Governing Digital Technology

  • Jonathan Zittrain (HLS)

There has been a vigorous, decades-long debate around the governance of digital technology – one conducted variously in the public sphere, in academia, and among regulators and legislators, with a discernible impact on the development and use of consumer-facing technologies. These technologies include the Internet and applications built on top of it; the use of AI and machine learning; and the rise of digital platforms that began as individual apps but then became themselves a more comprehensive, at times totalizing, infrastructure of ubiquitous sensors, data, and user analysis.

 

This course will contextualize today’s technology-driven policy challenges in terms of some of the complex technical, legal, and political arcs of digital governance. Throughout the semester we will trace a broad range of urgent, seemingly novel governance problems back towards their roots for the purpose of charting potential paths forward. We will take a long view on questions of technology policy, looking for the limitations and opportunities confronting both regulators and private-sector decision makers -- and the users of these technologies.

3 Public Health 3 Public Health

3.1 Week 5: Encryption and Surveillance (2/22) 3.1 Week 5: Encryption and Surveillance (2/22)

3.1.1 [Pre-Class Activity] Find one breach of privacy that you find particularly worrisome, and one that you don’t think is a big deal. Be prepared to discuss. 3.1.1 [Pre-Class Activity] Find one breach of privacy that you find particularly worrisome, and one that you don’t think is a big deal. Be prepared to discuss.

3.1.2 Why Privacy Matters 3.1.2 Why Privacy Matters

3.1.2.1. “'I've Got Nothing to Hide' and Other Misunderstandings of Privacy” by Daniel J. Solove, 44 San Diego L. Rev. 745, (2007). Additionally on Canvas.

28 PAGES

“'I've Got Nothing to Hide' and Other Misunderstandings of Privacy” by Daniel J. Solove, 44 San Diego L. Rev. 745, (2007). Additionally on Canvas.

3.1.3 Encryption 3.1.3 Encryption

3.1.3.1. Asymmetric Encryption - Simply Explained by Simply Explained, YouTube (2017)

5 MINUTES

Asymmetric Encryption - Simply Explained by Simply Explained, YouTube (2017)

3.1.4 The Crypto Wars 3.1.4 The Crypto Wars

3.1.4.1. “Doomed to Repeat History? Lessons from the Crypto Wars of the 1990s” by Danielle Kehl, Andi Wilson, and Kevin Bankston, New America (2015) [Read Executive Summary]

3 PAGES

“Doomed to Repeat History? Lessons from the Crypto Wars of the 1990s” by Danielle Kehl, Andi Wilson, and Kevin Bankston, New America (2015) [Read Executive Summary]

3.1.5 Going Dark? 3.1.5 Going Dark?

3.1.5.1. “Going Dark: Are Technology, Privacy, and Public Safety on a Collision Course?” by James Comey, Speech to Brookings Institution (2014)

11 PAGES

“Going Dark: Are Technology, Privacy, and Public Safety on a Collision Course?” by James Comey, Speech to Brookings Institution (2014)

3.1.5.2. “Don’t Panic: Making Progress on the Going Dark Debate” by Jonathan Zittrain et al., Berkman Klein Center (2016)

15 PAGES

“Don’t Panic: Making Progress on the Going Dark Debate” by Jonathan Zittrain et al., Berkman Klein Center (2016)

3.1.5.3. “A Few Keystrokes Could Solve the Crime. Would You Press Enter?” by Jonathan Zittrain, Just Security (2016)

8 PAGES

“A Few Keystrokes Could Solve the Crime. Would You Press Enter?” by Jonathan Zittrain, Just Security (2016)

3.2 Week 6: Disinformation and Propaganda (3/1) 3.2 Week 6: Disinformation and Propaganda (3/1)

3.2.1 [Pre-Class Activity] Choose a case study from The Media Manipulation Casebook and come prepared to very briefly summarize the event. 3.2.1 [Pre-Class Activity] Choose a case study from The Media Manipulation Casebook and come prepared to very briefly summarize the event.

https://mediamanipulation.org/case-studies

3.2.2 Does Political Disinformation Work? 3.2.2 Does Political Disinformation Work?

3.2.2.1. “In 2020, Disinformation Broke the US” by Jane Lytvnenko, BuzzFeed News (2020)

15 PAGES

“In 2020, Disinformation Broke the US” by Jane Lytvnenko, BuzzFeed News (2020)

3.2.2.2. Network Propaganda by Yochai Benkler, Robert Faris, and Hal Roberts, Oxford University Press (2018) [45-56, 75-85, 235-236, 254-268, 381-387]

45 PAGES

Network Propaganda by Yochai Benkler, Robert Faris, and Hal Roberts, Oxford University Press (2018) [45-56, 75-85, 235-236, 254-268, 381-387]

3.2.2.3. “We’re Better Protected Against Foreign Interference This Election. But What About Perception Hacking?” by the Editorial Board, The Washington Post (2020)

3 PAGES

“We’re Better Protected Against Foreign Interference This Election. But What About Perception Hacking?” by the Editorial Board, The Washington Post (2020)

3.2.3 Political Propaganda and Election Influence 3.2.3 Political Propaganda and Election Influence

3.2.3.1. “The Enduring Russian Propaganda Interests in Targeting African-Americans” by Jelani Cobb, The New Yorker (2018)

3 PAGES

“The Enduring Russian Propaganda Interests in Targeting African-Americans” by Jelani Cobb, The New Yorker (2018)

3.2.3.2. “Facebook, Elections and Political Speech” by Nick Clegg (2019)

7 PAGES

“Facebook, Elections and Political Speech” by Nick Clegg (2019)

3.2.3.3. “A Jury of Random People Can Do Wonders for Facebook” by Jonathan Zittrain, The Atlantic (2019)

4 PAGES

“A Jury of Random People Can Do Wonders for Facebook” by Jonathan Zittrain, The Atlantic (2019)

3.2.3.4. “Conservatives Find Home on Social Media Platforms Rife with Misinformation” by Kaya Yurieff, CNN Business (2020)

1 PAGE

“Conservatives Find Home on Social Media Platforms Rife with Misinformation” by Kaya Yurieff, CNN Business (2020)

3.2.4 Coronavirus 3.2.4 Coronavirus

3.2.4.1. “Russian Media ‘Spreading Covid-19 Disinformation’” by Jennifer Rankin, The Guardian (2020)

2 PAGES

“Russian Media ‘Spreading Covid-19 Disinformation’” by Jennifer Rankin, The Guardian (2020)

3.2.4.2 Unfortunately, this section will likely be updated as March approaches. 3.2.4.2 Unfortunately, this section will likely be updated as March approaches.