Computer Science
Grade 11
20 min
Technology Policy
Technology Policy
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Analyze the ethical implications of a given algorithm, such as one used for hiring or loan approval.
Evaluate the societal impact of major data collection policies like GDPR and CCPA.
Formulate a basic technology policy for a hypothetical scenario, such as a school's use of facial recognition.
Differentiate between key ethical frameworks (e.g., Utilitarianism, Deontology) and apply them to technology policy dilemmas.
Identify sources of bias in datasets and machine learning models and propose mitigation strategies.
Articulate the trade-offs between innovation, privacy, and security in technology policy debates.
Ever wonder who decides if a self-driving car should save its passenger or a pedestrian in an accident? 🤔 That's where technology polic...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Algorithmic BiasSystematic and repeatable errors in a computer system that create unfair outcomes, such as privileging one arbitrary group of users over others.A hiring algorithm trained on historical data from a male-dominated industry consistently ranks male candidates higher than equally qualified female candidates.
Data PrivacyThe right of an individual to have control over how their personal information is collected, used, and shared.The 'right to be forgotten' under GDPR, which allows individuals to request that companies delete their personal data.
Ethical FrameworkA set of principles or a system of moral values used to guide decision-making and evaluate the rightness or wrongness of actions.Utilitarianism, which suggests the best action is the one t...
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Core Syntax & Patterns
The Utilitarian Calculus
Decision = argmax(Σ(Benefits_i) - Σ(Harms_i)) for all affected individuals 'i'.
Used to evaluate a policy by summing the total benefits and subtracting the total harms it would cause across all stakeholders. The policy with the highest net positive outcome is considered the most ethical choice.
The Deontological Imperative
Act only according to a maxim that you would will to become a universal law.
This framework judges a policy based on whether the underlying rules are inherently right or wrong, regardless of the consequences. It focuses on duties and rules, such as 'do not deceive' or 'protect privacy'.
The Veil of Ignorance
Design the policy as if you do not know your own position in society (e.g., your wealth,...
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Challenging
A city plans to replace all in-person public assistance offices with a mandatory smartphone app to improve efficiency. Which statement provides the most comprehensive ethical critique using the tutorial's concepts?
A.The app is a bad idea because government technology is always inefficient and poorly designed.
B.The policy is unethical because it violates Net Neutrality by requiring a specific app.
C.The policy could amplify the Digital Divide, negatively affecting stakeholders without digital access, and any algorithmic screening in the app risks biased outcomes.
D.The policy is fine as long as it is legal and the app's creators had good intentions to help people.
Challenging
What is a significant ethical weakness of relying solely on the Utilitarian Calculus (Σ(Benefits) - Σ(Harms)) when creating a technology policy for a diverse society?
A.It is too difficult to calculate the exact benefits and harms for any given policy.
B.It can justify a policy that creates great benefit for a majority at the expense of severe harm to a minority, ignoring justice and individual rights.
C.It is an outdated framework that has been replaced by Deontology in all modern policy-making.
D.It overemphasizes the intentions of the policy-makers rather than the actual consequences of the policy.
Challenging
A police department defends its new predictive policing algorithm by stating, "It is legally compliant and has reduced the overall city-wide crime rate." Based on the tutorial, what is the strongest ethical counter-argument?
A.The reduction in crime is not significant enough to justify the cost of the software.
B.Any use of algorithms by law enforcement is a violation of the Deontological Imperative.
C.The policy is unethical because its impact, regardless of intent or legality, may be to amplify bias by over-policing minority neighborhoods if trained on historically biased arrest data.
D.The algorithm is a 'black box,' and it is impossible to ever know if it is biased or not.
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