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CURRENT PROJECTS

AI and VULNERABLE DATA SUBJECTS

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Empirical Ethics of Vulnerable Data Subjects:

The Case of Using AI on Childfluencers

This research direction is focused on the empirical ethics of data science when it comes to vulnerable data subjects, with a specific case study on the use of AI to analyze family vlog content for online child protection. This research aims to identify empirical patterns of potential exploitation on child influencers, using AI and other computational data science methods. The goal is to provide quantifiable evidence of overexposure and exploitation, highlighting potential harms and risks to children's online presence.

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By analyzing family vlog content, researchers can identify patterns of overexposure, including to harmful audiences. This information can be used to inform policymakers, advocacy groups, and the public about the normalization of children as monetized data subjects, prompting critical discussions on ethical dilemmas and potential harms. The research also aims to drive policy changes by supporting legal frameworks, such as the Illinois law requiring parents to set aside a portion of earnings for child influencers.

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However, this research direction also raises ethical concerns, particularly with regards to the use of AI on vulnerable data subjects, including children. Part of this research direction is the development of empirical ethics frameworks to consider potential harms, such as a lack of explicit consent, emotional or social impact, normalization of surveillance, legal or platform-specific repercussions, privacy invasion, and misuse of findings.

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