Facebook asks to abandon an Instagram algorithm research with legal threat

Facebook shuts the Instagram algorithm research done by AlgorithmWatch. They were forced to abandon the research which they were carrying from 2020 using an inbuilt plugin, after receiving legal threats. AlgorithmWatch brought it to social media about Facebook’s bullying.

Their project published regular findings about the algorithm that ranks the bare skin and face showing pictures higher than screenshots of texts. Facebook did not say or take action against it during the first year but now has disputed the methodology. They have accused the project leaders of violating the GDPR as it collected the data from the users who had not consented to participate and it also violated the platform's terms of service.

"We only collected data related to content that Facebook displayed to the volunteers who installed the add-on," the researchers said in their defence.

The project was shut down with immediate effect, as they feared they would be facing legal actions from the social media giant, according to a media report.

"We had concerns with their practices which is why we contacted them multiple times so they could come into compliance with our terms and continue their research, as we routinely do with other research groups when we identify similar concerns, We intend to keep working with independent researchers but in ways that don't put people's data or privacy at risk" the representative was quoted saying by the tech website.