While the PhD technically commenced in early December, we’re officially counting commencement from early February. So first thing is first: what is this PhD about, and why am I committing 4 years of my life to it?
The title of this PhD is The Ethical Limitation of Ideas – Countering Online Extremist Movements and as the name implies, its initial research question is: “Under what circumstances is it ethically justifiable for ethics boards of government and private sector agencies to monitor or limit the circulation of ideas on social media as part of efforts to counter online hate and extremism?”
This topic is a matter of grave ethical and practical consequence, seeking to help develop a definitive answer to the question of where the limits of freedom of speech can be found, in the wake of the global rise of ideological extremism. Of particular focus is the recent revival of nazism and fascism, until recently held as a nearly cartoonishly evil parody of an ideology, now resurgent world-wide.
But while limiting such openly genocidal ideologies is easily justifiable, the idea of a government or corporate monolith placing any limit on political speech is one of extreme risk. As the War on Terror and subsequent Patriot Act demonstrate, civil liberties once surrendered are nearly impossible to claw back. Furthermore, such limits are a prime opportunity for any bad-faith actors seeking to centralise their own power on the basis of ‘safety and security’.
As such this PhD must walk a very fine line between upholding the freedom of expression and good-faith political dialogue, even when offensive or extreme, against finding a way to hold bad-faith, violent and genocidal ideologies to account. Not merely based on the day-to-day conduct of their members, but based on the merits of the ideology itself.
My first task: a commencement presentation for my supervisory board, explaining my topic, my intentions, objectives, proposed methods, and targeted outcomes. More to come!