# Data & Society Research Institute

> nonprofit organization in New York, United States

**Wikidata**: [Q30267905](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30267905)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/data-society-research-institute

## Summary
The Data & Society Research Institute is a nonprofit research institute founded in 2013 by danah boyd and located in New York City, United States. Dedicated to the field of sociotechnology, the organization produces research examining the social and cultural implications of technology, with specific initiatives focused on algorithmic accountability and media manipulation.

## Key Facts
- **Founded:** 2013 by danah boyd.
- **Location:** New York City, United States (Coordinates: 40.740371, -73.993118).
- **Type of Organization:** Nonprofit organization, Research institute.
- **Field of Work:** Sociotechnology.
- **IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN):** 46-2904827.
- **ROR ID:** 04dse4f93.
- **GRID ID:** grid.475091.e.
- **Website:** https://datasociety.net/
- **Official Blog:** Points (https://points.datasociety.net/)
- **Revenue (2023):** $5,887,346 USD.
- **Total Assets (2023):** $10,378,825 USD.
- **Donations (2023):** $5,836,634 USD.

## FAQs
### Q: Who founded the Data & Society Research Institute?
A: The institute was founded in 2013 by danah boyd, a prominent researcher in technology and society.

### Q: What are the primary funding sources for the institute?
A: The institute is funded through donations, including significant grants from the Open Society Foundations. Between 2016 and 2022, the Open Society Foundations awarded over $2.2 million to support initiatives such as the Algorithmic Impact Methods Lab and the Media Manipulation Initiative.

### Q: What specific research areas does the institute focus on?
A: Research focuses on sociotechnology, specifically the public implications of technologies related to rights, accountability, and justice. Key areas include algorithmic accountability, the impact of identification technologies on migrants and refugees, and the study of media manipulation and disinformation.

### Q: Where is the institute located?
A: The Data & Society Research Institute is located in New York City, United States.

### Q: Does the institute produce publications?
A: Yes, the institute maintains an official blog titled "Points" and publishes research findings on its website. It also shares content via its YouTube channel and social media platforms.

## Why It Matters
Data & Society Research Institute plays a pivotal role in addressing the complex challenges arising from the integration of technology into daily life. By focusing on sociotechnology, the institute fills a critical gap between technical development and social impact, providing evidence-based research that informs civil society, journalists, and policymakers. Its work on algorithmic accountability and media manipulation is essential for understanding how automated systems and digital platforms influence public discourse, democracy, and human rights, offering pathways toward more equitable and transparent technological futures.

## Notable For
- **Specialization in Sociotechnology:** Distinguished by its exclusive focus on the intersection of technology and society, unlike broader think tanks or purely technical research centers.
- **High-Impact Funding:** Securing substantial grants from major philanthropic organizations like the Open Society Foundations for specific, socially relevant initiatives like the "Algorithmic Impact Methods Lab."
- **Multidisciplinary Engagement:** Acting as a bridge between academic research, civil society, and computer science to develop practical solutions to issues like disinformation.
- **Digital Public Presence:** Maintaining a widely followed social media presence (e.g., over 76,000 Twitter followers) and an active blog to disseminate findings publicly.

## Body
### Organizational History and Structure
The Data & Society Research Institute was established in 2013. It is classified as a nonprofit organization and operates as a research institute with a specific focus on sociotechnology. The organization is identified in academic and research databases with a ROR ID of 04dse4f93 and a GRID ID of grid.475091.e. It is also listed in the UK Parliament Thesaurus with the ID 491248 under the name "Data & Society".

### Research Initiatives and Focus
The institute's core field of work is sociotechnology. Its research output is often project-based, targeting specific societal issues related to technology. Major initiatives documented in funding records include:

- **Algorithmic Accountability:** Work in this area includes the creation of an "Algorithmic Impact Methods Lab." The goal is to research, test, and propagate methods for measuring the impact of algorithms to ensure public accountability.
- **Media Manipulation Initiative:** This initiative involves academic research and scholarship, tracking disinformation campaigns, and engaging with civil society and computer scientists to develop solutions to media manipulation.
- **Identification Technologies:** The institute has conducted research on the implications of identification technologies for migrants and refugees, funded specifically to support charitable and educational activities in this domain.

### Financial Landscape
The institute has demonstrated significant financial growth and stability. Financial records show a trajectory of increasing assets and revenue over its first decade:
- **Revenue:** Peaked at approximately $7.1 million in 2018 and was recorded at $5.8 million in 2023.
- **Assets:** Total assets have grown from $1.1 million in 2014 to over $10.3 million in 2023.
- **Donations:** The institute relies heavily on philanthropic donations, receiving over $6.1 million in 2018 and $5.8 million in 2023.

### Funding and Support
A key funder for the institute has been the Open Society Foundations. Grants from this organization have supported both general operations and specific projects. Examples of this support include:
- **2022:** $400,000 for the Algorithmic Impact Methods Lab.
- **2019:** $650,000 to research public implications of technologies related to rights and justice.
- **2017:** $500,000 dedicated to the Media Manipulation Initiative.

### Digital Footprint and Public Engagement
The institute actively disseminates its work through various digital channels:
- **Website and Blog:** Its primary portal is datasociety.net, which hosts its official blog, "Points" (https://points.datasociety.net/).
- **Social Media:** The institute maintains a strong presence across platforms including Twitter (@datasociety), Mastodon (datasociety@mastodon.social), Bluesky (datasociety.bsky.social), and YouTube (Data & Society Research Institute).
- **Multimedia:** It operates a YouTube channel created in March 2014, which has garnered significant views and subscribers, serving as a repository for talks, lectures, and research presentations.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-05-22
2. [Source](https://datasociety.net/about/)
3. [Source](https://datasociety.net/people/)
4. [Source](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/462904827)
5. [Source](https://datasociety.net/)
6. [Source](https://x.com/datasociety)
7. Nonprofit Explorer
8. [Nonprofit Explorer](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/462904827)
9. [Source](https://mastodon.social/@datasociety)
10. [Open Society Foundations - Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?grant_id=OR2022-87023)
11. [Open Society Foundations - Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?grant_id=OR2021-80296)
12. [Open Society Foundations - Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?grant_id=OR2019-56801)
13. [Open Society Foundations - Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?grant_id=OR2017-39205)
14. [Open Society Foundations - Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?grant_id=OR2017-35795)
15. [Open Society Foundations - Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?grant_id=OR2016-29182)
16. YouTube API
17. [Source](https://bsky.app/profile/datasociety.bsky.social)