Privacy in the Digital Age (DHP-P237)

Spring 2025 · DHP P237 · Tufts University · 3 credits · Undergraduate

This course examines the evolving threats to and protections for privacy in the digital age, considering challenges from both the public and private sectors on a global scale. We will explore key questions such as: Who values privacy, in which contexts, and why? What roles do anonymity and security play in privacy? How can we assess the benefits and drawbacks of privacy-enhancing technologies? What factors influence the choices people make about their online privacy? The course will integrate technical knowledge with insights from social science literature, drawing on fields such as law, economics, and political science to provide a multifaceted understanding of privacy issues. Topics will include encryption policy, privacy threat models, location tracking, first- and third-party data collection by private entities, government threats to privacy, regulations, and cross-cultural perspectives on privacy norms and values.

Course codes: DHP-P237

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