Kate StarbirdIn ~2014, my colleague & I argued that social media (esp. Twitter) had become part of the critical infrastructure of disaster response. People were turning to Twitter during crises to share information about impacts and resources. Disaster responders were using the data shared there for situational awareness, and were communicating in real-time with their constituents. Today’s events underscore just how dangerous it is for society to come to rely on private platforms as critical infrastructure.
PeoriaBummer@katestarbird Very important observation. Relying on private platforms for critical infrastructure is one of the core problems in America right now.
Gabriela Noriega 🏳️⚧️ 🇧🇷I feel it's a bit deeper and more nuanced than that: it's America's unwillingness to get the government involved in serious matters except as a cheap source of money.
(e.g. charter schools over public schools, lack of product regulation, lack of price negotiating power to the FDA, lack of regulation of harmful speech, lack of regulation of digital infrastructure)