Topic outline

  • Digital Ethics - Course Description

    The course will pursue a cross-disciplinary investigation of the socio-ethical implications of digital technologies. We will combine theoretical viewpoints with concrete issues facing people who are implementing digital systems. We will cover a variety of themes, including data ownership and control, digital economics and surveillance capitalism, power and governance of algorithmic decision making, humanization of digital technology, and ethics of robotics and autonomous systems.

    The course will entail an intense array of learning and teaching methods. We will take up issues that have recently come into focus and are being approached by a variety of disciplines at different paces. We will discuss examples from various domains, such as health, media, games, retail, manufacturing. The class instructors will include Aalto University researchers and affiliates with various academic backgrounds, as well as experts from the industry.

    There will be a mandatory part of writing three short essays on topics related to the course. Short essays will be student peer reviewed. Participation in lectures and successful completion of short essays is required for passing the course (3 ects). There will be no exam.

    Student will also have an option of writing a fourth longer essay on a digital ethics related topic that will give additional 2 ects. 

    Course lectures will be held on Fridays at 8:15-10:00 in lecture hall T1 - C202 (Computer Science building).

    The lectures cannot be attended online. Student presence in minimum 4/6 sessions is mandatory for the course.

    The first lecture is on 26.4.2024 and course will end on 31.5.2024. 


    Themes and schedule (tentative):

    26.4. Introduction to course themes

    3.5. Digital ethics, applied ethics and technology ethics

    10.5. Automation, robotics and generative AI

    17.5. Inclusion and individual empowerment

    24.5. Addiction and other psychological effects - social media and gaming

    31.5. Fair and ethical data ecosystems



    • Forum icon
      Announcements Forum
    • Forum icon
      General discussion Forum

      General questions about the course. Discussion about the topics raised during the course.