Week 1

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the first week of Algorithms of Oppression. We kicked it off with the Google Hangout recorded below. (Feel free to second screen it or just look at the slides.).

Reading This Week

Algorithms of Oppression

Introduction: The Power of Algorithms p. 1 -14

1. A Society, Searching p. 15 - 64

A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace by John Perry Barlow

February 8, 1996 from The Electronic Frontier Foundation

https://www.eff.org/cyberspace-independence

10 Things we should demand from Big Tech right now. (Algorithmic Bill of Rights) by Sigal Samuel

Viewing this Week

What is an algorithm and why should you care? Khan Academy

Recording of Safiya Umoja Noble on Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism.

Recording of Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw - Ted Talk: The urgency of intersectionality  https://youtu.be/akOe5-UsQ2o  #sayhername

Optional Readings

Feel free to start looking at The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power by Shoshana Zuboff as an optional text.

Discussion

For this week, consider doing a slow tweetchat asking these questions

Q1. Based on the readings, what concerns do you have about algorithms?

Q2. After reading (or skimming) A Declaration of Independence of Cyberspace by Barlow what has happened since 1996?

Q3. How might your search results be biased?

Q4. What concepts from this week readings (Algorithms of Oppression) or slides was most impactful for you?

Q5. What do you want to know more about?

Academic Articles (for the truly motivated)

Critical Race & Digital Studies Syllabus edited and compiled by Lori Kido Lopez & Jackie Land https://criticalracedigitalstudies.com/syllabus/

Benson, A. (2018). A typology for conducting research in culture, and technology. Techtrends, 62(4), 329-355. doi:10.1007/s11528-018-0267-8. link

Crenshaw, K. (1991). Mapping the margins: Intersectionality, identity politics, and violence against women of color. Stanford Law Review, 43(6), 1241 - 1299. doi:10.2307/12290309 link

Taylor, L. (2017). What is data justice? The case for connecting digital rights and freedom globally. Big Data & Society, 4(2), 1- 14 dio: 1-.1177/2053951717736335 link

Zuboff, Shoshana. (2015). Big other: Surveillance capitalism and the prospects of an information civilization. Journal of Information Technology 30(1), 75-89. https://doi-org.aurarialibrary.idm.oclc.org/10.1057/jit.2015.5 link.

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