Digital self-determination

= Digital Self-Determination: A Living Syllabus =

Introduction
This syllabus and assorted materials have been created and curated from the 2021 Research Sprint run by the Digital Asia Hub and Berkman Klein Center for Internet Society at Harvard University. In collaboration with the Global Network of Internet & Society Centers (NoC), the Digital Asia Hub and the The Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society brought together collaborators from the two co-hosting organizations and their global partners to explore the evolving normative concept of digital self-determination as an enabler of—or at least contributor—to the exercise of autonomy and agency in the face of shrinking choices in a world that is increasingly constructed, mediated and at times even dominated by digital technologies and digital media, including the underlying infrastructures, questions of control, power and equity become more critical. Visitors are invited and encouraged to explore the materials and use them where appropriate in learning experiences.

Course Description
This syllabus explores the evolving normative concept of “digital self-determination” as an enabler of - or at least contributor - to the exercise of autonomy and agency in the face of shrinking choices. In a world that is increasingly constructed, mediated and at times even dominated by digital technologies and digital media, including the underlying infrastructures, questions of control, power and equity become more critical.

In contemporary ethics debates, the notion of digital self-determination is invoked as a term to describe the possibility and realization of human flourishing as it relates to the use of digital technologies and their affordances. In policy debates, the concept has gained prominence in broader discussions about digital autonomy and digital sovereignty. Several efforts by governments and civil society organizations are underway to examine how civic and economic participation in the digital space can be enhanced based on the value of digital self-determination.

The notion of digital self-determination requires exploration from different perspectives and across cultural contexts. It invites examination of the concept both in theory and practice. This syllabus provides resources and learning materials that consider what digital self-determination means and requires at the individual level, for instance regarding people’s ability to decide for themselves what data they want to disclose, to whom, under what conditions, and with what benefits. It also engages with questions at the structural and systemic level, such as barriers to exercising such choices, and the stakes and consequences of certain design decisions.

While questions of control over personal data will be a cross-cutting theme throughout the syllabus, other important dimensions of self-determination in the digitally networked will be examined as well, for instance with regard to self-expression and participation in civic life and the digital economy, or relationship-building and well-being.

This syllabus also discusses the social contexts and conditions surrounding the notion of digital self-determination and see it in interaction with values such as digital solidarity and realizations of collective embeddedness that are in contrast to individualistic accounts of human flourishing. While the challenges and roadblocks to digital self-determination have taken center stage in public discourse, additional attention will be given to the manifestations of and future opportunities for self-determination across digital spaces and contexts, including efforts aimed at creating “trustworthy” data spaces, data cooperatives, and related models.

Blending theoretical and practical perspectives, this syllabus's materials and artifacts embrace global voices and experts from many disciplines and professionals.

Learning Modules
On each of the module pages, you will find an introduction, some external resources to explore, and content created during the sprint to help learners better explore the topic. Learners can explore it in sequence or just the modules that are most relevant (i.e. they are not entirely interdependent).

Contributors
This project is the culmination of many different people's support, insight, and work.

Program Contributors
Juan Diego Ardila, Angelica Balanta, Satchit Balsari, Brigitte Benoit-Landale, Alessio Bertolini, Beatriz Botero Arcila, Tiago Carneiro Peixoto, Bernardo Caycedo, Fiona Cece, Sidharth Chauhan, Yves Daccord, Nighat Dad, Roger Dubach, Lance Eaton, Stefan Feuerriegel, Christian Fieseler, Mark Findlay, Urs Gasser, Sarah Genner, Satdeep Gill, Isaac Johnson, Jenny Korn, Malavika Jayaram, Megan Kelleher, Danil Kerimi, Reubin Langevin, Christoph Lutz, Sabelo Mhlambi, Bryan Newbold, Andrea Owe, Lorrayne Porciuncula, Nydia Remolina Leon, Jaclyn Sawyer, Adrienne Schmoeker, Nishant Shah, Wolfgang Schulz, Lis Sylvan, Lokman Tsui, Santiago Uribe, Stefaan Verhulst, Kerstin Vokinger, Andrew Young

Participant Contributors
Karolina Alama-Maruta, Kawsar Ali, Rachid Benharrousse, Hei Yin Chan, Ana Margarida Coelho, Leonid Demidov, Maria Francesca De Tullio, Alexandra Giannopoulou, Tomás Guarna, Martyna Kalvaitytė, İdil Kula, Zachary Marcone, Derguene Mbaye, Hillary McLauchlin, Samreen Mushtaq, Areej Mawasi, Narayanamoorthy Nanditha, Carmen Ng, Oluwatimilehin Olagunju, Temitayo Olofinlua, Mary Rhauline Torres, Jean-Baptiste Scherrer, Eraldo Souza Dos Santos, Christian Thönnes, Constanza Vidal Bustamante

Special thanks go to the German Federal President and Stiftung Mercator for supporting the Network of Center's Ethics of Digitalisation initiative.