African Perspectives on Data and Technology

(3 Credits)

How are digital technologies reshaping Africa? And how is Africa remaking contemporary digital technologies? This course examines how data and digital technologies reproduce global inequalities while also creating possibilities for alternative futures, local creativity and social innovation. Moving beyond Silicon Valley-centered narratives, the course focuses on Africa and explores how technological development on the continent is shaped by power, pragmatism, idealism, and urgent social challenges. Together, we will rethink the digital revolution through topics such as digital infrastructure, platform labor, online hate speech, mobile money and AI auditing. We will examine the experiences of the people shaping technology in Africa from software engineers and social innovators to gig workers, volunteer moderators, data annotators, and regulators. The course combines readings from media and communication studies, anthropology, STS with collaboration with community partners and site visits, including to a data center, refugee camp, and national park. Students will gain a layered understanding of Rwandan society and of the social responsibilities involved in technology development. This course will be taught in Rwanda and will count as an Away J-Term course.