Emerging information technologies, such as social media, search engines, and AI, significantly impact public health, politics, social dynamics, and the environment. A scientific understanding of these impacts is essential to develop evidence-based technology policies that minimize harm and enhance benefits. However, the data needed for research is often controlled by the tech industry itself, which poses risks of undue influence on the scientific record. The paper argues for the need to strengthen existing protections and create new ones to mitigate these challenges in technology research.