Nach positiver Absolvierung der Lehrveranstaltung sind Studierende in der Lage die wichtigsten Kritikpunkte und Problemstellungen algorithmischer Systeme zu benennen und Strategien zu ihrer Überwindung zu verstehen. Sie haben einen Überblick über Aspekte wie Ungleichheit, Bias, Fairness, Transparenz, Accountability, Integrität und Trust & Safety Engineering gewonnen und sich zumindest einem der Themengebiete intensivst auseinandergesetzt.

Diese Lehrveranstaltung wird in Englisch abgehalten.

The seminar will introduce participants to the emerging and interdisciplinary field of Critical Algorithm Studies. Blocked weekly discussions of assigned reading material will focus on interdependencies between society, culture, and algorithms, and critical reflections on their ethics and politics. The course aims to bridge the gap between bleeding-edge technological advancements and the scientific and social discourse, by introducing perspectives from academic disciplines such as STS, Sociology, and Law.

Preliminary list of topics

1. Introduction to Critical Algorithm Studies
2. (Future) Imaginaries
3. Computer Science Culture
4. (Re-)producing & Combating Inequality through Technology
5. Critical Data Studies
6. Transparency and Accountability of Algorithmic Systems
7. The Politics of Algorithms
8. Case Study Session

This is a preliminary outline of the course. When appropriate, we will try and integrate relevant topics from the current public debate in the new, media and science. Students are encouraged to follow relevant resources and stay up to date on the latest developments in the context of the course. A list of resources will be provided at the start of the course.

Open Learning Questions

• Why study social and political aspects of algorithmic systems?
• What constitutes an algorithm? What do users/developers/society understand about algorithms?
• Why do algorithms have embedded values and biases?
• How can we conceptualize algorithmic fairness, develop ethics for algorithmic systems, and deal with accountability in complex algorithmic assemblages made of developers, users, management, law, code, computers, and many others?
• How does culture and society influence the creation of algorithms and vice versa?
• How does more algorithmic management foster the erasure of human judgment through increasing rationalization and automation? What are benefits and issues here?
• What methods and approaches are available to study algorithmic systems?
• What futures involving algorithms are currently being imagined?
• What measures are being taken to address algorithmic issues?

Introductory Materials

Many of the seminar's topics are controversial and highly discussed. We provide the following materials as a motivational introduction to some exemplary topics of the course:

• Why is artificial intelligence sexist? (Kate Crawford at #AllAboutWomen, 2021)

• How algorithms shape our world?! (Kevin Slavin, Ted 2011)

• Social media, extremism, and radicalization (Aaron Shaw, 2023)

• SAFER SCROLLING: How algorithms popularise and gamify online hate and misogyny for young people (Kaitlyn Regehr et. al., 2024)

• This Algorithm Could Ruin Your Life (Burgess et. al. 2023, Wired)

• What is shadowbanning? How do I know if it has happened to me, and what can I do about it? (Risius & Blasiak, 2022, The Conversation)

Course Modalities

After an initial introduction (introduction and preliminary topic assignment), the remaining sessions will be held weekly on a specified topic. During each session, one or more participants will present the topic of the week following a general introduction by the lecturers. The presenters are required to read the papers on the topic, present the content, conclusions, and a list of discussion points to the other participants. Each participant has to write a final seminar paper after the presentations reflecting on the content of the seminar.

Wöchentliche Online-Block-Sessions einer kuratierten Leseliste fokussieren auf Gesellschaft, Kultur und Algorithmen, sowie eine kritische Reflexion ethischer und politischer Dimensionen derselben. Fragen und Diskussionsteilnahme fliessen ebenso mit ein wie Präsentationen ausgewählter wissenschaftlicher Literatur und das abschließende Seminar-Paper.

Es kann kurzfristig zu Veränderungen kommen; ein Ausweichen auf Online-Termine via Zoom ist kurzfristig möglich. Am Leistungsnachweis ändert sich dadurch nichts.

Link to TUWEL: https://tuwel.tuwien.ac.at/course/view.php?id=62450

Im Gegensatz zur fälschlichen Beschreibung weiter unten, ist das Seminar für die folgenden Module / Master Curricula anrechenbar:

• Module “Emergent Ethical Challenges in Informatics”

• Master Media Informatics [066 935]

• Module “Fachübergreifende Qualifikationen”

• Master Logic and Computation[066 931]

• Master Visual Computing[066 932]

• Master Medical Informatics[066 936]

• Master Software & Information Engineering[066 937]

• Master Computer Engineering[066 938]

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Die folgenden Leistungen fließen in die Note mit ein:

• Fragen und mündliche Mitarbeit
• Präsentation
• Seminarpaper

Keine spezifischen Vorkenntnisse nötig. Vertrautheit mit gesellschaftlichen Aspekten der Informatik von Vorteil.