DeWitt Wallace Course

Privacy and Ethical Decision-Making in Our Digital Era

SCISOC 614-02, PUBPOL 614-02

Media and Democracy

Emerging technologies and data use in our digital economy affect privacy. We will evaluate the ethical issues raised when emerging tech and data use intersect with Americans’ privacy interests in a variety of current contexts: law enforcement surveillance technologies; the national response to the Covid-19 pandemic; corporate surveillance and the advertising business model; the ways in which our family, friends, and neighbors’ use of technology can affect our privacy (e.g., DNA testing, Alexa, Amazon Ring, Nest); student surveillance; sexual privacy and Section 230; algorithmic decision-making; and employment issues including hiring and monitoring. Spoiler alert: Privacy Isn’t Dead. Note: For undergrads, section 2 (614-02) is reserved for undergrad students.

Course Codes:

EI, SS, STS