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Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Grants

2020 (1 year 6 months)
$250,000

Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center seeks to explore and understand cyberspace; to study its development, dynamics, norms, and standards; and to assess the need or lack thereof for laws and sanctions. It works to push the edges of scholarly research, build tools and platforms that break new ground, and foster active networks across diverse communities. United by its commitment to the public interest, the organization’s vibrant, collaborative community of independent thinkers represents a wide range of philosophies and disciplines, making it a unique home for open-minded inquiry, debate and experimentation. The award provides flexible support for two areas of work: 1) the organization’s Digital Pandemic Response, which seeks to help public and private decision-makers develop policies and practices around the use of digital tools and data that seek to attenuate the COVID-19 pandemic; and, 2) the Network of Centers that convenes and fosters collaboration among more than 100 centers around the world studying the Internet’s impact on society.

2015 ( 3 months)
$7,000

The award supports travel for attendees of a workshop titled Rethinking Fourth Amendment Privacy Doctrine and Government Surveillance in the Digital Age.

2015 (3 years)
$600,000

The Berkman Center for Internet & Society is a university-wide center housed at Harvard University studying the intersections oflaw, policy, technology, and practice. With over 100 faculty, fellows, and staff, plus a much larger number of students and affiliates, the Center's global community works collaboratively on diverse issues at the nexus of new technology and media, including governance, innovation, privacy, youth, freedom of expression, and civic engagement. The award supports an applied research agenda to inform and shape policy development for governments and technology companies related to privacy, transparency, innovation, and security. The three areas of engagement include: 1) reducing privacy and security risks raised by private sector and government data sharing; 2) improving transparency and accountability associated with data acquisition and use by private companies; and 3) addressing harmful speech online.

2014 (1 year 8 months)
$70,000

A range of open source software projects make important contributions to advancing free speech, innovation, and security on the Internet and related technologies. The grant will support the creation of an evidence-based digital guide that aims to help open source software projects navigate a host of challenging legal and governance issues that might emerge in the context of their work.

2013 (2 years)
$400,000

The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University studies the relationship between Internet technologies and democratic values. The grant supports Internet Monitor, a web-based, freely available Internet fact base that gives users independent, quantitative data on the state of global Internet health. In addition, the grant is funding comparative case studies that explore the linkages and gaps between empirical data and policymaking that impact the Internet. Finally, the grant supports the build-out of a global network of Internet and society centers engaging in collaborative, empirical, and policy-relevant research about the Internet and related technologies.

2012 ( 7 months)
$75,000

The grant will support the inaugural conference of a global network of likeminded internet and society centers to be held in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Hosted by the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, the conference seeks to identify modes and methods for collaboration and explore possible joint research projects.

2011 (1 year)
$500,000

Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society will use this grant to establish a national effort, grounded in research and evaluation, to address bullying, meanness, and cruelty in a networked society. It will evaluate the programs and curricula that address bullying, harassment, and relational aggression; develop new programs and activities to address gaps identified; establish education programs for teachers, mentors, and youth programs; and develop an online youth outreach program. The project will be conducted in collaboration with New York University's Department of Media, Culture, and Communication and the Born This Way Foundation-a new foundation created by Grammy award-winning performer, Lady Gaga.

2010 (3 years)
$600,000

To support the Open Net Initiative (over three years).

2009 (1 year)
$170,000

In support of research and analysis on the framework for a National Broadband Plan.

2009 (1 year)
$450,000

To develop a youth media policy working group.

2009 (1 year 10 months)
$960,000

To study the impact of the internet on Russia (over two years).

2007 (4 years)
$4,000,000

In support of an endowment campaign.

2007 (1 year)
$210,000

In support of a conference and research on citizen journalism.

2007 (1 year 5 months)
$50,000

To monitor Internet accessibility and to carry out research, in conjunction with the Open Net Initiative, into the deliberate tampering of the Internet during the elections in Nigeria that were held in April 2007.

2007 (1 year)
$50,000

In support of communications planning for the release of data by the Open Net Initiative.

2007 (3 years 8 months)
$450,000

In support of a study of the ways in which governments use the Internet to monitor their citizens' online behavior and to use the study's results to strengthen human rights work (over three years).

2005 (4 years 3 months)
$3,000,000

In support of the Open Net Initiative (over four years).

2005 (1 year)
$50,000

In support of a conference on human rights and the Internet.

2005 (3 years)
$750,000

In support of general operations (over three years).

2003 (1 year 3 months)
$100,000

For “Documentation of Internet Filtering Worldwide” (over 15 months).

2003 (3 years)
$600,000

In support of the Digital Media in Cyberspace Project (over three years).