UW Research

April 19, 2022

UW Libraries Event: Academic Surveillance and the Big Data Economy on May 3, 2022

Join the UW Libraries for Academic Surveillance and the Big Data Economy, a virtual event on May 3, 2022 at 9:30 am Pacific as part of the American Library Association’s national Choose Privacy Week celebration.

Surveillance of students, researchers, and their work is prevalent not only on social media, but also on other online platforms that are integral to academic success. Platforms like research databases gather data from users, often without making clear the purpose behind collecting this information or the practices in place to keep the data safe. This data creates a detailed record of research agendas and learning practices, which if used improperly has the potential to harm and police students, faculty, and other researchers. More immediately, some of these companies actively enact broader societal harm by accumulating vast stores of data and sharing them with entities such as ICE – entities that embody values in direct conflict with those of many researchers and students. This event will explore these issues – and some potential solutions – through a keynote talk and panel featuring CUNY Professor of Law Sarah Lamdan, and a discussion about UW research in this area with Chris Geeng. Review our online program and register today!

This event is co-sponsored by the UW Libraries Open Scholarship Commons and the Research Commons.