In August, Meta, formerly known as Facebook, launched the 2021 People’s Expectations and Experiences with Digital Privacy request for proposals (RFP). Today, we’re announcing the winners of this award.

In 2020, we launched a similar research award opportunity in this space. We have continued this support for academics from across the social sciences and technical disciplines, empowering them to broaden and deepen our collective knowledge of global privacy expectations and experiences.

“Both this year’s and last year’s RFPs are about expanding research on two vital topics for the advancement of privacy science: privacy measurement and inclusive privacy,” said Meta Head of Privacy Research Liz Keneski in a Q&A about the RFP.

This year, areas of interest included the following:

• Improving understanding of users’ privacy attitudes, concerns, preferences, needs, behaviors, and outcomes
• Novel assessments of digital transparency and control that are meaningful for diverse populations, context, and data types

The RFP attracted 89 proposals from 74 universities and institutions around the world. Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a proposal, and congratulations to the winners.

Research award winners

Principal investigators are listed first unless otherwise noted.

Addressing biases in measurement of self-reported privacy constructs
Heng Xu, Nan Zhang (American University, Washington, D.C.)

Designing digital privacy education interventions for older adults
Kaileigh Byrne, Bart Knijnenburg (Clemson University)

Exploring privacy concerns and policy negotiation strategies in smart homes
Chuan Yue (Colorado School of Mines)

Global south citizens’ privacy perceptions and management of targeted ads
Yang Wang (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

Privacy regulations and consumer search for products and information
Pinar Yildirim, Yu Zhao (University of Pennsylvania), Pradeep Chintagunta (University of Chicago)

Understanding the digital privacy of the rural women in Bangladesh
Syed Ishtiaque Ahmed (University of Toronto), Mahdi Nasrullah Al-Ameen (Utah State University), Sharifa Sultana (Cornell University)

Understanding the roles of discrete emotions in privacy management
Hyunjin Kang (Nanyang Technological University), Jeeyun Oh (University of Texas at Austin)

Finalists

Designing “just-in-time” privacy nudges and education with and for teens
Pamela Wisniewski (University of Central Florida)

Developing tailored interventions to boost privacy control and resilience
Sophie Boerman, Joanna Strycharz (University of Amsterdam)

Digital payment system (DPS) privacy and user satisfaction in three countries
Raghav Rao, Oluwafemi Akanfe, Rohit Valecha (University of Texas at San Antonio)

Examining privacy concerns for interventions in online news systems
Matthew Louis Mauriello (University of Delaware)

Inclusive privacy design for vulnerable populations beyond W.E.I.R.D
Maryam Mustafa, Mobin Javed (Lahore University of Management Sciences)

Interactive image control: Addressing privacy concerns in public spaces
Maria D. Molina, Ruth Shillair (Michigan State University)

Privacy-preserving approaches to combating misinformation globally
Aditya Vashistha (Cornell University)

The socioeconomic & cultural influence: Adolescents’ perception of privacy
Kuskridho Ambardi, Adityo Hidayat, Anisa Pratita Kirana Mantovani, Dewa Ayu Diah Angendari, Faiz Rahman, Paska Bayu Darmawan (Universitas Gadjah Mada/Center for Digital Society)