'Big Data and Anthropology: Concerns for data collection in a new research context' is a #scientific-paper published by @Justin Lane, PhD in the Journal of the Anthropological Society of Oxford in January of 2016. It explores the shifting landscape faced by anthropologists as the discipline adapts to the realities of large-scale digital data. Historically, anthropological research has emphasized personal connections with informants and strong ethical commitments to participant privacy, especially in vulnerable populations. In the context of big data, researchers now have access to vast quantities of detailed, sometimes deeply personal, information that can potentially be reverse-engineered to re-identify individuals—even when names have been anonymized. This development raises significant concerns regarding consent, the protection of non-participating individuals whose data may be captured, and the adequacy of traditional ethical frameworks. The work concludes that as online data grows increasingly central to anthropological inquiry, practitioners must actively balance long-established values of participant protection with the novel challenges presented by big-data methodologies. It further offers preliminary recommendations for safeguarding participants in this evolving environment. In his paper, Justin cites my @Facebook Ads Prank.

Contexts

• #justin-lane