INFO 5325 - [Ethical Thinking about Digital Technologies and Data]

Fall. Not offered: 2020-2021. Next offered: 2022-2023. 3 credits. Student option grading.

Enrollment limited to: Cornell Tech students. Offered in New York City at Cornell Tech. Prior understanding of, and experience with, either computing or social, political, and ethical analysis expected.

H. Nissenbaum.

Computing, information technology, and digital media are integrated into all aspects of contemporary life including commerce, finance, education, politics, entertainment, communication, and social life. This project-based course studies these technologies through the lens of social, political, and ethical values investigating whether and how technical systems promote or impede values to which we, individually and as societies, are committed, values, such as liberty, privacy, autonomy, and justice. While we explore concepts and literatures, students will form collaborative groups, select projects and apply philosophical and social theories of technology to analyze and, possibly, design, prototype, and build systems. Ideal project groups will be multidisciplinary and project goals and deliverables will be adjusted to students’ backgrounds and skills.