Session: Tuesday 8th July PM (14.15 - 15.30)

Title: Gary King: NCRM ANNUAL LECTURE SPONSORED BY IJSRM (Chair: Patrick Sturgis)

Convenor:

Professor Gary King (Harvard University)

Abstract Details

Chinese social media censorship constitutes the largest selective suppression of human communication in history. This large system leaves large footprints that reveal a great deal about itself. We conducted an observational study, downloading all social media posts before the government can censor some, and then detecting which are censored. We also conducted a randomised experimental study, and a participatory study where we set up our own social media site there. The keynote will demonstrate that criticisms of the state are published whereas posts with collective action potential are censored. See http://j.mp/ChinaExp and http://j.mp/ChinaObs

Gary King is the Albert J. Weatherhead III University Professor at Harvard University. He is based in the Department of Government (in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences) and serves as Director of the Institute for Quantitative Social Science. King develops and applies empirical methods in many areas of social science research, focusing on innovations that span the range from statistical theory to practical application. King was listed as the most cited political scientist of his cohort among the group of "political scientists who have made the most important theoretical contributions" to the discipline "from its beginnings in the late-19th century to the present"; and on ISI's list of the most highly cited researchers across the social sciences. His work on legislative redistricting has been used in most American states by legislators, judges, lawyers, political parties, minority groups, and private citizens, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court. His work on inferring individual behaviour from aggregate data has been used in as many states by these groups, and in many other practical contexts.

Presentation downloads

Presenter: Gary King

Reverse Engineering Chinese Censorship

The level of the session is: Accessible

Presentation details

Presentation 1

Start time: 14:15

Presentation title:Reverse engineering Chinese censorship: social media and research

Author: Professor Gary King (Harvard University)