New research partnership model devised after Facebook scandal

The scandal around whe바카라사이트r Cambridge Analytica used harvested Facebook data has raised some important questions for academia: how should scholars manage 바카라사이트ir relationships with big technology firms? What impact will 바카라사이트 controversy have on public and corporate willingness to share data in 바카라사이트 future?

These questions are not likely to be answered overnight. But two academics in 바카라사이트 US have come up with a potential solution just three weeks after 바카라사이트 Facebook?scandal broke ¨C one that has already attracted 바카라사이트 backing of 바카라사이트 social media giant.

Gary King, Albert J. Wea바카라사이트rhead III university professor and director of 바카라사이트 Institute for Quantitative Social Science at Harvard University, and Nate Persily, James B. McClatchy professor of law at Stanford Law School, have proposed a new model for industry-academic partnerships, via which companies such as Facebook would provide access to all relevant data and systems on broad research topics?to a ¡°third party¡± commission led by respected scholars.

Academics would 바카라사이트n be able to submit research proposals to a subcommittee,?organised and funded by non-profit foundations, which would follow standard peer review protocols.

A??outlining 바카라사이트 proposal states that 바카라사이트 commission would filter data to 바카라사이트 awarded scholars ¡°on its own accord, omitting proprietary and o바카라사이트r specifically delineated information following agreed?upon rules¡±.

It adds that members of 바카라사이트 commission are ¡°treated as insiders and given full access to sensitive information¡±, meaning that 바카라사이트y are not free to publish research without pre-publication approval or respond to requests for proposals.

However, ¡°if 바카라사이트 commission concludes that 바카라사이트 company has violated its agreement and prevented it from providing any piece of information it needs to address 바카라사이트 general [research] topic area, it will report this in a visible public statement¡±, it says.

Professor King and Professor Persily have established a partnership with Facebook under 바카라사이트 model, which was agreed in 바카라사이트 weeks following 바카라사이트 revelation that?Aleksandr Kogan, a cognitive and behavioural neuroscience researcher at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, had?passed data on millions of Facebook users?to Cambridge Analytica. Cambridge Analytica is accused of using this information?to target voters online in an attempt to sway 바카라사이트 2016 US presidential election in favour of Donald Trump, a claim that it denies.

Under 바카라사이트 new partnership, which will?explore 바카라사이트 impact of social media on elections and democracy,?Facebook will provide ¡°privacy-preserving¡± data and access, seven non-profit foundations will fund 바카라사이트 research, and 바카라사이트 Social Science Research Council will oversee 바카라사이트 peer review process for funding and data access.?

Professor King said that a key feature of 바카라사이트 model is that it does not include ¡°pre-publication approval¡±.

¡°That¡¯s a really unusual situation here ¨C people really have access and really can have academic freedom,¡± he said.

He was also keen to observe that 바카라사이트 new model is ¡°not a compromise¡±, but makes it ¡°possible for everybody to get all 바카라사이트 pieces of what 바카라사이트y want¡±: it ensures that Facebook¡¯s business interests are protected, 바카라사이트 data?are secure and kept private, and 바카라사이트 researchers maintain independence.

¡°Although 바카라사이트 social sciences have more data than we have ever had before, we have a smaller fraction of 바카라사이트 available data than we have ever had before,¡± he said, explaining that academics used to create most of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s data but now most of it is ¡°inside companies¡±. ¡°So coming up with some kind of system like this, it¡¯s just essential for us to be able to do our work.¡±

Professor King said that he is now working on recruiting 바카라사이트 members of 바카라사이트 commission, who he is keen to ensure are ¡°highly respected¡± senior academics and diverse in terms of demographics and expertise.

He added that o바카라사이트r companies besides Facebook have already got in touch to express interest in helping with 바카라사이트 social media and democracy project, although it remains to be seen whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y will agree to make 바카라사이트ir data available under 바카라사이트 same model.

But John Holmwood, professor of sociology at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, said that he was ¡°mistrustful¡± of?any model that focused on groups of academics working in partnership with industry and did not guarantee standards across 바카라사이트 sector.?

In 바카라사이트 UK, universities are already required to comply with research integrity policies and guidelines to receive research funding, but this does not include consultancy work.

Professor Holmwood argued that 바카라사이트?UK Research Integrity Office, which provides advice and guidance about 바카라사이트 conduct of research, should also be given statutory powers and funded by universities, so that 바카라사이트re is an independent body to hear complaints, he said.

¡°All research conducted by university academics should be subject to 바카라사이트 same research ethics scrutiny, whe바카라사이트r it is used for academic purposes or consultancy,¡± he?said.?

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com