Kirsten Martin
Mendoza College of Business
William P. and Hazel B. White Center Professor of Technology Ethics
- Technology and Ethics
- Privacy
- Business Ethics
- AI Accountability
Martin’s Latest News
Martin in the News
Fox 5
TikTok admits employees bypass algorithm to promote some videos
February 14, 2023
"When something's trending, we like to think that somebody—I’m putting this in air quotes-- 'earned it,’" says Kirsten Martin, a professor of technology ethics at Notre Dame’s Technology Ethics Center. "Instead it's based on just an employee pushing a button and saying, ‘I would like this person's content to be promoted.’"
Fast Company
What the TikTok government bans mean for you
December 18, 2022
To Kirsten Martin, director of Notre Dame University’s tech ethics center, the TikTok dogpiling seems more like a reaction from politicians not being able to crack the app’s influence.
Tech Point
If tech ethics is an afterthought, you’re taking too big of a risk
November 08, 2022
“Elon Musk firing the ethical AI team, policy team, etc is not surprising since his reason for buying Twitter was to put an end to their content moderation policies,” said Dr. Kirsten Martin, the director of the Notre Dame Technology Ethics Center (ND TEC), which recently launched a 15-credit undergraduate minor in tech ethics.
Associated Press
As Amazon grows, so does its eye on consumers
August 22, 2022
For companies like Amazon, data collection is for more than just data’s sake, noted Kirsten Martin, a professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame.
CNN
Deal or no deal, Elon Musk could upend Twitter’s business for a long time
May 19, 2022
“The places which are just cesspools of no content moderation have not taken off,” said Kirsten Martin, a professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame. Thus, there could be conflict between Musk’s stated goal to grow Twitter’s business and his plans for how to handle content moderation.
CNN
If Elon Musk restores Trump’s Twitter account, it could pave the way for other platforms to do the same
May 13, 2022
Although far from perfect, Twitter has, at least historically, been viewed as “more nuanced in their content moderation” and as “trying to do the right thing more often than other platforms,” said Kristin Martin, professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame.
Associated Press
Running Twitter may be much harder than Elon Musk thinks
May 11, 2022
“If Musk is concerned that many people were upset that Trump was banned, he should see how many more people would be upset if Trump was not banned,” said Kirsten Martin, a professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame.
The Guardian
Reversing Trump Twitter ban will provoke user backlash, Elon Musk warned
May 11, 2022
Kirsten Martin, a professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame in Chicago, said Musk would face a backlash if he reinstated Trump’s account. “If Musk is concerned that many people were upset that Trump was banned, he should see how many more people would be upset if Trump was not banned,” she said. “Musk only appears to be worried about the opinion of a small group of individuals who incite violence or perpetuate hate speech.”
Associated Press
Musk says he would reverse Twitter’s ban of Donald Trump
May 10, 2022
“If Musk is concerned that many people were upset that Trump was banned, he should see how many more people would be upset if Trump was not banned,” said Kirsten Martin, a professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame. “Musk only appears to be worried about the opinion of a small group of individuals who incite violence or perpetuate hate speech.”
KOMO News
VOTE: Do you think Elon Musk buying Twitter will make it better?
April 27, 2022
"This move just shows how effective (moderation features) have been to annoy those in power," said Kirsten Martin, a professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame, to The Associated Press. "I would be worried as to how this would change Twitter's values."
The News Forum
What Would "Free Speech" on Twitter Under Elon Musk's Management Look Like?
Video
April 27, 2022
Nima welcomes Dr. Kirsten Martin, professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame.
The Globe and Mail
Elon Musk’s promise to deliver ‘free speech’ on Twitter may have unintended consequences, say observers
April 26, 2022
“When you moderate content, it doesn’t mean that there’s less speech,” University of Notre Dame technology ethics professor Kirsten Martin said in an interview. “There can be more speech.”
Associated Press
Musk’s ‘free speech’ push for Twitter: Repeating history?
April 26, 2022
Kirsten Martin, a professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame, said Twitter has consistently worked at being a “responsible” social media company through its moderation system, its hires in the area of machine learning ethics and in whom they allow to do research on the platform.
CNN
Twitter has been focused on ‘healthy conversations.’ Elon Musk could change that
April 26, 2022
Twitter has certainly not been perfect on content moderation issues, but as Kirsten Martin, professor of technology ethics at Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, put it: “Twitter has consistently strived to be a responsible social media company through not only their content moderation but also their hires in the area of machine learning ethics.”
Associated Press
Can Musk deliver on his vision for Twitter? Questions remain
April 26, 2022
“This move just shows how effective (moderation features) have been to annoy those in power,” said Kirsten Martin, a professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame. “I would be worried as to how this would change Twitter’s values.”
Catholic News Service
Prayer apps are popular, but users cautioned to review privacy policies
April 12, 2022
Kirsten Martin, director of the Notre Dame Technology Ethics Center at the University of Notre Dame, expressed concern for apps based on “this idea of selling a point of vulnerability to others that don’t have our interest in mind.”
SOFREP
TikTok Becomes An Unlikely Source Of Information Amid Tensions With Ukraine
February 03, 2022
Technology Professor Kirsten Martin from the University of Notre Dame stated that TikTok’s data collection and practices were fairly standard compared to other social media applications.
Fortune
Last year, advertisers boycotted Facebook over hate speech. Today, they’re silent
November 05, 2021
“It’s perhaps not something that people can galvanize around very easily and could be why they don’t see it as something that they need to take a stand on now,” said Kirsten Martin, a professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame.
CNN
Facebook is shutting down its facial recognition software
November 02, 2021
Kirsten Martin, a professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame, called the decision "a good example of regulatory pressure", as the company's facial-recognition system had long been targeted by regulators.
Business Insider
Facebook is shutting down its controversial facial recognition system over 'societal concerns'
November 02, 2021
Kirsten Martin, a professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame, said the trove of biometric data represents a vulnerability for Meta that will now be muted.
UPI
Facebook ditches facial recognition feature, to delete data
November 02, 2021
Kirsten Martin, a professor of technology ethics at Notre Dame, told CNN the move was "a good example of regulatory pressure."
Associated Press
Facebook to shut down face-recognition system, delete data
November 02, 2021
The decision “is a good example of trying to make product decisions that are good for the user and the company,” said Kristen Martin, a professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame.
MarketWatch
Facebook becomes Meta in rebranding seen as ‘an attempt at distraction’
October 28, 2021
“It’s dystopian, the worst of all names. If we don’t trust them in the real world, why would we in the virtual world?” Kirsten Martin, professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, told MarketWatch.
Forbes
Facebook Announces New Name: Meta
October 28, 2021
“Facebook executives have not proven to be trustworthy with their products in the real world, so it's not clear why we should trust them in a virtual world," Kirsten Martin, professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, said in a statement.
USA Today
Facebook changes name to Meta: Mark Zuckerberg announces company rebrand as it moves to the metaverse
October 28, 2021
Kirsten Martin, director of the University of Notre Dame's Tech Ethics Center, questioned whether Facebook should be trusted with the metaverse.
ABC 57
Notre Dame professor addresses Facebook's failures
Video
October 25, 2021
Professor Kristen Martin, who teaches technology and ethics at Notre Dame, discusses different ways Facebook can prevent the spread of misinformation and create a safer online environment for their users.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
AI in Admissions Can Reduce or Reinforce Biases
September 02, 2021
“When you’re using AI, you’re usually asking the data to find out what you have said is important based on the data that is in your possession,” said Dr. Kirsten Martin, a professor of technology and ethics at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza School of Business.
CIO Dive
Emerging technologies pose ethical quandaries. Where does IT leadership fit in?
February 22, 2021
Aligning business values with vendor relationships is a "long-standing issue that companies have to grapple with when they decide who they're going to do business with," according to Kirsten Martin, professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame's William P. and Hazel B. White Center.
Quartz
Meet the company that’s tracking your location to study Covid-19
November 23, 2020
Public health and national security issues are some of the most valuable applications of aggregated location data, says Kirsten Martin, a professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame.