October 2015 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

research protocols in search engines
by Donatella Selva 17 Oct '15

17 Oct '15

Dear Aoirsts, I am trying to find some common research protocol to use search engines for social research. In particular, I am interested in the following topics: - how to compensate for algorithmic distorsions - how many pages of results must be consulted I am sure the community of Aoirsts could help me :) Thank you in advance and have a good day! Donatella Selva Postdoc researcher at Centre for Media and Democratic Innovations Luiss University, Italy @donaselva

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Surveillant Antiquities and Modern Transparencies: Exercising and Resisting Surveillance Then and Now
by Seda Gurses 16 Oct '15

16 Oct '15

Dear Airudites, It is my pleasure to announce our upcoming workshop that intends to put surveillance in a greater historical context while also interrogating its various incarnations in religious and more secular contexts. Happy weekend! Seda and Tudor Sala Surveillant Antiquities and Modern Transparencies: Exercising and Resisting Surveillance Then and Now 19th October, 2015 Berlin, Germany Intelligent drones, microscopic tracking devices, brain scanners: seemingly unlimited technological possibilities make surveillance appear a thing of the future. Edward Snowden’s recent disclosures and bleak predictions about comprehensive spying in an age of electronic communication only increased public anxieties about surveillance in the now and in the tomorrow. Yet centuries, if not millennia, before the surveillance apocalypse of the twenty-first century, various models of social and individual transparency were evident in writings and architecture from ancient Mesopotamia to early medieval China and from classical India to the late antique Mediterranean world. Total surveillance—whether as ideal or nightmare, whether as theory or practice, whether as tradition or innovation—is by no means a contrivance of the present or the near future, but rather a construction of the distant past. The workshop will shed light on the complex practices, strategies, and imaginaires of total surveillance, both familiar and less well known, in the ancient and late ancient worlds. We will explore ancient forms of information mediation and centralization, the employment of record keeping and accounting, technologies of self-discipline, and the strategic use of architecture and the organization of space, while drawing also on notions of all-seeing gods and demonic beings and of sin and pollution, as well as on practices of purification or expiation, divination, ordeals, and omens. Using this historical knowledge, the workshop intends to turn the gaze back upon the present-day surveillance complex, discerning in the lofty and imperturbable lenses that surround us reflections of age-old struggles, resistances, and failures. 19.10.2015 09:00 - 09:20 Introductions Seda Gürses – Princeton University, New Jersey, USA Tudor Sala – Institut für Religionswissenschaft, Freie Universität Berlin 09:20 - 09:50 Walls, Lists, and Policemen: How Efficient was the Control of the Royal Necropolis during the New Kingdom (1550–1050 BC)? Andreas Dorn – Ägyptisches Museum, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn 09:50 - 10:20 Ideology and Practice of Surveillance in Ancient China: The Establishment of the Imperial Secretariat in Imperial China Dennis Schilling – Institut für Sinologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München 10:20 - 10:50 Looking Right: Community Surveillance, Women, Sex, and Social Control in Ancient Rome Rebecca Langlands – Classics and Ancient History, University of Exeter, United Kingdom 10:50 - 11:15 Coffee Break 11:15 - 11:45 Monastic Discernment and Divine Judgment: Dynamics of Surveillance behind the Apocalypse of Paul Emiliano Fiori – Lehrstuhl für Ältere Kirchengeschichte, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin 11:45 - 12:15 Surveilled Women: Female Crime and Female Confinement in Late Antiquity Julia Hillner – Department of History, The University of Sheffield, United Kingdom 12:15 - 12:45 The Intimate Surveillance of Calvinists in Reformation France Graeme Murdock – Department of History, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland 12:45 - 14:00 Lunch Break 14:00 - 14:45 Surveillance in the Formative Period of Islam: A Comparative Intellectual Historical Exploration Mohammad Mahdi Mojahedi – Otto-Suhr-Institut für Politikwissenschaft, Freie Universität Berlin 14:45 - 15:15 The Industrialization of Surveillance and the Limits of Community and Social Interaction Theories Jörg Pohle – Alexander von Humboldt Institut für Internet und Gesellschaft 15:15 - 15:45 The Rise of Preemptive Surveillance of Children in England and Wales: Social and Ethical Consequences Rosamunde Van Brakel – Law, Science, Technology & Society Studies , Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium 15:45 - 16:15 Coffee Break 16:15 - 17:15 Scientia potestas est: A Knowledge-Centric Analysis of (and Apologia for?) State Surveillance in the Early Roman Empire Keynote Address Christopher Fuhrmann – Department of History, University of North Texas, USA 17:15 - 18:00 Round Table 19:00 - 20:30 Dinner For further information please visit http://www.topoi.org/event/31612/

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Critical Perspectives on Social Media and Protest
by Lina Dencik 16 Oct '15

16 Oct '15

Members of this list might be interested in the following. New book: “Critical Perspectives on Social Media and Protest: Between Control and Emancipation” Editors: Lina Dencik & Oliver Leistert Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield http://www.rowmaninternational.com/books/critical-perspectives-on-social-me… This book critically interrogates the relationship between social media and protest from an interdisciplinary perspective, examining the multiple ways in which we need to politicize and contextualise commercial social media platforms, in particular with regards to their use for the purposes of anti-systemic and progressive protest movements. Commercial social media platforms have become integral to contemporary forms of protests. They are intensely used by advocacy groups, non-governmental organisations, social movements and other political actors who increasingly integrate social media platforms into broader practices of organizing and campaigning. But, aside from the many advantages of extensive mobilization opportunities at low cost, what are the implications of social media corporations being involved in these grassroots movements? This book takes a much-needed critical approach to the relationship between social media and protest. Highlighting key issues and concerns in contemporary forms of social media activism, including questions of censorship, surveillance, individualism, and temporality, the book combines contributions from some of the most active scholars in the field today. Advancing both conceptual and empirical work on social media and protest, and with a range of different angles, the book provides a fresh and challenging outlook on a very topical debate. “At last, a collection on social media and protest that is genuinely critical, spanning both the nature of the technological tools the political-economic environment they are part of, the organisational responses these formations then lend themselves to and the political consequences they reap. Rich in detail, broad in remit, interrogatory by design this will be my ‘turn to’ book on this subject for years to come.” - Natalie Fenton, Professor of Media and Communications, Goldsmiths University of London “Refusing simple explanations and traversing protest movements from around the globe, this collection is essential reading for academics and activists alike. The volume interrogates the power and systemic shortcomings of corporate-based social media as deployed during moments of revolution, rupture, and dissent. Operating simultaneously as an authoritative force that regiments social relations and a fetishistic object that congeals desires, these media are shot through with a series of contradictions.” - Gabriella Coleman, Wolfe Chair in Scientific and Technological Literacy Department of Art History & Communication Studies, McGill University “This collection provides a much-needed antidote to the ready equation of social media and political empowerment. It counters the cyber-hype with a truly critical collection of readings that explore the political limits and potentials of social media. This is a crucial volume for anyone interested in the key political question of our time: the relationship between media technology and activism.” - Mark Andrejevic, Associate Professor of Media Studies, Pomona College Contents: 1. Promise and Practice in Studies of Social Media and Movements, Sebastian Haunss Part I: Algorithmic Control and Visibility / 2. The Revolution Will Not Be Liked: On the Systemic Constraints of Corporate Social Media Platforms for Protests, Oliver Leistert / 3. Mobilizing in Times of Social Media: From a Politics of Identity to a Politics of Visibility, Stefania Milan Part II: Temporal Alienation and Redefining Spaces / 4. Social Media, Immediacy and the Time for Democracy: Critical Reflections on Social Media as ‘Temporalising Practices’, Veronica Barassi / 5. “This Space Belongs to Us!”: Protest Spaces in Times of Accelerating Capitalism, Anne Kaun Part III: Surveillance, Censorship and Political Economy / 6. Social Media Censorship, Privatised Regulation, and New Restrictions to Protest and Dissent, Arne Hintz / 7. Social Media Protest in Context: Surveillance, Information Management, and Neoliberal Governance in Canada, Joanna Redden / 8. Pre-empting Dissent: From Participatory Policing to Collaborative Filmmaking, Greg Elmer Part IV: Dissent and Fragmentation From Within / 9. The Struggle Within: Discord, Conflict and Paranoia in Social Media Protest, Emiliano Treré / 10. Social Media and the 2013 Protests in Brazil: The Contradictory Nature of Political Mobilization in the Digital Era, Mauro P. Porto and João Brant Part V: Myths and Organisational Trajectories / 11. Social Media and the ‘New Authenticity’ of Protest, Lina Dencik / 12. Network Cultures and the Architecture of Decision, Geert Lovink and Ned Rossiter -- Dr Lina Dencik Lecturer / Director MA Journalism, Media and Communication School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, Cardiff University Bute Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB Email: DencikL(a)cardiff.ac.uk<mailto:DencikL@cardiff.ac.uk>, Tel: +44 (0)29 208 75461 Twitter: @LinaDencik Fellow, Center for Media, Data and Society, Central European University Co-I, Digital Citizenship and Surveillance Society, www.dcssproject.net<http://www.dcssproject.net/>

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FW: catfishing and non financial identity fraud
by Marcus.Leaning 16 Oct '15

16 Oct '15

Dear all, I have an undergraduate student investigating 'catfishing' and non-financial identity theft. It is not an area I have any familiarity with - does anyone have any good ideas for texts I can point them towards? I will compile a list of resources and make these available to the list. Many thanks. Kind regards, Marcus ------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Marcus Leaning FRSA SFHEA Head of Department School of Media and Film University of Winchester [175th Signature] University of Winchester, a private charitable company limited by guarantee in England and Wales number 5969256. Registered Office: Sparkford Road, Winchester, Hampshire SO22 4NR

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Last days: CfP 'Big data: big power shifts?'
by lena.ulbricht＠wzb.eu 15 Oct '15

15 Oct '15

Sorry for cross-posting. Submit your abstract until Tuesday! Call for papers of the Internet Policy Review for a Special issue on ‘Big data: big power shifts?’ 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: o Does big data alter the power relation between states and citizens (‘surveillance society’, ‘governing the poor’, manipulation of voters by individualised election campaigns)? o Do personalised marketing and the monitoring of staff affect the power relations between companies and users or employees? o Do new power relations between companies, political candidates/parties or states arise due to unequal access to big data applications? o 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 author/s selected for the best paper award will be invited to speak at the closing lecture of the HIIG-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. Special issue editors: Dr. Lena Ulbricht, WZB Berlin Social Science Center (lena.ulbricht(a)wzb.eu <mailto:lena.ulbricht@wzb.eu>) and Maximilian von Grafenstein LL.M., Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (max.grafenstein(a)hiig.de) IMPORTANT DATES 20 October 2015: Deadline for expression of interest and abstract submissions (500 word abstracts) via the form below (see under SUBMIT). 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 March 2016: Publication of the special issue Submission form: http://policyreview.info/node/374 --- Dr. Lena Ulbricht Research fellow Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung(WZB)/ WZB Berlin Social Science Center Politikfeld Internet / Internet Policy Reichpietschufer 50 10785 Berlin / Germany Office: +49-(0)30-25491-276 Email: lena.ulbricht(a)wzb.eu

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Communication Technology Book Announcement
by Breanna Mcewan 15 Oct '15

15 Oct '15

"Navigating New Media Networks" examines the changes introduced into society through the increasing use of communication technology. The development of a networked society has allowed individuals to acquire the social resources and support needed to thrive in the modern world, but it has also placed great pressure on the individual to conduct the communication work needed to form and maintain relationships. McEwan explores this issue by delving into topics like identity, privacy, communication competence, online communities, online social support, mediated relational maintenance, and mobile communication. This work will be of interest to scholars of sociology, psychology, and communication. In Navigating New Media Networks, Bree McEwan provides an overview of communication technology research that is remarkably thorough yet accessible. By placing social networks and communication competence at the center of discussion, she integrates diverse lines of inquiry into a cohesive picture of the challenges and opportunities of mediated communication. — Andrew Ledbetter, Texas Christian University Rather than rely on either the moral panic or unbridled enthusiasm that seem so common in the discussion of communication technologies, McEwan focuses on navigating technologies competently. By drawing upon basic human communication processes, McEwan helps us all understand how we can be in the driver’s seat given the tools available to us. A book that all students interested in knowing more about communication and technology — and we are all students when it comes to communication technology — should read! — David Westerman, North Dakota State University McEwan’s book is unparalleled in its coverage of the role of communication technologies in modern relationships. It seamlessly weaves together a broad body of research and theory drawn from multiple fields in a concise and lucid text. It’s refreshing to read a book that transcends disciplinary boundaries to provide a comprehensive picture of how our social worlds are no longer divided by what is ‘online’ and what is ‘offline.’ — Jesse Fox, Ohio State University Bree McEwan, PhD Associate Professor Department of Communication Western Illinois University

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Extended Hotel & Regustration Deadlines for ASIS&T 2015 AM
by Richard Hill 15 Oct '15

15 Oct '15

St. Louis Hyatt and ASIS&T are extending the cut off dates for discounts until OCTOBER 23. Rooms were tight and people were having problems. But rooms blocked for the potential World Series games have opened up so we are able to make this effort to help you save. _____ 2015 Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology -- Information Science with Impact: Research in and for the Community November 6-10, 2015 - Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch - St. Louis, Missouri Program and Registration at: https://www.asist.org/events/annual-meeting/annual-meeting-2015/ The 2015 ASIS&T conference theme provides an opportunity for information science researchers �including academics and practitioner� to discuss the impact of their research on industry, on government, on local/national/global community groups, on individuals, on information systems, on cultural institutions, and on other practice contexts. The theme highlights the introduction of a new conference focus on Applied Research, which recognizes that basic research in information science is also inspired by, and/or connected to, information practice contexts. 8 Preconference Workshops 40 Contributed Papers 18 Panel Discussions Plenary sessions: Aaron Doering -Building Community Online: Connecting People, Places, and Ideas through Innovative Design- Doering is associate professor in the LT Media Lab at the University of Minnesota, currently holds the Bonnie Westby Huebner Endowed Chair in Education and Technology. His research involves the design, development and evaluation of online and mobile teaching environments; technology integration in K-12 settings; and the innovative use of technology to support teaching and learning. Sarah Morton -Creating Impact: Issues, Challenges and Solutions- Morton works at the intersection of social research, policy and practice in a range of leadership roles. She is co-director of the Centre for Research on Families and Relationships, University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Also within the University of Edinburgh, Sarah is the knowledge exchange specialist for the Centre for Community and Public Health Sciences and an impact analyst. She is a director of What Works Scotland and she is also an associate of the research unit for research utilization at the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement and was a member of the Scottish Funding Council working group on Knowledge Exchange and Public Policy. Her research has investigated the process assessing the impact of research on policy and practice. She has a specialty in contribution analysis and uses this approach in a variety of projects, often working with non-academic partners, and also to assess the impact! of research. Richard Hill Executive Director Association for Information Science and Technology 1320 Fenwick Lane, Suite 510 Silver Spring, MD 20910 FAX: (301) 495-0810 (301) 495-0900

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Tenure-Track Asst Professor Position, Computer-Mediated Communication, University of Cincinnati
by Steve Depoe 15 Oct '15

15 Oct '15

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Computer-Mediated Communication at the University of Cincinnati POSITION DESCRIPTION: The Department of Communication at the University of Cincinnati is seeking a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the areaof Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC). We seek an individual who will conduct research and teach in the areas of computer-mediated communication (CMC), interpersonal/relational communication, identity and culture; with particular attention on the impacts of communication on personal and social identities related to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, family dynamics, work/organization, sense of place, or other dimensions. Courses to be taught may include Internet and Everyday Life, Communication Theory, Theories of Interpersonal Communication, Gender Communication, Family Communication, and Graduate Seminar in Interpersonal Communication, as well as theory and research methods courses in the candidate's area of specialization. POSITION QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates with Ph.D. in Communication or related discipline completed by August, 2016 are preferred. Candidates with ABD status will also be reviewed. IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates should demonstrate clear evidence of the potential for establishing a national reputation through an active program of scholarship. Candidates should also demonstrate the potential to develop a successful sponsored research program in societal impacts of alliances and partnerships across the University of Cincinnati such as the School of Information Technology, the Digital Media Collaborative, and others. In addition, candidates should have a strong record of teaching, an interest in both undergraduate and graduate education, a willingness to mentor graduate students, and experience with diverse populations. DOCUMENTS THAT MUST BE ATTACHED: Cover letter/Statement of fit, Resume/CV, Samples of research, Evidence of teaching effectiveness, Names/contact info for 3 references. TO APPLY: Go to https://jobs.uc.edu/ and search for job #8062. Applications reviewed beginning December 1, 2015 and until position is filled. The University of Cincinnati is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a strong commitment to diversity. We actively seek a broad spectrum of candidates including women, people of color, people with disabilities, and veterans. JOB POSTING DATE: September 7, 2015 NOTFICATION DATE: After position is filled. JOB CLOSE DATE: Applications reviewed beginning December 1, 2015 and until position is filled. This institution offers benefits to same-sex and different sex domestic partners Stephen P. Depoe, Ph.D. Professor and Head Department of Communication University of Cincinnati Co-Editor, Media and Environmental Communication Book Series Palgrave MacMillan (http://www.palgrave.com/series/palgrave-studies-in-media-and-environmental-…) Founding Member, International Environmental Communication Association (http://theieca.org) Follow the Dept. of Communication on Twitter for the most current updates: <https://twitter.com/commuc>@CommUC []

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Ethics of using hacked data.
by Nathaniel Poor 15 Oct '15

15 Oct '15

Hello list- I recently got into a discussion with a colleague about the ethics of using hacked data, specifically the Patreon hacked data (see here: http://arstechnica.com/security/2015/10/gigabytes-of-user-data-from-hack-of… ). He and I do crowdfunding work, and had wanted to look at Patreon, but as far as I can tell they have no easy hook into all their projects (for scraping), so, to me this data hack was like a gift! But he said there was no way we could use it. We aren't doing sentiment analysis or anything, we would use aggregated measures like funding levels and then report things like means and maybe a regression, so there would be no identifiable information whatsoever derived from the hacked data in any of our resulting work (we might go to the site and pull some quotes). I looked at the AoIR ethics guidelines ( http://aoir.org/reports/ethics2.pdf ), and didn't see anything specifically about hacked data (I don't think "hacked" is the best word, but I don't like "stolen" either, but those are different discussions). One relevant line I noticed was this one: "If access to an online context is publicly available, do members/participants/authors perceive the context to be public?" (p. 8) So, the problem with the data is that it's the entire website, so some was private and some was public, but now it's all public and everyone knows it's public. To me, I agree that a lot of the data in the data-dump had been intended to be private -- apparently, direct messages are in there -- but we wouldn't use that data (it's not something we're interested in). We'd use data like number of funders and funding levels and then aggregate everything. I see that some of it was meant to be private, but given the entire site was hacked and exported I don't see how currently anyone could have an expectation of privacy any more. I'm not trying to torture the definition, it's just that it was private until it wasn't. I can see that some academic researchers -- at least those in computer security -- would be interested in this data and should be able to publish in peer reviewed journals about it, in an anonymized manner (probably as an example of "here's a data hack like what we are talking about, here's what hackers released"). I also think that probably every script kiddie has downloaded the data, as has every grey and black market email list spammer, and probably every botnet purveyor (for passwords) and maybe even the hacking arm of the Chinese army and the NSA. My point here is that if we were to use the data in academic research we wouldn't be publicizing it to nefarious people who would misuse it since all of those people already have it. We could maybe help people who want to use crowdfunding some (hopefully!) if we have some results. (I guess I don't see that we would be doing any harm by using it.) So, what do people think? Did I miss something in the AoIR guidelines? I realize I don't think it's clear either way, or I wouldn't be asking, so probably the answers will point to this as a grey area (so why do I even ask, I am not sure). But I'm not looking for "You can't use it because it's hacked," because I don't think that explains anything. I could counter that with "It is publicly available found data," because it is, although I don't think that's the best reply either. Both lack nuance. -Nat -- Nathaniel Poor, Ph.D. http://natpoor.blogspot.com

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Seeking literature recommendations: privacy and big data
by Oltmann, Shannon M 15 Oct '15

15 Oct '15

Hello everyone! I am embarking on a new research direction, studying the intersections and relationships of big data and privacy. I have done a preliminary literature review, (and have a solid grounding in privacy in general) but would like any suggestions of must-read research. Also, if you have ideas about under-explored questions in this realm, I'd love to talk about that with you. -Shannon Dr. Shannon M. Oltmann Assistant Professor School of Information Science College of Communication & Information University of Kentucky shannon.oltmann(a)uky.edu<mailto:shannon.oltmann@uky.edu> 320 Lucille Little Library Lexington KY 40506 859-257-0788 859-257-4205 (fax)

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