CS 182: Ethics, Public Policy, and Technological Change

Examination of recent developments in computing technology and platforms through the lenses of philosophy, public policy, social science, and engineering. Course is organized around five main units: algorithmic decision-making and bias; data privacy and civil liberties; artificial intelligence and autonomous systems; the power of private computing platforms; and issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the technology sector. Each unit considers the promise, perils, rights, and responsibilities at play in technological developments.

CS106A

Menu of Topics

The course will focus on six frontiers that (a) you are likely to play a role in shaping over the next decade and (b) where engagement with material from philosophy, social science, and public policy is likely to be helpful.

1. Algorithmic Decision-Making
2. Political Economy of Tech Sector
3. Data Collection, Privacy, and Civil Liberties
4. Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems
5. Power of Private Platforms
6. Blockchain, Decentralization, and Cryptocurrency

Cross-Cutting Themes

Throughout the course, we will foreground two cross-cutting themes:

• First, issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion which focus our attention on who has power, voice, and influence in shaping the design and regulation of technology.
• Second, issues of political economy which focus our attention on the interplay of markets and governments in shaping what technology gets built, who benefits from that technology, and how any harmful impacts are/are not mitigated.