How Technology is Shaping Democracy and the 2020 Election

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/technology-shaping-democracy-2020-election

Introduction

### Course Review: How Technology is Shaping Democracy and the 2020 Election In an era where technology pervades every aspect of our lives, understanding its impact on democracy has never been more crucial. The Coursera course titled **"How Technology is Shaping Democracy and the 2020 Election"** offers an insightful examination of the intersection between technology and the democratic process, specifically in the context of the historic 2020 U.S. presidential election. This course, hosted by Stanford University, explores how technology influences voter behavior, mobilizes citizens, and even challenges the integrity of information in the public sphere. #### Course Overview Democracy requires informed citizens, and in 2020, the stakes were particularly high as multiple forces harnessed digital tools to influence election outcomes. This course dissects the various ways technology has shaped our democratic processes and the challenges that arise in this digital age. The instructors, **Rob Reich** and **Marietje Schaake**, provide a comprehensive framework for understanding these dynamics, addressing key themes such as election administration during the COVID-19 pandemic, the evolution of the digital public sphere, content moderation policies, and the fight against misinformation. #### Syllabus Breakdown The course is structured into several key modules, each tackling a pressing issue: 1. **Introduction**: In this opening section, Reich and Schaake introduce the main themes of the course, outlining the importance of the intersection between democracy and technology. 2. **Election Administration in the COVID-19 Era**: This module highlights the decentralized election system in the U.S. and discusses the unique challenges posed by the pandemic. With insights from prominent figures like **Tiana Epps-Johnson** and **Nate Persily**, learners will gain an understanding of how jurisdictions navigated the unprecedented circumstances to ensure electoral integrity. 3. **Technology and the Digital Public Sphere**: Delving into how technology influences public discourse, this section emphasizes the dual role digital platforms can play in empowering or disempowering citizens. Guest experts such as **Joan Donovan** and **Joshua Tucker** broaden the discussion to include the implications for movements and governance. 4. **Where Speech and Tech Policy Collide**: This part of the course examines the complexities arising from content moderation practices of tech companies versus the demands for free speech in the public domain. With perspectives from **Evelyn Douek** and **Nick Pickles**, students will critically analyze these tensions and their implications for policy-making. 5. **Confronting Misinformation and Disinformation**: Finally, this crucial segment assesses the evolution in tackling misinformation between the 2016 and 2020 elections. Featuring experts like **Alex Stamos** and **Camille François**, learners will explore the challenges posed by both foreign and domestic disinformation campaigns. #### Conclusion and Recommendation The significance of this course cannot be overstated. Considering the increasing reliance on technology in political processes, understanding its implications is essential for anyone invested in the future of democracy. The expert insights from renowned scholars and practitioners throughout the course provide not only a theoretical background but also practical perspectives on pressing issues. Whether you are a political science student, a communications professional, or simply a concerned citizen, this course offers invaluable knowledge and tools to engage thoughtfully in today’s technology-driven political landscape. The blend of historical context and current events makes it a must-take for those wanting to navigate and understand the complex realities of democracy in the digital age. **Recommendation**: I highly recommend enrolling in "How Technology is Shaping Democracy and the 2020 Election" on Coursera. It’s an enlightening journey through a critical issue of our time, equipping learners with the understanding necessary to participate meaningfully in democratic discourse and action moving forward.

Syllabus

Introduction

Instructors Rob Reich and Marietje Schaake present the major themes and questions explored in this community awareness course on democracy, technology, and the 2020 election.

Understand the current, decentralized election system in the United States and consider the challenges election jurisdictions face to implement new technologies and administer elections amidst challenging circumstances. Featured guests include Tiana Epps-Johnson, co-founder and executive director of the Center for Tech and Civic Life, and Nate Persily, Stanford Law Professor and co-director of the Stanford Cyber Policy Center.

Explore the uses of technology tools and platforms that influence the public sphere of information, and see how these digital tools shape the beliefs of citizens and how they grow and diminish the agency of individuals, movements, governments, and foreign entities. Featured guests include Joan Donovan, research director at the Shorenstein Center of Media, Politics, and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, and Joshua Tucker, professor of politics at NYU, and co-director of the NYU Center for Social Media and Politics.

Discover the tensions and trade-offs between the content moderation policies of technology companies, the growing calls to govern speech in the public sphere, and the challenges to creating effective public policies to address these issues. Featured guests include Evelyn Douek, a lecturer and S.J.D. candidate at Harvard Law School, and Nick Pickles, global head of public policy strategy and development at Twitter.

Learn what is different between the 2016 and 2020 U.S. election cycles in how institutions are actively confronting disinformation and misinformation campaigns, and better understand the complexity of addressing foreign versus domestic information actors in a free society. Featured guests include Alex Stamos, director of the Stanford Internet Observatory and former chief security officer at Facebook, and Camille François, chief innovation officer at Graphika.