NTIA Response on Pervasive Data Research Ethical Guidelines

The CASC Positions Committee submitted a response to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s request for public comment on proposed ethical guidelines for research involving “pervasive data”—information about individuals collected through online services. This encompasses data from sources such as social media platforms, online marketplaces, mobile devices, the Internet of Things, wearable technologies, and AI systems. While research using this data is crucial for advancing our understanding of human behavior, public health, technological impacts, and more, it also raises complex ethical challenges related to privacy, consent, and broader societal effects.