Silenced by Design Censorship, Governance, and the Politics of Access in Generative AI Refusal Behavior

arXiv:2601.08877v1 Announce Type: new
Abstract: This paper examines refusal behavior in generative AI systems through a governance lens. Drawing on historical frameworks of censorship and contemporary design logics, it argues that refusal is not a neutral safeguard but a site of power, shaped by institutional risk management and opaque decision-making. The analysis concludes with user-centered recommendations for ethical refusal design.
Keywords: Generative AI governance, AI refusal behavior, Censorship, Ethical design