Talking Censorship and Content Moderation on Chicago Tonight

Professor Nick Feamster was featured on WTTW Chicago Tonight last Wednesday evening discussing online content moderation. Watch the interview below (interview starts at 7:26), and read on to see Professor Feamster’s take on various questions posed by WTTW.

Is there any approach the companies can take that will satisfy both sides?

There seems to be widespread agreement that content moderation platforms are far from simply “platforms”. In the recent election cycle, in particular, they have certainly crossed over into playing the role of content editor.

Note, however, that this has somewhat always been a matter of dispute. Even before these platforms started flagging content one way or another, there have been concerns that personalization algorithms — -which show you certain content while suppressing other content — -could be considered a form of editorial control, or even censorship. What we are seeing now from the platforms is of course a bit more overt.

I think there is fairly bipartisan support for reforming Section 230, because
it’s become fairly clear that companies are drawing outside the lines,
invoking platform…