Prerequisites: None

Exam Type: None

The conventional wisdom around the responsibilities of platforms like Facebook, Google, and Amazon has evolved greatly. 1995-2010 roughly saw the era of “rights,” in which the prevailing ethical view was one of abstention from shaping the flow of users’ contributions.

From then until now there’s been a powerful new framework, “public health,” emphasizing the real harms that can result from unchecked online activity, just as AI techniques promise new ways to scale platforms’ monitoring and intervention in the activities they facilitate.

What’s next? We’ll explore.

Note: This reading group will meet on the following dates: 9/8, 9/22, 10/6, 10/20, 11/10, 11/17.