Blog Tracking

issue: In short, researchers tracking the discussions of bloggers. To be a little more precise, from what I can see, they are collecting data to determine if any patterns arise in the activities of bloggers (i.e., discussions/postings on current events and the time frame of those events).

Not to seem paranoid, but they are tracking us! I am just going to say I find two things unethical about their approach. First, they did not even notify those they are including in their research (they could leave comments), or at least they did not notify me, and second, they state (to summarize) if someone no longer wants their blog to be showed in their search results the blogger needs to delete the blog: what about not getting tracked (see under their "help" section)? I mean, will this result in the data collected being not included in the research (or simply no more data being collected)? Regardless if what they are doing is legal; it is unethical due to them not notifying those they are tracking and because they are not fairly permitting their subjects to withdraw from the research. Granted doing these might skew the data, but that is the cost of doing ethical research (if 'ethical research' means anything nowadays). I am not saying what they are doing is an invasion of privacy, as they are studing behavior expressed in public (of sorts); I am saying people have the right to choose whether or not they want to be studied and followed. In case you are wondering, they included my blog posting "RCMP and Vancouver Airport" (Nov. 19, 2007).

BlogScope: http://www.blogscope.net/

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