New Major Promotes Ethical Tech

Emerging technologies like AI, mobile computing, and biometrics can help us work and play, but their benefits (and tradeoffs) may not be evenly distributed. As technology becomes embedded into everyday aspects of life, the need for ethical, thoughtful, and socially responsible leadership in information technology has never been greater.

That's where the new Information Technology Ethics and Compliance (IEC) major comes in. The second of two new undergraduate programs introduced this year, IEC is about maximizing technology’s positive effects on society.

“From artificial intelligence and data analytics to digital surveillance and cybersecurity, today’s most urgent challenges are as much about people and power as they are about code ,” said IST Dean Andrea Tapia.

Meeting those challenges will require professionals who can navigate complex sociotechnical systems and advocate for justice, equity, and the public good, ensuring that design systems support fairness and accountability.

The IEC major will prepare students for careers in advocacy, compliance, and other sectors where critical thinking about technology is key. The program will equip them with knowledge and skills in law and policy, business, and psychology to understand how technology impacts people, organizations, and society. By understanding how history, politics, culture, and context shape our interactions, students can create information technology solutions that improve the way people live, work, and communicate.

“I'm excited to be one of the first IEC instructors," said Associate Teaching Professor Chris Gamrat, who will teach 'Introduction to Social Implications of Information Technology' this fall. “I believe it is important for students to be critical of the intended and unintended consequences of the technology we use today and the new technologies we create for tomorrow.”