"Advancing Human Rights through Technology" (HRTS 543) to be offered in fall 2023

HRTS 543 -- Technology and Human Rights

Fully online course -- 7 weeks, Fall Session 1 (August-October 2023)

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been widely, and often uncritically, embraced as advancing the capabilities of human rights defenders and activists. While there is no doubt that technologies such as smart phones, social media networks, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), satellite imagery, encryption, and many others have empowered human rights worldwide, these same technologies have been used to surveil, harass, disrupt, and suppress individuals and groups seeking to advance human rights.

This class will critically assess the capabilities and limitations of established and emerging ICTs in the contexts of human rights reporting, documentation, and advocacy. Students’ projects will address real-world challenges of applying technologies in these contexts. We will follow the work of scholars, activists, journalists, and tech professionals shaping how we think about the ethical and political dimensions of technology and human rights.

Join this course offered by UArizona’s Program in Human Rights Practice in association with the Graduate Certificate in Human Rights and Technology. HRTS 543 has no pre-requisites and is open to all UA graduate students from AZ Online, Main Campus, and Global Direct. For more info, contact the instructor, Emily Lyons, at elyons@arizona.edu