Matters of Privacy: TSF’s First Reading Group

This reading group concluded at the end of Summer 2023. Please see the reading group discussion guide here. We will be launching a new reading group soon!

We’re excited to launch our first TSF reading group! The aims of this inaugural group are:

  • To provide trust and safety professionals and other stakeholders in the trust and safety field with a structured opportunity to read and discuss T&S related literature;
  • To convene a range of stakeholders (e.g., T&S professionals, academic researchers, civil society organizations) for collaborative conversations; 
  • To provide a meaningful way for a range of T&S stakeholders to engage with and respond to T&S related literature, including books and academic articles.

Additionally, this reading group will provide opportunities for participants to meet one another and form new professional relationships.

What We’ll Read

How It Works

Reading and Meeting Schedule

Once the group begins, we will have synchronous meetings every four weeks following the reading schedule outlined below:

  • Introductions and Warren & Brandeis
  • Citron: Introduction – Chapter 3 
  • Citron: Chapters 4 – 6
  • Citron: Chapters 7 – 10 (plus Epilogue and Appendix)
  • Rini & Cohen
  • Optional Collaborative Writing Workshop
Synchronous Sessions

Our 60 minute synchronous sessions will be facilitated via Zoom and follow this format:

  • 10-15 minutes for an introduction to the authors and the reading (TSF)
  • 25-30 minutes for breakout sessions for small group discussions
  • 10-15 minutes for share outs to the larger group
  • 2 minute wrap-up (TSF)
Asynchronous Conversations

We will have asynchronous conversations about the readings via Discord or Google Docs, depending on the group’s preference. This will provide a participation opportunity for people who are unable to attend the synchronous sessions and/or who prefer to engage in their own time and space.

Optional Collaborative Writing Workshop

In addition to reading and discussing the texts listed above, TSF will facilitate a collaborative writing project in response to these texts. Reading group members may opt out of this activity altogether, or participate in a variety of ways (for example, as a writer, editor, or commenter). Participants may also choose whether to use their real names, use pseudonyms, and/or publish the final product as a collective. The final product could be published on the TSF site, submitted to a journal, and/or submitted to a popular press outlet—depending on the authors’ preferences.

From TSF’s point of view, the aim of the collaborative writing exercise is to provide an opportunity for T&S stakeholders (including T&S professionals) who may not be engaged in academia or professional publishing to participate in public conversations about important T&S issues.

Ground Rules

The ground rules for participating in this reading group are as follows:

  • Abide by the TSF Code of Conduct.
  • Do the readings.
  • Listen to understand. Ask questions, be curious, and seek to understand what the authors and other reading group participants are trying to communicate. 
  • Speak to offer meaning. Engage in productive and constructive discussions.

How To Get Involved

If you want to participate in this reading group (and we hope you do!), please email us. The first reading group will be limited to 26 people (first come, first invited!). Once the reading group concludes, we will publish the reading group materials and a curated list of related case studies to our site. We’ll also announce the next reading group.