The other panel's description focused on sociopolitics and journalistic integrity, which GamerGate supporters have used as moral cover during online harassment campaigns. It featured multiple supporters of the GamerGate movement—"several prominent GamerGate figureheads," as co-organizer Perry Jones stated in a Reddit post. Representatives from that panel did not respond to request for comment.Caroline Sinders, an interaction designer at IBM Watson who was slated to speak on the 'Level Up' panel with Katherine Cross and Randi Harper, said she received the following email from SXSW on Monday."It says a lot about the fact that women aren't taken seriously or respected in tech spaces"
Dear Caroline,
This email serves as notice that SXSW Interactive has made the decision to cancel the "Level Up: Overcoming Harassment in Games" session for March 2016 in Austin.
On the one hand, we are an event that prides itself on being a big tent and a marketplace of diverse people and diverse ideas.
On the other hand, preserving the sanctity of that big tent at SXSW Interactive necessitates that we keep the dialogue civil and respectful — so that people can agree, disagree and embrace new ways of thinking in a safe and secure place. We have already received numerous threats of violence regarding this panel, so a civil and respectful environment seems unlikely in March in Austin. For this reason, we have also canceled other sessions at the 2016 event that focused on the GamerGate controversy.
We are strong believers in community at SXSW — and a healthy community sometimes requires strong management. Preserving the sanctity of the big tent is more important than preserving any particular session.