95bFM Expert says the University of Auckland must do more to protect academics from online hate
Interview by Sofia Roger Williams, adapted by Castor Chacko
Research Director at The Disinformation Project, Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa, says that the University of Auckland did not fulfil its duty of care to Dr. Siouxsie Wiles and that more needs to be done to protect academics from online harassment.
On Monday 7th of July, the Employment Court found that the University of Auckland breached its duties of good faith and contractual obligations to protect Associate Professor Dr. Siouxsie Wiles from threats, abuse and harassment.
Wiles, a British microbiologist specialising in infectious diseases and bioluminescence, gained significant traction in Aotearoa during the COVID-19 pandemic for her public commentary and science communication work, for which she gave health and safety advice in interviews across multiple media organisations.
During her time in the public spotlight, Wiles was subject to extreme harassment and death threats, and even had her personal details and address posted online.
Wiles was awarded general damages of $20,000 by the employment courts to be paid by the university within 28 days.
However, Research Director at the Disinformation Project, Dr. Sanjana Hattotuwa, told 95bFM’s The Wire that this wasn’t enough.
“[There was] a tsunami of hate and harm directed against [Wiles], which was adding to this patina of extremely virulent, violent, vicious, dehumanising rhetoric across many social media platforms.”
“The judgement didn’t adequately capture it, acknowledge it, or provide recommendations in order to stymie and stop and mitigate those harms in the future.”
Hattotuwa, an expert witness in Wiles’ case, said that more care is needed to ensure the safety of academics as boundaries between the online and offline worlds blur.
He said that, while universities may have processes in place to manage in-person interactions, they lack the necessary structures to protect researchers from online harm, the consequences of which are just as real.
Hattotuwa continued that while the outcome of this case is not ideal, it puts Aotearoa on the path towards real change.
“The judgement is a very important one. It's a norm setting one. It sets a legal precedent.”
“It's very tragic that Professor Wiles had to go to court to see this resolved, but I would read the judgement as something that very clearly says that universities have a responsibility and a duty of care for academics when they are, in their professional capacity, expressing what may be unpopular opinions.”
