Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2026 - CMNS 313 D200

Topics in Data and Society (4)

DigWorldSys/DataColonialism

Class Number: 4288

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 11 – Jun 19, 2026: Mon, Wed, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    17 CMNS units with a minimum grade of C- or 45 units with a minimum CGPA of 2.00.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Topics in the social, political, and cultural aspects of data and datafication. Explores social and philosophical implications of gathering, interpreting, and managing data. Topics include: data protection, visualization or sonification, data activism, big data, algorithmic bias and decision making, AI harms, big data, and the political economy of data. This course can be repeated twice for credit if the topics are different (up to a maximum of three times).

COURSE DETAILS:

This course explores the geopolitical and colonial implications of datafication at a global level. We will learn about how information systems intersect with empire, capital, and geopolitics through historical and contemporary case studies.

Possible case studies include Cree trade with the Hudson’s Bay Company; Spanish Colonial naming systems in the Philippines; Health research about indigenous people; Elsevier and global scientific publishing; China’s Belt and Road Initiative; Ocean data and plastics production; and X/Facebook and immigration discourse. Through these case studies, we will investigate how information system design, platformization, AI-driven iterative processing, digital transformation, and social shaping contribute to global patterns of justice and inequality.

We will use in-class workshops to uncover how data shapes social, economic, and political relations and we will use design practices to develop responses to digital world systems and data colonialism.

Grading

  • Written Reflections about In-Class Activities 25%
  • Individual Assignment 30%
  • Group Assignment 25%
  • Group Presentation 20%

NOTES:

The School expects that the grades awarded in this course will bear some reasonable relationship to established university-wide practices. In addition, the School will follow Policy S10.01 with respect to Academic Integrity, and Policies S10.02, S10.03 and S10.04 with regard to Student Discipline. For further information visit: www.sfu.ca/policies/Students/index.html

REQUIREMENTS:

THIS COURSE FEATURES IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES – ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED

Note that there will be a full lecture on Monday, May 11.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

All course materials will be made available virtually or via the SFU Library.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.