Cyber Alliance members discuss intersection of computer science & law at DIMACS workshop
From November 10-12, the Center for Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science(DIMACS) at Rutgers University held the Workshop on Co-Development of Computer Science and Law. The event focused on the future of converging computational techniques and legal principles, and the necessity of providing a computer science perspective on the legal and social issues of today. Several BU Cyber Alliance affiliates participated in the event: Ph.D. student Sarah Scheffler, postdoctoral associate Aloni Cohen, and Professor of Computer Science Ran Canetti.
Sarah Scheffler gave a talk titled “Protecting Cryptography against Compelled Self-Incrimination” on questions surrounding compelled decryption. Read more about Scheffler’s work in a separate blog post here.
Aloni Cohen presented a talk titled “Proving Legal Theorems using Hybrid Legal-Technical Analysis” on the intersection of computer science and law in data privacy. There are data privacy laws, which tell you what you must do, and data privacy techniques, which is what you can do. To better understand how data privacy laws and techniques interact, Cohen proposed that researchers study “hybrid” privacy concepts, which are composed of both legal and technical concepts. Cohen also suggests that some legal ideas are outdated due to new technologies, and the law alone is not equipped to handle current data privacy issues.
Professor Ran Canetti gave his presentation, “Automated Contact Tracing: Individualism, Society, Law, and Technology in an Aerosol Droplet”, on the social and technological issues surrounding contact tracing. Opening with an exploration of social contracts that can require compromise, Canetti explains how these contracts have faced new complications due to emerging technology. This especially applies to contact tracing. Collecting data in a society that is individualistic and values privacy can run into issues, especially when there is not a lot of trust in the government. When a social contract does not focus as heavily on individualism or individual freedom, however, contact tracing does work. One solution to this is automated contact tracing, which can collect the necessary information while still protecting privacy. However, the technology is not yet there. For now, tracing can use Bluetooth for location and notify people if someone they have come into contact with is sick. To be able to move forward and have effective contact tracing, society and law must better understand how data works.
Computation and law are becoming more and more integrated, and it is vital to understand how the two can work together effectively. With good communication and understanding between the two fields, more work can be done to benefit society in the near future.