“Data and Discrimination: Converting Critical Concerns into Productive Inquiry” CFP

Critics increasingly cite the pervasiveness of data collection by corporate and government actors as evidence of a growing problem that requires intervention and oversight. But what about the analysis of these data or other processes like data storage, transmission, and sharing? More importantly, in each of these contexts, what constitutes harm and who or what is likely affected?

In this preconference, scholars will explore the nature and consequences of discrimination that occurs when corporations and governments collect, store, transmit, share, and analyze information about consumers and citizens. Discrimination can be understood in technical terms, such as parameters of an algorithm that identify patterns in a data set, in political terms, such as when a lack of data collection on certain populations leads to policy choices and the distribution of resources, or social and economic terms, such as when analysis of consumers’ digital behavior leads to targeted marketing of particular products.

The deadline for proposals is January 31, and guidelines for submissions are available at: http://oti.newamerica.net/events/2014/05/22/data-and-discrimination?utm_content=buffer2d59c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer