Led by Dr Guido Noto La Diega (Law) and Dr Massimo Ragnedda (Social Sciences)

Internet & Society is a relatively new academic discipline encompassing inter alia data protection; privacy and confidentiality; transparency, including freedom of information and access to environmental information; whistleblowing and information sharing. 

Information can be a key business asset. Furthermore, when organisations fail to take a positive approach to their obligations under information rights legislation such as the Data Protection Act 1998 or the Freedom of Information Act 2000, there may be significant reputational and financial costs. By contrast, when organisations focus on achieving compliance with their obligations, numerous benefits can be achieved; time and money may be saved and good relations and trust are likely to be developed (ICO (2012) Taking a Positive Approach to Information Rights). 

NINSO, The Northumbria Internet & Society Research Interest Group builds on the work of the Information Rights Research Group, which had a long history of working with private and public sector organisations and their employees to help them understand how they can ensure that they comply with their information rights obligations.  This includes through conferences, short continuing professional development courses, consultancy, and postgraduate teaching on the Postgraduate Certificate in Data Protection and Information Governance and the Postgraduate programme in Information Rights Law and Practice.  The members of NINSO are also all actively engaged in research and publication in the field.