Tech, Security, and Identity

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

Digital transformation is having a wide range of broader societal impacts. The rise of AI, social media, and big data introduce new risks and complexities, including digital discrimination, online harassment, and the manipulation of vulnerable communities. These all pose significant threats to peace, democracy, and security, particularly for marginalized groups based on gender, race, and identity. This course examines technology's intersection with societal frameworks, norms, and power structures. This course empowers students with a critical and inclusive lens for examining the implications of technology for societies. Students will explore how technological solutions interact with and reshape the societal challenges of our time, ranging from algorithmic biases to the global digital divide. By understanding the multifaceted ways technology intersects with societal norms, students will learn to craft gender and identity-sensitive, technology-based strategies for promoting equity, democracy, human rights, and ecological responsibility. Through theoretical instruction, real-life case studies, hands-on experiences, and in-depth discussions, students will investigate how data analysis, AI, and social media can be leveraged for greater security and equity. The goal is to develop innovative and inclusive strategies that resonate with principles of justice, human dignity, and ecological prudence.