Dissertation abstract
In my research, I examine the impact of hyper-personalized digital content on autonomy of the members of vulnerable communities and the communities themselves. In particular, I focus on the question of how the benefits and the harms exposed through this content compare to potential ethical challenges from the perspective of public good. On one hand, today’s sophisticated data collection techniques and algorithms can be seen as a means of curation, helping individuals to navigate the sea of information towards, in their eyes, the most relevant content. At the same time, the employed curation mechanisms are guided by the principle of profitability, prioritizing quantity and speed over quality and accuracy. This process thereby reverses the role of novel information: instead of enriching their lives, it limits the individuals’ ability to make sense of the world around them. Drawing on theories, models and methods from philosophy, ethics and human-computer interaction, I explore the concepts and the relationship between hyper-personalization, curation, autonomy, privacy, and ethical challenges faced by users within vulnerable communities. Additionally, I intend to develop theory-based interventions and practices so individuals can enjoy greater autonomy while exercising greater ethical responsibility when engaging with hyper-personalized digital content. To do this, I combine philosophical reflections with a qualitative exploration which is well-suited to uncover experiences specific to the individuals’ contexts. This approach can help to advance the current state of knowledge and demonstrate how philosophy and ethics can contribute to strengthening the autonomy of vulnerable individuals in the context of hyper-personalized content.