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> What can be done to stop Facebook closing down these research projects? Go back in time and make Cambridge Analytica disappear. Facebook’s biggest scandal a
by justapassenger 5y ago
> What can be done to stop Facebook closing down these research projects?
Go back in time and make Cambridge Analytica disappear.
Facebook’s biggest scandal and existential threat came from company siphoning data disguised as a research.
There’s of course a tons of details to it, but it’s totally understandable to me that they’re doing everything to protect against 2nd CA.
- dannyw 5y agoNo, this is a legitimate, open source research project by credible academics, done with full and informed consent. No information is collected from users who don't voluntarily enrol into this research study. This is like a tobacco company putting a terms of service on its packet, saying you may not study or research its harms.
- munchausen42 5y agoThe guy providing the data in the CA scandal was a credible scientist at the Universities of Toronto and Cambridge. His social media data collection back then was considered part of his legitimate research activities. It was funded by research grants, and nobody had a problem with that. That is, until some of the data he collected was potentially used for political microtargeting. The thing is, Facebook and the other social media companies have never had any real interest to support research projects that collect and analyze their data. Why should they? However, since the public outrage over the CA event they basically have carte blanche to deny all these requests - even from seemingly credible scientists - and just say: "Hey, we just want to prevent another CA."