“Un-Googling” Publications: The Ethics and Problems of Anonymization

Irina Shklovski, Janet Vertesi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Digital tools of research dissemination make scholarly publications accessible to the public at large through simple search engines. As a result, the users that we study, interview, and cite may be at risk of exposure to unwelcome types of scrutiny and scholars must grapple with challenges to the ethics of exposure of our research participants. We present one approach to anonymization of research results with search engines in mind, which we call un-Googling, that we have developed to minimize risk to our participants. We discuss the considerations that this approach raises and pose a challenge to the HCI community to take up this discussion not only as an ethical consideration but also as a socio-technical research and design opportunity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationCHI EA 2013 - Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Subtitle of host publicationChanging Perspectives
EditorsMichel Beaudouin-Lafon, Patrick Baudisch, Wendy E. Mackay
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery
Pages2169-2178
Number of pages10
ISBN (Electronic)9781450318990
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 27 2013
Event31st Annual CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems:, CHI EA 2013 - Paris, France
Duration: Apr 27 2013May 2 2013

Publication series

NameConference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings
Volume2013-April

Other

Other31st Annual CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems:, CHI EA 2013
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityParis
Period4/27/135/2/13

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Software
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design

Keywords

  • Anonymity
  • Exposure
  • Publication
  • Research ethics
  • Un-Googling

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