top of page
My Research
Abstract:
With rising cultural tensions in the United States, hate speech and hate crimes have also increased. Some tensions today surround the reactions of both the supporters and dissenters of the Black Lives Matter movement. Pertinent cases on fighting words and incitement surrounding both Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire (1942) and Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) are relevant to understand First Amendment protections and limitations regarding hate speech. I looked at how Chaplinsky’s Fighting Words Doctrine and the incitement test from Brandenburg can be applied to these tensions, particularly focusing on digital communications during the past three years. This analysis of the Fighting Words Doctrine and the Brandenburg Test gave a definition of fighting words and incitement to imminent lawless action, but more recent cases show how these definitions are slowly changing. The ages of these tests became apparent in my research, and caused me to question whether they should be reevaluated by the U.S. Supreme Court or whether the Court should create different tests altogether for this type of expression in the age of the Internet.
The Past, Present, and Future of the First Amendment and Hate Speech: An Analysis of the Fighting Words Doctrine and Incitement
The Rise of Q-Anon: From a Chatroom Board to an International Movement
Abstract:
This project will investigate how online indoctrination of the conspiracy theory QAnon has led to the formation of groups and movements in an international context, such as ongoing incident at the Canada-US border and the Querdenker movement in Germany. The project is both relevant and important because it explores the large and growing presence that QAnon has created online. Regardless of the origin, the ideas rooted in QAnon conspiracies have grown worldwide; if you have access to a computer, you are able to interact with QAnon content. What is concerning is how QAnon has co-opted legitimate movements to push their narratives, such as #savethechildren. Moreover, QAnon has given rise and fueled similar conspiracies both in the United States and worldwide. This project will also investigate the differences between American and International ideals of tolerance by comparing international and American free speech law. This will give insight into how different countries react to far-right conspiracy movements.
Utilizing machine learning to analyze the spread of QAnon on Twitter over time
In Progress
bottom of page