A Just and Comprehensive Strategy for Using NLP to Address Online Abuse
This addresses the problem of online abuse for victims and communities by advocating for a more comprehensive and just approach, but it is incremental as it builds on existing detection efforts.
The paper argues that current NLP methods for detecting online abuse are too narrow and proposes three changes: expanding the scope to include subtle and serious forms, developing proactive technologies to prevent harm, and reframing efforts within a justice framework to promote healthy communities.
Online abusive behavior affects millions and the NLP community has attempted to mitigate this problem by developing technologies to detect abuse. However, current methods have largely focused on a narrow definition of abuse to detriment of victims who seek both validation and solutions. In this position paper, we argue that the community needs to make three substantive changes: (1) expanding our scope of problems to tackle both more subtle and more serious forms of abuse, (2) developing proactive technologies that counter or inhibit abuse before it harms, and (3) reframing our effort within a framework of justice to promote healthy communities.