Ethics of Technology

Overview

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This course explores the ethical implications of data analytics. It connects old ideas – privacy, surveillance, power, justice, accountability, corporate responsibility, stakeholder theory – with new technologies and cases, such as the use of machine learning to predict crime. The course will prepare you to evaluate strategic arguments about the ethics of data analytics and to relate data analytics to ethical concepts so that you approach newer, ambiguous capabilities of technology and artificial intelligence with a critical eye.

Syllabus

Technological Bias and Critical Theories

Welcome to Week 1 of the course! This week, you will participate in a variety of learning experiences so that you can begin framing your awareness of the biases inherent in technology. First, you will view a welcome video from your instructor. Then, your instructor will introduce you to this week’s topic. You will review two case studies, complete two practice quizzes, and view your instructor’s analyses of the two case studies. Finally, you will wrap up the week by completing one multiple-choice quiz and one reflective quiz so that you can apply the ethical theories you learn about this week to morally evaluate technology biases or preferences.

Privacy and Surveillance

Welcome to Week 2 of the course! This week, you will examine theories of privacy and surveillance. You will also be given an opportunity to reflect upon how the design of technology contributes to violations of privacy and surveillance.

Discrimination and Fairness

Welcome to Week 3 of the course! When an AI program decides if you are employable, can it discriminate? This week you will examine different theories of discrimination and fairness in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. You will also review cases that depict how technology can discriminate so that you can consider how the technology design can impact and treat people differently.

Measuring Accuracy and Offering Contestability

Welcome to Week 4 of the course! One of the primary purposes of technology design is to solve problems. So take a moment to consider a few global issues or problems that you would like to see (re)solved. Do other people share your interest in these issues? What role could technology play in solving these problems? How could the outcomes achieved by a technological intervention (to solve these problems) be accurately measured? This week, you will delve into the heart of these issues by examining how technology can make mistakes and how we can think of holding people accountable for technology.