Social Media Platforms
298 Articles

Surge of Hate Speech in the Sahel, Including on WhatsApp, Signals Atrocity Risk
The threat is greatest in central Mali, but persecution of the Fulbe (Fulani) across the region seeds fertile ground for ethnic cleansing.

Trump’s Dictatorial Theory of Presidential Power – What the Executive Orders, in the Aggregate, Tell Us
Trump's recent executive actions appear to assert an authority to override or ignore federal legislation whenever it interferes with his policy aims.

A Free Speech View on the “Free Speech” Executive Order
There’s a version of this executive order that might have given free-speech advocates hope that the incoming administration would investigate “jawboning”—government pressure…

President Trump’s Attempt to “Save” TikTok is a Power-Grab that Subverts Free Speech
"I remain convinced that the statute authorizing the ban is an ill-advised and unconstitutional law that does lasting damage to the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans…

The Just Security Podcast: The Supreme Court’s Decision on TikTok
Marty Lederman, Asha Rangappa, and Xiangnong (George) Wang discuss how the Supreme Court balanced free speech rights and national security concerns in the TikTok case.

How Not to Decide TikTok: U.S. press freedom hangs in the balance
"If the Court were to accept the Solicitor General’s rationale ... the government would be free to force the removal of owners of any media outlet whose fealty it did not trust."

Unpacking the Meta Announcement: The Future of the Information Ecosystem and Implications for Democracy
Meta's changes reflect the trend of deregulation, aligning with Zuckerberg's vision of prioritizing free expression over community safety.

How Social Media Interventions Can Aid Atrocity Prevention
Bridging responsible social media with the expertise of those well-versed in the dynamics of mass violence can greatly bolster interventions.

The Just Security Podcast: The Spread of Political Propaganda on Encrypted Messaging Apps
Messaging platforms such as have become highly influential tools for manipulating and misleading voters around the world.

Political Propaganda Runs Wild on Messaging Apps – Platform Owners Can Help Counter It
Messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Viber have become highly influential tools for manipulating and misleading voters.

Rethinking the United Nations Cybercrime Treaty
The U.N. Convention Against Cybercrime clearly challenges the democratic vision for a free Internet and puts the United States on the spot.

Musk, X, and Trump 2024: Where are the Legal and Ethical Boundaries?
Analysis of the ethical and legal lines for social media companies in influencing the outcome of a presidential election, in light of Elon Musk's support for former President Trump.