Our weekly SRI Seminar Series welcomes Kobbi Nissim, the McDevitt Chair of Computer Science at Georgetown University, and an affiliate professor at Georgetown Law. Nissim’s research works towards establishing rigorous practices for privacy in computation. He is particularly interested in intersection points between privacy and various disciplines within and outside computer science, including cryptography, machine learning, game theory, complexity theory, algorithmics, statistics, databases, and more recently privacy law and policy.
Nissim’s recognitions include the 2013 ACM PODS Test-of-Time Award, the 2017 Gödel Prize and 2016 Theory of Cryptography Test of Time Award for the paper that introduced differential privacy, the 2018 Theory of Cryptography Test of Time Award, the 2019 Caspar Bowden Award for Outstanding Research in Privacy Enhancing Technologies, and the 2021 Paris Kanellakis Award for “fundamental contributions to the development of differential privacy.”
This event is co-presented with the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence.
Talk title:
“Do machine learning systems meet the requirements of legal privacy standards?”
Abstract:
Machine learning systems are widely used in the processing of personal information, and their use is growing at a rapid pace. While these systems bring many benefits, they also raise significant concerns about privacy. To mitigate such concerns, technical-mathematical frameworks such as differential privacy, and legal frameworks such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), have been introduced.
However, the relationship between privacy technology and privacy law is complex and the interaction between the two approaches exposes significant differences, making it challenging to reason whether systems do or do not provide the level of privacy protection as set by privacy law.
In this talk, we will review some of the gaps that exist between mathematical and legal approaches to privacy, and ongoing efforts to bridge them while maintaining legal and mathematical rigor.
About Kobbi Nissim
Kobbi Nissim is the McDevitt Chair of Computer Science at Georgetown University, and an affiliate professor at Georgetown Law. Prior to joining Georgetown, he was at Ben-Gurion University. From 2012 to 2017, Nissim was a visiting scholar at Harvard University’s Center for Research in Computation and Society. He studied at the Weizmann Institute of Science, under the supervision of Moni Naor.
Nissim’s research works towards establishing rigorous practices for privacy in computation: identifying problems that result from the collection, sharing, and processing of information, formalizing these problems, and studying them towards creating solid practices and technological solutions. He is particularly interested in intersection points between privacy and various disciplines within and outside computer science, including cryptography, machine learning, game theory, complexity theory, algorithmics, statistics, databases, and more recently privacy law and policy.
Nissim is known for the introduction of differential privacy. His recognitions include the 2013 ACM PODS Alberto O. Mendelzon Test-of-Time Award (with Irit Dinur), the 2017 Gödel Prize and 2016 Theory of Cryptography Test of Time Award (with Cynthia Dwork, Frank McSherry, and Adam D. Smith) for the paper that introduced differential privacy, the 2018 Theory of Cryptography Test of Time Award (with Dan Boneh and Eu-Jin Goh), the 2019 Caspar Bowden Award for Outstanding Research in Privacy Enhancing Technologies, and the 2021 Paris Kanellakis Award for “fundamental contributions to the development of differential privacy.”
About the SRI Seminar Series
The SRI Seminar Series brings together the Schwartz Reisman community and beyond for a robust exchange of ideas that advance scholarship at the intersection of technology and society. Seminars are led by a leading or emerging scholar and feature extensive discussion.
Each week, a featured speaker will present for 45 minutes, followed by an open discussion. Registered attendees will be emailed a Zoom link before the event begins. The event will be recorded and posted online.
Kobbi Nissim