Award for a citizen science project on internet data trail
The international team working on the European project CSI-COP EU (Citizen Scientists Investigating Cookies and App GDPR Compliance), with involvement of the UAB, received the "Best Innovative Project" award in the latest edition of the PICCASO Privacy Awards in recognition of those who contribute to generate new knowledge on internet privacy and data protection.
CSI-COP EU is a Horizon 2020 project led by Coventry University, UK, which includes the involvement of researcher Jordi Vallverdú from the Department of Philosophy. The objective of the project is to provide better understanding of the information tracked online, by informing citizens on the best ways to protect their information online and the obligation of all organisations operating in the European Union (EU) to adhere to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). To this end, CSI-COP EU conducts several activities, such as mobilising citizens interested in working with researchers to jointly analyse different types of website and application cookies and the fulfilment of the GDPR by businesses and organisations. The result of this collaboration has allowed for the creation of an open access repository of trackers. The project includes an massive open online course so that anyone interested can enrol and obtain a certificate upon completion.
The “Best Innovative Project” was awarded to the CSI-COP EU project in an event which took place in London on 8 December. The PICCASO (Privacy, Infosec, Culture, Change, Awareness, Societal, Organisation) Privacy Awards are organised by the GRC World Forum, an international network of professionals and academic experts on internet privacy and data protection.
“We are very pleased to receive this international recognition, which represents a giant boost to the project, provides visibility to the issue and without a doubt encourages us to continue our investigations”, Jordi Vallverdú stated.