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UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA Los Angeles the Ethics of Social Media

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UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA Los Angeles the Ethics of Social Media UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Los Angeles The Ethics of Social Media Policy: National Principles of Justice, Security, Privacy and Freedom Governing Online Social Platforms in Russia, China and The United States A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Information Studies by Morten Bay Christensen 2018 © Copyright by Morten Bay Christensen 2018 ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION The Ethics of Social Media Policy: National Principles of Justice, Security, Privacy and Freedom Governing Online Social Platforms on Russia, China and The United States by Morten Bay Christensen Doctor of Philosophy in Information Studies University of California, Los Angeles, 2018 Professor Leah A Lievrouw, Chair As social media have become a primary mode of expression and communication for large parts of the world’s population, social media platforms have also become vulnerable to less desirable actions. These include using social media for information warfare, recruiting and radicalizing potential terrorists or collecting data and information about users for purposes they have not consented to. The demand for an ethical discussion of social media policy at the national level is growing, and this study seeks to address that challenge. The study is an exploration of applied ethics in the context of information and technology policy. It addresses issues in information, media and technology ethics, applying a specific ethical theory to three cases. These three cases consist of Russian, Chinese and U.S. policies that relate to social media in a national information security or cybersecurity context, and which exist within the information and technology policy ii categories. Each of these three cases represent a specific type of social media policy. The Russia case is an offensive social media strategy within foreign policy, the China case is a broad, domestic social media policy and the U.S. policy is a very narrow social media policy within the larger, national security domain that has substantial consequences for privacy and freedom rights nonetheless. First, the case policies are analyzed through Schön and Rein’s frame-critical policy analysis method, which deconstructs the policy and adds to it the historical and cultural backgrounds that lends a broader perspective to the policy, and thereby, a more thorough understanding of its intended purpose and expected outcomes. Second, the now much more broadly unfolded policies are analyzed through the lens of political philosopher John Rawls’ theories of justice and fairness to ascertain their compliance with Rawls’ deontological ethics. Through this applied exercise, the validity of Rawlsian deontology as an ethical compass for information and technology policy is established. The findings are finally crystallized into an ethics test, The Rawls Test for social media policy. iii The dissertation of Morten Bay Christensen is approved. Jean-François Blanchette Jonathan Furner John D. Villasenor Leah A Lievrouw, Committee Chair University of California, Los Angeles 2018 iv Table of Contents Table of Contents ................................................................................................................v List of figures .................................................................................................................. viii List of appendices ............................................................................................................ viii Glossary of terms .............................................................................................................. ix Abbreviations .................................................................................................................. xiii Acknowledgements ..........................................................................................................xvi Biography and publication highlights ...............................................................................xix Chapter 1: Introduction ...............................................................................................................1 Research design ................................................................................................................. 14 Method of policy analysis .................................................................................................. 16 Data collection .................................................................................................................. 22 Chapter overview and summary of findings ....................................................................... 24 Chapter 2: Social media ethics and an introduction to John Rawls ............................................. 31 Five categories that critique social media ethics ................................................................. 31 Meet John Rawls ............................................................................................................... 37 The works of John Rawls .................................................................................................. 39 Rawlsian concepts and their inspiration ............................................................................. 40 Rawls’ critics..................................................................................................................... 59 Rawls in information and technology literature .................................................................. 65 v Chapter 3: Disinformation campaigns on social media .............................................................. 69 Background ....................................................................................................................... 69 Rhetorical Frame ............................................................................................................... 81 Action Frame..................................................................................................................... 95 Cultural background ........................................................................................................ 111 Russia’s interventionist information security policy and the Rawlsian Frame................... 123 Chapter conclusion .......................................................................................................... 137 Chapter 4: Policies of Control, Surveillance and Oppression on Social Media ......................... 139 Background ..................................................................................................................... 139 Rhetorical Frame ............................................................................................................. 161 Action Frame................................................................................................................... 170 Cultural background ........................................................................................................ 197 China’s policy frames and the Rawlsian Frame................................................................ 214 Chapter 5: Violations of privacy rights on social media in the name of national security ......... 235 Background ..................................................................................................................... 237 Rhetorical Frame ............................................................................................................. 268 Action Frame................................................................................................................... 280 Cultural background ........................................................................................................ 301 The DHS and the Rawlsian Frame ................................................................................... 327 Chapter conclusion .......................................................................................................... 352 vi Chapter 6: The Rawls Test – Discussion and Conclusion......................................................... 355 Summary of findings and responses to research questions ............................................... 355 Developing a Rawlsian ethics test for social media policy ............................................... 365 Into the future .................................................................................................................. 390 Appendix A: List of Interviewees with biographies ................................................................. 396 Esha Bhandari ................................................................................................................. 396 Susanne Chan .................................................................................................................. 396 Dr. Yubo Kou .................................................................................................................. 397 Dr. Martin Libicki ........................................................................................................... 397 Henrik Moltke ................................................................................................................. 398 Dr. Margaret E. Roberts................................................................................................... 399 The Hon. Adam Schiff..................................................................................................... 399 Dr. Margo Schlanger ......................................................................................................
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