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Failure Privacy and Safe Collective Expression with Social Assurance Contracts

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  • Matthew Cashman

Abstract

Controversial views sometimes remain unspoken because they invite retaliation. However, a sufficiently large group could speak safely if only they spoke together. Speaking up one-by-one may encourage others, but retaliation against early participants can stop that cascade before a protective group forms. A Social Assurance Contract privately collects signed commitments and publishes them only when all signers will be safe. I show that such contracts can tunnel beneath this exposure barrier to safe coalitions the public speaking cascade cannot reach. Doing so requires private commitments and joint publication.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew Cashman, 2026. "Failure Privacy and Safe Collective Expression with Social Assurance Contracts," Papers 2607.05802, arXiv.org, revised Aug 2026.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2607.05802
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    File URL: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2607.05802
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