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arXiv · 2505.07606

Data Ethics in the Fediverse: Analyzing the Role of Instance Policies in Mastodon Research

Mareike Lisker·Helena Mihaljević
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Abstract

This article addresses the disconnect between the individual policy documents of Mastodon instances--many of which explicitly prohibit data collection for research purposes--and the actual data handling practices observed in academic research involving Mastodon. We present a systematic analysis of 29 works that used Mastodon as a data source, revealing limited adherence to instance--level policies despite researchers' general awareness of their existence. Our findings underscore the need for broader discussion about ethical obligations in research on alternative, decentralized social media platforms.

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Mareike Lisker, Helena Mihaljević. 2025-05-12. Data Ethics in the Fediverse: Analyzing the Role of Instance Policies in Mastodon Research. https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.07606

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