Dr. Cassandra Mudgway

@legallyfeminist

Am a Dr. Not the useful kind. Teach Evidence Law, International Human Rights, Gender & the Law at UC. Researching online abuse, human rights, law. ASD-Dyspraxia 🌈 Instagram: @legally.feminist Views are my own.

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Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· 4h

Looking forward to Digital hate, real harm: Mapping the landscape of online misogyny in Wellington on 3 September. Register here: events.massey.ac.nz/digital-hate...

Digital hate, real harm: Mapping the landscape of online misogyny
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A National Symposium.

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· 1d

Thanks to Andrea Vance for fact checking this ridiculous statement from Ani O'brien. Let's also add to the list: all trans women and Metiria Turei. (There are otheres, sound off in the comments) #nzpol

“I certainly hope that I haven’t caused anyone the kind of distress or the hurt that Martyn has caused me.”
"In march last year, Obrien was one of the several prominent figures who amplified screenshots from the then Green MP Benjamin Doyles private instagram account"

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· 2d

Ahhhhh. Freedom of speech crusaders, eh. I won't be commenting further. #nzpol www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3610...

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· 10d

They don't even go here! #nzpol

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· 10d

My special interest is the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015 and you have no idea how much I want to comment on all those FB posts about Bradbury to correct them on the law, freedom of expression, and how much that guy is an ass (and so too is the complainant, probably so 🤷‍♀️)

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· 11d

Are you joking? Winne started a homophobic disinformation campaign against a non binary MP knowing full well what that would translate to online. Threats, harassment and other online violence. So serious, that MP left. Unbelievable #nzpol

He blamed the left saying "when the left disagree they get violent"

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· 17d

Response from Stuff #nzpol

Thank you for taking the time to get in touch and share your concerns.

We appreciate that you found the language used in the headline offensive. In this instance, the headline directly quoted comments made by Winston Peters, one of New Zealand's most senior politicians. Where public figures use controversial or offensive language in the course of their public duties, there can be a strong public interest in reporting their words accurately so readers understand both what was said and the reaction it may provoke.

Our intention was not to endorse, but to report it faithfully as part of a newsworthy political story. We recognise that readers may disagree with that editorial judgement.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact us.

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jul 6

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jul 6

Student loan goneburger

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jul 3

So I was quoted in a story about Ray Chung yesterday. But the journalist didn't include my entire quote. So I'm going to include it in full below and YOU let me know why you think it wasn't included in full 🧵 #nzpol

Canterbury university law senior lecturer cassandra mudgway who made an oral sub against Chibgs apportionment as Chair said the episode raised a serious cincern about his judgment and fitness for leadership roles.

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jun 29

So, basically #nzpol

Simpsons quote: am I out of touch? No, it's the children who are wrong

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jun 29

Something that politicians will say is that the ban will create a cultural change in behaviour among young people. I argue that those who need to change are companies that profit from online harm. #nzpol

Luxon said the key challenge was ensuring technology companies faced consistent rules around the world.

“The bigger issue is actually when you deal with the tech platforms, they actually need to see multiple countries come along with pretty much similar types of legislation,” he told Newstalk ZB.

Luxon pointed to countries including Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as some US states, saying a broader international approach would encourage platforms to take the rules seriously.

“They’ll start to respect it when they see that the countries are actually pretty consistent,” he said.

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jun 29

That's right. The policy has failed. Australia is blaming the platforms but ultimately the only way it would work is by implementing intrusive age verification technology that creates risks for the human rights of users of all ages. #nzpol

Luxon’s comments come after Albanese acknowledged Australia’s social media restrictions had not worked as intended, saying technology companies had done “the absolute minimum” to comply.

Recent research found more than 80% of under-16s were still using social media.

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jun 29

DYING to block young people from the internet and require age verification tech across all platforms. But not DYING to develop online safety regulations that would actually help change online environments for the better. Let's talk about what Luxon had to say 🧵 #nzpol

‘We’re gonna die trying to do something’ on social media ban, PM says
Stuff
June 29, 2026 • 9:11am

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jun 26

With alt text

Why is this worse? (In my opinion)

Because Australia has focused on removing U16s from platforms, companies can be lax with measures that would keep children safer on their platforms. Advocates accept large numbers of children will still use social media (see both Stanford and Luxon's use of "it's not a silver bullet" line) but despite this do not also advocate for other regulations that would keep younger people safer, for example, banning the "addictive" features that are linked with greater harm (for everyone because platforms are actually bad at telling someone's age).

A social media ban for young people is almost inevitable in NZ given both the largest political parties in Parliament support it despite the evidence and without scrutinizing the motivations of those who advocate for the ban the most.

It is therefore important to understand how you and the young people in your life may end up exposed to greater harm via more lax safety measures for children on platforms and intrusive age verification.

Wider online safety regulations MUST follow if the aim is to curb online harm.

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jun 26

With alt text (sorry, baby on my hip when I posted 🫠)

A new study shows just how poorly Australia's under 16 social media ban has been implemented

A new study in the British Medical Journal reports more than 85% of under 16s still have regular access to restricted social media platforms

While 14-15 year olds report a minor decrease in time using social media, 12-13 year olds used social media the same amount of time as they did prior to the ban

How do they still have access?

Mostly by circumventing the platform's checks either by lying or uploading a selfie that mistakes then as older

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jun 24

6 days out to the end of June. Erica Stanford promised draft legislation regarding an under 16s social media ban and "other measures" by the end of June. Someone leak the draft PLEASE #nzpol

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jun 24

Any party willing to put NACT back in power after all the anti Māori, anti women, anti queer people, anti environment and anti democracy shenanigans of the last 3 years is not serious and not worth voting for. #nzpol

Stop trying to make TOP happen, it's not going to happen (mean girls meme)

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jun 22

Being called a "senior law professor" in the newspaper

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jun 21

It was mostly about the U16 social media ban, fine, but then some racist stuff #nzpol

Roughly 12,000 people a year are arrested in the UK for posts. Yet the institutions now charged with policing speech are the same ones that, for years, declined to confront the exploitation of 250,000 girls across the country by predominantly Pakistani men. That history is a warning about what follows when the state assumes the authority to decide which subjects may be discussed.

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jun 21

Who/what is Sovereign and why am I on their email list? #nzpol

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jun 19

A major Wired investigation this week revealed details of Peter Thiel's secretive "Dialog" network after a leaked database exposed hundreds of members. One name caught my attention: Jonathan Haidt. A thread 🧵

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jun 16

Booo age bans #nzpol

"What do you think about the under 16s social media ban in the UK?" Once again, I'm being asked to explain and give my opinion on the trend of age gating social media that appears to be sweeping the world (thanks Australia).

I think it's being driven by desperation.

Parents are desperate to protect their young people from online harm.

Waning politicians are desperate to hold onto power by pretending to do something about it.

But it won't do either of these things. It's a bad policy with good intentions.

And yes, NZ is likely to follow suit with an announcement later this month. Only we are in an even weaker position than Australia and the UK. Without robust online safety regulations, an independent regulator with teeth, and a revamped Privacy Act we cannot enforce an effective ban. It will not work.

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jun 9

ACT is selling cheaper, worse versions of the Green Party jumpers (because they think that's funny). But I also saw a rip of Te Pāti Māori. How long have they been stealing merch ideas? #nzpol

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jun 5

The image they ran with this article is killing me ROFL

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jun 3

So he agrees? His tweets are like AI slop?

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· Jun 1

RNZ knew what they were doing with this fascist, sith lord, nightmare feul.

Pauline Hanson half in shadow, next to red backdrop

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· May 31

I might have written 10 pages and, for the first time, said I'd be keen to do an oral submission. My baby will be up again soon. I should be asleep 😴 anyway, subs close for the Deepfake Bill on June 19 #nzpol

Submission complete for the Deepfake Bill.

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· May 19

Willis thinks writing a report on public service reform is MUNDANE, therefore low enough of a task for Microsoft Co-Pilot. #nzpol

This morning Willis told newstalk she wanted to public service to get out of the 80s. She said AI was incredible at slashing the amount of time needed for mundane tasks, reveing her staff used it to write a report on public service reform.

Dr. Cassandra Mudgway@legallyfeminist· May 19

The government wants to replace public servants with co-pilot (allegedly). #nzpol