Tech Ethics: Avoiding Unintended Consequences

46mIntermediate2020-05-22

Authors

Raina Kumra

CEO of Juggernaut and Partner at The Fund LA

Course details

Both users and creators of technology are starting to notice projects with a troubling lack of ethical considerations. News headlines highlight the issues these products introduce, from the spread of disinformation to the monetization of user data at the expense of individual privacy. This course digs into this weighty topic without taking itself too seriously. In a series of amusing scenarios, instructor Raina Kumra goes over emerging risks in tech, as well as what you can do to create more thoughtful, secure products.

Explore practical ways to bring ethics into your daily standups, quarterly reviews, or board meetings. Learn how to create a checklist containing pertinent questions you can apply to your product and processes. Plus, get suggestions on how to permanently integrate these changes into your work culture. Along the way, catch special appearances from guests like DJ Patil—the former US chief data scientist—and comedian, activist, and writer Baratunde Thurston.

Skills covered

Ethics and LawTech Career SkillsCybersecurityCloud ComputingData ScienceBusiness Analysis and StrategySoftware DevelopmentOne-Off

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Technology and consequences

1. Tech Ethics - Why Now

02 - Unintended consequences - History and overview
03 - We are all ethicists

2. The Wheel of Misfortune - Eight Major Risk Zones

04 - Imagining future risk today
05 - The wheel of misfortune - Eight emerging risk zones
06 - Risk zone 1 - Truth, disinformation, and propaganda
07 - Risk zone 2 - Addiction and the dopamine economy
08 - Risk zone 3 - Economic and asset inequalities
09 - Risk zone 4 - Machine ethics and algorithmic bias
10 - Risk zone 5 - Surveillance state
11 - Risk zone 6 - Data control and monetization
12 - Risk zone 7 - Implicit trust and user understanding
13 - Risk zone 8 - Hateful and criminal actors

3. Actions - The Checklist

14 - Why use checklists
15 - Example checklist
16 - Customize your checklist

4. Integrations

17 - Accountability - Making change stick

Conclusion

18 - Ethical next steps