Maura Conway
@galwaygrrl.bsky.social
Moriarty Prof. of Gov & Int’l Studies, Dublin City University; Prof. Cyber Threats, CYTREC, Swansea University; initiator of VOX-Pol. Major research interests = online extremism and terrorism, online radicalisation, regulation, research ethics.
Reposted by Maura Conway
Installment No. 1,341,908 in our ongoing series, "What Bowing Down to Trump Gets You," Keir Starmer edition
Homan: "I don't think the UK is a friend to this country and friend of the president"
November 14, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Installment No. 1,341,908 in our ongoing series, "What Bowing Down to Trump Gets You," Keir Starmer edition
Reposted by Maura Conway
Across the top 592 podcasts, where 66.3% of hosts were men; 33.2% women. In top 100 podcasts, 72.8% of guests were men; 27.2% women. 62.6% of episodes did not feature a woman guest. Women most likely to appear as a guest when podcast had a woman host.
annenberg.usc.edu/news/researc...
annenberg.usc.edu/news/researc...
USC Annenberg releases a new study exploring the gender and race/ethnicity of hosts and guests of popular podcasts
The first-ever Golden Globe Award nominations for podcasting will be announced this month, as the medium continues its growing popularity across the entertainment landscape. As podcasts audiences
annenberg.usc.edu
November 14, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Across the top 592 podcasts, where 66.3% of hosts were men; 33.2% women. In top 100 podcasts, 72.8% of guests were men; 27.2% women. 62.6% of episodes did not feature a woman guest. Women most likely to appear as a guest when podcast had a woman host.
annenberg.usc.edu/news/researc...
annenberg.usc.edu/news/researc...
Reposted by Maura Conway
Publicly available social media data may appear low-risk, but it raises complex privacy questions, writes @annalenhart.bsky.social. A new report, “Performing in Autonomy Theater: Perspectives of High Profile Figures,” explores this issue and outlines ethical guidelines for researchers to follow.
Balancing the Needs of Social Media Research with the Perspectives of High-Profile Figures | TechPolicy.Press
Anna Lenhart discusses ethical guidance for researchers using public social media data to study high-profile figures, balancing access and privacy.
www.techpolicy.press
November 14, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Publicly available social media data may appear low-risk, but it raises complex privacy questions, writes @annalenhart.bsky.social. A new report, “Performing in Autonomy Theater: Perspectives of High Profile Figures,” explores this issue and outlines ethical guidelines for researchers to follow.
Reposted by Maura Conway
The important thing to bear in mind about "move fast and break things" is not that you moved fast. It's that you might find you've broken things that are precious and irreplaceable at an individual, organisational, or societal level.
November 14, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The important thing to bear in mind about "move fast and break things" is not that you moved fast. It's that you might find you've broken things that are precious and irreplaceable at an individual, organisational, or societal level.
Reposted by Maura Conway
Don't miss next week's C-REX/CANSES webinar: "Researcher Safety and Vicarious Trauma: Recommendations for Universities, Supervisors, and Researchers" with Clare McKendry, moderated by @audreygagnon.bsky.social. Nov. 20, 2025, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (CET), Online www.sv.uio.no/c-rex/englis...
Researcher Safety and Vicarious Trauma: Recommendations for Universities, Supervisors, and Researchers
- C-REX – Center for Research on Extremism
with Clare McKendry, University of Waterloo
www.sv.uio.no
November 14, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Don't miss next week's C-REX/CANSES webinar: "Researcher Safety and Vicarious Trauma: Recommendations for Universities, Supervisors, and Researchers" with Clare McKendry, moderated by @audreygagnon.bsky.social. Nov. 20, 2025, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (CET), Online www.sv.uio.no/c-rex/englis...
Reposted by Maura Conway
Glad to see some campaigns to reform academic publishing.
Allowing corporations to stand between research and the people who need it is the worst kind of unproductive, innovation-discouraging activity.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Allowing corporations to stand between research and the people who need it is the worst kind of unproductive, innovation-discouraging activity.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Universities in 'battle of the century' with journal publisher Elsevier
One New Zealand university told its staff all universities in New Zealand and Australia would "lose some degree of access" to the publisher's 1600 titles from the start of next year.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 14, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Glad to see some campaigns to reform academic publishing.
Allowing corporations to stand between research and the people who need it is the worst kind of unproductive, innovation-discouraging activity.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Allowing corporations to stand between research and the people who need it is the worst kind of unproductive, innovation-discouraging activity.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Reposted by Maura Conway
Our latest report launches online next Monday, 17 Nov., at 14:00 GMT / 15:00 CET, with @s-macdonald.bsky.social, Valère Ndior, Gavin Sullivan, and report author Marguerite Borelli. Join us! More info at: voxpol.eu/events/new-v...
#PleaseRS
#PleaseRS
November 12, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Our latest report launches online next Monday, 17 Nov., at 14:00 GMT / 15:00 CET, with @s-macdonald.bsky.social, Valère Ndior, Gavin Sullivan, and report author Marguerite Borelli. Join us! More info at: voxpol.eu/events/new-v...
#PleaseRS
#PleaseRS
Reposted by Maura Conway
The person behind this account does not seem to actually have any sort of vested interest in the US or in immigration. But they are nonetheless spamming horrific videos because the Facebook algorithm is rewarding them for that type of content, and because Facebook directly makes payments for it.
AI-Generated Videos of ICE Raids Are Wildly Viral on Facebook
An account is spamming horrific, dehumanizing videos of immigration enforcement because the Facebook algorithm is rewarding them for it.
www.404media.co
November 12, 2025 at 6:13 PM
The person behind this account does not seem to actually have any sort of vested interest in the US or in immigration. But they are nonetheless spamming horrific videos because the Facebook algorithm is rewarding them for that type of content, and because Facebook directly makes payments for it.
Reposted by Maura Conway
"Irish watchdog opens content moderation probe on Elon Musk's X. The investigation focuses on how the social media platform handles user appeals against content moderation decisions under the bloc's Digital Services Act" www.euractiv.com/news/irish-w...
Irish watchdog opens content moderation probe on Elon Musk's X | Euractiv
The investigation focuses on how the social media platform handles user appeals against content moderation decisions under the bloc's Digital Services Act
www.euractiv.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:01 PM
"Irish watchdog opens content moderation probe on Elon Musk's X. The investigation focuses on how the social media platform handles user appeals against content moderation decisions under the bloc's Digital Services Act" www.euractiv.com/news/irish-w...
Reposted by Maura Conway
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
edition.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Reposted by Maura Conway
As we write in The Guardian this morning, the Commission’s plan to gut EU digital rules will hurt Europe’s startups and give U.S. tech an unassailable advantage, confirming Europe as a digital vassal.
Piece by George Riekeles and I.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Piece by George Riekeles and I.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The EU has let US tech giants run riot. Diluting our data law will only entrench their power | Johnny Ryan and Georg Riekeles
The GDPR is Europe’s defence against digital oligarchy and child harm. Deregulation plans are misguided, say Johnny Ryan and Georg Riekeles
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:28 AM
As we write in The Guardian this morning, the Commission’s plan to gut EU digital rules will hurt Europe’s startups and give U.S. tech an unassailable advantage, confirming Europe as a digital vassal.
Piece by George Riekeles and I.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Piece by George Riekeles and I.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Maura Conway
📣 Join us online tomorrow to hear from Dr. Allysa Czerwinsky on 'Visible, vulnerable, (un)safe? Reflections on safety and risk when researching harmful communities online'
📅 13 November 2025
⏰ 16.30-17.30
📍 Online
Email: irevents@st-andrews.ac.uk to register
@standrewsir.bsky.social
📅 13 November 2025
⏰ 16.30-17.30
📍 Online
Email: irevents@st-andrews.ac.uk to register
@standrewsir.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 8:50 AM
📣 Join us online tomorrow to hear from Dr. Allysa Czerwinsky on 'Visible, vulnerable, (un)safe? Reflections on safety and risk when researching harmful communities online'
📅 13 November 2025
⏰ 16.30-17.30
📍 Online
Email: irevents@st-andrews.ac.uk to register
@standrewsir.bsky.social
📅 13 November 2025
⏰ 16.30-17.30
📍 Online
Email: irevents@st-andrews.ac.uk to register
@standrewsir.bsky.social
Reposted by Maura Conway
Europes Democracy Shield: We needed to see both new measures that would protect democracy against US social media algorithms.
Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath did not deliver them.
Europe remains largely defenceless. This will cost us.
Pic from www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath did not deliver them.
Europe remains largely defenceless. This will cost us.
Pic from www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 12, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Europes Democracy Shield: We needed to see both new measures that would protect democracy against US social media algorithms.
Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath did not deliver them.
Europe remains largely defenceless. This will cost us.
Pic from www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath did not deliver them.
Europe remains largely defenceless. This will cost us.
Pic from www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Maura Conway
This is appalling. There has to be a way to hold massive companies accountable for *knowingly* facilitating & profiting from criminal behavior. And yes, I understand the value of Section 230, but here we have a trillion $ company that profits by letting its users get scammed. Has to be a better way.
Over the years I have read A LOT of damning stories about what Meta executives were saying internally about serious harms on their platforms (most of them written by Reuters’ @jeffhorwitz.bsky.social ). His new story is a blockbuster:
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
sherwood.news/tech/meta-pr...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
sherwood.news/tech/meta-pr...
Meta projected 10% of 2024 revenue came from scams and banned goods, Reuters reports
The report shows that the company was hesitant to crack down harder on scams, due to the billions in revenue that they were generating for Meta....
sherwood.news
November 6, 2025 at 3:56 PM
This is appalling. There has to be a way to hold massive companies accountable for *knowingly* facilitating & profiting from criminal behavior. And yes, I understand the value of Section 230, but here we have a trillion $ company that profits by letting its users get scammed. Has to be a better way.
Reposted by Maura Conway
[New Paper Alert] Online toxic speech as positioning acts: Hate as discursive mechanisms for othering and belonging socialmedialab.ca/2025/11/03/n...
[New Paper Alert] Online toxic speech as positioning acts: Hate as discursive mechanisms for othering and belonging - Social Media Lab
Toxic speech is an endemic threat to civil discourse on social media; it’s marked by incivility, intolerance, and the intent to harm through threats, insults, and patronizing language. Further challen...
socialmedialab.ca
November 6, 2025 at 3:49 PM
[New Paper Alert] Online toxic speech as positioning acts: Hate as discursive mechanisms for othering and belonging socialmedialab.ca/2025/11/03/n...
Reposted by Maura Conway
Excited to share that together with @malojan.bsky.social we’ve published a research note in #partypolitics introducing PartySOME, a comprehensive dataset on political parties’ social media activity. A thread 🧵 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
November 5, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Excited to share that together with @malojan.bsky.social we’ve published a research note in #partypolitics introducing PartySOME, a comprehensive dataset on political parties’ social media activity. A thread 🧵 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Maura Conway
lol
November 6, 2025 at 4:47 AM
lol
Reposted by Maura Conway
"Trump has ramped up his use of artificial intelligence-generated content on his Truth Social channel since starting his second White House term, making his administration the first to deploy hyper-realistic fake visuals as a core communications strategy."
Trump AI deepfakes glorify himself, trash rivals.
In a parallel reality, Donald Trump reigns as king, fighter pilot, and Superman, and his political opponents are cast as criminals and laughingstocks -- an unprecedented weaponization of AI imagery by a sitting American president
u.afp.com/SeHr
In a parallel reality, Donald Trump reigns as king, fighter pilot, and Superman, and his political opponents are cast as criminals and laughingstocks -- an unprecedented weaponization of AI imagery by a sitting American president
u.afp.com/SeHr
November 6, 2025 at 8:57 AM
"Trump has ramped up his use of artificial intelligence-generated content on his Truth Social channel since starting his second White House term, making his administration the first to deploy hyper-realistic fake visuals as a core communications strategy."
Reposted by Maura Conway
Recommender algorithms controlled by unfriendly foreign powers threaten democracy and security. They artificially boost authoritarians and break society apart. They silence the rest of us.
November 6, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Recommender algorithms controlled by unfriendly foreign powers threaten democracy and security. They artificially boost authoritarians and break society apart. They silence the rest of us.
Reposted by Maura Conway
Big story from Sky news. It is a mistake to think the DSA alone is going to fix this. This requires more, including and most particularly enforcement of GDPR Art 9 news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Big story from Sky news. It is a mistake to think the DSA alone is going to fix this. This requires more, including and most particularly enforcement of GDPR Art 9 news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
"...libraries historically tend to grow in societies that prioritize education & decline in societies where power is being concentrated, & he’s worried where the US is headed. That makes it hard to predict if IA—or any library project—will be supported long term." arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
Internet Archive’s legal fights are over, but its founder mourns what was lost
“We survived, but it wiped out the library,” Internet Archive’s founder says.
arstechnica.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:20 AM
"...libraries historically tend to grow in societies that prioritize education & decline in societies where power is being concentrated, & he’s worried where the US is headed. That makes it hard to predict if IA—or any library project—will be supported long term." arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
Reposted by Maura Conway
A new paper analyzes the “production-consumption gap” on social media, where a small subset of users produce most of the content, and considers its implications for the study of phenomena such as political polarization, and for the design of policy interventions. Prithvi Iyer considers the results:
What a New Study Reveals About the Production-Consumption Gap on Social Media | TechPolicy.Press
Prithvi Iyer considers new research on how online content reveals the tip of the iceberg, leading to incorrect inferences about online public opinion.
www.techpolicy.press
November 5, 2025 at 4:10 PM
A new paper analyzes the “production-consumption gap” on social media, where a small subset of users produce most of the content, and considers its implications for the study of phenomena such as political polarization, and for the design of policy interventions. Prithvi Iyer considers the results:
Reposted by Maura Conway
It's new article day! So excited that this piece with @luccousineau.bsky.social and @iamryanhopkins.bsky.social is out in the world. In it we work through our experiences studying the far-right & propose some ways universities can better support students.
journals.library.brocku.ca/index.php/SS...
journals.library.brocku.ca/index.php/SS...
Scholar and Student Wellness while Confronting Violence and Ignorance: Can we Trust our Institutions when we are Targeted?
| Studies in Social Justice
journals.library.brocku.ca
October 29, 2025 at 11:44 PM
It's new article day! So excited that this piece with @luccousineau.bsky.social and @iamryanhopkins.bsky.social is out in the world. In it we work through our experiences studying the far-right & propose some ways universities can better support students.
journals.library.brocku.ca/index.php/SS...
journals.library.brocku.ca/index.php/SS...
Reposted by Maura Conway
We have progressed from data collection to data analysis.
November 1, 2025 at 12:31 AM
We have progressed from data collection to data analysis.
Reposted by Maura Conway
It's always nice when a physical book copy hits your hands, especially when your work is alongside so many great scholars' contributions.
www.routledge.com/Contemporary...
(Given the date, I was tempted to wear my vampire teeth, but that, uh, seemed like a mixed message)
www.routledge.com/Contemporary...
(Given the date, I was tempted to wear my vampire teeth, but that, uh, seemed like a mixed message)
October 31, 2025 at 9:06 PM
It's always nice when a physical book copy hits your hands, especially when your work is alongside so many great scholars' contributions.
www.routledge.com/Contemporary...
(Given the date, I was tempted to wear my vampire teeth, but that, uh, seemed like a mixed message)
www.routledge.com/Contemporary...
(Given the date, I was tempted to wear my vampire teeth, but that, uh, seemed like a mixed message)