Homework 10:

Due: Tuesday November 26, 2019 at 9:00PM EST.

Handin

After completing the homework, you will submit:

If you are using late days, make sure to make a note of that in your readme. Remember, you may only use a maximum of 3 late days per assignment. If the assignment is late (and you do NOT have anymore late days) no credit will be given.

The Assignment

Beyond teaching you some technical skills around computing and data, CS111 also wants to help you think about some of the broader societal issues surrounding data and computing. To this end, we have a few short reading assignments that ask you to reflect on implications and possible principles of working with computing and data. This is the last such assignment.

We estimate this assignment will take less than an hour.

There is no coding for the homework this week.

Good luck with design checks :)

README.txt

Fill out a README with your responses to the ethics assignment.

Ethics Assignment:

Topic: Misinformation in Search and Recommendation Systems

Read this Wired article about how data voids enable disinformation campaigns. If necessary, the access password is “CS111.” Then, read this New York Times article about how the YouTube recommendation system facilitates radicalization. If necessary, use this guide to access the New York Times through a free academic pass. Then, answer three of the four questions listed below.

If you’re curious, feel free to read this short paper about data voids. You may incorporate information from this articles in your responses, but you are not required to.

You’ll put your answers to the following questions in the README, clearly marking which answers belong to which questions. Your answer to each question should be a few sentences long—aim for thoughtfulness over length! Your answers should be clear and concise and should demonstrate serious reflection, but there are no right or wrong answers.

Answer any three of the four questions below:

  1. Respond to the question posed at the end of the Wired article. Do you believe search engines should attempt to incorporate factual accuracy into rankings?

  2. Consider different strategies for managing the vulnerabilities posed by data voids. To what extent do you believe addressing these vulnerabilities should involve organizing information campaigns to counter misinformation versus tech platforms modifying their search ranking algorithms?

  3. What are some potential steps YouTube could take to ensure their recommendation system does not encourage radicalization?

  4. Both articles demonstrate how disinformation campaigns can manipulate vulnerabilities in online platforms. Who do you believe is responsible for addressing the vulnerabilities posed by data voids? To what extent are tech companies responsible for fighting disinformation campaigns facilitated by their platforms?

Grading

We will check that your responses:

Brown University CSCI 0111 (Fall 2019)
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