Short Bio

Scott Robbins, M.Sc.

Scott Robbins is currently a PhD Researcher in ethics of technology at the technical university of Delft, the Netherlands (TU Delft). He graduated with a Bachelors in Computer Science (Cum Laude) at California State University, Chico and with a Masters in Ethics and Technology (Cum Laude) at the University of Twente. His current research analyzes the ethics and efficacy of bulk meta-data collection in the context of counter-terrorism. He is part of the organizing committee at the Foundation for Responsible Robotics and a member of the 4TU center for ethics and technology. He also designs and administers a number of websites including aimeevanwynsberghe.com, responsiblerobtics.org, and robotrepublic.org.

Publications

Our Ignorance about AI

Oct 11, 2018

Wrote a piece for the launch of the Netherlands AI Alliance which was launched today. It us up on their website. Find it here. From the piece: If we accept that the explanations for modern AI algorithms will remain opaque to us, then the question is how to use these...

Critiquing the Reasons for Developing Artificial Moral Agents

Mar 12, 2018

Citation Van Wynsberghe, A., & Robbins, S. (2018). Critiquing the Reasons for Making Artificial Moral Agents. Science and Engineering Ethics. Online First. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-018-0030-8. Abstract Many industry leaders and academics from the...

The Value of Transparency: Bulk Data and Authoritarianism

Aug 9, 2017

Citation Robbins, S., & Henschke, A. (2017). The Value of Transparency: Bulk Data and Authoritarianism. Surveillance & Society, 15(3/4), 582-589. Retrieved from https://ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/surveillance-and-society/article/view/6606 Abstract...

Presentations

Ethicomp 2018 (Sopot, Poland)

Sep 24, 2018

Yesterday I delivered my talk to an engaged audience at Ethicomp 2018 in Sopot, Poland. I spoke on widening the debate on transparency in algorithms to cover more than the inner workings of algorithms. There should also be transparency with regard to the possible...

Lecture on Ethics and Cybersecurity

Jul 10, 2018

I gave a lecture this morning for the International Cyber Security Summer School in the Hague. The summer school was run by the Hague Security Delta. The students were great and the summer school was well organized. Thanks to the organizers and to Michel Rademaker for...

Bulk Data Collection Ethics (Oxford University)

Jun 27, 2018

Today I gave a talk at Oxford university on the ethics of bulk data collection for counter-terrorism.

Upcoming

Amsterdam Privacy Conference 2018 (Oct 6)

Jul 1, 2018

At APC 2018 I will be presenting a paper on bulk data collection ethics (counter terrorism context). In it I adapt Just War Theory principles to intelligence collection.

Counter Terrorism Ethics Workshop (Georgetown University – Oct 30 2018)

Jun 1, 2018

At Georgetown University I will be presenting a paper on the ethics surrounding the use of machine learning artificial intelligence for counter terrorism purposes.