Data Ethics & Governance

What it is about

You will learn central ethical, legal and societal questions in handling data, automated systems and AI. By the end you can identify risks and responsibilities in data-driven projects, systematically analyze ethical issues and develop concrete recommendations for responsible data usage.

What you will be able to do

Understand and apply concepts of data ethics and responsible data practices
Recognize ethical questions related to Big Data, Machine Learning and AI
Assess the impact of automation, generative AI and platforms on society
Analyze issues related to data protection, surveillance, Open Data and citizen science
Justify ethical decisions in their social context with case studies
Develop recommendations for responsible data practice in real projects

What the module consists of

LectureIntroduction to the topics and discussion of new content
Case-Clinic / Project workApplying the concepts in real case studies together with data practitioners

Teaching method

Lecture with presentationsConveying and discussing new topics
In-class exercises and case studies (Clinic)Applying the concepts to real problems and promoting collaborative work

What you should already know

recommended

Assessment

Project workPresentation

The assessment consists of a project work (50%) and a 30-minute presentation (50%). The project work comprises a written report of about 10 pages (roughly 6000 words), in which you first research and analyze challenges and in a second phase develop methods and recommendations to promote responsible data practice. The presentation serves to present and discuss your results to peers and practice partners.

Reading list

Beaulieu, A. & Leonelli, S. - Data and Society: A Critical Introduction
D’Ignazio & Klein - Data Feminism
Floridi, L. - The Fourth Revolution: How the Infosphere Is Reshaping Human Reality (Introduction)
Eubanks, Virginia - Automating Inequality: How High-Tech Tools Profile, Police and Punish the Poor
Kitchin, Rob - The Data Revolution: Big Data, Open Data, Data Infrastructures and Their Consequences (2022, 2nd ed.)
Leonelli, S. - Big Data and Scientific Research (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Dates

WorkshopData Ethics in Practice: Dashboarding Indigenous Data Sovereignty with Local Contexts7 groups to choose from

ATue09:00–17:00F.1.12, Seminarraum (2913.01.112)once on 12.01.
BThu09:00–17:00F.1.12, Seminarraum (2913.01.112)once on 14.01.
CThu10:00–12:00Externer Ort (siehe Anmerkung)once on 11.02.
DFri09:00–17:00F.1.12, Seminarraum (2913.01.112)once on 15.01.
EFri13:30–16:00Externer Ort (siehe Anmerkung)once on 27.11.
FWed09:00–17:00F.1.12, Seminarraum (2913.01.112)once on 13.01.
GMon09:00–17:00F.1.12, Seminarraum (2913.01.112)once on 11.01.

From the current semester, not binding. You attend one of several groups; the timetable automatically suggests the one with the fewest clashes.

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