Hybrid Course on Digital Ethics

The course has been organized in 2023 and 2024, and the 2025.

In 2026, we will organize the fourth edition of the course, with

• again 9 sessions from 6 May until 1 July
• 1 additional, optional reconnect session on 23 September

To account for the diversity of profiles and locations in our audience, this course will comprise:

• online-only sessions
• in-person sessions with a hybrid option
• in-person only reconnect session with networking opportunities
  
  In 2026, we will organize the fourth edition of the course, with
• again 9 sessions from 6 May until 1 July
• 1 additional, optional reconnect session on 23 September

To account for the diversity of profiles and locations in our audience, this course will comprise:

• online-only sessions
• in-person sessions with a hybrid option
• in-person only reconnect session with networking opportunities

The 2026 course

As our reliance on technology continues to grow, the importance of digital ethics cannot be overstated. In today's world, organisations in every sector must be aware of the ethical implications of their actions in the digital realm. From the handling of personal data to the development of new technologies, the decisions we make have the potential to impact individuals, society, and the environment in profound ways. By participating in this course, you will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complex ethical landscape of the digital world and make informed decisions that align with your organisation's values.

Our course will cover a range of important topics, including ethics frameworks and tools, regulation and legal issues, developing ethical technology, technology assessment, ethical dilemmas, and ethics in data and visualisation.

Target audience

This course is designed for professionals working in a wide range of organisations and industries. Whether you are employed in government, industry, academia, or the non-profit sector, you will benefit from the comprehensive coverage of key topics in Digital Ethics. The course is particularly relevant for those working in fields such as technology, interaction design, data analysis, policymaking, law, and research. However, anyone with an interest in Digital Ethics and the impact of technology on society will find value in this course.

2026 program

Session 1: Ethics frameworks - 6 May 2026 - online
During this session, we will explore the various frameworks that can be used to justify ethical decisions, including virtue ethics, consequence ethics, and duty ethics. The participants will learn how to 'think ethically', and how these basic ethics frameworks can be applied to various scenarios in which digital technologies play a central role. We will also explore the concept of responsibility, including the different types of responsibility (moral, legal, causal or role responsibility) that can arise in the digital realm and discuss the responsibility gap. This session will provide attendees with a solid foundation in the basic principles of ethics and their relation to digital technology.

Session 2: Building Ethical Foundations - 13 May 2026 - hybrid
This session aims to create a communal learning environment among the participants, both online and on-site. During this session, participants will introduce themselves, share their professional backgrounds and discuss their expectations for the course, providing invaluable insight for the instructors to tailor the subsequent sessions. Additionally, participants will reflect on the ethical aspects of their jobs, exploring potential ethical dilemmas within their specific work contexts such as government, industry, academia, or non-profit sectors. This early engagement is designed to foster a deeper understanding and awareness of the ethical issues to be explored throughout the course, setting the stage for a more insightful reflection during the closing session.

Session 3: Legal and policy issues - 20 May 2026 - online
This session will explore a number of legal issues that arise in the digital realm.  It will first provide attendees with an understanding of appropriate legal frameworks related to the free flow of information, (personal) data protection, and the principles, rights and obligations of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We will also provide a comprehensive review of the impact AI may have on individual and collective human rights across various sectors. The participants will learn about the technical legal instruments at their disposal to combat AI discrimination, including legal tools related to direct and indirect discrimination, as well as discrimination by association. Moreover, participants will be invited to critically reflect on the resilience of ethics in the context of AI. This approach to AI will consider high-level legal instruments within the European Union, such as the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights, the proposed AI Act, and the set of equality directives. A comparative law approach will also be mobilized to provide a better understanding of addressing AI challenges with traditional legal instruments.

Session 4: Envisioning and designing ethical technology - 27 May 2026 - online
In this session, we will explore how technology can take into account the needs and values of human beings. Through the concept of Fair AI, we will discuss the procedures, challenges and perspectives that come into play when we envision and develop ethical technology. Drawing from political philosophical theories of justice and practical use-cases, a relational perspective on AI will be developed to better understand the social and technical dynamics that give rise to digital injustice. This session will provide attendees with an understanding of the ethical challenges that can arise in the digital world, and the tools and frameworks that can be used to address them. We will also delve into the practical development of technology: humanity-centered design (including design thinking), inclusive design, value-centered design, and participatory design (or co-creation). This session will provide attendees with the tools and knowledge they need to create ethical technology that is designed with people at its core.

Session 5: (Un)ethical Technology in Practice - 3 June 2026 - online
During this session, we will take a closer look at existing technologies. Through several concrete case studies, we will examine how they can contribute to positive or negative outcomes for their users and for society as a whole. We will also take an in‑depth look at applications related to wellbeing, and explore how they fit into the broader ecosystem of digital platforms, the attention economy, and persuasive design techniques. Finally, we will discuss which stakeholders and decisional levels are involved when it comes to making technology better from an ethical point of view.

Session 6: Technology assessment and decision-making - 10 June 2026 - online
This session will provide insight into the impact and effects of technology, and will introduce tools and methods for assessing the risks of innovation and averting undesirable consequences of new technologies, such as FRAIA, the Fundamental Rights and Algorithms Impact Assessment. We will also look into the challenges of achieving (positive or negative) impacts with technology due to the interplay of technology, society, organisations and individuals. A dedicated focus will be on the impact of AI technologies in a government context as well as on evaluating the results of social corporate responsibility actions in the context of a company. This session will provide attendees with practical examples of how to effectively assess the risks and potential consequences of technology.

Session 7: Implementing Ethics in the Tech Industry: The Case of Ethical Games - 19 June 2026 - hybrid

This session will focus on the implementation of ethical measures in the technology industry, using the Ethical Games Code of Conduct as an example. How can we bring together the various stakeholders (industry, users, NGOs, public authorities) around shared principles grounded in common values? What obstacles typically arise when developing a code of conduct, and what are the potential risks of backlash or counterproductive effects? What communication strategies, practical tools, and long‑term support structures need to be put in place to ensure stakeholder buy‑in and real‑world effectiveness? We will also address the role of (digital) ethicists in this process, as well as the ethical frameworks that guide such initiatives.

Session 8: Ethics in data and visualisation - 24 June 2026 - online (topic to be confirmed)
In this session, we will discuss the ethical aspects of handling and visualising data. We will start by examining how data are 'constructed' and therefore are inherently 'biased', rather than representing an objective truth. We cross over to understand the value of visualising data, acknowledging its potential risk to yet further objectify this constructed, situated nature of data. We then dive into how some data visualisations can be (unintentionally) perceived as unethical, whether through potentially misleading design choices, the use of dubious data, the omission of uncertainties, or the disregard of cognitive biases. This session aims to provide practical skills and reflective insights for handling and visualising data in ways that are more transparent, equitable and responsible.

Session 9: Envisioning an inclusive algorithmic age and its future through scenarios, games, and ethical planning - 1 July 2026 - physical with recording for online participants
The final course session will focus on the steps towards a more ethical and inclusive future for technology in general and in the professional contexts of our participants. This hands-on session will introduce tools such as creative scenario workshops and game-based techniques (e.g. REAL) that can be used to stimulate thinking and conversations about the values embedded in algorithmic systems, as well as their social and technological implications. Participants will also have the opportunity to reflect on how the topics covered in the previous sessions apply to their own professional situations. This session will provide a space for attendees to share their thoughts, insights, and experiences, and to discuss how they plan to incorporate the knowledge and skills they have gained into their work. This will be a valuable opportunity for participants to consolidate their learning and to develop a personal plan for applying the principles of Digital Ethics in their professional lives.

Recontact session: Towards a learning community of digital ethicists - physical only (optional)

This in‑person bonus session will provide an opportunity for the group of participants to reconnect around questions related to the evolution of their personal project, insights from the journeys of participants from previous editions, and inspiration drawn from current research. Through meetings, discussion panels, and hands‑on workshops, the emphasis will be on fostering a learning community of digital ethicists.