In the News: Facebook Pushes for Facial Recognition Software
Despite facing legal trouble in the US for violating state privacy laws by misusing biometric data [1], or the ongoing investigation into the data mining practices of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook recently announced plans to implement facial recognition software in Canada and the European Union. This software was originally introduced within the United States […]
Guest Blog Post: Bridging the Digital Divide along BC’s Connected Coast
As those living in communities along British Columbia’s rugged coastline know quite well, the internet connection isn’t always great. Up and down speeds and long periods of disconnection have for decades been standard to coastal BC. However, there has finally been some good news: on March 13th 2018, it was announced that many of […]
Guest Blog Post: Predictive Policing in the Nation’s Capital
On October 24th 2016, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) launched the Ottawa Police Strategic Operations Centre (OPSOC), an initiative to “use crime information to improve public and officer safety” [1]. A February 2017 article appearing on Motherboard, a Vice News channel, instead labelled OPSOC as a manifestation of a larger movement in police forces […]
Article Review: The Tyranny of Convenience
The Tyranny of Convenience Tim Wu (2018) ________ Digital Tattoo Rating: 3/5 Summary The name Tim Wu might sound familiar: Wu coined the term “net neutrality”, which we reported on in February. He is a professor of law at Columbia University, ran for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governorship of New York, and […]
#DeleteFacebook? An Investigation into the Cambridge Analytica Scandal Part 2
As we learned in Part 1 of this series, Global Science Research (GSR), Facebook, and Cambridge Analytica have each been the subjects of recent controversy for their respective roles in mining data from over 50 million Facebook profiles. While we can investigate how each company contributed to this event, we must also examine our […]
Book Review: Managing the Digital You
Managing the Digital You Melody Condron (2017) ________ Digital Tattoo Rating: 4/5 Summary I don’t know about you, but the number of files on my computer has gotten out of control. Every time I have to switch devices, or find a paper from last semester, I realize how poorly I’ve managed the data […]
From Student to Teacher: Becoming a Professional
To access the case studies, as well as the resources that can be used to guide decision-making, visit our Case Studies for Student Teachers page. Before I became a graduate student at UBC, I was a teacher candidate preparing to take on the role of a professional educator. Like all of my peers transitioning into the […]
The Artist Series Two: iSquare Protocol
Artist Series Two: iSquare Protocol, What is Information? An interview with Jenna Hartel @ the iSchool, University of Toronto This past spring, an exhibition called REWIRED: ART X BISSEL opened within the iSchool’s Bissel building which stems of the main Robarts building. The exhibition features the work of artists whose work focuses on the intersections between […]
The Ethics of Algorithms
When we interact with technology, we tend to assume that our tools are neutral, unbiased machines. How can an algorithm, a mathematical sequence, be discriminatory? Those responsible for coding our online spaces, writing the algorithms that mediate our digital lives spaces necessarily, whether knowingly or unknowingly embed their worldviews and biases into our online […]
When Seeing Isn’t Believing
Textual literacy skills in the North American public have been on the rise since the dawn of the 20th century. More people than ever before are able to understand, and critically interpret written statements; however, fewer people are taught visual literacy skills. It is easy to believe the things that we see. The human mind […]
