Vox Media is following in Buzzfeed’s footsteps by threatening to boycott South By Southwest Interactive unless canceled gaming panels are reinstated.
After organizers pulled two scheduled panels addressing harassment within the gaming community, the media company issued a statement saying that it would not participate in the festival unless changes are made.
“By approving the panels in question, SXSW assumed responsibility for related controversies and security threats,” the statement read. “By canceling the panels, they have cut off an opportunity to discuss a real and urgent problem in media and technology today.”
“We have reached out to SXSW organizers and ask that they host a safe and open discussion of these issues, rather than avoid them,” the statement continued.