October 2015 - netsociety - server-nexa.polito.it

NoC annual meeting 2015 - Pre conference inputs from non-attending partners

by Lorenzo Canova

Dear colleagues, Since many of you will not be able to participate in the NoC annual meeting in Hong Kong, we have thought to give you the opportunity to still contribute to the meeting by sending pre-conference inputs specifically for Session II on " Global Research Updates and Areas of Collaboration" (http://networkofcenters.net/NoC-annual-meeting-2015) We would be delighted if you could please fill in this form by November 13: http://goo.gl/forms/eQU5RCXpvz Your indications will serve as input for the discussion, that will be available afterwards as video and meeting minutes. Thank you for your contribution. All the best, Lorenzo -- Lorenzo Canova Research Fellow Nexa Center for Internet & Society Politecnico di Torino - DAUIN http://nexa.polito.it Project Manager Global Network of Internet & Society Research Centers http://networkofcenters.net/

Oct. 30, 2015

[NoC] Thumbs up! A Hitchhiker's Guide to Big Data - and more HIIG Quarterly News | October 2015

by Felix Krupar

<http://www.hiig.de/> <https://twitter.com/hiig_berlin> <http://www.hiig.de/feed> <https://www.facebook.com/HIIG.Berlin> [If you want to receive the HIIG-Newsletter Quarterly in the future, click here to subscribe <http://www.hiig.de/en/newsletter-registration/>.] Dear friends and fellow researchers, Your employers have it, Google has loads of it and your phone collects it everywhere you go: it’s data, and if you know how to use it, it has unlimited potential. With this in mind, this newsletter aims to give you all the information you need about the big issue of the next few months: big data. At the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society, we’ll soon be starting our lectures series “Big data: big powershifts?” in cooperation with the Vodafone Institute for Society and Communications. The kick-off event will be happening at the British Embassy on 5 November 2015, and if you’re fast, you might still grab one of the last spots on the guest list. Two further lectures are planned in January and March 2016 and on top of that, the Internet Policy Review is preparing a special edition on the lecture topic for March. Not enough? Then read the “Hitchhiker’s Guide to Big Data” in the events’ section of this newsletter. Of course, this newsletter is also full of news, publications and other upcoming events. Have a look at the "dark side of power" and do not miss out on our wrap-up of this year’s ESRC. As always, there is something for everyone in our quarterly newsletter! Jeanette Hofmann | Ingolf Pernice | Thomas Schildhauer | Wolfgang Schulz Lecture Series: Big data: big power shifts? HIIG aims to anticipate tipping points and controversial questions: We want to discuss the impact of big data. After our kick-off event “Making Sense of Big Data” in November, the lecture series will turn to the health sector and in e-government in 2016. The lecture series is curated by Dr. Lena Ulbricht, WZB Research Fellow. | Sign up for our lecture series <http://www.hiig.de/big-data-big-power-shifts/>. Media Communication between Complexity and Simplification. Theory, Methods, Practice The conference Media Communication between Complexity and Simplification. Theory, Methods, Practice, organised by the German Communication Association (DGPuK), is scheduled for 5 to 7 November 2015 and will be held in German. | More about the conference <http://www.hiig.de/events/interdisziplinaerer-workshop-privacy-datenschutz-…>. IPR Special Edition: Big data: big power shifts? The Internet Policy Review’s special edition revolves around the topic of big data and how it shapes society by influencing power relations. The call for papers is now closed and you’ll be able to read the best submissions in the special edition published in March 2016. | More on power shifts <http://policyreview.info/node/374>. RESEARCH AND ACTIVITIES #SafeHarbor | Our Researchers on the ECJ Decision This month, the European Court of Justice issued a landmark ruling on the Safe Harbour agreement between the European Union and the United States, which previously allowed easy data transfer. The Court ruled that the agreement is invalid – raising several questions about the future of data protection. HIIG Director Jeanette Hofmann commented on the decision on the Breitband <http://breitband.deutschlandradiokultur.de/triumph-fuer-den-nutzer/>radio show, and our researcher Emma Peters wrote on blog.hiig.de <http://www.hiig.de/die-usa-sind-kein-sicherer-hafen-fuer-europaeische-daten…> about the judgement’s implications for companies. Find more on the Internet Policy Review webpage: Monika Ermert argues that Max Schrems' boomerang hit Europe <http://policyreview.info/articles/news/max-schrems-boomerang-hits-europe/375> and Daphne Keller wrote on Europe's pending General Data Protection Regulation <http://policyreview.info/articles/news/intermediary-liability-and-user-cont…> (GDPR). | Follow us on twitter for more on the issue. <https://twitter.com/hiig_berlin> ESRC 2015 | Algorithmic Governance and More We always encourage our researchers to engage in an ongoing dialogue with the global academic community. No better place than the ESCR in Berlin. Our annual Early Stage Research Colloquium once again gave researchers a platform to explore innovative topics including algorithmic governance, knowledge in the digital age and e-government. Those topics were discussed in five thematically focused sessions led by seven of our researchers. | R <http://www.hiig.de/en/user-innovations-n-the-energy-market-new-research-pro…>ead a detailed summary by Stefan Stumpp here <http://www.hiig.de/en/early-stage-researchers-colloquium-2015-a-summary/>. Startup Clinics on the Road | Tech Open Air If you have not done so yet, have a look at the Startup Clinics <https://www.facebook.com/startupclinics>’ YouTube channel. The Startup Clinics’ team is constantly going out to collect the best advice for entrepreneurs. Their latest videos include interviews with John Vars <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuwL7FhhADE>, CPO at TaskRabbit, and Chris Barton <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RCErz2MvCk>, Co-Founder of Shazam, at the Tech Open Air Berlin 2015. | Watch the latest videos <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2-t9VLyLv2_dFRVoOZ1STg> (... and subscribe to the channel! <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2-t9VLyLv2_dFRVoOZ1STg?sub_confirmation=1>) New Members | The NoC is Steadily Growing We are glad to announce that the Network of Centers is continuously growing and five new centers just recently joined our network of internet and society research centers from around the globe: Centro de Estudos Sociedade e Tecnologia (Brazil), Institute of Communication Sciences (ISCC, France), Melbourne Networked Society Institute (Australia), United Nations University Institute on Computing and Society (UNU-CS, China) and Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology and Society (Netherlands). We say: Welcome! | L <http://www.hiig.de/fellow2016>earn more about the participating centers <http://networkofcenters.net/centers>. PUBLICATIONS Jörg Pohle | "Know the Power of the Dark Side" Together with computer scientist Andrea Knaut, Jörg Pohle <http://www.hiig.de/en/staff/jorg-pohle-2/> has recently published an analysis and opinion piece about the power invested in the knowledge of informatics in the LOG IN magazine <http://www.log-in-verlag.de/informatische_bildung/>. The authors assert that at a time when life processes of every kind are being automated, when control over human life and self-optimisation have become the highest priority, the internet still serves civil disobedience in creative ways – The article is a plea for such resistance. | Discover the dark side <http://www.hiig.de/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/2015-Knaut-Pohle-Die-dunkle-S…> (German). TPRC43 Conference | Creating Connectivity Our researcher Uta Meier-Hahn went to the TPRC43 <http://www.tprcweb.com/> conference last month, where she presented her research about the paradox of internet interconnection, which is that competition and cooperation have to coexist for private network actors such as internet access providers to interconnect. One of her conclusions is that both trust and distrust play an essential role. Meier-Hahn’s social science focus and qualitative methodology were warmly welcomed at TPRC. | Find the article in the TPRC's SSRN collection <http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2587843>. Startup Monitor | Satisfied Startup Founders in Germany For the third time, the “Deutsche Startup Monitor” has provided a comprehensive overview of the German startup scene. Over 1,000 startup founders participated in the study, representing their firms and more than 16,000 startup employees. The good news is that 89.3% of the founders are satisfied with their situation or even find it “good”. On a similarly promising note, the number of female founders has increased since last year. Associated doctoral researcher Steffen Tröger <http://www.hiig.de/staff/steffen-troger/> is project manager and co-publisher of the monitor. | Find all about the German startup scene here <http://deutscherstartupmonitor.de/fileadmin/dsm/dsm-15/studie_dsm_2015.pdf>. New Article | IT Security Law The new German IT Security Act is three months old. So, doctoral researcher Hannfried Leisterer thought it was time to examine the new statutory responsibilities in relation to IT security. His article looks at operators of critical infrastructure and telecommunication providers and examines whether there is a legal basis to collect personal data and in which specific attack scenarios this applies. This will be an informative read, especially for specialists in the field. | More about IT Security <http://www.hiig.de/publication/die-neuen-pflichten-zur-netz-und-information…>. Kaja Scheliga | Open Science: Collaborative Writing 2.0 How do you write academic papers? And how does collaborative writing influence which tool you use? In a paper included in the proceedings at the i-Know conference <http://i-know.tugraz.at/>, Kaja Scheliga found that most researchers prefer to stay with Microsoft Word (in combination with other digital technologies) rather than using online text editors. Might a distrust in cloud based technologies be a reason for this? | Find the article here <http://www.hiig.de/publication/collaborative-writing-in-the-context-of-scie…>. UPCOMING EVENTS A Hitchhiker's Guide to BIG DATA | from 05 November 2015 In case we haven’t highlighted our big data events enough yet, follow this short guide. You may start on Thursday, 5 November 2015 at the British Embassy in Berlin: Mike Savage and Isabella Sonnenfeld will introduce you to contemporary debates about big data. Follow on with a visit to the DGPuKs conference on “Media Communication between Complexity and Simplification <http://www.hiig.de/events/medienkommunikation-zwischen-komplexitat-und-vere…>” 6–7 November. After a short break, you’ll have a chance to learn more <http://www.hiig.de/big-data-big-power-shifts/>about the health sector in January and about e-government in March. After this action-packed schedule, you’ll hardly have to wait at all until the Internet Policy Review publishes its special edition on big data. | Making Sense of Big Data here. <http://www.hiig.de/events/making-sense-of-big-data/> Changing the Picture | 19 November 2015 Changing the Picture is a technology conference on 19 November aimed at broadcast industry executives, producers, production managers, sales and distribution companies and technology providers. The conference’s key issues are: How will we consume content in 2020 and what will the production tools look like? How are storytelling and technology intertwined? The cooperative research project dwerft – linked film & tv services <http://www.hiig.de/en/project/d-werft-2/>, in which the HIIG is involved, addresses those technological challenges with an open and common core technology: “Linked Production Data”. | Change the picture <http://www.hiig.de/en/events/changing-the-picture-2015/>. Interdisciplinary Workshop: Privacy, Data Protection & Surveillance | 04 December 2015 Especially for those with works in progress, HIIG researcher Jörg Pohle and Johannes Eichenhofer (Uni Bielefeld) are inviting young researchers to present and discuss their current academic projects – no matter how far along you are. The focus of the workshop is the challenges of interdisciplinary research. Both speakers and attendees should apply by 8 November. Speakers are kindly asked to provide the title of their paper and a small abstract in the application form. | Apply now for the workshop <https://docs.google.com/a/hiig.de/forms/d/1KBe6_AvelVVFzAq6KT_UyKAv4ZG1IZ00…>. If you want to receive the HIIG-Newsletter quarterly, click here to subscribe <http://www.hiig.de/en/newsletter-registration/>. Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society Oberwallstraße 9 | D-10117 | Berlin | info(a)hiig.de <mailto:info@hiig.de> > >

Oct. 29, 2015

Invitation to the Global Internet Policy Observatory Survey "Towards federation roadmap"

by Kasia Jakimowicz

Dear members on Network of Centres, your initiative has been identified as one of main stakeholders for GIPO (Global Internet Policy Observatory) federation roadmap, aimed at analysis of the possible scenarios of collaboration between GIPO and other initiatives. Therefore, we would like to kindly ask you to fill in the attached short survey and return it by the 30th October. The survey is also available online at: http://www.giponet.org/en/content/survey-towards-gipo-federation-roadmap-ho… About GIPO GIPO aims to provide an automated tool able to decode, contextualise and analyse thousands of pieces of data around a wide set of Internet governance topics. As a final product, the GIPO Observatory Tool will be able to seamlessly provide powerful insights into Internet searches related to cyber security, jurisdiction, e-commerce and several other important Internet related issues. The Observatory Tool (will) provide to users: - User interface enabling to search, view, comment, share items. - Visualisation dashboard of the data gathered - System to add and curate content. - System to evaluate and rate content. - System to retrieve content for reuse by others (incl. API). Currently, the project is in the first beta testing phase and second “iteration” of a four-part software development plan that would have the Observatory Tool ready for public use as early as 2016. GIPO adopts federated approach. The goal is to overcome the fragmentation and complexity of information but GIPO does not aim to centralize all this information by replacing the existing spaces. Instead, it is meant to be complementary and federated to them. GIPO is designed as a service to both final users and ,for most, to other observatories. In this respect the issue of degree of interoperability is of a major importance. More about GIPO on www.giponet.org. On behalf of GIPO team, Kasia Jakimowicz *European Affairs Manager* *Brussels - Barcelona* Rue de la Science 14b, Brussels E-mail: kjakimowicz(a)open-evidence.com Mobile: +32 470 18 92 17 / +34 695 032 621 Phone: +34 93 4 50 3585 Skype: kasia-jakimowicz be.linkedin.com/in/katejakimowicz/en/ www.open-evidence.com

Oct. 28, 2015

Invitation to the NoC annual meeting 2015 - Hong Kong, November 27

by Lorenzo Canova

Dear Colleagues, We kindly invite you to attend the Network of Center's annual meeting on“Internet & Society: Emerging Topics and Research Communities <https://www.google.com/url?q=http://networkofcenters.net/NoC-annual-meeting…>,”which will take place on***Friday, November 27th in Hong Kong*. The NoC annual meeting will be preceded by the launch of theDigital Asia Hub <https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.digitalasiahub.org/&sa=D&usg=AFQjCN…> on the evening of Thursday, November 26th. We warmly welcome NoC members planning to travel to the annual meeting to join us for the launch event as well.The November 27th NoC annual meeting is hosted by the Digital Asia Hub, and co-organized by the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University and the Nexa Center for Internet & Society at Politecnico di Torino. [November 27th NoC Meeting]The NoC annual meeting will be an opportunity to identify and highlight key innovations in the Internet & Society domain, exploring emerging global issues as well as region-specific topics in Asia. Existing and potential research efforts around online expression, data privacy, the Internet of Things, digital currencies, and many other issues are only a few of the open questions that our academic community continues to investigate. The meeting will be structured as three consecutive highly interactive sessions and will include a forward-looking discussion on the NoC’s research projects and their future trajectory. Further, the meeting will be an occasion to enhance mutual knowledge and cooperation within the NoC community of Centers and researchers, and to deliberate on the future of Internet & Society as a discipline and the impact of the NoC. You can see the agenda for the meeting athttp://networkofcenters.net/NoC-annual-meeting-2015 <https://www.google.com/url?q=http://networkofcenters.net/NoC-annual-meeting…>. [Logistics for the NoC Meeting] The meeting will be held at theHong Kong Country Club <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.countryclub.hk/&sa=D&usg=AFQjCNGeT…>. While further details will follow, we hope that you will attend this significant event for the NoC and ask that you indicate whether you will be attendingby sending an email to: contact(a)networkofcenters.net by *26th October*.Please indicate whether you will attend the NoC Annual Meeting, November 26th Digital Asia Hub Launch (described below), or both.Please note that, due to limited capacity of the venue, attendance is first come first served, so please RSVP early. [November 26th Digital Asia Hub Launch]The Digital Asia Hub is an independent Internet & Society research hub in the form of a non-profit think tank based in Hong Kong. Incubated by the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University and a diverse group of academic, civil society, and private sector partners, the Hub will provide anon-partisan, open, and collaborative platform for research, knowledge sharing and capacity building related to Internet & Society issues with focus on digital Asia.The Hub also aims to strengthen effective multi-stakeholder discourse, with both local and regional activities, and will contribute to - and itself serve as a node of - a larger network of academic organizations: the<https://www.google.com/url?q=http://networkofcenters.net/&sa=D&usg=AFQjCNEH…>Global Network of Internet & Society Centers <https://www.google.com/url?q=http://networkofcenters.net/&sa=D&usg=AFQjCNEH…>. Join us from5:00-7:30pm on November 27that theLiberty Exchange Bar <https://www.google.com/url?q=http://lex.hk/&sa=D&usg=AFQjCNH0TycXWYi75txTlG…> to help celebrate the launch of the Hub, as well as the publication of a collection of essays on “The Good Life in Asia's Digital 21st Century.”As noted above, please RSVP tocontact(a)networkofcenters.net <mailto:contact@networkofcenters.net> if you are interested in attending the Digital Asia Hub Launch.Please also note the Hub is looking for anExecutive Director <https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.digitalasiahub.org/portfolio/execut…>, and the deadline for applications is October 23rd if you or someone who you know might be interested in this position. [Accommodation suggestions]The closest recommended hotel to the venue, the Hong Kong Country Club, isL'hotel Island South <https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.lhotelislandsouth.com/&sa=D&usg=AFQ…>. Another option is to book a hotel in Causeway Bay, which is more centrally located but still not too far from the Hong Kong Country Club. Some nice hotels in the area are<https://www.google.com/url?q=http://hongkong.lansonplace.com/&sa=D&usg=AFQj…>Lanson Place <https://www.google.com/url?q=http://hongkong.lansonplace.com/&sa=D&usg=AFQj…> which is a small boutique hotel and<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/h…>The Crowne Plaza <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/h…>. We are happy to answer any questions you may have, and we hope to see you in November in Hong Kong. On behalf of the host and collaborators, Lorenzo Canova Nexa Center for Internet & Society at Politecnico di Torino (DAUIN) Juan Carlos de Martin Nexa Center for Internet & Society at Politecnico di Torino (DAUIN) Raimondo Iemma Nexa Center for Internet & Society at Politecnico di Torino (DAUIN) Urs Gasser Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University Lokman Tsui Digital Asia Hub, Hong Kong Donnie Dong Digital Asia Hub, Hong Kong -- Lorenzo Canova Research Fellow Nexa Center for Internet & Society Politecnico di Torino - DAUIN http://nexa.polito.it Project Manager Global Network of Internet & Society Research Centers http://networkofcenters.net/

Oct. 19, 2015

Tilburg Institute of Law, Technology and Society: Newsletter

by Sascha Schendel, van

Dear all, The Tilburg Institute of Law, Technology and Society <https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/research/institutes-and-research-groups/t…> (TILT), located in The Netherlands, has recently joined The Network of Centers <http://networkofcenters.net/center/TILT>. TILT has an electronic newsletter that appears every six weeks. In this newsletter we provide news concerning the latest publications, projects and developments of TILT. If you want to be subscribed to our newsletter, please send an e-mail to Ms. Sascha van Schendel (s.vanschendel(a)tilburguniversity.edu) Kind regards, *Sascha van Schendel* *Internal & External Communications - Tilburg Institute of Law, Technology and Society (Tilburg University)*

Oct. 8, 2015

Call for Papers | Big data: Big power shifts? | Internet Policy Review | Deadline: Abstracts until 20 October

by Felix Krupar

C A L L F O R P A P E R S The Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society cordially invites you to submit your research projects for the Internet Policy Reviews' special issue on Big data: big power shifts? supported by the Vodafone Institute for Society and Communications. SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT <http://policyreview.info/node/374> TOPIC & RELEVANCE Big data has been a major issue in internet-related public debate for several years now and it is yet unclear what impact big data has on societies, politics and markets. We conceive big data as constituted by three components: the automatic generation of very large and diverse data sets which are mainly the result of the digitisation of modern societies, their processing by algorithms and their use for decision-making and regulation, in the private or public sector. This includes purposes such as profiling, monitoring, predictive analysis and risk calculation. Mayer-Schönberger & Cukier claim that big data is a “revolution that will transform how we live, work, and think” (2014). But whereas revolutions imply a profound shift in power relations, there is little scientific evidence about whether and, if so, how big data affects power relations. We understand power as the production, in and through social relations, of effects that shape the capacities of actors to determine their fate. Power opens up or closes off options to act for parties involved and it is multi-dimensional: it is influence over others, empowerment, the capacity to act and to self-discipline. SCOPE OF THE SPECIAL ISSUE The aim of the special issue in the Internet Policy Review is to explore the extent to which big data shapes society by influencing power relations and, in return, how the development of big data-related phenomena is itself shaped by power relations. We welcome proposals that address power relations linked to big data phenomena in various fields, as long as they bear a relevance to European societies and highlight policy implications or make a reference to regulatory debates. Papers can have both a more conceptual or a more empirical focus. This call for papers is open to researchers from the fields of policy studies, sociology, law, philosophy, data, information and technology studies, economics and management and related fields. Emerging scholars are particularly encouraged to submit a proposal. FOCUS OF THE PAPERS As stated above, scientific knowledge about which power relations shape the big data society is still scarce. Yet much has been said about the many promising and worrying aspects of a society built on predictive analysis, machine learning and algorithmic regulation, and various implicit and explicit hypotheses about the power effects of big data have emerged in the academic and public debate. Empowerment of users/citizens/patients: Will big data empower users, citizens and patients through applications and services (tailored services, e-participation, e-health)? Power shifts and conflicts over power between actors: Does big data alter the power relation between states and citizens (‘surveillance society’, ‘governing the poor’, manipulation of voters by individualised election campaigns)? Do personalised marketing and the monitoring of staff affect the power relations between companies and users or employees? Do new power relations between companies, political candidates/parties or states arise due to unequal access to big data applications? Does big data influence the relative importance of scientific disciplines or professions (data analysts versus lawyers and economists)? Different modes of decision-making and knowledge production: Are current norms and practices threatened by ‘algorithmic regulation’ and the ‘end of theory’? Power relations shaping big data: How do power relations shape the development of big data and the precise big data related practices, modes of production and application fields? Narratives: How are big data related power relations addressed, problematized or, on the contrary, masked? Regulation of big data: What regulations are relevant for big data related power relations? What alternative regulations are proposed? BEST PAPER AWARD In addition to the special issue the authors selected for the best paper award will be invited to speak at the closing lecture of the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society-lecture series Big data: big power shifts? The lecture is set to be held in Berlin in April 2016 in cooperation with the Vodafone Institute for Society and Communications. IMPORTANT DATES 20 October 2015: Deadline for expression of interest and abstract submissions (500 word abstracts) via our webpage <http://policyreview.info/node/374> 27 October 2015: Feedback on abstract submissions 14 December 2015: Deadline for full text submissions (max. 30 000 characters spaces included). The full text form will be provided on 27 October. All details on text submissions can be found under: http://policyreview.info/authors <http://policyreview.info/authors> March 2016: Publication of the special issue Special issue editors: Dr. Lena Ulbricht, WZB Berlin Social Science Center (lena.ulbricht(a)wzb.eu <mailto:lena.ulbricht@wzb.eu?subject=Call+for+Papers:+Big+Data:+big+power+shifts?>) and Maximilian von Grafenstein LL.M., Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (max.grafenstein(a)hiig.de <mailto:max.grafenstein@hiig.de?subject=Call+for+Papers:+Big+Data:+big+powershifts?>). Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society Oberwallstraße 9 | D-10117 | Berlin | Germany | info(a)hiig.de <mailto:info@hiig.de> | Unsubscribe <http://www.hiig.de/sugar-landing-page/index.php?entryPoint=removeme&identif…>

Oct. 6, 2015