SXSW will hold all-day summit about online harassment in partnership with leading women advocates

In the wake of a week-long controversy over its cancellation of an anti-harassment panel, the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Festival has announced that it will not only reinstate the panel but also hold a day-long summit on the topic of online harassment.

The summit, scheduled for March 12, will include speakers such as Monica Bickert, Facebook’s head of product policy; Brianna Wu, a prominent developer and Gamergate target; Mary Anne Franks, and anti-revenge porn advocate; and Rep Katherine Clark (D-MA), the congresswoman who criticized SXSW’s decision to cancel the panel. “Earlier this week we made a mistake,” the festival said in a statement. “By canceling two sessions we sent an unintended message that SXSW not only tolerates online harassment but condones it, and for that we are truly sorry.”