The Politics of Difference: Race, Technology, and Inclusion

This panel brings together experts in the field of race, technology, media, and policy to converse on a range of topics from the recent public upheavals over facial recognition technology, increasing integratation into police and state surveillance tools, and the manipulation of social media to gain a political advantage. In each case, the rhetoric of inclusion and othering frames the public understanding of technology. During this conversation, we aim to look at and evaluate tensions around the development of AI technology, its social and political implications, and the unintended effects that diversity and inclusion in AI have on different groups. Panelists will discuss how differences in opportunities and outcomes across communities can shape evidence-based policy on technology. If you’re unable to attend, the event will be livestreamed here.

Panelists

Ruha Benjamin
Associate Professor of African American Studies, Princeton University
Author of Race After Technology (2019) and Captivating Technology (2019)

Khalil Gibran Muhammad
Professor of History, Race, and Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School
Suzanne Young Murray Professor, Radcliffe Institute for Advance Studies
Faculty Director, Initiative for Institutional Anti-racism and Accountability (IARA) at the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy

Latoya Peterson
Director for the Culture, Glow Up Games
Former Deputy Editor, Digital Innovation for The Undefeated, ESPN

Moderator

Joan Donovan 
Director, Technology and Social Change (TaSC) Research Project
at the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy