“The Man Who Helped Turn 4chan Into the Internet’s Racist Engine.”

Whitney Phillips, assistant professor of communication and rhetorical studies in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, was quoted in the Vice story “The Man Who Helped Turn 4chan Into the Internet’s Racist Engine.” 4chan is an online message board that has become a racist generator of far-right propaganda and conspiracy theories due to the work of an anonymous administrator. Phillips, an expert on disinformation and digital ethics, says platforms like 4chan which do not have policies against racism have no consequences for those who share hate online. “Intent can matter when thinking about the things people say, but it matters very little when considering consequences. Whether or not someone says a racist thing with hate in their heart, they’re still saying a racist thing and that still contributes to dehumanization and the normalization of harm,” says Phillips.