Demand five precepts to aid social-media watchdogs

Early this August, Facebook shut down the personal and organizational accounts of researchers associated with New York University s Ad Observatory, a project in which informed volunteers allow study of advertising targeted to their accounts. Facebook said its move was necessary to protect people s privacy and to comply with orders from the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC gave an unusually public response. It published a statement saying that its restrictions do not bar good-faith research in the public interest .

This marks an opportunity for anyone who thinks that social media s effects on democracy and society should be open to scrutiny. It is time to lay down ground rules to empower public-interest research on social media.

via www.nature.com