Better data, better decisions

The Dark Data Project helps organizations surmount data barriers, particularly involving unstrutured, obfuscated, inaccessible or otherwise problematic datasets. Our team offers a breadth of expertise in data science, public and private governance, and humanitarian technology.

Analyzing and deobfuscating problematic data is increasingly relevant in the world today, as COVID deaths remain underreported around the world (impacting decision-making about vaccine distribution) and as AIs are being trained and deployed using datasets which reflect endemic societal biases (impacting issues such as education, healthcare and law enforcement).

As part of our mandate to promote informed, responsible decision-making, particularly when marginalized populations are impacted, 50% of our operational efforts are performed pro bono.

What is Dark Data?

Dark data is, in essence, any data which should exist and be easily accessible, but is not. This includes data which is nonexistent (either because no one has thought to collect it, or because efforts to collect it have been inhibited), data which exists but isn't widely accessible (such as proprietary, classified or private data), data which, if available, would be inculpatory or exculpatory, data which is in some fashion obfuscated (whether unstructured, corrupted, redacted or corrupted), data which is untranslated or untranslatable, and data which is just plain wrong (such as misinformation, disinformation or poorly collected).

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Clients and Partners

Among our valued clients and partners are the Rural Development Network (RDN), the United Jewish Alliance, Needslist.co, the Biological Survey of Canada and the Technosignature Research Portal.

History

The Dark Data Project was founded in 2020 by Timothy Quinn, and has evolved to consist of a skilled team of data scientists, technical project managers and humanitarian policy experts.

Interested in helping out? Opportunities are available to help the Dark Data Project grow.

Working With Us

There are currently three workstreams for organizations to work with the Dark Data Project:


Find out which workstream is right for you

Are you a founder or startup seeking guidance in difficult data management?

This is potentially an incubator project. Please tell us as much as you can so that we can evaluate your project or product.

Has a third party funded part of your project, or have you allocated budget for this project?

Because our pro bono stream is intended for unfunded or underfunded projects, this is likely a consulting project. If there are additional nuances to your project which might warrant pro bono consideration, please contact us.

Will your project be deployed to paying users, or generate revenue (including advertising revenue)?

Because our pro bono stream is intended for non-commercial projects, this is likely a consulting project. If there are additional nuances to your project which might warrant pro bono consideration, please contact us.

Have you contracted out portions of this project to an entity or individual who will charge you fees?

Because our pro bono stream is intended for projects where all external partners are pro bono, this is likely a consulting project. If there are additional nuances to your project which might warrant pro bono consideration, please contact us.

You appear to be eligible for our pro bono workstream. Please tell us as much as you can so that we can evaluate your project.

Still have questions?

Contact us to learn more about how the Dark Data Project works with stakeholders and innovators on complex, high-impact projects.