As the SPARC report points out: “These companies have an increasing incen- tive to collect and monetise the rich streams of data that these platforms can generate from users. As a result, user privacy depends on the strength of privacy protections guaranteed by vendors (eg. negotiated for in contracts), and a growing body of evidence indicates that this should be a source of concern.”
Data monetisation and manipulation While libraries rarely use aggregate anonymous data for anything more than high-level statistics to monitor and assess the use of digital resources, this same data can provide immensely valuable insights to publishers, suppliers, and vendors that can be leveraged to commercial advantage at the expense of user access, academic freedom, and privacy.
Publishers armed with data on the popu- larity of specific titles, articles, or chapters can discern which titles within their collec- tions are the most heavily accessed across various institutions and restrict access or repurpose and bundle these materials into new products, such as thematic collections, custom course materials, or specialised re- search packages, often at a premium price. This same emphasis on high-use titles for commercial viability can narrow the available content, favouring popular topics at the expense of niche or less popular sub- jects. This can inadvertently affect research
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horizons, with scholars and researchers aligning their work with trending topics while potentially veering away from inno- vative, less explored areas of study. Library usage data is often one strand among many that feeds into the research metrics that are used to determine high im- pact research, with broad-ranging implica- tions for publication, funding and research grants, staffing, tenure and promotion. Some vendors may even take things a step further by selling this anonymised aggregated data to third parties, including advertisers, marketers, and researchers, for purposes beyond academia, such as market research or trend analysis. The SPARC report suggests data sharing within the business conglomerates themselves may be a risk: “These practices raise the question of whether simultaneous ownership of key academic infrastructure alongside sophis- ticated surveillance and data brokering businesses should be permitted at all – by users, by institutions, or by policymakers and regulatory authorities.”.
The need for transparency
The critical need for transparency cannot be overstated. Libraries are left in the dark about the extent of data collection and usage by vendors and publishers. This lack of transparency affects our decision-mak- ing processes, including budget allocation and collection development. It also creates a significant barrier to negotiating from an
informed position and understanding the full scope of data privacy violations. Transparency is a catalyst for account- ability. It holds digital content providers and publishers responsible for their data practices. Libraries have a responsibil- ity to seek clear answers regarding data collection, usage, and sharing, as these practices directly impact their ability to uphold ethical standards.
Risks and consequences
The risks of allowing unregulated access to library user data are multifaceted:
l Pricing content: Publishers may set content prices based on demand data libraries provide, potentially driving up costs.
l Content removal: High-use titles may be removed from packages that libraries have already paid for, limiting access to essential resources.
l User privacy: Detailed monitoring of user activity raises legitimate privacy concerns and may deter individuals from accessing library resources.
l Re-identification: Seemingly anonymised data can potentially be tied back to individuals or institutions based on behavioural patterns.
l Implications for resource allocation: Libraries may unwittingly
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