News coverage from December 2022 about the Center for an Informed Public and CIP-affiliated research and researchers.
- KUOW Public Radio (Dec. 1): “The ethical dilemma posed by online sleuths”
In an interview with KUOW’s Soundside program, CIP research scientist Sukrit Venkatagiri highlighted the risks of crowd-sourced investigations. “For the general public, it’s important to respect privacy to maintain the viability of an investigation,” he said.
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- The Seattle Times (Dec. 9): “A volcanic change in social-media landscape”
In a contributed article for The Seattle Times opinion section, CIP co-founder Jevin West, a UW Information School associate professor, explores the changing nature of social media, especially in the wake of Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter. “Social media is splintering, but this and the latest tech-sector layoffs may create opportunities of innovation. We will see new services built on top of these platforms — some open source and some profit-driven,” West wrote.
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- Agence France-Presse (Dec. 7): “Falsehoods plague elections as voters tackle Trumpian tactics”
CIP research scientist Mike Caulfield commented on the post-election backlash that some Republican leaders and supporters are facing, given “the way that embracing conspiracy theories has led to poor candidate selection, inefficient voter mobilization, voter cynicism, and a host of other ills.”
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- Axios Seattle (Dec. 10): “9 of the most powerful people in Seattle in 2022”
A list by Axios Seattle lists CIP co-founder and UW Human Centered Design & Engineering associate professor Kate Starbird as one of Seattle’s most powerful people attributing to her work with the entire CIP team who are working to better understand how rumors, conspiracy theories, and mis- and disinformation spread online.
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- Nature (Dec. 20): “Twitter changed science — what happens now it’s in turmoil?”
CIP faculty member Carl T. Bergstrom, a UW Biology professor was interviewed for an article in Nature about the double-edged impacts of Twitter on science communications, especially during the pandemic, and what may come next for researchers on the social media platform under Elon Musk.
