What Does It Mean to “Misuse” Research Data?

Abstract

In this panel, we will discuss how “data misuse” is understood across different disciplines, and in particular digital curation, critical data studies, scholarly communication, and algorithmic fairness. The audience will be invited to contribute to the discussion by reporting on their own experience with data misuse, and brainstorming potential interventions to prevent misuse. Controversial reuses of open research data are emerging, including exploitation of marginalized communities, geo privacy violations, and perpetuation of harmful stereotypes. Incidents of data misuse hinder scientific progress and erode public trust, yet defining misuse remains challenging as one community's misuse might be another's best practice. The development of a shared framework to understand when, how, and why misuse of research data occurs can help science stakeholders decide when and how to release crucial research data, evaluate the potential for misuse, and tailor documentation of research data to prevent misuse. Our goal for this panel discussion is to take us a step closer to the development of such a theoretical framework for defining data misuse.