The Stanford Internet Observatory (SIO), an academic hub focused on examining the misuse of online platforms, is reportedly being disbanded. Persistent criticism and legal action from Republican lawmakers, who allege that the lab engaged in speech censorship in collaboration with federal entities have influenced this decision.
Alex Stamos, SIO's founding director, stepped down in November, while Renee DiResta, the research director, exited last week after her contract lapsed. Other employees have either seen their contracts expire or been urged to find other opportunities. The lab's forthcoming work, notably on election integrity, will not continue.
Politically Charged Attacks
In a statement, Stamos and DiResta criticized the politically charged attacks on their work, declaring them baseless. They thanked Stanford for its support and expressed optimism that the judicial system would uphold academic freedom. They also voiced support for the remaining SIO staff.
“The politically motivated attacks against our research on elections and vaccines have no merit, and the attempts by partisan House committee chairs to suppress First Amendment-protected research are a quintessential example of the weaponization of government”, Stamos and DiResta said in a statement first given to Platformer.
“We are thankful to Stanford for defending our work, including in front of the US Supreme Court, and are confident that the judicial system will eventually act to protect our speech and the speech of other academics,” they wrote. “We hope that Stanford is willing to support the remainder of the SIO team and serve as a safe home for future research into how the internet is used to cause harm against individuals and our democracy.”
Stanford however rebuts the assertion that SIO is being dismantled. A university spokesperson noted to Platformer that the lab's essential work would proceed under new leadership, while also expressing concern over attempts to undermine academic research via legal challenges and congressional probes. University spokesperson Dee Mostofi wrote in a statement:
“The important work of SIO continues under new leadership, including its critical work on child safety and other online harms, its publication of the Journal of Online Trust and Safety, the Trust and Safety Research Conference, and the Trust and Safety Teaching Consortium.”
“Stanford remains deeply concerned about efforts, including lawsuits and congressional investigations, that chill freedom of inquiry and undermine legitimate and much needed academic research – both at Stanford and across academia.”
Political and Legal Challenges
The alledged closure is set against a broader Republican-led movement to challenge research groups scrutinizing political discourse and influence actions. SIO has been hit with three lawsuits from conservative entities, asserting illegal cooperation with the government to limit speech. Defending these claims has incurred millions of dollars in legal costs for Stanford.
Jim Jordan, Republican House Judiciary Chairman, who has been outspoken against SIO, applauded the news about SIO.
Free speech wins again!
Great work from @Weaponization for shining a light on the censorship regime. https://t.co/0VmYQxIFjq
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) June 14, 2024
Jordan claims they suppressed conservative views—a charge they deny. His Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government has demanded documents from Stanford and other academic institutions, selectively leaking them to right-wing media channels. These subpoenas have also named students, putting them at risk of harassment.
They are also implicated in a lawsuit by America First Legal, founded by ex-Trump adviser Stephen Miller. SIO was initially part of a case against the Biden administration from the attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana but has since been removed pending a Supreme Court decision.
Transition and Continuation of Some Initiatives
Jeff Hancock, a Stanford communication professor, will manage what remains of SIO under the Stanford Social Media Lab. Certain projects, including child safety efforts, will persist. Additionally, the Journal of Online Trust and Safety and the Trust and Safety Research Conference will continue, with funding from separate grants.
The decision to dissolve SIO underscores the growing adversity researchers face at Stanford and elsewhere, as they contend with lawsuits, subpoenas, and online threats. This hostile atmosphere has made securing funding increasingly challenging, complicating the lab's operations.
Background and Historical Context
Founded five years ago, SIO aimed to tackle challenges associated with internet usage, from child exploitation to misinformation about elections and health. The Election Integrity Partnership—an initiative between SIO and the University of Washington—monitored misinformation related to the 2020 and 2022 elections but has been the target of conspiracy theories alleging it was a governmental instrument for speech suppression.
