From 7fac84a0604201b1921025c54556135052d578b1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: clara-rthrdt Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2025 12:50:30 +0100 Subject: [PATCH 1/2] fixes --- docs/docs/02_data-access/02_03_data-access-global-south.mdx | 6 ++++-- 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-) diff --git a/docs/docs/02_data-access/02_03_data-access-global-south.mdx b/docs/docs/02_data-access/02_03_data-access-global-south.mdx index a51322b..8b3ce5c 100644 --- a/docs/docs/02_data-access/02_03_data-access-global-south.mdx +++ b/docs/docs/02_data-access/02_03_data-access-global-south.mdx @@ -1,6 +1,6 @@ --- sidebar_position: 2 -title: 'Latin America: Researcher access to platform data' +title: 'Challenges in accessing data in the Global South' --- # Latin America: Researcher access to platform data, challenges to academic freedom and transparency @@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Social media monitoring is essential for research on online violence. Since 2020 However, the continuity of this research has been facing setbacks due to what we call data blackout, caused by changes and restrictions in accessing the APIs of different platforms. Few platforms remained open for research after the closure of CrowdTangle, Meta’s research platform, in 2024; the exorbitant fees charged by X; and TikTok’s API being available, though unreliable, only in the United States and Europe. As a result, the historical series of MonitorA has become unviable, leaving **no comparable data for the analysis of political violence in Brazil.** -## Global disparities in data Access and academic collaboration +## Global disparities in data access and academic collaboration The case of MonitorA is not unique. Other research projects have been discontinued or compromised due to data access policies for researchers. Although some of these policies affect researchers worldwide, **the impacts are different and more significant in countries in the Global South due to the absence of alternatives beyond the APIs provided by the platforms.** In some cases, researchers from the Global North gain access to data through alternative means, such as qualitative methods via interviews or informal conversations with big tech employees, or through partnerships with platforms, not relying exclusively on access to public APIs. @@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ There are numerous records of partnerships between US and European universities This type of partnership between platforms and universities—or even direct contact with platforms—is much more restricted for researchers who are not affiliated with research centres in the Global North. Considering the context of a data blackout and the specific challenges faced by researchers from the Global South, during April, May, and June 2023, InternetLab conducted 3 in-depth interviews and 2 focus groups with 14 Latin American researchers to understand the specific challenges encountered in the region regarding academic freedom and transparency on platforms. +## Breaking down the issue: 7 main obstacles for researchers + From these conversations, the **main obstacles and risks faced by Latin American researchers conducting research on platforms were:** 1. **Infrastructure and funding: structural difficulties in Latin America for the collection and processing of research data.** Despite relatively high economic classifications, research investments are low compared to the Global North, leading to fewer publications and citations. Latin American researchers often rely on platform APIs and tools like CrowdTangle because they lack the resources for advanced data scraping and storage, making them vulnerable to policy changes by the platforms. This dependence not only hampers independent research but also fosters a competitive environment where data sharing is limited by contractual and security concerns. From c20d57ca7782cd7834416de940fbe388c763574d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: clara-rthrdt Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2025 12:55:17 +0100 Subject: [PATCH 2/2] add index --- docs/docs/02_data-access/index.mdx | 8 ++++++++ docs/docs/04_data-analysis/index.mdx | 6 ++++++ 2 files changed, 14 insertions(+) diff --git a/docs/docs/02_data-access/index.mdx b/docs/docs/02_data-access/index.mdx index f2c4b70..f19afd4 100644 --- a/docs/docs/02_data-access/index.mdx +++ b/docs/docs/02_data-access/index.mdx @@ -27,6 +27,14 @@ Once you're familiar with the relevant [ethical considerations](/docs/get-starte **[Learn more](02_02_overview-access)** +
+ Challenges in accessing data in the Global South + + This chapter explores how limitations in data access are disproportionately affecting researchers in the Global South—highlighting 7 key obstacles that threaten academic freedom, data transparency, and equitable knowledge production. + + **[Learn more](02_03_data-access-global-south)** +
+ :::contribute Open for contributions We welcome contributions on a rolling basis. At the moment, we particularly welcome chapters dealing with the following questions diff --git a/docs/docs/04_data-analysis/index.mdx b/docs/docs/04_data-analysis/index.mdx index 92e6bd7..4a544ff 100644 --- a/docs/docs/04_data-analysis/index.mdx +++ b/docs/docs/04_data-analysis/index.mdx @@ -45,7 +45,13 @@ To help you get started and inspired with social media analyses, we’ve collect **[Learn more](04_03_social-network-analysis)** +
+ Data analysis using the DISARM Framework + This chapter provides a hands-on guide for using the DISARM Framework effectively in disinformation research, particularly in data preprocessing and categorization. + + **[Learn more](04_04_disarm-framework)** +
:::contribute Open for contributions