We seek to collaborate with other ESRC investments associated with this theme, relevant government departments on guidance for the regulation of digital technologies (e.g., Department for Education and Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport); and industry.
Our faculty have expertise in social media, AI/machine-learning, and big data, nanotechnologies and neuroscience, as well as robotisation, from assistive technologies and medical care to youth mental health, encouraging physical activity, sustainability, and policing and law enforcement. Our expertise in law provides a critical lens to AI, ethics, data trusts, and digital health. The Centre aims to develop cutting-edge and interdisciplinary approaches to human-technology relationships. Some examples include adolescent smartphone and social media use related to mental wellbeing and physical activity, digital literacy of teachers and coaches, eating disorders and recovery, affordability checks and online gambling; and pro-social networks. In terms of digital harms, we aim to develop digital tools to address criminal behaviour, human trafficking, online gambling harms, fake news, and misinformation.
Examples of current PhD projects within this theme include understanding the behaviour of analysts working with online violent extremist content (joint with Tech Against Terrorism), exploring the role of smartphones in adolescent well being when transitioning from primary to secondary school (joint with Forward Thinking Birmingham, The Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust), and bio-behavioural and perceptual approaches to deepfake analysis (joint with the National Police Chief Council).