Sarah Gilbert, Author at Citizens and Technology Lab

People look confused as they confront various digital obstacles, like bans, rules, and broken hearts.

Community Norms, Participation, and Technology in r/science on Reddit

October 2026

In late May 2026, we sent out surveys to members of the Reddit community, r/science. In this blog post, we’ll […]

Community Norms, Participation, and Technology in r/AmItheAsshole on Reddit

July 2026

A little over a month ago, in June 2026, we sent out surveys to members of the Reddit community, r/AmItheAsshole. […]

A picture of an old fashioned balance scale made out of gold, sitting next to a sleek white laptop on a pristine desk

CAT Lab’s recommendations to NTIA on Ethical Guidelines for Research Using Pervasive Data

January 2025

On January 15, 2025, CAT Lab submitted recommendations to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration on crafting ethical guidelines for research […]

This dramatic print shows the destruction of Pennsylvania Hall, a large building that was constructed in 1837--38 at Sixth and Haines Streets in Philadelphia as a meeting place for local abolitionist (antislavery) groups. Dedication ceremonies began on May 14, 1838, and continued over several days in a climate of growing hostility from anti-abolitionist forces in the city. On the night of May 17, 1838, an anti-abolitionist mob stormed the hall and set it on fire. Fire companies refused to fight the blaze, and the building was completely destroyed. A large crowd looks on, as firefighters spray water on an adjoining building.

Freedoms of Assembly and Association in Digital Technologies

October 2024

When a pro-slavery mob set fire to Pennsylvania Hall in downtown Philadelphia on the night of May 17 1838, there […]

The picture is taken from the perspective of someone standing in the center of a blue and white circus tent, where the stripes meet at the peak

Operation Candado: A user-oriented exploration of balancing privacy and safety needs in end-to-end encrypted apps

October 2024

In June 2022, the United States Supreme Court issued a landmark decision: Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization found that […]

Succulent plants and mosses grow inside of a spherical glass terrarium.

Standing Up for Researchers Who Face Intimidation

September 2024

Today, the Citizens and Technology Lab (CAT Lab) at Cornell University is adding our voice and our commitment to the […]

Towards Intersectional Moderation: Accounting for Power with Care

May 2024

In this Big Tent I’ll be soliciting feedback on a talk I’ll be giving next week at a virtual event […]

Freedom of Speech on Campus

April 2024

In the age of free speech, college campuses have become both beacons of intellectual freedom and focal points for controversy. […]

The silhouette of a person attempts to tape together a cracked speech bubble

The Surprising Outcome of Community Moderation in Reddit Politics Discussions

April 2024

How can democratic societies host hard conversations about our conflicts in ways that keep important conversations going rather than shut […]

illustration of People standing around a mobile phone inspecting the details of a webpage

New Report: Sustainably Managing Risks and Threats to Independent Research on Technology and Society

March 2024

How can the ecosystem of public-interest technology research manage the risks that threaten to destroy our credibility and prevent us […]