Press Releases

Today, Congressman Wiley Nickel (NC-13) announced a $450,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for Shaw University. The funding will support the project titled “Research Initiation Award: Investigating Disparities Among Smart Technology Privacy Studies.”

The project will provide a comprehensive overview of the state of smart technology privacy studies and examine whether there are any disparities. Specifically, the research team at Shaw University will evaluate whether there are underexplored device types or underrepresented demographic groups such as race, ethnicity, gender or age in smart technology privacy studies.

“I’m excited to announce that Shaw University has been awarded $450,000 for this important project,” said Congressman Wiley Nickel. “There's no question that smart technology is revolutionizing our world. However, we have to make sure that people's data is protected and not being exploited. Through this project, Shaw University researchers will contribute to the national and local conversation on this issue, and provide recommendations on inclusive privacy-related policies.” 

The findings of this project will provide insight into Americans’ privacy concerns and recommendations for inclusive policies, laws, and regulations to protect individuals and the data collected by smart technology. It will also support smart technology device manufacturers, developers, and researchers to create better products that meet working people’s needs.