Do highly secured laptops jeopardize academic freedom?
You can’t cook a Michelin-starred meal with plastic knives. Yet, AI researchers fear that the university is imposing exactly that on them. New IT measures are intended to ward off cyber threats, but they threaten to stifle academic research.
Highly secure work laptops and new software restrictions are making AI research increasingly difficult, warn researchers from the Center for Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence (CSAI).
Chris Emmery of the List TSHD staff party raised these concerns during the Humanities and Digital Sciences faculty council meeting on February 12th. Speaking on behalf of scientists from departments including Computational Cognitive Science and Intelligent Systems, Emmery stated: ‘IT measures threaten the future of academic research.’
Academic freedom under pressure
Concerns have been growing among Tilburg AI researchers for some time now. Not only because competition with other research labs has increased, but especially because the practical feasibility of research is being jeopardized.
‘The question is now very basic,’ says Emmery. ‘Will we still have sufficient computing power in the future? Can we store sensitive data securely? Can we request specific infrastructure (hardware and software, ed.)? And will students still have the freedom to work with these kinds of systems?’
According to him, this is not only jeopardizing the academic competitive position, but also the academic freedom of Tilburg researchers.
Highly secured Windows system
According to the employee organization List TSHD, the cause lies in new security measures. To combat cyber threats, the university has equipped laptops with a highly secure Windows operating system. In addition, there is a general ban on software not approved by the university.
According to Emmery, these measures conflict with the daily practice of AI research. ‘Much of our research hardware and software requires updates during use, frequent reinstallations, and direct access to the operating system. That’s simply impossible on a secure Windows machine.’
Additionally, he adds, Microsoft is increasingly integrating AI into the operating system. Research data could potentially be unintentionally used or shared by the AI. ‘Ironically, that’s not a pleasant thought when it comes to protecting our intellectual property,’ Emmery explains.
Professional kitchen with plastic knives
To illustrate his point, Emmery uses a striking analogy: ‘It’s like replacing all the chef’s knives in a professional kitchen with plastic Play-Dough knives because they’re safer. Yes, you prevent injuries, but you can no longer prepare a proper meal.’
According to Emmery, the security measures pose significant obstacles for researchers who want to comply. ‘I suspect that this will actually make some staff less inclined to comply,’ he warns.
Call to action
Emmery acknowledges that there is no simple solution, as it is difficult to simultaneously safeguard academic freedom and cybersecurity. But he warns that the new IT measures are slowing down AI research and could undermine projects.
Nevertheless, he urges the TSHD board not to let the problem fester. He warns that if the faculty board does not find a solution soon, the negative consequences for the research center will continue to worsen.
Advertentie.
