Data Ethics Outreach Lab

 Projects

In the Data Ethics Outreach Lab (DEOL), we develop innovative transfer formats that bring scientific research on data protection, data ethics and the critical philosophy of digitalization into public debates and educational work. Our current focus is on the development of learning formats for school lessons. We are also involving students at the Institute of Cognitive Science as part of a study project.

The project is funded by the "zukunft.niedersachsen" program of the Ministry of Science and Culture, Lower Saxony."

Study project and interdisciplinary course for Master's students of cognitive science

Osnabrück University, summer semester 2022 - winter semester 2024/25

Current course: Wednesdays 14-17, Room: 50-316 (Institute of Cognitive Science, Wachsbleiche)

Prof. Dr. Rainer Mühlhoff, Jan Siebold and Annemarie Witschas

If you have any questions, please send us an  email

Description of the course

How does the data collected by Instagram and YouTube promote social inequality? How are social relationships (re)structured by Snapchat, TikTok and co. and how are the opportunities for young people to assume and perform identities online restricted? What does PayPal do with the data it collects from money transfers? How much does Spotify know about its users? Why do chatbots reinforce stereotypical gender roles? And what does my missing bus ticket have to do with me being refused credit?

These are just a handful of possible points of view from which central topics of digital consumer culture can be critically examined. Many of these points have to do with big data and the AI services we use every day. In most cases, users have no awareness of the negative impact on our society, democracy and well-being.

In this study project, we want to discuss the risks and societal impacts of connected digital services and find ways and formats to raise public awareness of these issues. The participants will work in small groups on different topics - depending on which technology fields and problem areas seem most important to them. These topics will then be implemented through the development and use of open-source educational resources such as teaching materials for use in secondary schools, organization of workshops (teacher training), production of explanatory videos for publication on the Internet or similar interventions in public space.

Participation

The course is aimed at Master's students in Cognitive Science who can participate in one of two modes:

  • study project (2 semesters, 6 hrs/week, 12 ECTS points)
  • interdisciplinary course (1 semester, 4 hrs/week, 6 ECTS points)

Master's students for Teacher Education are also welcome to participate in this course. Accreditation at the UOS is possible as part of the KCL module "Media Education and Media Socialization" (1 semester, 4 hrs/week, 4-6 ECTS points). There are 10 places for teacher training students.

We also have places for students from other disciplines and other institutions. In this case, please send us a message.

Format

The project is run in English. However, the course is mostly conducted in small project groups, which can also work in German (especially if you want to develop teaching materials for German schools). Students who do not live in Osnabrück can also participate online(hybrid course) - although it is practical for project teams if everyone works either in person or online.

Learning materials for school lessons (Open Educational Resources, OERs)

Our learning materials are published on the learning platform  https://www.twillo.de/.

 Addictive design: how and why social media makes users addicted

Presentation slide titled 'Why is my Social Media Account free?

Why is my social media account free of charge?

The majority of all pupils (SuS) use one social platform or another in their free time, such as Instagram, TikTok or Snapchat. Studies have shown that the amount of time spent using social media has increased in recent years and that the risk of social media addiction, particularly among young people, is growing.

 to the material - free social media account
Presentation slide titled 'Apple. Is that data protection?' from Data Ethics Outreach Lab

Apple. Is that data protection?

The well-known technology company Apple often presents itself as particularly data protection-friendly. And Apple has indeed introduced various data protection measures that make it appear data protection-friendly. But does Apple really keep its data protection promises and protect the privacy of its users?

 to the material - Apple data protection

Summer semester 22 : Data sensitivity: Where do we leave data everywhere?

In the summer semester of 2022, a group from the DEOL visited the Käthe Kollwitz School in Hanover to talk to pupils about data ethics and data sensitivity in an 11th grade politics class.
More details on the project will follow.

winter semester 22/23 : Data Broker: What happens to my Instagram likes?

In the winter semester 22/23, a group from DEOL visited the "In der Wüste" grammar school in Osnabrück to introduce pupils to the topic of data brokers using a specially developed game.
Further details on the project will follow.

winter semester 22/23 : Social media: Why is my Instagram account free?

In the winter semester 22/23, one of our groups was once again at the Käthe Kollwitz School in Hanover. This time, an 11th grade politics class was educated about social media and the business models of Meta and Co.
More details about the project will follow.

winter semester 22/23 : Targeted advertising: problems and background

In the winter semester 22/23, a group from DEOL held a lesson on targeted advertising at the Carolinum Osnabrück.

Summer semester 23 : Social media: design decisions and addiction

In the summer semester of 2023, one of our groups visited the International School in Braunschweig to talk to the students about social media. A particular focus was on the addictive design of the platforms.

Summer semester 23 : The Bridgers: Public discourse and critical perspectives on AI

In the summer semester of 2023, our DEOL team focused on a target group outside of schools. At the Digital Week Osnabrück 2023, the students held a workshop to talk to a wider audience about the risks posed by AI.

Summer semester 23 : Schools Abroad: Workshop on data collection through social media in Brazil

In the summer semester of 2023, one of the DEOL groups held a workshop in Brazil to talk to students and employees of a government organization about data protection in connection with social media.

Summer semester 23 : Apple: Is this data protection?

In the summer semester of 2023, a group from DEOL visited the Gymnasium am Mühlenberg in Bad Schwartau to talk to Year 12 students about data protection in the context of Apple.