VILNIUS, Lithuania, March 31st, 2025 – “Project 4β,” a pro bono initiative by Oxylabs dedicated to advancing socially impactful research through web intelligence, is proud to welcome new partners, including the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and members from esteemed academic institutions — the University of Chicago, Princeton University, the University of Birmingham, and the University of Warwick. These collaborations underline the company’s commitment to making web intelligence insights accessible to all, empowering academic and investigative research for the public good.
As concerns surrounding digital transparency, economic inequality, and media influence continue to grow, access to reliable, ethical data collection methods is essential. The latest members of Project 4β are leveraging Oxylabs’ cutting-edge tools to conduct critical research in their respective fields.
“We’re happy to welcome new members to Project 4β, each bringing valuable expertise to our mission of leveraging web intelligence collection for social good. This Initiative was created to equip researchers and organizations with the tools they need to uncover critical insights. Seeing our partners drive meaningful change reaffirms why 4β is so important,” says Julius Černiauskas, CEO of Oxylabs.
Strengthening Investigative Journalism
ICIJ, a globally recognized network of investigative reporters, partners with Project 4β to enhance its efforts in exposing corruption, financial crime, and abuses of power. With a presence in over 100 countries and a network of more than 290 top investigative journalists, ICIJ has led groundbreaking investigations such as the Panama Papers and Pandora Papers, driving global accountability.
Through “Project 4β,” ICIJ gains access to Oxylabs’ residential proxies, strengthening its ability to conduct complex cross-border investigations. Pierre Romera Zhang, Chief Technology Officer at ICIJ, highlights the significance of this collaboration: “Oxylabs’ infrastructure has proven to be a reliable and valuable resource for our investigative work. Access to a robust residential proxy network supports our mission to tell stories that show how the world works, triggering positive change.
Advancing Academic Research with Web Intelligence
In the field of computational social science, new “4β” partner Grace Shao, a student writing a thesis for an MA degree in Computational Social Science at the University of Chicago, uses Oxylabs Mobile Proxies to examine how information is disseminated online.
“The tools Oxylabs has provided pro bono will help level the power imbalance and flow of information between social media platforms and users. These technology companies collect so much data about users but are very selective about what they share. “Project 4β” has given me access to tools that allow me (a single person!) to level the playing field a small but meaningful amount. As concerns surrounding freedom of expression and the right to protest are growing, transparency and insight into how media is circulated on platforms is critical, more than ever.”
Meanwhile, In economics, Oxylabs’ tools are supporting research on housing affordability and market dynamics. Nikhil Datta, Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Warwick, emphasizes the impact of ISP proxies on his research:
“Oxylabs’ ISP proxies are invaluable for our study of the UK housing market. They allow us to create a more detailed picture of housing supply challenges, providing insights crucial to shaping a more affordable and functional market.”
Expanding Impact: a Call for Collaboration
Project 4β continues to grow as a collaborative space for researchers, journalists, and academics dedicated to leveraging web intelligence for social good. Oxylabs remains committed to supporting critical research across multiple disciplines by providing advanced tools and ethical data solutions.
The Initiative’s existing partners include organizations like The Pulitzer Center, Bellingcat, Global Witness, the Environmental Protection Department of Lithuania, and researchers from Stanford University and Northwestern University, among others.
“Project 4β” always welcomes academic institutions, researchers, NGOs, non-profits, and other organizations tackling complex societal challenges to join the pro bono program and gain access to Oxylabs’ know-how and robust web intelligence collection solutions.
About Oxylabs
Established in 2015, Oxylabs is a web intelligence platform and premium proxy provider, enabling companies of all sizes to utilise the power of big data. Constant innovation, an extensive patent portfolio, and a focus on ethics have allowed Oxylabs to become a global leader in the web intelligence collection industry and forge close ties with dozens of Fortune Global 500 companies. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, Oxylabs was named Europe’s fastest-growing web intelligence acquisition company in the Financial Times’ FT 1000 list. For more information, please visit Oxylabs’ website.
