14-710 Special Topics: The Technology Behind Information Control
12 units, Carnegie Mellon University
This course provides a comprehensive overview of internet censorship and information control in the digital age through five interconnected, module-based units. The first module will begin by examining how the design of internet protocols can be leveraged to implement information control, providing students with a technical foundation on key protocols including HTTP(S), DNS, TCP/IP, and BGP. In the second module, we will study real-world implementations of censorship through case studies, exploring mechanisms deployed in the wild and studied by researchers. We will also look at policy triggers for censorship and internet shutdowns and analyze their collateral effects. Module three will shift focus to circumvention methods, introducing students to tools like VPNs, proxies, and Tor, and then proceeding to advanced mechanisms like decoy routing, pluggable transports, and traffic obfuscation techniques. The fourth module will examine content filtering and algorithmic techniques used to implement content moderation and combat hate speech and abuse, while also exploring how these same technologies can be used to control online speech or enable politically motivated censorship. The final module of the course will dive into broader societal questions including internet governance and how national borders interact with a borderless internet, the balance between privacy and law enforcement needs, and surveillance capitalism's impacts on society. Throughout each module, students will work on take-home assignments and projects, participate in in-class discussions, and present research done in this space. From time to time, there will also be guest lectures from leading experts in the field. While no prior knowledge of computer networking is required, students are expected to read extensive technical and policy-based literature and consult supplemental resources to strengthen their understanding as needed.
Prerequisites: none listed
Offered: Spring 2026
Courseweave needs JavaScript to show sections, workloads and planning tools.