NIO Mobile

National Internet Observatory

About this app

The National Internet Observatory (the NIO) invites residents of the United States to participate in a scientific study to understand the role the Internet plays in modern society. The objective of the Observatory is to shed light on people’s experiences online.

The Observatory works in a two step process: (1) Collecting data from participants on their online experiences. This involves loading software on computers that sends information back to the Observatory. (2) Providing privacy-preserving access to researchers to study the Internet.

The NIO welcomes participants from all backgrounds. Researchers will use these data to understand how the Internet affects individuals and society more generally.

After participants consent to participate in this study, the NIO Mobile app will collect the following pieces of data:

- Metadata about network traffic: The NIO app will rely on a VPN to collect network level information about app's internet communications. This does not include the content of network communications.

- Data about app usage: The NIO app will have access to the number of times each app is opened on a given time interval and how much time it was used by the participant.

- Location data: The NIO app collects location data for: 1) regulatory compliance reasons, as we only collect data from participants that are physically in the US; and 2) offering surveys specific to participants on a given region.

Ratings and reviews

I was paid by Forthright for installing and using the app. I have it installed, but I constantly have to resume the data collection because it keeps shutting off. Also, I keep getting emails about accessing surveys through the app, but when I check, they simply aren't there. When I first began using the app, I was able to see and take a couple of initial surveys. I contacted CS about it, but they're really not that helpful. 🙄

So far the app keeps stopping. I don't have time to keep starting it only for it to stop a second later. I read about the batter issues. I see you have help instructions for certain phones but I haven't heard of half of those. I don't have an expensive phone so you all need to think mostly poor people will be the ones using your app. Think about these phones, Samsung, Blue and Motorola. There's a bunch more..... Would love for the app to work on my devices. I emailed you but I haven't heard bk.