Course Information

Spring 2021 · Boston University and Northeastern University · Adam Smith and Jonathan Ullman

Archived offering · Dates and course information refer to Spring 2021.

Course overview

How can we learn from a data set of sensitive information while providing meaningful privacy to the individuals whose information it contains? The course explores this question, starting from the problems faced by straightforward solutions and moving on to rigorous state-of-the-art solutions using differential privacy. The class will focus on foundations, but also delve into some applied work and on some of the social, ethical, and legal context for the subject. Students will be required to complete some mathematical assignments, some light programming assignments, and a final course project.

Instructor contact

Adam Smith

Adam Smith

Boston University

Jonathan Ullman

Jonathan Ullman

Northeastern University

Course materials