Civic Tech Field Guide
Sharing knowledge and productively growing the fieldAdjacent Fields > Ethical tech and responsible tech - (325)
While the first generations of tech-for-good work took a solutionist approach to addressing existing problems with new technology, scholars and activists are driving growing awareness of the problems with technology itself. By exposing the negative consequences, intended or otherwise, of tech, these communities draw attention to issues with tech-centric approaches. Not all of the projects here adopt an ethics lens in their work, but we use it here for simplicity's sake.
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We want to change the way the internet enables the spread of news and information so it serves the public good over corporate and political interests.
GovLab NYU's Collection of Lectures on the Ethical implications of Data and Artificial Intelligence from Different Perspectives
Access Now defends and extends the digital rights of people and communities at risk. By combining direct technical support, strategic advocacy, grassroots grantmaking, and convenings such as RightsCon, we fight for human rights in the digital age.
My Data Rights
South Africa (South Africa, Afrika-Borwa, Suid-Afrika) 🇿🇦A feminist review of AI, privacy and data protection to enhance digital rights
PIT Lab @Stanford
Stanford University, Serra Mall, Stanford, CAThe PIT Lab is building a thoughtful community around public interest technology at Stanford. Themes include systemic inequities, democratic values, bridging the divide, career pathways.
Adding additional products to users’ shopping carts without their consent.
DEDA helps data analysts, project managers and policy makers to recognize ethical issues in data projects, data management and data policies.
New_ Public
Austin, TXNew_ Public: a magazine, a newsletter, and a community for better digital spaces. It's a home for the people who are building a community-serving, public-spirited tech future.
Mechanism Design for Social Good (MD4SG) is a multi-institutional initiative using techniques from algorithms, optimization, and mechanism design, along with insights from other disciplines, to improve access to opportunity for historically underserved and disadvantaged communities.
Permission Slip
Yonkers, NYOne app to take back control of your data
How The New York Times Thinks About Your Privacy
New York Times Building, 8th Avenue, New York, NYA guide to the news company's data usage
This list of resources is curated and maintained by MERL Tech and The Engine Room.
Feminist.AI works to put technology into the hands of makers, researchers, thinkers and learners to amplify unheard voices and create more accessible AI for all.
A Popular Science piece with key takeaways educational section
Celebrating purpose & mission-driven work from people, companies and organizations worldwide.
A project by AlgorithmWatch that maps frameworks that seek to set out principles of how systems for automated decision-making (ADM) can be developed and implemented ethically
Harvard Democracy and Internet Governance Initiative (DIGI)
Harvard University, Cambridge, MAThrough public reports and briefings with policymakers, business leaders, and civil society organizations, the Initiative will highlight digital platform reform options, as well as offer expertise on legislative reform proposals and platform self-governance options.
*privacy not included
Mountain View, CAMozilla Foundation's annual naughty and nice list of consumer tech's privacy policies
Clinic to End Tech Abuse (CETA)
New York City (NYC / New York, NY)The Clinic to End Tech Abuse (CETA) helps survivors of intimate partner violence end tech-related abuse.
The Distributed AI Research Institute is a space for independent, community-rooted AI research free from Big Tech’s pervasive influence.
Principles for Digital Development
United Nations FoundationA set of guidelines that help development practitioners integrate established best practices into technology-enabled programmes.
Block Party app
United States of America 🇺🇸Consumer tools for online safety & anti-harassment. Automatically hide unwanted tweets & mute the trolls (review later, but only if you want!).
We are a community of integrity professionals—the people who build platforms to be better.
Just Tech Fellowship
United States of America 🇺🇸The Social Science Research Council's Just Tech Fellowship supports and mobilizes diverse and cross-sector cohorts of researchers and practitioners to imagine and create more just, equitable, and representative technological futures.
The Privacy Principles for Mobility Data are a set of values and priorities intended to guide the mobility ecosystem in the responsible use of data and the protection of individual privacy.
The ODI's white paper on ethical data policies
Journal of Online Trust and Safety
Stanford University, Serra Mall, Stanford, CAThe Journal of Online Trust and Safety is a cross-disciplinary, open access, fast peer-review journal that publishes research on how consumer internet services are abused to cause harm and how to prevent those harms.
The Tech Worker Handbook is a collection of resources for tech workers who are looking to make more informed decisions about whether to speak out on issues that are in the public interest
World Bank Data for Better Lives report
The World Bank Group, H Street Northwest, Washington D.C., DCCovering data for social good, data governance, and societal-level data considerations
Co-op Foundation
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 🇬🇧The Co-op Foundation helps disadvantaged communities overcome their challenges by putting co-operative values into practice. It aims to stimulate and strengthen community action that connects and empowers people so they can work together to make things better.
Responsible Tech Job Board
New York City (NYC / New York, NY)Want to improve our tech future? Work in it!
JAAKLAC initiative
Finland (Suomi) 🇫🇮Reseaching and advocating for critical digital education and youth participation from Latin America and the Majority World
Based in marginalized neighborhoods in Charlotte, North Carolina, Detroit, Michigan, and Los Angeles, California, we look at digital data collection and our human rights, work with local communities, community organizations, and social support networks, and show how different data systems impact re-entry, fair housing, public assistance, and community development.
Up & Go
443 39th St, Brooklyn, NY 11232Home cleaning in NYC you can feel great about
Data & Society Research Institute
Data & Society Research Institute, West 20th Street, New York, NYData & Society is a research institute focused on the social and cultural issues arising from data-centric technological development.
Mozilla Foundation
Mozilla, East Evelyn Avenue, Mountain View, CAEstablished in 2003, guided by the Mozilla Manifesto, the Mozilla Foundation believes the Internet is a global public resource that must remain open and accessible to all.
Ranking Digital Rights
740 15th Street, N.W., Suite 900 Washington, DC 20005Ranking ICT sector companies on respect for free expression and privacy
Data Justice Lab
Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UKThe Data Justice Lab examines the intricate relationship between datafication and social justice, highlighting the politics and impacts of data-driven processes and big data
Global Network Initiative
718 7th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20001Protecting and advancing freedom of expression and privacy in information and communications technologies.
We help everyone to shape and claim the future of the Web.
European AI & Society Fund
Rue Royale 941000, Brussels, BelgiumThe European AI Fund is a philanthropic initiative to shape the direction of AI in Europe
The Cleaners
Boxhagener Str. 106, 10245 Berlin, GermanyIt tells of the global impact of online censorship and shows how fake news and hatred are disseminated and strengthened by the social networks.
Darcy will allow everyone to run their own federated social media instance – without having to worry about technology, moderation or legal compliance, because Darcy will take care of that for you – if you want!
Speak Out Tech
Worcester, MAWhat if Tech said
Outbreak Science Rapid PREreview
Portland, ORA platform for the rapid review of outbreak-related preprints
From a cutting-edge cultural commentator, a bold and brilliant challenge to cherished notions of the Internet as the great leveler of our age The Internet has been hailed as an unprecedented democratizing force
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Civic Tech Field Guide