The NYU's investigation of Facebook ads has its participants use a
browser add-on that incidentally reports other people's personal data
when it appears on the participant's screen. Arguably, Facebook is
legally bound to try to stop its use.
Facebook may not have the legal power to stop it, and we must hope it
does not get that power, because this research is vitally important.
Unless, that is, new laws compel Facebook to hand over its preference
algorithm (in every version) for investigation.
The experimenters are morally bound to inform participants that the
browser add-on will show the experimenters other Facebook useds'
personal information they Facebook shows them. That raises another
legal/moral question: is it legal, and is it moral, for a participant
X to knowingly hand over per Facebook "friends"' data to the
experimenters?
IANAL, but I think it is legal, because X has no obligation of secrecy
to per Facebook friends. I think it is moral, provided X informs
all per Facebook friends that perse will do this, and gives them a
chance to avoid showing their data to X.
However, if they are wise, they will be more hesitant to show their
data to Facebook than to show it to X and the experimenters. Which
means they should stop being zuckers — stop being used by
Facebook.