NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Harvard Researchers Accused of Breaching Students' Privacy
Harvard Researchers Accused of Breaching Students' Privacy
http://j.mp/rdSEKP (Chronicle of Higher Education)
"The Harvard sociologists argue that the data pulled from students'
Facebook profiles could lead to great scientific benefits, and that
substantial efforts have been made to protect the students. Jason
Kaufman, the project's principal investigator and a research fellow at
Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet & Society, points out that data
were redacted to minimize the risk of identification. No student seems
to have suffered any harm. Mr. Kaufman accuses his critics of acting
like 'academic paparazzi.'"
- - -
This story serves as an example of the complex interplay of issues
that affects privacy and data usage. Note that in this case we're
talking about Facebook profile data at various "privacy levels" -- but
all of this data was shared to one extent or another. As usual,
simplistic analysis does not well serve anyone involved, and in
reality a multidisciplinary approach is key, along with the
realization that these issues must be considered in context, not in
isolation, if we want real understanding, rather than platitudes and
headlines.
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren
Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org
Founder:
- Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org
- Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance: http://www.gctip.org
- PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com
Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Google+: http://vortex.com/g+lauren
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com