Codifying Digital Behaviour Around the World: Grant awarded by Wikimedia Research Fund
A Socio-Legal Study of the Wikimedia Universal Code of Conduct
The Centre for Socio-Legal Studies is delighted to announce the award of a grant from the Wikimedia Research Fund (Wikimedia Foundation). The research project aims to examine the Wikimedia Universal Code of Conduct as a critical step for the governance of online behaviour across Wikimedia projects.
The research team, made up of Dr Florian Grisel and Dr Giovanni Gregorio, will investigate the codification process of the code of conduct focusing on its origins, its structure and the narratives guiding its enforcement. Based on empirical data collected through interviews and document analysis, this project will analyse the dynamics surrounding the adoption of the code of conduct and debates concerning its enforcement. The results of this research will be disseminated through various channels, including conferences, a final report and an open-access paper published in an international journal. On receiving news of the award Dr Florian Grisel said:
We are delighted and grateful to be able to research the emergence of the Universal Code of Conduct, a unique set of rules that is aimed at providing a baseline for digital behaviour on Wikipedia, with the support of the Wikimedia Research Fund.
The project is one of the 10 proposals funded out of 108 applications. A total amount of US$48,058 has been awarded.