Research Standards & Practices

S.T.O.P.’s researchers are advocates: we seek an end to discriminatory surveillance. Each S.T.O.P. research report unpacks the privacy and civil rights harms of a particular surveillance technology or practice. We center our work on impacted communities, providing practical guidance to those threatened most by surveillance. We draft actionable policy recommendations. Our writing prioritizes clarity and accessibility because we know that our work will only have a lasting impact by engaging the broader public. We publicize our work in op-eds and interviews with local and national news outlets, at conferences and in meetings with advocates, policymakers, and community members, on our website and via social media.

S.T.O.P. is committed to relevant, objective, and replicable research. Our Community Advisory Board reviews and approves new projects, ensuring that our research is timely and responsive to the needs of over-surveilled communities. We cite our work thoroughly, relying only on credible sources, and check our reports to ensure that our claims are current at the time of publication. When we rely on quantitative datasets, we post them publicly on our website. We seek peer review for our reports from partner advocacy groups, lawyers, and researchers, ensuring our research’s quality, accuracy, and effectiveness. S.T.O.P.’s researchers have no financial interests that would influence their work. S.T.O.P.’s Corporate Gifts policy prohibits a broad array of contributions from for-profit entities, including any firm profiting from the sale of surveillance technology.

Please direct any questions about STOP’s research policy to Research Director Eleni Manis at eleniATstopspyingDOTorg.