Aligning the web ecosystem with societal values via measurements, definitions and algorithms

The web ecosystem relies on data- and algorithms- driven innovation and monetization. In this talk, I will explore the challenges and opportunities for making these practices aligned with societal values such as privacy and fairness.

I will first describe our work in applying differential privacy for development of data-driven product features without requiring raw data collection from users. I will then present our work on systematically identifying new societal concerns posed by current implementations of targeted advertising systems such as: privacy violations, manipulation of the vulnerable, discrimination, and creation of informational filter bubbles. I will conclude by discussing how such measurements, combined with definitions and algorithms, particularly from the fields of differential privacy and algorithmic fairness, can provide a language for reasoning about trade-offs between utility, privacy, and fairness, and give solution approaches to both computer scientists and policy makers.

Bio: Aleksandra Korolova is a WiSE Gabilan Assistant Professor of Computer Science at USC, where she researches algorithms and technologies that enable data-driven innovations while preserving privacy and fairness. Prior to joining USC, Aleksandra was a research scientist at Google. Aleksandra received her PhD in Computer Science from Stanford University. Her PhD thesis, which focused on protecting privacy when mining and sharing user data, has been recognized by the Arthur L. Samuel Thesis Award 2011-2012, for the best PhD thesis in the Computer Science Department at Stanford. Aleksandra is also a co-winner of the 2011 PET Award for outstanding research in privacy enhancing technologies for exposing privacy violations of microtargeted advertising and a runner-up for the 2015 PET Award for RAPPOR, the first commercial deployment of differential privacy. Aleksandra's most recent work, on discrimination in ad delivery, has received CSCW Honorable Mention Award and Recognition of Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion, was cited in Facebook's Civil Rights Audit Report, and invited for a briefing for Members of the House Financial Services Committee.

This talk is being co-sponsored by CITP and the Department of Computer Science.

*Please note, this event is only open to the Princeton University community.

Lunch for talk attendees will be available at 12:00pm. 
To request accommodations for a disability, please contact Emily Lawrence, emilyl@cs.princeton.edu, 609-258-4624 at least one week prior to the event.