Marshall Van Alstyne
@infoecon.bsky.social
Interested in human side of information, economics, social & tech.
Questrom Professor Boston University. Digital Fellow MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy. Visiting Scholar Harvard Berkman-Klein.
Leap on in! The water is fine.
Questrom Professor Boston University. Digital Fellow MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy. Visiting Scholar Harvard Berkman-Klein.
Leap on in! The water is fine.
New working paper on reducing fraud and deception by AI agents using mechanism design. Comments are very welcome.
Market Design Interventions for Safer Agentic AI aisel.aisnet.org/icis2025/gen...
Market Design Interventions for Safer Agentic AI aisel.aisnet.org/icis2025/gen...
October 26, 2025 at 3:49 PM
New working paper on reducing fraud and deception by AI agents using mechanism design. Comments are very welcome.
Market Design Interventions for Safer Agentic AI aisel.aisnet.org/icis2025/gen...
Market Design Interventions for Safer Agentic AI aisel.aisnet.org/icis2025/gen...
Someone ready to march!
October 18, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Someone ready to march!
New poll shows only 28% of Americans trust the media - lowest ever. In related news, you shouldn't trust a Tweet. news.gallup.com/poll/695762/...
Trust in Media at New Low of 28% in U.S.
Americans' trust in newspapers, television and radio to report the news fully, accurately and fairly is at a new low of 28%.
news.gallup.com
October 2, 2025 at 9:14 PM
New poll shows only 28% of Americans trust the media - lowest ever. In related news, you shouldn't trust a Tweet. news.gallup.com/poll/695762/...
New poll shows only 28% of Americans trust the media - lowest ever. In related news, you shouldn't trust a Tweet. news.gallup.com/poll/695762/...
Trust in Media at New Low of 28% in U.S.
Americans' trust in newspapers, television and radio to report the news fully, accurately and fairly is at a new low of 28%.
news.gallup.com
October 2, 2025 at 9:12 PM
New poll shows only 28% of Americans trust the media - lowest ever. In related news, you shouldn't trust a Tweet. news.gallup.com/poll/695762/...
Do non-citizens have free speech rights in the US? Historic ruling: yes they do! www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Judge takes down Trump’s ‘bullying’ in victory for pro-Palestine students
Reagan-appointed judge rebukes top officials for targeting pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses
www.independent.co.uk
September 30, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Do non-citizens have free speech rights in the US? Historic ruling: yes they do! www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
New report ranks LI, Insta, FB, YouTube, TikTok & X for prevalence and monetization of misinformation
science.feedback.org/first-measur...
science.feedback.org/first-measur...
September 29, 2025 at 6:04 PM
New report ranks LI, Insta, FB, YouTube, TikTok & X for prevalence and monetization of misinformation
science.feedback.org/first-measur...
science.feedback.org/first-measur...
The new $100,000 fee for an H1-B visa to the US is idiotic. It's hard to design a policy more likely to move hi tech jobs overseas www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump signs proclamation imposing annual $100,000 fee on H-1B visas
Move deals potentially major blow to US tech industry, which relies heavily on workers from India and China
www.theguardian.com
September 20, 2025 at 4:14 PM
The new $100,000 fee for an H1-B visa to the US is idiotic. It's hard to design a policy more likely to move hi tech jobs overseas www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
New research attributes probability of heat events to individual companies www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Dozens of heatwaves linked to carbon emissions from specific companies
Nearly one-quarter of heatwaves would have been ‘virtually impossible’ without global warming — and can be attributed to the emissions of individual energy producers.
www.nature.com
September 10, 2025 at 8:21 PM
New research attributes probability of heat events to individual companies www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The summary of the MIT Platform Summit is now available ide.mit.edu/publication-... @mitsloanphd.bsky.social
September 4, 2025 at 5:20 PM
The summary of the MIT Platform Summit is now available ide.mit.edu/publication-... @mitsloanphd.bsky.social
The great silencing: Colbert (comedy), Washington Post (news), Columbia (education), NIH (medicine), NOAA (climate). Killing free speech is how democracy dies
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
The silencing
Colbert, The Washington Post, Columbia University … and on it goes
open.substack.com
July 25, 2025 at 4:57 PM
The great silencing: Colbert (comedy), Washington Post (news), Columbia (education), NIH (medicine), NOAA (climate). Killing free speech is how democracy dies
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
BU Platform Summit July 15 features great rsch on social media, using AI to build platforms, decentralization, M&A strategies, robo taxis...
$1000 best paper prize.
Program: questromworld.bu.edu/platformstra...
Registration: questromworld.bu.edu/platformstra...
We look forward to seeing you!
$1000 best paper prize.
Program: questromworld.bu.edu/platformstra...
Registration: questromworld.bu.edu/platformstra...
We look forward to seeing you!
June 20, 2025 at 3:51 PM
BU Platform Summit July 15 features great rsch on social media, using AI to build platforms, decentralization, M&A strategies, robo taxis...
$1000 best paper prize.
Program: questromworld.bu.edu/platformstra...
Registration: questromworld.bu.edu/platformstra...
We look forward to seeing you!
$1000 best paper prize.
Program: questromworld.bu.edu/platformstra...
Registration: questromworld.bu.edu/platformstra...
We look forward to seeing you!
Recommended reading - The Anti Autocracy Handbook
It is not entirely coincidental that we released the Anti-Autocracy Handbook on this date: sks.to/autocracy. It is with sadness because it shouldn't be necessary and because it shows how impoverished America has become. But it also signals that the fight will go on. #Juneteenth
June 19, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Recommended reading - The Anti Autocracy Handbook
How can we create value from data but give users more control? One possibility is a just published proposal for a new data right www.networklawreview.org/data-sharing/
"Towards Efficient Data Sharing in Platform Markets" - Network Law Review
Platforms collect valuable data that they do not share. Welfare then suffers as information asymmetry produces market failures. Current proposals to address this, however, fail because they grant acce...
www.networklawreview.org
June 18, 2025 at 3:07 PM
How can we create value from data but give users more control? One possibility is a just published proposal for a new data right www.networklawreview.org/data-sharing/
The MIT Platform Summit is here this July. See speakers and registration at platforms.mit.edu @g2parker.bsky.social
June 3, 2025 at 2:52 PM
The MIT Platform Summit is here this July. See speakers and registration at platforms.mit.edu @g2parker.bsky.social
Trump attacking student visas completely undercuts his narrative that his immigration policies rid the US of gang members, rapists, and drug dealers. He's making unwelcome some of the most talented people in the world. The damage will last a decade.
May 23, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Trump attacking student visas completely undercuts his narrative that his immigration policies rid the US of gang members, rapists, and drug dealers. He's making unwelcome some of the most talented people in the world. The damage will last a decade.
3 tested ways to undermine autocrats - mockery, highlight corruption, human examples www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/o...
Opinion | Three Well-Tested Ways to Undermine an Autocrat
www.nytimes.com
May 23, 2025 at 12:06 AM
3 tested ways to undermine autocrats - mockery, highlight corruption, human examples www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/o...
Reposted by Marshall Van Alstyne
International students upend their lives to join American science, bringing their novel insights that drive innovation.
Now, they are being illegally targeted by Trump, because Harvard won't back down.
Classic bully behavior.
We Stand Up for International Students.
www.npr.org/2025/05/22/n...
Now, they are being illegally targeted by Trump, because Harvard won't back down.
Classic bully behavior.
We Stand Up for International Students.
www.npr.org/2025/05/22/n...
Trump administration revokes Harvard's ability to enroll international students
International students make up more than a quarter of Harvard University's student body. Harvard says the government's actions, which could cut off a major revenue stream, are "unlawful."
www.npr.org
May 22, 2025 at 7:42 PM
International students upend their lives to join American science, bringing their novel insights that drive innovation.
Now, they are being illegally targeted by Trump, because Harvard won't back down.
Classic bully behavior.
We Stand Up for International Students.
www.npr.org/2025/05/22/n...
Now, they are being illegally targeted by Trump, because Harvard won't back down.
Classic bully behavior.
We Stand Up for International Students.
www.npr.org/2025/05/22/n...
Reposted by Marshall Van Alstyne
We are alarmed by the Trump administration’s latest escalation against Harvard University. International students are a vital part of our universities and our nation.
By causing a great deal of chaos for Harvard students and their communities, this action is as harmful as it is unlawful.
By causing a great deal of chaos for Harvard students and their communities, this action is as harmful as it is unlawful.
Trump administration revokes Harvard's ability to enroll international students
Harvard can no longer enroll international students after the Trump administration revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students. The school called the decision "unlawful."
www.wbur.org
May 22, 2025 at 8:05 PM
We are alarmed by the Trump administration’s latest escalation against Harvard University. International students are a vital part of our universities and our nation.
By causing a great deal of chaos for Harvard students and their communities, this action is as harmful as it is unlawful.
By causing a great deal of chaos for Harvard students and their communities, this action is as harmful as it is unlawful.
Reposted by Marshall Van Alstyne
Not only is this illegal, as Harvard says, it also punishes all international students for the actions of a few. And it's hurting Americans who benefit from having the perspectives and knowledge of brilliant young people who study here. www.cnn.com/2025/05/22/u...
Trump administration bars Harvard from enrolling international students | CNN
The Trump administration on Thursday revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, marking a sharp escalation in the battle over the Ivy League school’s autonomy in the face o...
www.cnn.com
May 22, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Not only is this illegal, as Harvard says, it also punishes all international students for the actions of a few. And it's hurting Americans who benefit from having the perspectives and knowledge of brilliant young people who study here. www.cnn.com/2025/05/22/u...
The damage goes far beyond Harvard. Threats to academia promote a brain drain of talent across students and across universities that has serious long term consequences for American innovation over the long term.
I realize that as a retired professor I have a responsibility to say more on this than I have.
International students are essential to the fiscal bottom line of almost every university. This is an unambiguous attempt to destroy Harvard—permanently.
And he won’t stop with Harvard. This is madness.
International students are essential to the fiscal bottom line of almost every university. This is an unambiguous attempt to destroy Harvard—permanently.
And he won’t stop with Harvard. This is madness.
May 22, 2025 at 9:33 PM
The damage goes far beyond Harvard. Threats to academia promote a brain drain of talent across students and across universities that has serious long term consequences for American innovation over the long term.
Trump admin revokes Harvard ability to sponsor int'l students. Visa holders must transfer or be deported. Attacks must stop! Speak up! Donate to Harvard, donate to ACLU, oppose any legislator who supports these pro-censorship, anti-education, anti-science activities nationalpost.com/news/world/t...
Trump administration bars Harvard from enrolling foreign students over antisemitism concerns
"This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus," Kristi Noem said in a statement.
nationalpost.com
May 22, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Trump admin revokes Harvard ability to sponsor int'l students. Visa holders must transfer or be deported. Attacks must stop! Speak up! Donate to Harvard, donate to ACLU, oppose any legislator who supports these pro-censorship, anti-education, anti-science activities nationalpost.com/news/world/t...
Reposted by Marshall Van Alstyne
We're delighted to welcome Prof. Marshall Van Alstyne @infoecon.bsky.social, @buquestrom.bsky.social, Digital Fellow MIT IDE to Platform Leaders for a groundbreaking keynote on "The Misinformation Machine: social media, fake news, and the future of truth". Register for free 👉 platformleaders.com
May 15, 2025 at 3:21 PM
We're delighted to welcome Prof. Marshall Van Alstyne @infoecon.bsky.social, @buquestrom.bsky.social, Digital Fellow MIT IDE to Platform Leaders for a groundbreaking keynote on "The Misinformation Machine: social media, fake news, and the future of truth". Register for free 👉 platformleaders.com
Reposted by Marshall Van Alstyne
Trump Administration Cancels Scores of Grants to Study Online Misinformation www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/b...
The goal: silence researchers & hide the truth.
Reality: This research is NOT about censorship.
@infoecon.bsky.social: Will "lead to a vastly more polluted information environment.”
The goal: silence researchers & hide the truth.
Reality: This research is NOT about censorship.
@infoecon.bsky.social: Will "lead to a vastly more polluted information environment.”
Trump Administration Cancels Scores of Grants to Study Online Misinformation
www.nytimes.com
May 15, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Trump Administration Cancels Scores of Grants to Study Online Misinformation www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/b...
The goal: silence researchers & hide the truth.
Reality: This research is NOT about censorship.
@infoecon.bsky.social: Will "lead to a vastly more polluted information environment.”
The goal: silence researchers & hide the truth.
Reality: This research is NOT about censorship.
@infoecon.bsky.social: Will "lead to a vastly more polluted information environment.”
Internet users can seek out interactions with like-minded individuals who have similar values and become less likely to trust important decisions to people whose values differ from their own. Published 2005 www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ji0n0...
@erikbryn.bsky.social
@erikbryn.bsky.social
May 7, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Internet users can seek out interactions with like-minded individuals who have similar values and become less likely to trust important decisions to people whose values differ from their own. Published 2005 www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ji0n0...
@erikbryn.bsky.social
@erikbryn.bsky.social
How might we curb misinformation with no censorship and no central authority judging truth? New talk at the U Cambridge Disinformation Summit www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2Pi...
Marshall Van Alstyne presents Certifiably True: The Impact of Self-Certifications on Misinformation
YouTube video by Cambridge Disinformation Summit
www.youtube.com
May 1, 2025 at 5:27 PM
How might we curb misinformation with no censorship and no central authority judging truth? New talk at the U Cambridge Disinformation Summit www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2Pi...