Design for Democratic Discourse

  • William Marks (Harvard Law School)
  • Jonathan Zittrain (HLS)

The design of a technology can greatly influence how it is used and by whom -- and the behavior of those who use it, including behavior that impacts others. This seminar will bring together students of law, technology, and design, to explore how communication and media technologies have embedded particular values and what lessons might be drawn for future possibilities as more of our lives and identities are conducted and shaped online.

Questions include:

  • How much should design and content moderation choices for ubiquitous social media platforms be made by the private companies who offer them, versus through government regulation or influence?
  • To what extent is it important for public discourse to emphasize contrary views rather than to reaffirm the views of users? To what extent is it important for public discourse to limit or present “balance” to unsubstantiated claims or views labeled -- by whom is another question -- as dangerous?  How much should platforms for discourse take responsibility for the content within them, including content that may be false or misleading?
  • How does design elevate some voices while discouraging others, and what, if anything, should be done about it?
  • Is it better to have a handful of platforms, or many?
  • Should platform interoperability be required? What levels of interoperability are possible across current social platforms?
  • What forms of online discourse have yet to be invented? How might online and “real life” spaces for discourse (e.g., town halls) be better integrated?
  • What is the right balance between centralized and decentralized control of power in social platforms? For example, should verification of users be centralized or decentralized? Parameter settings of content/ad targeting systems? Setting and implementation of moderation policies?

1 Pt 1. Embedded Ideologies 1 Pt 1. Embedded Ideologies

It turns out neutrality is hard to come by. Let’s explore if and how technologies are encoded -- literally and figuratively -- with their designers’ biases.

1.1 Week 1: Embedded Ideologies 1.1 Week 1: Embedded Ideologies

1.1.1 “Do Artifacts Have Politics?” by Langdon Winner, Daedalus (1980). On Canvas. 1.1.1 “Do Artifacts Have Politics?” by Langdon Winner, Daedalus (1980). On Canvas.

1.1.2 Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man by Marshall McLuhan, McGraw-Hill (1964) [Read: “The Medium is the Message”]. On Canvas. 1.1.2 Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man by Marshall McLuhan, McGraw-Hill (1964) [Read: “The Medium is the Message”]. On Canvas.

1.1.3 Algorithms of Oppression by Safiya Noble, New York University Press (2018) [Read Introduction]. On Canvas. 1.1.3 Algorithms of Oppression by Safiya Noble, New York University Press (2018) [Read Introduction]. On Canvas.

1.1.4 [Optional] “Gender Shades: Intersectional Accuracy Disparities in Commercial Gender Classification” by Joy Buolamwini and Timnit Gebru, Conference of Fairness, Accountability and Transparency (2018). On Canvas. 1.1.4 [Optional] “Gender Shades: Intersectional Accuracy Disparities in Commercial Gender Classification” by Joy Buolamwini and Timnit Gebru, Conference of Fairness, Accountability and Transparency (2018). On Canvas.

1.1.5. [Optional] “Technology as amplifier in international development” by Kentaro Toyama (2011).

[Optional] “Technology as amplifier in international development” by Kentaro Toyama (2011).