These are computer studies profs rather than healthcare ones – this paper has only just been released but curiously makes little reference to the UK NPS ban in spite of mentioning data being gathered as recently as July.
It clearly illiustrates the level of surveillance involved (and they are only using relatively modest resources) and they are not breaking any privacy laws; simply using Google searches of public material. Although they are not making any direct judgments over what should and should not remain legal, this whole research is funded by a combination of EU healthcare and criminal justice agencies.
https://arxiv.org/pdf/1605.03817.pdf