"Social Autopsy" anti cyber-bullying campaign creates Orwellian cyber-bullying nightmare

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**Shadow Captain Edithae**

This came to my attention by way of Mundane Matt.

Apparently its a database that creates profiles and records the online activity of people deemed to engage in "hate speech". Anybody can submit a profile for someone else, and upload screenshots of that person's online activity. Kinda like that "Peeple App" controversy a while back that was going to let people submit profiles of other people and rate them as a person. (which has since been watered down and changed from Opt-out to Opt-in in the face of the controversy and potential legal challenges).

http://socialautopsy.com/#

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1968200734/wave-goodbye-to-cyberbullies-and-trolls-socialauto/description

We are about to break the internet. Literally.

About this project

We know what you're all thinking:

"There is no way that this many girls run a tech start-up".

Except we do, and we are about to save the virtual world with it, so listen up! We promise to keep this short and fun:

Somewhere between cells phones and technology (and the extinction of the VHS tape maybe) we've managed to create a culture of online-bullying, which was totally cool never, so it's time we put an end to it once and for all.

There have been so many amazing organizations before us who have made (and continue to make) significant strides and efforts to not only create awareness, but to push through to legislation to affect change.

But we thought, "instead of trying to stop it, why don't we try to capture it?".

Because what's the number one defense people use when they are making awful, nasty comments online?

an't argue that one, so let's instead help them magnify those freedoms. Let's launch a database where we capture them exercising those rights and create digital records for them that anyone can access.

Yup. We consider ourselves to be patriots.

(This is the part where we address your immediate concerns.)

Important to note: We do not allow any commenting on our site because we do not want to host a platform for any bullying ourselves. Our database also cannot be searched by keyword (i.e, homophobia, racism, etc) which means a self-proclaimed vigilante would be unable to round up a specified group of online offenders.

(Okay this is the part where we tell you where your money is going.)

Thus far we have worked to collect data and create about 22,000 profiles from individuals that are surprising all over the employment spectrum (doctors, teachers, lawyers, you name it).

With your backing, we can take a break and go shopping, because we are women and that would be fun for us.

Just kidding.

With your backing, we can expand our team of web analysts in order to create profiles at a faster rate, as our goal is to launch the database at 150,000 profiles. We will immediately apply your funding to hiring a team of paid interns for the summer, and our continuing web development. We will devote all remaining funds toward our legal team, which we are going to need intact when we bring this site live.

(Now this is the part where we tell you how deep we roll)

Okay. That was a bit of dishonest marketing on our part. We do not know Taylor Swift, nor do we know Cara Delevigne, or for what reason exactly she is waving an English flag in this photo. In fact they will likely fire off a cease and desist letter to us for sourcing that image irresponsibly-- which we hope reinforces our earlier point about legal necessity.

All that squared away, the truer version of our squad is even more amazing:

We have worked to build and bridge with an impactful network. Most notably, we are proud partners and friends of the Tyler Clementi Foundation and their Day1 campaign.We encourage you all to check out their work and website. As well as a list of their organization's initiatives, which align fully with our own.

(Now this is the part where we tell you what's up next for us).

Our Founder, Candace Owens has been selected to give a TEDx talk on June 4th, 2016 about the perils of this era of technology, and all that we are doing to combat it.. The talk will be webcast live on the Ted.Com website, and it is slated to be the most important talk of our century, according to her mother. You will not want to miss it.

Now this is the part where we finish with a sweet one-liner and a bonus video, because you've earned that if you've gotten this far:

Our team has a simple message to share: Love is easier.

Check out all of crazy thoughts and experiences at our blog, Degree180.com.

FAQ
What is a digital footprint?
Users submit a screenshot of a person’s hate-fueled social media post, which is then used to create a profile that includes their full name, place of employment, city of residence and schools.
How do you discover users real names?
Screenshots are submitted anonymously by online friends of that user. Their “friends” of course, know their full names and details.

How do I know if I have been added to this database?
Check back when we’ve fully launched to search by name or employer.

How do you prevent people from using this information to harm others?
We do not allow any commenting on our database, and we have disabled the ability to search our database by keywords (e.g homophobia, racism, etc). In other words, you would have to know the individual by first and last name in order to discover them.

Do these profiles last forever?
Subject to change, each profile that is created remains public for 1 year. It is our hope that in that time frame, the user will consider carefully what they share.

Are all submissions accepted?
Absolutely not. Each and every submission goes through a process in which our team determines whether or not the user is just expressing an opinion or exercising harmful speech. There is a big difference between “F*** the Patriots. Go Giants! ” and “I hope Tom Brady dies, and his wife is raped”.
We all know the difference.

When will we be able to search the database?
Our database will launch automatically when we get to 100,000 profiles. Enter your e-mail on our homepage to receive an e-mail notification when we’ve launched. Until then, help us stop online hate by submitting profiles and helping us build our database.

I've got many problems with this.

1) Its a gross violation of privacy.
Had a trivial but heated argument on Facebook with insults made by both sides? Someone with an axe to grind may choose to submit a profile for you to a database for the entire world to see, maybe taking the original argument completely out of context or telling only half the story. Apparently profiles can be searched for by Name and Employer. This can and will be used as a weapon to get people fired.

2) The complete disregard for the safety and privacy of minors.
I'm not sure from which video the clip was taken, but in Mundane Matt's video one of the creators talked about how they want under-age children to be included on their database in the hopes that public shaming in their formative years will encourage them to "modify their behaviour". Children do stupid things, and often behave cruelly to each other. Does that mean they should be publicly shamed and submitted to a public database? Feth no! Take it through the proper channels, to the parents, the School or Facebook itself.

I recall a story a few months ago when some public figure on Twitter who received hate mail from children tracked them down on Facebook and reported them to their parents with screenshots of their messages. Whilst she did also publicise the hate messages on Twitter, she took care to censor the identity of those concerned. Thats a much better way of dealing with the issue.

3) The lack of due process.
Cyber bullying is awful and should be tackled but creating a public database of people's behaviours is NOT an appropriate way to go about it. Genuine instances of cyber bullying and stalking should be pursued through proper channels, by reporting it to Facebook, Twitter, parents, schools or the Police. Ironically, creating a public database is itself a form of cyber bullying and cyber stalking, and is little more than online vigilantism.

4) Who decides what is and is not hate speech?

**Rosebuddy**

That thing will neverwork because it's gonna run straight into multiple countries' laws.

**Ouze**

I have reported this project for violating Kickstarters Community Guidelines, and I suggest you do as well. One of Kickstarter's rules is explicitly not to post personally identifiable information, so it's hard to believe that an engine dedicated to mass doxxing without any oversight will pass muster.

I guess I could work myself into a lather and make a huge rant on Youtube or something but that seemed both faster, easier, and effective.

**Crazy_Carnifex**

Remember folks: There are no bad tactics, only bad targets!

**hotsauceman1**

Its only bad when the government moniters your communication.
Random people doing it is perfectly fine. especially if it is done to stop "Hate Speech"

**Ouze**

hotsauceman1 wrote:
Its only bad when the government moniters your communication.
Random people doing it is perfectly fine. especially if it is done to stop "Hate Speech"

I think what you mean is it's only censorship when the government punishes you or prevents you from engaging in protected speech.

What random people do can be objectively "bad" as this project shows.

**Kilkrazy**

It strikes me as a well-intentioned project by an enthusiastic group who haven't thought through all the implications and what could go wrong.

**Shadow Captain Edithae**

Kilkrazy wrote:
It strikes me as a well-intentioned project by an enthusiastic group who haven't thought through all the implications and what could go wrong.

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.
-C.S.Lewis

**Dreadclaw69**

I would be very interested in hearing the criteria that they use to determine what is "hate speech"

This is concerning though; http://socialautopsy.com/faq/

What is a digital footprint?
Users submit a screenshot of a person’s hate-fueled social media post, which is then used to create a profile that includes their full name, place of employment, city of residence and schools.

Sounds like a doxing service

**feeder**

While I agree with the general aim of the project, this is not the way to go about it.

**Chongara**

So let's say I don't like bill.
Let's say I then create a social media account "HitlerRox4EverKKK".
Let's say I then go on a posting frenzy.
Let's say I then on my normal account, attribute this to bill.
Let's say I then "Discover" this website for the first time, posting various random nasty profiles from it (by searching for random names)
Let's say I then,"Discover" "Bill's" "HitlerRox4EverKKK" account.

Perhaps a nice 3rd party submits this to bills boss. Maybe bill's distraught, hot wife needs a shoulder to cry on..

**hotsauceman1**

Dreadclaw69 wrote:
I would be very interested in hearing the criteria that they use to determine what is "hate speech"

"I know it when I see it" -potter stewart

**Dreadclaw69**

hotsauceman1 wrote:
Dreadclaw69 wrote:
I would be very interested in hearing the criteria that they use to determine what is "hate speech"

"I know it when I see it" -potter stewart

It's ok, they are only doing it because "love is easier". And what better way to show that you love someone than by publicly shaming them, doxing them, and exposing them to a potential campaign of harassment which may cost them their livlihood?

So how does this idea work for people with burner accounts?

**curran12**

In a very broad sense of the idea, I kinda like it. Mostly in that I think that those who make a campaign of trolling and harassment (regardless of reason) to make someone else's life difficult should have to deal with the consequences.

That said, as others have posted here already, this is purely a doxxing service, and I will be quite happy to see it gone and taken down.

**kronk**

Ouze wrote:
I have reported this project for violating Kickstarters Community Guidelines, and I suggest you do as well. One of Kickstarter's rules is explicitly not to post personally identifiable information, so it's hard to believe that an engine dedicated to mass doxxing without any oversight will pass muster.

I did the same thing.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Dreadclaw69 wrote:

Users submit a screenshot of a person’s hate-fueled social media post, which is then used to create a profile that includes their full name, place of employment, city of residence and schools.

Sounds like a doxing service

It is indeed.

**Sinful Hero**

I reported as well. It would bring no end of grief if someone with a vendetta decided they were going to ruin your life with this. Copy your details from a Facebook account, post a few racist comments, and submit. How much effort are they going to put in to verify if an account it legitimate? How would they handle hundreds or thousands of submissions per day?

**kronk**

I can photoshop Frazzled saying that Oklahoma State is his favorite college football team, then submit it for a hate post.

**Co'tor Shas**

Dreadclaw69 wrote:
I would be very interested in hearing the criteria that they use to determine what is "hate speech"

This is concerning though; http://socialautopsy.com/faq/

What is a digital footprint?
Users submit a screenshot of a person’s hate-fueled social media post, which is then used to create a profile that includes their full name, place of employment, city of residence and schools.

Sounds like a doxing service

Well, there are various definitions. Here's one I found by the Bar.

Hate speech is speech that offends, threatens, or insults groups, based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or other traits.

There's a good sentnace in there that basicaly sums up my opinion on the issue.

Think about it. It’s always easier to defend someone’s right to say something with which you agree. But in a free society, you also have a duty to defend speech to which you may strongly object.

http://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/initiatives_awards/students_in_action/debate_hate.html

**TheCustomLime**

I reported this as well. We don't need our privacy be violated by a private organization as well the government.

**SilverMK2**

This seems like it would not end well...

**Frazzled**

kronk wrote:
I can photoshop Frazzled saying that Oklahoma State is his favorite college football team, then submit it for a hate post.

Only my FIL would care and he owes me money.

Did I mention Oklahoma is flat?

**LordofHats**

Because the internet can only get better when everyone doxxes everyone else over the inane bs that dominates the internet.

/sarcasm

**Oldmike**

curran12 wrote:
In a very broad sense of the idea, I kinda like it. Mostly in that I think that those who make a campaign of trolling and harassment (regardless of reason) to make someone else's life difficult should have to deal with the consequences.

That said, as others have posted here already, this is purely a doxxing service, and I will be quite happy to see it gone and taken down.

One mans disagreement is another's harassment just look at the Twitter case in Canada. The "harasser" lost his job was not allowed to use anything that can connect to the internet (no smart phone no PC) and 100k lawyer bill. He was declared innocent but sill lost a lot as he was guilty of wrong speak to some well connected feminists.

**Kilkrazy**

Let's not go down the feminazi crusade rabbit hole this early in what actually is quite an interesting thread about modern social intercourse.

**oldravenman3025**

Ah, I see that the Miniluv is still hard at work on the internet. After all, crimethink is doubleplusungood.

**skyth**

Co'tor Shas wrote:

There's a good sentnace in there that basicaly sums up my opinion on the issue.

Think about it. It’s always easier to defend someone’s right to say something with which you agree. But in a free society, you also have a duty to defend speech

Sorry, posting from my phone so cut off more than I meant.

That quote is all well and good except it is used as an excuse against critcizing ideas. I don't know how many times I've seen a bigot try to say their right to free speech is being trampled on when people disagree (even forcefully) with them.

**LordofHats**

Agree with skyth. More often than not, I see trumpeting of "free speech" come with a veiled demand that they be allowed to speak and not have to hear any response that isn't agreement. I suppose that's free speech too, but if you're looking to hold an opinion and never once be criticized for it, you probably should just keep your mouth shut because free speech just doesn't work that way.

Lording over people the threat of public shaming however isn't free speech. That's threatening lively hood, privacy, and peace of mind and I doubt anyone here is naive enough to think such a thing won't end up used and abused over the most banal bull gak the internet can produce. It has nothing to do with disagreeing with what has been said, but elevating what has been said into a personal vendetta. Hate is a disease, but so is whatever the hell this kick starter thinks it will achieve.

**Nostromodamus**

Thankfully the project is now suspended. Hopefully a cancellation will soon follow.

**skyth**

A lot of cyber bullying happens because there are no real consequences for the bully. How do we get real consequences for bullies without stepping on people's rights?

**MrDwhitey**

There were apparently some thoughts that this was a potential media stunt or something. There's apparently going to be a article tomorrow from socialautopsy?