Australian Internet Observatory launches national digital research platform

The Australian Internet Observatory (AIO) has launched a national self-service research infrastructure platform designed to study digital services such as TikTok, Instagram, ChatGPT, Netflix, Facebook, and Spotify. Led by RMIT University and the Australian Research Data Commons, the platform provides a shared technical framework for humanities and social sciences researchers to examine the impacts of digital platforms on culture, health, education, and public debate.

The platform specifically supports “data donation” research through the use of Data Download Packages (DDPs). These are personal data archives—including search histories, interactions, and advertising information—that individuals can request from digital services and provide to researchers with informed consent. This method allows for deeper investigation into user experiences than traditional surveys or publicly visible content.

AIO Director Julian Thomas noted that the platform aims to reduce practical barriers, such as the high cost and technical expertise required to build custom research systems. The initiative follows increased policy interest in digital harms, including social media safety and artificial intelligence. All research involving personal data must still obtain institutional ethics approval under the AIO’s “ethics-first” approach.