Overview

This class surveys a range of emergent computational technologies (including AI, the metaverse, and surveillance systems). While students are not expected to arrive with knowledge about computational systems, we will be discussing how these technologies work from a technical perspective in addition to how they operate within the context of society and policy.

Ultimately, the class seeks to answer the following questions:

  • Is it possible for computational technology to be good?
  • What is required to design computational technology to maximize the benefits of its impact and minimize the harms?

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Compare different ethical theories.
  2. Describe how some of the most impactful computational technologies work.
  3. Apply ethical theories to situations involving people and computational technology.
  4. Write a research paper that examines multiple sources to support a thesis statement about the regulations or practices required for a particular technology to be a benefit for society.
  5. Create a Twine game that explores different courses of action based on different ethical theories.
Required Texts

Additional articles will be made available on the course LMS.

Foundations

In this module, we will focus on establishing a set of shared foundations by definition data, information, knowledge, infrastructure, and computational technology.

We will also develop a shared understanding of basic ethical theories that can be used to examine different technologies as we continue through the course. These include Aristotlean virtue ethics, utilitarianism, and Kant’s categorical imperative. We will introduce other ethical theories later in the course, but these will serve as the fundamentals to help us start having meaningful conversations about emergent technologies.

Readings
  • [Phronesis] ch. 1, 3
  • [LA2019] pp. 307-320
  • [Cli2011] ch. 1-9
Assignments
  • Reading Reflections 1-2
  • Draft Thesis Statement

Social Computing

In this module, we discuss the techologies and infrastructures required to support current and future social media platforms. We will also discuss the different affordances enabled by different technologies that comprise the infrastructure that supports online communities.

We will be asking the questions:

  • What is the purpose of human interaction?
  • How does technology enhance (or detract) from this purpose?

Readings

  • [Phronesis] ch. 6
  • [Cah2017] Exploring Ethics: An Introductory Anthology ch. 19 (On LMS)
  • [Cli2011] ch. 11-19
  • [Till2015] On LMS
  • [Till2017] On LMS

Assignments

  • Reading Reflections 3-4
  • Single Source Analysis Paper Thesis Statement & Outline

Expression, Truth, & Responsibility

We will be discussing freedom of expression, moderation, censorship, and misinformation and how technologies such as social media and the Web facilitate and challenge these concepts.

In this module, we will be discussing:

  • What is OK to say and what is not?
  • What is truth?
  • When are we obligated to communicate truthfully?
Readings
  • [Cli2011] ch. 21-29
  • [Phronesis] ch. 5
  • [SAW2019] On LMS
  • [Gri2023] ch. 3 (On LMS)
Assignments
  • Reading Reflections 5-6
  • Single Source Analysis Paper (3-4 pages)

Sovereignty

In this module, we will discuss concepts surrounding information and data soverignty and ownership, including trademarks, patents, copyrights, and OCAP.

We will be asking the questions:

  • Who owns the data/knowledge/information?
  • How is that enforced?

Readings

  • [Cli2011] ch. 31-39
  • [Gri2023] pp. 379-380; 389-396; 411-417;434-440; 454; 467-471
  • [LA2019] pp. 339-350
  • [Sch2004] On LMS

Assignments

  • Reading Reflections 7-8
  • Annotated Bibliography
  • Research Paper Outline

Privacy

In this section, we will examine surveillance technologies and benefits (safety) and risks (imposition on privacy) that they pose. Specifically, we will be asking:

  • What information is it ok to collect about an individual or group?
  • When is it ok to collect trace information and when is it not?

Readings

  • [Wil2011] Part 1
  • [FPM+2017] On LMS
  • [LA2019] pp. 27-48

Assignments

  • Reading Reflection 9
  • Work on Research Paper

Artificial Intelligence

In this section, we will be reading about

Readings

  • [Wil2011] Parts 2 & 3
  • What is Artificial Intelligence Series
  • [Chi2018] On LMS (excerpt from The Lifecycle of Software Objectives)
  • [ST2023] On LMS
  • [CRR+2023] On LMS
  • [Bar2023] On LMS
  • [SU2021] On LMS

Videos

Assignments

  • Reading Reflections 10-12
  • Work on Research Paper
  • Twine Game

Digital Equity

In this module, we will explore the implications of digital inequities, such as lack of access to connectivity, hardware, or lack of digital literacy. We will ask:

  • What does it mean for society if access to information, data, and knowledge is uneven?

Readings

Assignments

  • Reading Reflection 13
  • Research Paper Draft
  • Research Paper Final
  • Oral Demo of Game