Harvard Alleged Dance with Zuckerberg: Meta’s influence on independent research questioned as Harvard researcher Dr. Joan Donovan alleges the university shut down her project to protect its relationship with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his mega-donor role.
Allegations claim Harvard restricted research after Zuckerberg’s Chan Zuckerberg Initiative donated $500 million, leading to concerns over tech giant influence on seemingly independent research projects.
Dr. Donovan’s disclosure raises questions about academic freedom as she accuses Harvard of bowing to corporate interests, emphasizing the potential impact on research integrity and public interest.
Harvard strongly disputes Donovan’s claims, citing academic standards and faculty leadership policies. The university denies unfair treatment, donor interference, and suggestions that Facebook dictated its research approach.
Meta declined to comment, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative denied involvement in Donovan’s departure. The US Department of Education and Massachusetts Attorney General’s office are reviewing the disclosure.
The incident sparks concerns about corporate interests influencing research, echoing past instances involving industries like Big Tobacco, Big Energy, and Big Pharma, and highlighting the delicate balance between academia and powerful donors.
In February, the student-led Harvard Crimson reported that the Kennedy School was ending Donovan’s Technology and Social Change Project and restricting Donovan from raising new funding or conducting additional hiring. At the time, the school pointed to a rule that required such projects to be led by faculty members, which Donovan was not.
In August, Donovan announced that she would join Boston Universitys College of Communication as an assistant professor, officially ending her affiliation with Harvard Kennedy School. She told the Crimson that she “had to leave” because she felt the Kennedy School “didnt back me as a scholar.”
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Our Reader’s Queries
How much did Zuckerberg donate to Harvard?
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made a generous donation of $500 million to Harvard University for the advancement of AI. However, a recent whistleblower has alleged that a disinformation research project was shut down. The details surrounding this incident are still unclear, but it has raised concerns about the potential misuse of AI technology. Despite this setback, Zuckerberg’s donation remains a significant contribution to the field of AI research and development.