What are the implications of using hacked data for research?

A short thread inspired by the fact that, before AWs took it down, #Parler was extensively hacked and user data was leaked.

The #Parler dataset seems crazy interesting for doing research, and my first reaction after the breach was to shre it with other #CompSocSci ppl.

However, I started having second thoughts, so what follows is to organize ideas and have it somewhere I can look back to.

2/n
Generally speaking, as far as the ethics of research goes a good advice would be to handle hacked data with caution.

First of all, there's an issue of quality. Data might be altered or incomplete, and the source cannot be considered accountable (assuming src is anonymous).

3/n
Secondly and more importantly, a researcher using the data would probably be violating users’ consent and acting against the data collector's will.

Finally, users’ privacy is at stake, since researchers could see material that users didn’t agree for other people to see.

4/n
Sharing private information without consent might put people at risk of harm.

This is all the more true in cases such as the #ParlerHack, where the leaked information is of particularly sensitive nature, and there’s a high risk of unintended consequences.

5/n
However, it can be argued that in many cases the milk is already spilled.

After all the data is out there, users are already exposed, and using the leaked information for rsrch (with some precautions) might not cause any additional harm.

Does this mean free for all then?

6/n
Short answer, I am not sure.

On practical grounds, there might be legal boundaries in place (depending on the context).

But more generally, from a deontology perspective I think that (as long as the resercher is not responsible for the hack) the picture is blurred.

7/n
Sure, the issue of privacy when data is out in the open becomes secondary. Plus, data can be anonymized by the researcher, so that private information is not furtherly disseminated.

On the other hand, I think the problem of users’ consent should not be bypassed as easily.

8/n
There's also another issue.

In fact it can be argued that using illegally obtained data for research purposes might legitimize (or even encourage) illegal or unethical behavior.

9/n
Ultimately, the fact that data is publicly available data it doesn't mean neacessarily that it is available for research, and some of the arguments against its use are hard to dismiss.

Do you know of any explicit guidelines in poli /soc sciences that address this issue?

n/n
cc @therriaultphd @ylelkes @conjugateprior @cjw_phd

https://t.co/IvcTXARoga

More from Internet

Many conversations happening on #WhatsApp (WA) groups about new #WhatsAppPrivacyPolicy .
This thread has arguments to help ditch WA & move to @signalapp:
https://t.co/En4fe9VxUN
Share, use, copy-paste, modify with understanding as you deem fit on any platform in whole or part
1/n

Note: No affiliations, conflict of interest
Info presented with NO bias, prejudice, malice or indemnity.
Open to corrections: individual tweets may be deleted, tweets added to thread or corrected as replies.
Points that are unclear or uncertain are marked with "(?)".
2/n

CONTENT OF WA MESSAGES SHALL REMAIN ENCRYPTED END TO END.
BUT, there's data: contacts, group affiliations, co-affiliations, locations (live?), frequency of contacts, *tags* generated when we send or forward a message or file to contacts or groups, links, clicks on links, etc.
3/n

It is unclear whether this data is anonymized.
NOTHING in latest policy *prevents* the collection, retention, sharing or sale by FaceBook (FB: owner of WA) of this data in part or whole whether with identifying information or anonymized.
Meme source:
https://t.co/nMDTUlb0rl
4/n


Companies need to make money & generate profits:
To create software, install & maintain infrastructure.
Google, FB, Insta, Amazon etc sell data created from our content & data generated from our interactions (searches, clicks, purchases etc).
This makes many uncomfortable.
5/n

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