Department of Computer Science
CSci 1030 -- Technology and Society
http://www.seas.gwu.edu/~mfeldman/csci1030/summer14
Prof. Michael B. Feldman, course instructor
mfeldman@gwu.edu
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School of Engineering
and Applied Science Department of Computer Science CSci 1030 -- Technology and Society http://www.seas.gwu.edu/~mfeldman/csci1030/summer14 Prof. Michael B. Feldman, course instructor mfeldman@gwu.edu |
Readings:
Privacy and Information, Baase, chapt. 2
Privacy and the Internet, Spinello, chapt. 2
Prof.
Martin's Notes on Privacy, Part 1 (PDF, 240 Kb)
Prof.
Martin's Notes on Privacy, Part 2 (PDF, 420 Kb)
Prof.
Martin's
Notes on Social-Research (PDF, 40 Kb)
Individual
Ethics Scenario Analysis due Thursday 7/17
Research
Report on Project Subject Area due Sunday 7/20
HEADS-UP Advance Notice: Science Fiction Assignment (click for details)
A. ONLINE survey (by Friday 7/18) –
take computer attitude survey on Zoomerang to see and discuss
class results. This web-based survey is based on questions that
were asked to assess the attitudes about computers by the
general public in 1961, 1971 and in 1983 and 1991. A version of
this survey was also used to compare the attitudes of US and
Russian citizens in 1988 and the attitudes of US and Russian
children in 1990. Please take the survey to determine your
attitudes about computers today!
http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB224DUED2BNB
Prof. Martin published an article
on this and related issues.
This survey consists only of true/false questions. In the
Discussion forum, we'll discuss our thoughts about the form of
our surveys in this course.
B. Discussion forum and individual research reports on
voting-technology project (by Sunday 7/20)
C. Discussion of Privacy Issues (by Sunday 7/20) -- Each of
the following scenarios considers a current issue with privacy
implications. Each has a discussion forum in the Blackboard
discussion area. Your assignment is to participate in at least
TWO of the three discussions.
Scenario 1: Medical Databases: One way to solve the drug interaction problem that occurs if patients take drugs prescribed by different doctors would be to set up a nationwide (or worldwide) database system accessed by all doctors and pharmacists. Any time your doctor prescribes a medication, she would check the database to see all prescriptions you're using or have used in the past, even those prescribed by other doctors. And before filling your prescription, the pharmacist would check your other medications for interactions with the new one. What are the privacy implications here? What sort of entity should operate this database -- government, private industry, what?
Scenario 2: Smartphones to the Max: As we know, the latest cellphones have GPS circuits that can determine the location of the phone to within a few meters. An obvious benefit is that emergency services can precisely locate the victim of an accident or sudden illness. Now the retailing industry is experimenting with using your phone's GPS to determine your precise shopping location -- which aisle in the supermarket! -- and (for example) send an instant discount coupon to your phone. Obviously you'd have to opt in for such a "service". Discuss whether -- and why or why not -- you'd opt in to this tradeoff of some of your privacy for shopping discounts?
Scenario 3: The Feds and Privacy: In recent years we've learned of federal-government projects to listen in on international phone calls, collect basic data on all phone calls, and track international financial transactions. How much privacy should citizens give up in order to protect the country from terrorists? Should such projects be done only under court supervision, or should an Administration be empowered to act alone?
Scenario 4: The Right to Be Forgotten: What is this concept? How does it relate to the right to privacy? What is its status in Europe? In the U.S.? How do companies like Google and Facebook react and relate to it?
D. Read the notes on social research
(data gathering) in preparation for working on the project.