Centers and Institutes
The George Washington University (GW) features a number of centers, institutes, programs and teams working in the area of public interest technology. A few highlighted areas are described below.
Digital Trade & Data Governance Hub
Today, researchers and firms use insights gleaned from analysis of large data sets to create new goods and services (a data-driven economy). Society will need to develop new rules to govern the use of that data. But given different national norms regarding data and the rapid pace of data-driven technological development, it will not be easy to find common ground on domestically and internationally accepted policies. The Digital Trade & Data Governance Hub works to help stakeholders and policymakers understand digital trade and data governance issues.
Global Internet Freedom & Human Rights Project
The Global Internet Freedom Project, co-directed by Professors Dawn Nunziato and Arturo Carrillo, was established in 2011 to promote a deeper understanding among researchers and policymakers of issues relating to the growing convergence of technology, Internet freedom, and human rights.
The Project focuses on a range of pressing contemporary issues, including cyber-violence and extremist content online; digital copyright and fair use; network neutrality; “fake news,” government surveillance and information privacy; the right to be forgotten; ICT industry self-regulation; and the right to compute, among others.
Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagment and Public Service
The mission of the Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service is to integrate civic engagement into George Washington University’s educational work. We promote equity and active citizenship in a diverse democracy, focus GW’s resources to address community needs through reciprocal partnerships beyond the campus, and enhance teaching, learning, and scholarship at GW.
Human Technology Collaboration
GW's Human-Technology Collaboration is a new dynamic cross-disciplinary PhD offered by the Graduate School of Education and Human Development (GSEHD). This program takes an interdisciplinary approach to education and research into how the collaborations of people and machines shape the future.
Institute for Data, Democracy & Politics
In the heart of the nation's capital, The Institute for Data, Democracy & Politics brings together top researchers from across academic disciplines, works side-by-side with and informs journalists from leading media outlets, advises and helps agenda set with policymakers in the U.S. and Europe, and engages with a variety of organizations that have significant societal influence and reach.
This work is of vital importance in an age when media manipulation, fake accounts, and malicious social media activities are undermining fundamental aspects of societal cohesion and democratic ideals. Abuse, harassment, hate speech, and disinformation abound, with foreign and domestic actors alike taking advantage of key features of digital platforms to target vulnerable and marginalized members of society.