J. Nathan Matias
@natematias.bsky.social
I work with communities on citizen science for safer, fairer, more understanding Internet. Founder: Citizens & Technology Lab. Assistant Prof in Communication at Cornell · Guatemalan-American. @natematias@social.coop
natematias.com
citizensandtech.org
natematias.com
citizensandtech.org
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
Should scientists apply to OpenAI's fund for research on AI & mental health? Should policymakers consider it a credible safety effort?
Avriel Epps & I see it as "grantwashing," and it's an insult to anyone whose loved one's death involved chatbots. We explain:
www.techpolicy.press/beware-of-op...
Avriel Epps & I see it as "grantwashing," and it's an insult to anyone whose loved one's death involved chatbots. We explain:
www.techpolicy.press/beware-of-op...
Beware of OpenAI's 'Grantwashing' on AI Harms | TechPolicy.Press
J. Nathan Matias and Avriel Epps say OpenAI's announced research funding is the perfect corporate action to make sure we don't find answers for years.
www.techpolicy.press
December 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Should scientists apply to OpenAI's fund for research on AI & mental health? Should policymakers consider it a credible safety effort?
Avriel Epps & I see it as "grantwashing," and it's an insult to anyone whose loved one's death involved chatbots. We explain:
www.techpolicy.press/beware-of-op...
Avriel Epps & I see it as "grantwashing," and it's an insult to anyone whose loved one's death involved chatbots. We explain:
www.techpolicy.press/beware-of-op...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
Very important piece.
"Whether or not OpenAI leaders intend to muddy the waters of science, grantwashing hinders technology safety ... It adds uncertainty and debate in areas where companies want to avoid liability and that uncertainty gives the appearance of science."
"Whether or not OpenAI leaders intend to muddy the waters of science, grantwashing hinders technology safety ... It adds uncertainty and debate in areas where companies want to avoid liability and that uncertainty gives the appearance of science."
Should scientists apply to OpenAI's fund for research on AI & mental health? Should policymakers consider it a credible safety effort?
Avriel Epps & I see it as "grantwashing," and it's an insult to anyone whose loved one's death involved chatbots. We explain:
www.techpolicy.press/beware-of-op...
Avriel Epps & I see it as "grantwashing," and it's an insult to anyone whose loved one's death involved chatbots. We explain:
www.techpolicy.press/beware-of-op...
Beware of OpenAI's 'Grantwashing' on AI Harms | TechPolicy.Press
J. Nathan Matias and Avriel Epps say OpenAI's announced research funding is the perfect corporate action to make sure we don't find answers for years.
www.techpolicy.press
December 18, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Very important piece.
"Whether or not OpenAI leaders intend to muddy the waters of science, grantwashing hinders technology safety ... It adds uncertainty and debate in areas where companies want to avoid liability and that uncertainty gives the appearance of science."
"Whether or not OpenAI leaders intend to muddy the waters of science, grantwashing hinders technology safety ... It adds uncertainty and debate in areas where companies want to avoid liability and that uncertainty gives the appearance of science."
Should scientists apply to OpenAI's fund for research on AI & mental health? Should policymakers consider it a credible safety effort?
Avriel Epps & I see it as "grantwashing," and it's an insult to anyone whose loved one's death involved chatbots. We explain:
www.techpolicy.press/beware-of-op...
Avriel Epps & I see it as "grantwashing," and it's an insult to anyone whose loved one's death involved chatbots. We explain:
www.techpolicy.press/beware-of-op...
Beware of OpenAI's 'Grantwashing' on AI Harms | TechPolicy.Press
J. Nathan Matias and Avriel Epps say OpenAI's announced research funding is the perfect corporate action to make sure we don't find answers for years.
www.techpolicy.press
December 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Should scientists apply to OpenAI's fund for research on AI & mental health? Should policymakers consider it a credible safety effort?
Avriel Epps & I see it as "grantwashing," and it's an insult to anyone whose loved one's death involved chatbots. We explain:
www.techpolicy.press/beware-of-op...
Avriel Epps & I see it as "grantwashing," and it's an insult to anyone whose loved one's death involved chatbots. We explain:
www.techpolicy.press/beware-of-op...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
The sanctions that Trump has imposed on the ICC and UN rapporteurs have been deterring American human rights advocates and scholars from exercising their First Amendment rights. This letter--obtained by @mesa1966.bsky.social & @knightcolumbia.org--should help. knightcolumbia.org/content/trum...
Trump Administration Concedes That U.S. Researchers May Engage With Sanctioned U.N. Official
knightcolumbia.org
December 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
The sanctions that Trump has imposed on the ICC and UN rapporteurs have been deterring American human rights advocates and scholars from exercising their First Amendment rights. This letter--obtained by @mesa1966.bsky.social & @knightcolumbia.org--should help. knightcolumbia.org/content/trum...
What does it mean for an online environment to be "toxic" or "polluted" and can we borrow ideas from environmental modeling to make online spaces more livable?
@gedankenstuecke.scholar.social.ap.brid.gy has a post announcing a new CAT Lab project citizensandtech.org/2025/12/onli...
@gedankenstuecke.scholar.social.ap.brid.gy has a post announcing a new CAT Lab project citizensandtech.org/2025/12/onli...
Understanding Online Communities as Ecosystems
What do we mean when we talk about pollution and toxicity online; and what can we learn from environmental science to improve online spaces?
citizensandtech.org
December 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
What does it mean for an online environment to be "toxic" or "polluted" and can we borrow ideas from environmental modeling to make online spaces more livable?
@gedankenstuecke.scholar.social.ap.brid.gy has a post announcing a new CAT Lab project citizensandtech.org/2025/12/onli...
@gedankenstuecke.scholar.social.ap.brid.gy has a post announcing a new CAT Lab project citizensandtech.org/2025/12/onli...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
Complaints over what's taught in college classrooms aren’t new.
But only in the past decade have professors contended with the possibility that what happens in a class could be easily taped and shared.
Now many faculty are walking on eggshells, wondering what that means for the future of learning.
But only in the past decade have professors contended with the possibility that what happens in a class could be easily taped and shared.
Now many faculty are walking on eggshells, wondering what that means for the future of learning.
December 17, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Complaints over what's taught in college classrooms aren’t new.
But only in the past decade have professors contended with the possibility that what happens in a class could be easily taped and shared.
Now many faculty are walking on eggshells, wondering what that means for the future of learning.
But only in the past decade have professors contended with the possibility that what happens in a class could be easily taped and shared.
Now many faculty are walking on eggshells, wondering what that means for the future of learning.
This looks super relevant to anyone who does research on gender based online harassment in our own times. Adding to my list.
In Special Damage, Jessica Lake offers a comparative legal history of gendered hate speech, verbal abuse, and sexual harassment across 19th-century America, Australia, and England. #ReadUP
https://www.sup.org/books/law/special-damage
https://www.sup.org/books/law/special-damage
December 17, 2025 at 12:40 AM
This looks super relevant to anyone who does research on gender based online harassment in our own times. Adding to my list.
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
1. Indiana passes law requiring website with more than 1/3 harmful-to-minors sexual content to verify that users are adults.
2. Pornhub parent Aylo responds by blocking Indiana users.
3. Indiana now sues because Hooisers may use VPNs to evade the geoblock, so ...
events.in.gov/event/protec...
2. Pornhub parent Aylo responds by blocking Indiana users.
3. Indiana now sues because Hooisers may use VPNs to evade the geoblock, so ...
events.in.gov/event/protec...
Protecting children from porn: Attorney General Todd Rokita files lawsuit against websites allegedly violating age verification law
events.in.gov
December 15, 2025 at 10:08 PM
1. Indiana passes law requiring website with more than 1/3 harmful-to-minors sexual content to verify that users are adults.
2. Pornhub parent Aylo responds by blocking Indiana users.
3. Indiana now sues because Hooisers may use VPNs to evade the geoblock, so ...
events.in.gov/event/protec...
2. Pornhub parent Aylo responds by blocking Indiana users.
3. Indiana now sues because Hooisers may use VPNs to evade the geoblock, so ...
events.in.gov/event/protec...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
My second post about researchers’ rights to scrape data under DSA Article 40.12 is up! This is dense with legal arguments for researchers to use if they get sued. Or to show their lawyers before that.
www.techpolicy.press/how-the-mean...
verfassungsblog.de/dsa-fine-x-r...
www.techpolicy.press/how-the-mean...
verfassungsblog.de/dsa-fine-x-r...
How the Meaning of 'Publicly Accessible' Shapes Researcher Data Rights Under the DSA | TechPolicy.Press
Researchers eager to begin work under DSA Article 40(12) may be deterred by uncertainty about what data counts as 'publicly accessible,' writes Daphne Keller.
www.techpolicy.press
December 15, 2025 at 3:36 PM
My second post about researchers’ rights to scrape data under DSA Article 40.12 is up! This is dense with legal arguments for researchers to use if they get sued. Or to show their lawyers before that.
www.techpolicy.press/how-the-mean...
verfassungsblog.de/dsa-fine-x-r...
www.techpolicy.press/how-the-mean...
verfassungsblog.de/dsa-fine-x-r...
Last week, Jon Penney, Sarah Brayne, & I discussed the role of AI and surveillance in transforming and scaling restrictions on academic freedom & speech. @jessicapriest.bsky.social has an excellent story on how gen AI is being used to do so in Texas universities
www.texastribune.org/2025/12/15/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/12/15/t...
Texas universities deploy AI for course audits
Records obtained by The Texas Tribune show how universities are using the technology to reshape curriculum under political pressure, raising concerns about academic freedom.
www.texastribune.org
December 15, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Last week, Jon Penney, Sarah Brayne, & I discussed the role of AI and surveillance in transforming and scaling restrictions on academic freedom & speech. @jessicapriest.bsky.social has an excellent story on how gen AI is being used to do so in Texas universities
www.texastribune.org/2025/12/15/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/12/15/t...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
With mounting deaths that involve generative AI & social media in some way, the public is increasingly asking science for answers. Did these technologies play a role? Is this a wider trend? And if so, what can we do to prevent such deaths in the future?
New pre-print: osf.io/3ebj2/files/...
New pre-print: osf.io/3ebj2/files/...
December 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
With mounting deaths that involve generative AI & social media in some way, the public is increasingly asking science for answers. Did these technologies play a role? Is this a wider trend? And if so, what can we do to prevent such deaths in the future?
New pre-print: osf.io/3ebj2/files/...
New pre-print: osf.io/3ebj2/files/...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
A new app developed at @princetoncitp.bsky.social allows researchers to construct a large-scale dataset that aggregates individual worker data across many thousands of rides to shed light on the working conditions of rideshare drivers.
Princeton Engineering - New tool drives gig workers toward wage transparency
A new tool developed by Princeton researchers provides gig workers access to aggregate wage data that companies do not provide, a boon for rideshare labor
bit.ly
December 10, 2025 at 8:30 PM
A new app developed at @princetoncitp.bsky.social allows researchers to construct a large-scale dataset that aggregates individual worker data across many thousands of rides to shed light on the working conditions of rideshare drivers.
With mounting deaths that involve generative AI & social media in some way, the public is increasingly asking science for answers. Did these technologies play a role? Is this a wider trend? And if so, what can we do to prevent such deaths in the future?
New pre-print: osf.io/3ebj2/files/...
New pre-print: osf.io/3ebj2/files/...
December 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
With mounting deaths that involve generative AI & social media in some way, the public is increasingly asking science for answers. Did these technologies play a role? Is this a wider trend? And if so, what can we do to prevent such deaths in the future?
New pre-print: osf.io/3ebj2/files/...
New pre-print: osf.io/3ebj2/files/...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
NEW: We took a deep dive into ICE's data dragnet: the data brokers, biometrics tools, and license plate readers powering Trump's deportation effort. Some of the contracts are for tools previous administrations deemed too intrusive.
Trump’s immigration data dragnet
The US is pulling in vast amounts of personal information in its drive to deport 1mn people this year
ig.ft.com
December 10, 2025 at 8:37 AM
NEW: We took a deep dive into ICE's data dragnet: the data brokers, biometrics tools, and license plate readers powering Trump's deportation effort. Some of the contracts are for tools previous administrations deemed too intrusive.
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
How can scientists make a difference when democratic norms, institutions, & rights are under threat?
Weds @ 12:30 ET join me, Jon Penney, Sarah Brayne, & @katygb.bsky.social for a @knightcolumbia.org panel on science, the courts, & chilling effects. WE NEED YOU 🫵🏽
knightcolumbia.org/events/the-s...
Weds @ 12:30 ET join me, Jon Penney, Sarah Brayne, & @katygb.bsky.social for a @knightcolumbia.org panel on science, the courts, & chilling effects. WE NEED YOU 🫵🏽
knightcolumbia.org/events/the-s...
The Science of Chilling Effects
knightcolumbia.org
December 8, 2025 at 10:35 PM
How can scientists make a difference when democratic norms, institutions, & rights are under threat?
Weds @ 12:30 ET join me, Jon Penney, Sarah Brayne, & @katygb.bsky.social for a @knightcolumbia.org panel on science, the courts, & chilling effects. WE NEED YOU 🫵🏽
knightcolumbia.org/events/the-s...
Weds @ 12:30 ET join me, Jon Penney, Sarah Brayne, & @katygb.bsky.social for a @knightcolumbia.org panel on science, the courts, & chilling effects. WE NEED YOU 🫵🏽
knightcolumbia.org/events/the-s...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
We're currently seeking nomination materials for the @cip.uw.edu Award for Impact & Excellence. The submission deadline is January 15, 2026.
Complete information: www.cip.uw.edu/cip-award-im...
Complete information: www.cip.uw.edu/cip-award-im...
December 8, 2025 at 10:09 PM
We're currently seeking nomination materials for the @cip.uw.edu Award for Impact & Excellence. The submission deadline is January 15, 2026.
Complete information: www.cip.uw.edu/cip-award-im...
Complete information: www.cip.uw.edu/cip-award-im...
How can scientists make a difference when democratic norms, institutions, & rights are under threat?
Weds @ 12:30 ET join me, Jon Penney, Sarah Brayne, & @katygb.bsky.social for a @knightcolumbia.org panel on science, the courts, & chilling effects. WE NEED YOU 🫵🏽
knightcolumbia.org/events/the-s...
Weds @ 12:30 ET join me, Jon Penney, Sarah Brayne, & @katygb.bsky.social for a @knightcolumbia.org panel on science, the courts, & chilling effects. WE NEED YOU 🫵🏽
knightcolumbia.org/events/the-s...
The Science of Chilling Effects
knightcolumbia.org
December 8, 2025 at 10:35 PM
How can scientists make a difference when democratic norms, institutions, & rights are under threat?
Weds @ 12:30 ET join me, Jon Penney, Sarah Brayne, & @katygb.bsky.social for a @knightcolumbia.org panel on science, the courts, & chilling effects. WE NEED YOU 🫵🏽
knightcolumbia.org/events/the-s...
Weds @ 12:30 ET join me, Jon Penney, Sarah Brayne, & @katygb.bsky.social for a @knightcolumbia.org panel on science, the courts, & chilling effects. WE NEED YOU 🫵🏽
knightcolumbia.org/events/the-s...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
Springer Nature retracting papers based on bonkers dataset
www.thetransmitter.org/retraction/e... Good. #autism
www.thetransmitter.org/retraction/e... Good. #autism
Springer Nature retracts, removes nearly 40 publications
The dataset contains images of children’s faces downloaded from websites about autism, which sparked concerns at Springer Nature about consent and reliability.
www.thetransmitter.org
December 8, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Springer Nature retracting papers based on bonkers dataset
www.thetransmitter.org/retraction/e... Good. #autism
www.thetransmitter.org/retraction/e... Good. #autism
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
📣 It's again that time of the year 🤩 - our internship call for the FATE team @ MSR Montreal and our collaborators is now up! 🎉🎉
We are broadly looking for candidates interested in perceptions, evaluation, uses, and impacts of AI!
#FAccT #FAccT2025 #CHI2025 #NeurIPS2025 #ACL2025
We are broadly looking for candidates interested in perceptions, evaluation, uses, and impacts of AI!
#FAccT #FAccT2025 #CHI2025 #NeurIPS2025 #ACL2025
December 5, 2025 at 8:52 PM
📣 It's again that time of the year 🤩 - our internship call for the FATE team @ MSR Montreal and our collaborators is now up! 🎉🎉
We are broadly looking for candidates interested in perceptions, evaluation, uses, and impacts of AI!
#FAccT #FAccT2025 #CHI2025 #NeurIPS2025 #ACL2025
We are broadly looking for candidates interested in perceptions, evaluation, uses, and impacts of AI!
#FAccT #FAccT2025 #CHI2025 #NeurIPS2025 #ACL2025
Tired of CS and other technology-adjacent departments giving Black women soft money faculty appointments that by definition will never lead to tenure.
Off the top of my head, of people in my age cohort, at least an equal number of Black CS faculty are that precarious position as in TT roles.
Off the top of my head, of people in my age cohort, at least an equal number of Black CS faculty are that precarious position as in TT roles.
December 7, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Tired of CS and other technology-adjacent departments giving Black women soft money faculty appointments that by definition will never lead to tenure.
Off the top of my head, of people in my age cohort, at least an equal number of Black CS faculty are that precarious position as in TT roles.
Off the top of my head, of people in my age cohort, at least an equal number of Black CS faculty are that precarious position as in TT roles.
Deeply worried about how AI is simultaneously eroding layers of knowledge institutions, including peer review.
This company charged almost $300k from high school students who wanted to publish AI work in NeurIPS - AND those students then served as reviewers O_O
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
This company charged almost $300k from high school students who wanted to publish AI work in NeurIPS - AND those students then served as reviewers O_O
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Artificial intelligence research has a slop problem, academics say: ‘It’s a mess’
AI research in question as author claims to have written over 100 papers on AI that one expert calls a ‘disaster’
www.theguardian.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Deeply worried about how AI is simultaneously eroding layers of knowledge institutions, including peer review.
This company charged almost $300k from high school students who wanted to publish AI work in NeurIPS - AND those students then served as reviewers O_O
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
This company charged almost $300k from high school students who wanted to publish AI work in NeurIPS - AND those students then served as reviewers O_O
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
“Farid says that he now counsels students to not go into AI research, because of the “frenzy” in the field and the large volume of low-quality work being put out by people hoping to better their career prospects”
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Artificial intelligence research has a slop problem, academics say: ‘It’s a mess’
AI research in question as author claims to have written over 100 papers on AI that one expert calls a ‘disaster’
www.theguardian.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:45 AM
“Farid says that he now counsels students to not go into AI research, because of the “frenzy” in the field and the large volume of low-quality work being put out by people hoping to better their career prospects”
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
Today, December 6th, is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada. I wrote about the event that precipitated its creation, and its role in my own life, on its 25th anniversary. buttondown.com/metafoundry/...
thirty-six years later
Engineering Cairn, UBC (December 3, 2025) I wrote and first shared this piece in December 2014. It’s been lightly edited and updated, including new links for...
buttondown.com
December 6, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Today, December 6th, is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada. I wrote about the event that precipitated its creation, and its role in my own life, on its 25th anniversary. buttondown.com/metafoundry/...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
A decade of trying to do good science together *with* communities—that's the core of the most recent peer-reviewed article written by @natematias.bsky.social and Megan Price of @hrdag.org natematias.medium.com/gravity-and-...
Gravity and Grace in the Science of AI
Learning from stories that brought me to tears through a hopeful commitment to the truth
natematias.medium.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:53 PM
A decade of trying to do good science together *with* communities—that's the core of the most recent peer-reviewed article written by @natematias.bsky.social and Megan Price of @hrdag.org natematias.medium.com/gravity-and-...
Earlier tonight, a friend asked why I bicycle home at night in the Ithaca winter even on days when snow is on the ground.
It's hard to put into words, I said. But it's worth it.
It's hard to put into words, I said. But it's worth it.
December 5, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Earlier tonight, a friend asked why I bicycle home at night in the Ithaca winter even on days when snow is on the ground.
It's hard to put into words, I said. But it's worth it.
It's hard to put into words, I said. But it's worth it.