Abstract

Recently leaked Facebook data included material from the platform’s internal social science research units. Given its character—and the likelihood of future whistleblowing—this case presents an opportunity for reflection on current and future academic engagement with leaked data. This contribution is grounded in the experiences of some members of a small, international team of journalism scholars, after being offered access to the leaked data by a media organization. It also describes other academic-involved initiatives—their similarities, differences, and efforts—working toward expanded access to and/or usage of this data. Rather than take a general or hardline stance on use of leaked data, this contribution emphasizes critical engagement—ethical, legal, practical—with the particulars of individual leaks. It also emphasizes the need for guidelines and mechanisms for working with leaked data, and the concomitant importance of transparency within academia about current practices. Such critical engagement should also include consideration of the positionalities, divisions, and marginalities of involved researchers and regions.

摘要

最近泄露的 Facebook 数据包括来自该平台内部社会科学研究部门的材料。鉴于其性质——以及未来被举报的可能性——这个案例提供了一个机会来反思当前和未来学术界对泄露数据的参与。这一贡献是基于一个小型国际新闻学者团队的一些成员的经验，在一家媒体组织提供访问泄露数据后。它还描述了其他学术参与的举措——它们的异同和努力——致力于扩大对这些数据的访问和/或使用。这篇文章没有对泄露数据的使用采取一般或强硬的立场，而是强调了对个人泄露细节的批判性参与——道德、法律、实践。它还强调了处理泄露数据的指导方针和机制的必要性，以及学术界对当前做法的透明度的伴随重要性。这种批判性参与还应包括考虑相关研究人员和地区的地位、分歧和边缘性。