A data-driven analysis of Hacker News moderation practices, based on months of scraping the HN API. Covers the tools moderators use (downweighting, burying, killing, shadowbanning), how user flagging can be abused for censorship, and the lack of transparency around moderator actions. Includes direct quotes from HN moderator Dan clarifying policies. Concludes with suggestions for a public audit log, moderator review queues for flagged posts, and more community-appointed moderators.
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