S. (I bet similar bills *have* had that support.) 1/
Reposted by Dean Jackson
The 🇺🇸/🇪🇺 conflict over "free speech" isn't really about 🇪🇺's sometimes illiberal limits on speech. It's about preserving "European" identity—literally, whiteness—
and exporting the MAGA revolution, as the new 🇺🇸 National Security Strategy makes clear. "Free speech" just makes it sound a tad less racist
and exporting the MAGA revolution, as the new 🇺🇸 National Security Strategy makes clear. "Free speech" just makes it sound a tad less racist
December 5, 2025 at 1:05 PM
The 🇺🇸/🇪🇺 conflict over "free speech" isn't really about 🇪🇺's sometimes illiberal limits on speech. It's about preserving "European" identity—literally, whiteness—
and exporting the MAGA revolution, as the new 🇺🇸 National Security Strategy makes clear. "Free speech" just makes it sound a tad less racist
and exporting the MAGA revolution, as the new 🇺🇸 National Security Strategy makes clear. "Free speech" just makes it sound a tad less racist
A reminder about the type of content JD Vance wants to protect from "censorship"
The fact that so many of the media personalities complaining about censorship in 2020 - 2024 were multimillionaires should've been a tip off that maybe they weren't so oppressed. It's all bullshit.
The fact that so many of the media personalities complaining about censorship in 2020 - 2024 were multimillionaires should've been a tip off that maybe they weren't so oppressed. It's all bullshit.
December 5, 2025 at 12:17 PM
A reminder about the type of content JD Vance wants to protect from "censorship"
The fact that so many of the media personalities complaining about censorship in 2020 - 2024 were multimillionaires should've been a tip off that maybe they weren't so oppressed. It's all bullshit.
The fact that so many of the media personalities complaining about censorship in 2020 - 2024 were multimillionaires should've been a tip off that maybe they weren't so oppressed. It's all bullshit.
Reposted by Dean Jackson
“Censorship” is a thought-terminating cliché. These people want you to believe that:
- labeling is censorship
- fact-checking is censorship
- transparency is censorship
- research is censorship
What they’re doing is redefining anything that might inconvenience a hard-right populist as censorship.
- labeling is censorship
- fact-checking is censorship
- transparency is censorship
- research is censorship
What they’re doing is redefining anything that might inconvenience a hard-right populist as censorship.
american reporters, you've got to call bullshit on this. vance, purveyor of hate/propaganda, wants the public to believe rules on, for instance, transparency in advertising and forms of deception on X are censorship.
don't fall for it.
don't fall for it.
December 5, 2025 at 12:31 AM
“Censorship” is a thought-terminating cliché. These people want you to believe that:
- labeling is censorship
- fact-checking is censorship
- transparency is censorship
- research is censorship
What they’re doing is redefining anything that might inconvenience a hard-right populist as censorship.
- labeling is censorship
- fact-checking is censorship
- transparency is censorship
- research is censorship
What they’re doing is redefining anything that might inconvenience a hard-right populist as censorship.
Reposted by Dean Jackson
More nonsense. X faces liability under the 🇪🇺 Digital Services Act for (1) deceiving users by selling blue ✔️ for "verified" users (2) inadequate ad transparency, and (3) researcher access to data. The Commission has not moved past investigating how X handles unlawful content or Community Notes... 🧵
December 5, 2025 at 2:24 AM
More nonsense. X faces liability under the 🇪🇺 Digital Services Act for (1) deceiving users by selling blue ✔️ for "verified" users (2) inadequate ad transparency, and (3) researcher access to data. The Commission has not moved past investigating how X handles unlawful content or Community Notes... 🧵
Reposted by Dean Jackson
american reporters, you've got to call bullshit on this. vance, purveyor of hate/propaganda, wants the public to believe rules on, for instance, transparency in advertising and forms of deception on X are censorship.
don't fall for it.
don't fall for it.
December 4, 2025 at 10:25 PM
american reporters, you've got to call bullshit on this. vance, purveyor of hate/propaganda, wants the public to believe rules on, for instance, transparency in advertising and forms of deception on X are censorship.
don't fall for it.
don't fall for it.
Reposted by Dean Jackson
Holy shit.
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
December 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Holy shit.
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Reposted by Dean Jackson
This is what government censorship actually looks like: defunding entire fields, deporting researchers, and quite effectively chilling speech that helps people understand how our information systems are being exploited and calls out powerful people and platforms for their bullshit.
For the last decade, the pervasive spread of bullshit & manipulation of online platforms have been widely recognized societal concerns. Now non US citizens studying those subjects can be labeled “censors” & denied visas or deported from the US. Censorship, indeed. www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Exclusive: Trump administration orders enhanced vetting for applicants of H-1B visa
An internal State Department memo said that anyone involved in "censorship" of free speech should be considered for rejection.
www.reuters.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:27 PM
This is what government censorship actually looks like: defunding entire fields, deporting researchers, and quite effectively chilling speech that helps people understand how our information systems are being exploited and calls out powerful people and platforms for their bullshit.
A podcast in which @daniellecitron.bsky.social, @ariezra.bsky.social, @jeffallen.bsky.social and I discuss the state of online trust and safety. For @techpolicypress.bsky.social
www.techpolicy.press/considering-...
www.techpolicy.press/considering-...
Considering Trust and Safety's Past, Present, and Future | TechPolicy.Press
Dean Jackson discusses the field's future with law professors Danielle Keats Citron and Ari Ezra Waldman and Jeff Allen from the Integrity Institute.
www.techpolicy.press
November 30, 2025 at 2:42 PM
A podcast in which @daniellecitron.bsky.social, @ariezra.bsky.social, @jeffallen.bsky.social and I discuss the state of online trust and safety. For @techpolicypress.bsky.social
www.techpolicy.press/considering-...
www.techpolicy.press/considering-...
Reposted by Dean Jackson
The UW Center for an Informed Public is looking for postdocs (for 2026-2028) from across diverse disciplines whose research sheds light on the challenges of our modern information environment, promotes civic health, and/or helps people/communities navigate online spaces: apply.interfolio.com/177901
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:26 PM
The UW Center for an Informed Public is looking for postdocs (for 2026-2028) from across diverse disciplines whose research sheds light on the challenges of our modern information environment, promotes civic health, and/or helps people/communities navigate online spaces: apply.interfolio.com/177901
Reposted by Dean Jackson
Never forget that just a week ago, Ross Douthat and the NYTimes were asking if women ruined the workplace.
November 17, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Never forget that just a week ago, Ross Douthat and the NYTimes were asking if women ruined the workplace.
Re-upping this as I update the thread with more entries. Check them out! They're good! I'm not biased!
I'm excited to announce a series of short essays in @techpolicypress.bsky.social, published in conjunction with CTRL at the University of Pittsburgh, on
"Threats to knowledge and US Democracy"
All the pieces will be made available here:
www.techpolicy.press/category/pro...
"Threats to knowledge and US Democracy"
All the pieces will be made available here:
www.techpolicy.press/category/pro...
Provocations for the University of Pittsburgh's Communication Technology Research Lab (CTRL) Symposium on Threats to Knowledge and US Democracy | TechPolicy.Press
Tech Policy Press is a nonprofit media and community venture intended to provoke new ideas, debate and discussion at the intersection of technology and democracy. We publish opinion and analysis.
www.techpolicy.press
November 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Re-upping this as I update the thread with more entries. Check them out! They're good! I'm not biased!
Reposted by Dean Jackson
Wrote a little bit about our slide into trolling-as-governance and its connection to the now-bonkers concentration of authority amongst autocratic techlords
www.techpolicy.press/authoritaria...
www.techpolicy.press/authoritaria...
Authoritarian Arrogance and the End of the 'Reality-Based Community' | TechPolicy.Press
As trolling continues to arrogate power and authority, reality’s move from bent to broken accelerates, writes Paul Elliott Johnson.
www.techpolicy.press
November 12, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Wrote a little bit about our slide into trolling-as-governance and its connection to the now-bonkers concentration of authority amongst autocratic techlords
www.techpolicy.press/authoritaria...
www.techpolicy.press/authoritaria...
Reposted by Dean Jackson
Reading for researchers: The original post in this thread features a perspective piece encouraging researchers to look at the role of emotion in the spread of disinformation. The one directly below is an empirical study showing how outrage fuels the spread of misinformation online.
Nice piece, and consistent with our findings that misinformation exploits outrage to spread online www.science.org/doi/full/10....
November 11, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Reading for researchers: The original post in this thread features a perspective piece encouraging researchers to look at the role of emotion in the spread of disinformation. The one directly below is an empirical study showing how outrage fuels the spread of misinformation online.
Reposted by Dean Jackson
I'm excited to announce a series of short essays in @techpolicypress.bsky.social, published in conjunction with CTRL at the University of Pittsburgh, on
"Threats to knowledge and US Democracy"
All the pieces will be made available here:
www.techpolicy.press/category/pro...
"Threats to knowledge and US Democracy"
All the pieces will be made available here:
www.techpolicy.press/category/pro...
Provocations for the University of Pittsburgh's Communication Technology Research Lab (CTRL) Symposium on Threats to Knowledge and US Democracy | TechPolicy.Press
Tech Policy Press is a nonprofit media and community venture intended to provoke new ideas, debate and discussion at the intersection of technology and democracy. We publish opinion and analysis.
www.techpolicy.press
November 11, 2025 at 2:38 PM
I'm excited to announce a series of short essays in @techpolicypress.bsky.social, published in conjunction with CTRL at the University of Pittsburgh, on
"Threats to knowledge and US Democracy"
All the pieces will be made available here:
www.techpolicy.press/category/pro...
"Threats to knowledge and US Democracy"
All the pieces will be made available here:
www.techpolicy.press/category/pro...
Reposted by Dean Jackson
Nice piece, and consistent with our findings that misinformation exploits outrage to spread online www.science.org/doi/full/10....
November 11, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Nice piece, and consistent with our findings that misinformation exploits outrage to spread online www.science.org/doi/full/10....
I'm excited to announce a series of short essays in @techpolicypress.bsky.social, published in conjunction with CTRL at the University of Pittsburgh, on
"Threats to knowledge and US Democracy"
All the pieces will be made available here:
www.techpolicy.press/category/pro...
"Threats to knowledge and US Democracy"
All the pieces will be made available here:
www.techpolicy.press/category/pro...
Provocations for the University of Pittsburgh's Communication Technology Research Lab (CTRL) Symposium on Threats to Knowledge and US Democracy | TechPolicy.Press
Tech Policy Press is a nonprofit media and community venture intended to provoke new ideas, debate and discussion at the intersection of technology and democracy. We publish opinion and analysis.
www.techpolicy.press
November 11, 2025 at 2:38 PM
I'm excited to announce a series of short essays in @techpolicypress.bsky.social, published in conjunction with CTRL at the University of Pittsburgh, on
"Threats to knowledge and US Democracy"
All the pieces will be made available here:
www.techpolicy.press/category/pro...
"Threats to knowledge and US Democracy"
All the pieces will be made available here:
www.techpolicy.press/category/pro...
I have something called "Sample?" on my calendar at noon tomorrow and if anyone knows what that's about, call me.
November 10, 2025 at 10:01 PM
I have something called "Sample?" on my calendar at noon tomorrow and if anyone knows what that's about, call me.
Going to do my one trick and blame this on media asymmetry. Easier to complain about "RINOs" and run an insurgent campaign when you have a partisan echo chamber. Hard to imagine a campaign against "DINOs" on behalf of the Working Families Party having the same impact as the Tea Party.
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
November 10, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Going to do my one trick and blame this on media asymmetry. Easier to complain about "RINOs" and run an insurgent campaign when you have a partisan echo chamber. Hard to imagine a campaign against "DINOs" on behalf of the Working Families Party having the same impact as the Tea Party.