Request for Proposals to the National Internet Observatory
In November 2022, the NIO went into the field with its browser extension, and we have since collected browsing data from approximately 10,000 total participants, with a focus on activity up to and around the 2024 US election. Data collection is ongoing and we currently have an active panel of 2,000-3,000 participants. The participants have agreed for their data to be provided for analytic access to scientific researchers, within a privacy-preserving framework.
We now request any interested academic researchers submit proposals for studies on this data. Below we describe the data available. We will be releasing new data products regularly, including generative AI use, mobile app usage, and social media so please check back often.
Web Browsing Data Product
The Web Browsing (a.k.a. Time On Page) data product provides researchers with information about the web pages visited by members of the NIO participant pool, specifically the amount of time they spent on each page before visiting a new page or URL. These data, in turn, can be linked to the demographics of the participants.
Search Data Product
The Search Data Product is made up of two different data products – Google and Bing search. Each search product provides data on what users are searching for, the search results, AI summaries of results, in-search advertisements, and other search page features.
Eligibility
Eligible researchers must be from an academic research institution. Applicants will need to:
- Take our self-guided ethics training
- Providing certification of human subjects training from their home institution
- Fill out a research intake form (similar to an IRB intake form)
- Have their institutions sign a data use agreement
We note that, due to the sensitivity of the data, access to all data will be via a secure data enclave, utilizing Northeastern computational resources.
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying for access, please complete Our Interest Form and we will send you a description of the relevant application materials.
Applications are currently being reviewed on a rolling basis.