Program on Data and Governance | Moritz College of Law

Artificial Intelligence and other data-driven innovations hold the power to transform society, driving economic growth, improving public services, and solving complex challenges. But without thoughtful oversight, these technologies can also threaten privacy, weaken cybersecurity, and widen social inequalities.

Good governance is the key to unlocking AI’s potential while minimizing its risks.

At the Program on Data and Governance, a joint initiative between Ohio State’s Moritz College of Law and the Translational Data Analytics Institute, we explore how to responsibly govern data and emerging technologies. Our mission is to help society realize the full benefits of data while safeguarding against its harms.

We actively invite faculty from across Ohio State, including Computer Science and Engineering, Business, Public Affairs, Philosophy, Medicine, and Public Health, to join us as affiliates. Together, we bring diverse perspectives to the complex questions surrounding big data and AI governance.

Affiliated faculty provide the interdisciplinary lens required to understand big data and to think most effectively about how to govern it.

The Program on Data and Governance focuses on four main areas:

The Program on Data and Governance explores diverse governance methods, from law and ethics to technology and social norms. This interdisciplinary research aims to determine the most effective strategies for various contexts while assessing the growing impact of data in areas like national security and immigration.

PDG publications

The Program on Data and Governance serves as a national center for academic and policy conversation about data and governance. We host conferences, roundtables, speakers, and other events, many of which are open to students.

Learn more about our events

The Program on Data and Governance participates in national and regional policy forums regarding data innovation, privacy, cybersecurity, and equality. It serves as a resource for the policymakers, businesses, researchers, and public interest groups seeking ways to achieve data’s many benefits while reducing its undesired impacts.

Ohio Data Ethics Working group

The Program on Data and Governance fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration by inviting faculty from fields including computer science, business, public affairs, and medicine to become affiliates. This interdisciplinary perspective enriches our understanding of big data governance, allowing for more comprehensive and effective research.