The intellectual dark web (IDW) is a loose affiliation of academics and social commentators who oppose what they perceive as the influence of left wing identity politics and political correctness in higher education and mass media.
Individuals and publications associated with the term reject what they view as authoritarianism and ostracism within mainstream progressive movements in Western countries. This includes opposition to deplatforming, boycotts, and online shaming, which are perceived as threats to freedom of speech.