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UC Davis spent thousands to scrub pepper spray references from Internet

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Re: UC Davis spent thousands to scrub pepper spray references from Internet

#31

Post by Animats »

vinhboy wrote: post #3

It's been a while since I've looked into these "reputation" services. Do they actually work, when not hit by the Streisand effect, or is it just snake oil?

As someone who works on conflict of interest problems on Wikipedia, coverups don't work if the incident got substantial press coverage or involved jail time. Small embarrassing problems can sometimes be pushed to the background.

There are at least four rich convicted felons who have Wikipedia articles and paid editors trying to whitewash them. They haven't succeeded.

Re: UC Davis spent thousands to scrub pepper spray references from Internet

#32

Post by sitkack »

tymekpavel wrote: post #10

I'm surprised the chancellor hasn't been forced to resign yet. Beyond authorizing the pepper spray incident, she's made many more questionable decisions. 1. Serving on the DeVry board without permission from the UC President, and receiving a generous paycheck. All while DeVry is under federal investigation. 2. Serving on the board of a company selling textbooks to students and receiving stock-based compensation total…

But she was a true benefactor for all these wonderful images, https://www.google.com/search?q=uc+davis+pepper+spray+meme&b...

Isn't active "cleaning up" of the internet by a government entity a violation of those people's free speech?

Re: UC Davis spent thousands to scrub pepper spray references from Internet

#33

Post by ksenzee »

personjerry wrote: post #19
cjarrett wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A search with bing for 'uc davis' highlights three recent articles written about their coverup. Streisand's effect indeed!

...with Bing?

The article describes how the SEO firm specifically targeted Google search results, so yes, I'd run that search with Bing too.

Re: UC Davis spent thousands to scrub pepper spray references from Internet

#34

Post by frogpelt »

CyberDildonics wrote: post #25
cjarrett wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A search with bing for 'uc davis' highlights three recent articles written about their coverup. Streisand's effect indeed!

why would you mention a specific search engine?

It wouldn't be weird if the specific search engine mentioned was Google.

Re: UC Davis spent thousands to scrub pepper spray references from Internet

#35

Post by tkinom »

labster wrote: post #29
wl wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm surprised that the chancellor wasn't forced to resign after the release of the Kroll and Reynoso reports about the pepper spray incident. The police action against the protestors was illegal and the police department knew it. They only went forward because of Katehi's mistaken insistence that the occupiers were not members of the campus community and needed to be removed before the weekend lest these outsiders ra…

There's only one reason they ever remove a UC Chancellor: they stop raising money for the University. Donor cash is job one. Obviously, she's good at her job if she makes money, even if she moonlights in jobs that actively harm students. The only solution is to stop donating to UC Davis -- and UC in general. If the Annual Fund calls you, ask them "Has Katehi resigned yet?" That's what I do. If you really want to help…

Good idea, will ask that question next time when I get the "Annual Fund" call.

Re: UC Davis spent thousands to scrub pepper spray references from Internet

#36

Post by EdHominem »

Nadya wrote: post #22
Overtonwindow wrote: post #2

Well, few things give more attention to something than attempts to bury it. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect

I wonder how many more years until large bodies (used in a company/regulatory sense) understand this. Unless their attempt is to gain coverage on something - trying to hide it is going to have the opposite effect due to social media...it seems like so many people are aware of the Streisand effect except everyone in a PR position.

They've got no obligation to tell their clients about it. If it all blows up the client is only going to need more PR work.

Re: UC Davis spent thousands to scrub pepper spray references from Internet

#37

Post by NelsonMinar »

vinhboy wrote: post #3

It's been a while since I've looked into these "reputation" services. Do they actually work, when not hit by the Streisand effect, or is it just snake oil?

There's a good Reply All podcast episode about this. They do work. https://gimletmedia.com/episode/18-silence-and-respect/

Re: UC Davis spent thousands to scrub pepper spray references from Internet

#38

Post by spacemanmatt »

neves wrote: post #21

Am I evil if I vote up this post so it counteracts the consultant job of hiding the pepper spray event from the internet?

No, you're a good citizen. When I saw the story hit facebook, it got reshared faster than anything else today.

Re: UC Davis spent thousands to scrub pepper spray references from Internet

#39

Post by coroutines »

I wonder how they decided spending money on this would be a good investment.

They must know how the internet works.

What specifically were they paying for that made it worth it? Keeping references to the incident away from their Facebook page?

Who HASN'T seen that image by now?

What a misguided allocation of funds.

Re: UC Davis spent thousands to scrub pepper spray references from Internet

#40

Post by PhasmaFelis »

Nadya wrote: post #22
Overtonwindow wrote: post #2

Well, few things give more attention to something than attempts to bury it. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect

I wonder how many more years until large bodies (used in a company/regulatory sense) understand this. Unless their attempt is to gain coverage on something - trying to hide it is going to have the opposite effect due to social media...it seems like so many people are aware of the Streisand effect except everyone in a PR position.

On the other hand, if there are companies that have succeeded in quietly optimizing away their critics, then we wouldn't know.
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