Making censorship data easier to investigate
The Outline team collaborated with University of Michigan researchers to turn Censored Planet measurements into data researchers could explore.
Research and analysis · 2023
The challenge
Collecting measurements is one step toward understanding censorship. Researchers also need ways to compare observations, examine changes over time, and investigate what might explain a connection failure.
Large collections of measurement files can make those questions difficult to pursue. Preparing the data can require substantial work before analysis begins.
The contribution
University of Michigan researchers developed Censored Planet’s measurement work. Working with the Outline team and Google Cloud, the collaborators developed processing infrastructure and a public dashboard to make those measurements easier to query and explore.
The Outline team’s contributors included Sarah Laplante and Vinicius Fortuna, working alongside the Censored Planet team led by Roya Ensafi. The work combined data engineering, analysis, and attention to the questions researchers wanted to ask.
What became possible
The dashboard helped researchers explore historical measurements and changes across locations and time. It reduced some of the work needed to move from a large dataset to a question about interference.
Research as part of Outline’s mission
Making knowledge easier to use has long been part of the Outline team’s work. The Foundation carries that work forward: tools and methods can help other people investigate censorship and develop their own responses.
This collaboration predates the independent Foundation. Its contributions remain those of the researchers and organizations involved.
Sources
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