Firewalls Have Ears: How Horizontal Privacy Regulation Influences Online Political Expression in Russia In Authoritarian Settings

The Department of International Relations cordially invites you to a discussion on online political expression with Dr. Ayşenur Dal.

Join us for a talk on the article "Firewalls Have Ears: How Horizontal Privacy Regulation Influences Online Political Expression in Russia In Authoritarian Settings". In the article Dr. Dal deals with privacy threats involving vertical (i.e., institutional) and horizontal (i.e., social) intrusions is an essential element of the day-to-day negotiation of online activism risks. Accordingly, this study investigates the role horizontal privacy regulation efforts play in citizens’ decision-making regarding online political expression (OPE) about controversial topics under digital repression. Using a web-based survey of Internet users (N=992), the findings reveal that while horizontal privacy regulation significantly predicts a weaker intention for engaging in OPE about governmental corruption in Russia, this negative effect is amplified by how much one cares about others’ judgment about their position on corruption.

Dr. Ayşenur Dal

Ayşenur Dal is an Assistant Professor of Communication at Bilkent University, Ankara. She received her PhD from The Ohio State University in 2018. Her research interests are in political communication, public opinion, social-psychological dynamics of online political engagement, risk perceptions, digital privacy and social networks. She received Sakıp Sabancı International Research Award in 2021 and the Science Academy Young Scientist Award (BAGEP) in 2023. Her articles have been published in, among others, Political Behavior, Communication Research, New Media and Society, Social Media + Society, and International Journal of Communication.

The event will take place at AB2 G10 on the 23rd of February between 11:45-12:50.