This project was created by the Fall 2017 Mapping Controversies class in “Personal data protection regulation: global social, legal and technical challenges” at Sciences Po, in Paris, France. The focus of our investigation was data protection and privacy regulations. The class, composed of students, represents diverse backgrounds spanning from France, Argentina, United States, Israel, Hungary, Russia and Canada.

In the course, the group first investigated scientific literature concerning data protection and privacy regulations, casting a wide net in our investigation and gathering a list of key policies, terms, laws, and actors involved in the controversy at hand. Afterwards, the group investigated press articles, reviewed web materials, looked through social media, and reviewed legal documents concerning the controversy. This included, for example, a review of key actors on Twitter and led to a map of these actors’ networks on Twitter. We were interested in who was discussing these issues, how they interacted, how the technology was advancing to address or create these controversies and how policy makers are reacting.

The following website shows off our investigation into the multi-faceted controversies regarding data protection and privacy regulation. We hope you enjoy.