The following FAQ addresses privacy questions for The Markup Research App. For installation instructions and technical troubleshooting, visit the Citizen Browser FAQ.
1. What does The Markup Research App do?
The Markup Research App allows you to opt in and contribute personal data for the purpose of auditing the algorithms built by Facebook. The data we collect through the app is used to determine what information Facebook serves to different people, what news and narratives are amplified or suppressed, and which online communities people are encouraged to join.
2. What types of data does The Markup Research App collect?
The app collects html source code and screenshots from Facebook. This includes the Facebook Homepage, suggested groups, and recommended pages. We focus only on items promoted through shared links on these pages. This includes advertisements, public posts, publicly shared video links (no videos), shared links and reaction counts (no text or users included), suggested groups, and suggested pages. We redact and discard photos, comments, and identifiers such as users’ names and friends’ names.
3. Does The Markup Research App collect my personal photos or messages?
The app does not collect contents or photos from personal, direct messages. The app collects photos that are shared on your homepage, but we use a computer program to identify and discard them without human intervention.
4. Does The Markup Research App track the things I click on from Facebook or other websites?
No. The app runs in the background and collects data from Facebook a few times a day. It does not collect any of your browsing information–even if you are on Facebook when the app is running.
5. Who will see my information?
After using a computer program to redact and discard information that could be used to identify you or your friends and private communications, investigators at The Markup will analyze the remaining data. We will also work with co-investigators at other organizations. We will ensure that data shared in this way is attributed to a demographic group, not to specific individuals in the study.
6. How do I know The Markup Research App is secure?
We’ve had the app and our back-end infrastructure audited by a third-party security firm, Trail of Bits. They carried out a security assessment and reviewed our code for best practices in securely processing the data we collect. While we use precautions to safeguard your information, we cannot guarantee the security of the networks, systems, servers, devices, and databases we operate or that are operated on our behalf.
7. Does The Markup share my information with advertisers?
No, your data will not be shared with advertisers or sold. The data we are collecting is for public interest investigative purposes only. Our goal is to better understand how Facebook customizes information for different people.
8. How long is my data stored?
We automatically redact and delete information that may be used to identify you before analysis. Unredacted data, which contains identifying information, is deleted after 120 days and is not used in analysis. Redacted data used in our dashboards and analysis will be stored indefinitely.
9. How can I request access to my personal information or be removed from the study?
To request access or deletion of your personal information please contact privacy@themarkup.org. To withdraw from this survey, please contact researchappsupport@themarkup.org.