# A Just and Comprehensive Strategy for Using NLP to Address Online Abuse

## TL;DR

This paper advocates for a broader, justice-oriented approach in NLP to better detect, prevent, and address various forms of online abuse, emphasizing proactive and inclusive strategies.

## Contribution

It proposes expanding NLP focus to subtle and serious abuse, developing proactive tools, and framing efforts within a justice framework for healthier online communities.

## Key findings

- Current NLP methods are too narrow in scope.
- Proactive and justice-based approaches are needed.
- Broader definitions and prevention strategies can improve outcomes.

## Abstract

Online abusive behavior affects millions and the NLP community has attempted to mitigate this problem by developing technologies to detect abuse. However, current methods have largely focused on a narrow definition of abuse to detriment of victims who seek both validation and solutions. In this position paper, we argue that the community needs to make three substantive changes: (1) expanding our scope of problems to tackle both more subtle and more serious forms of abuse, (2) developing proactive technologies that counter or inhibit abuse before it harms, and (3) reframing our effort within a framework of justice to promote healthy communities.