
Mariarosaria Taddeo's main research areas are Digital Ethics, Philosophy of Technology, Ethics of Cyber Conflicts and Cybersecurity.
Dr Mariarosaria Taddeo
Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow
Profile
Mariarosaria Taddeo is Senior Researcher Fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute and Deputy Director of the Digital Ethics Lab. She is also a Faculty Fellow at the Alan Turing Institute.
Dr Taddeo is a philosopher working on the ethics of digital technologies. Her most recent work focuses on Digital ethics, spanning from Ethics of AI to Ethical analysis of Cybersecurity practices, Cyber Conflicts, and Ethics of Data Science. Her area of expertise is Philosophy and Ethics of Information, although she has published in areas like Epistemology, Logic, and Philosophy of AI.
Dr Taddeo’s work has been published in major research journals, like Nature, Nature Machine Intelligence, Science, and Science Robotics, Philosophical Transaction of the Royal Society A. She has published extensively on online trust, ethics of cyber conflicts, cyber deterrence, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for national defence, and AI for social good. A complete list of her publications can be found on her Google Scholar profile.
Dr Taddeo is Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator on a number of research project ranging from the ethical challenges of the use of AI for national defence, socially good uses of AI, AI to advance Sustainable Development Goals.
In 2018, ORBIT listed her among the 100 experts working on AI in world. In the same year, she has been listed among the top 50 most inspiring Italian women working in digital technologies. Dr Taddeo has been awarded The Simon Award for Outstanding Research in Computing and Philosophy; and the World Technology Award for Ethics acknowledging the originality and her research on the ethics of cyber conflicts, and the social impact of the work that she developed in this area.
Since 2016, Taddeo serves as editor-in-chief of Minds & Machines (SpringerNature), in the executive editorial board of Philosophy & Technology (SpringerNature).
Before joining the OII, Taddeo was Research Fellow in Cyber Security and Ethics at the Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Warwick. From 2010 to 2012 she held a Marie Curie Fellowship at the University of Hertfordshire, where she was working on information warfare and its ethical implications.
She holds a PhD (Doctor Europeus) in Philosophy from the University of Padua. Her PhD thesis focused on the epistemic and ethical implications of trust in artificial systems.
Research focus
Digital Ethics, Philosophy of Information, Philosophy of Technology, Ethics of Cyber Conflicts and Cybersecurity
Positions held at the OII
- Research Fellow, October 2017-2020
- Researcher, January 2015 – October 2017
Research
Past projects
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PETRAS: Internet of Things (IoT) Research Hub
Participants: Professor Luciano Floridi, Dr Brent Mittelstadt, Dr Mariarosaria Taddeo
The PETRAS IoT Research Hub is a consortium of 9 UK universities working together to explore critical issues in privacy, ethics, trust, reliability, acceptability, and security.
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Landscaping Strategic Cyber Deterrence
Participants: Dr Mariarosaria Taddeo
This is an inter-divisional and multidisciplinary eight-month pilot study devoted to landscape the problem space and the future research on strategic cyber deterrence (SCD).
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An Ethical Framework for the New Civic Responsibilities of Online Service Providers
Participants: Professor Luciano Floridi, Dr Mariarosaria Taddeo
This project aims to analyse the new civic responsibilities of Online Service Providers, and the policies regulating them.
Featured
- (2017) "Cyber Conflicts and Political Power in Information Societies", Minds and Machines: journal for artificial intelligence, philosophy and cognitive sciences. 27 (2) 265-268.
- (2017) "Data Philanthropy and Individual Rights", Minds and Machines. 27 (1) 1-5.
- (2016) The Responsibilities of Online Service ProvidersLaw, Governance and Technology Series. Springer.
- (2016) "Data philanthropy and the design of the infraethics for information societies.", Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences. 374 (2083) 20160113.
- (2016) "On the Risks of Relying on Analogies to Understand Cyber Conflicts", Minds and Machines. 26 (4) 317-321.
- (2016) "What is Data Ethics?", Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A. 374 (2083) 20160360.
- (2016) Ethics and Policies for Cyber Operations A NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence Initiative. Springer.
- (2016) "The Debate on the Moral Responsibilities of Online Service Providers.", Sci. Eng. Ethics. 22 (6) 1575-1603.
- (2014) The Ethics of Information WarfareLaw, Governance and Technology Series. Springer.
Books
- (2016) The Responsibilities of Online Service ProvidersLaw, Governance and Technology Series. Springer.
- (2016) Ethics and Policies for Cyber Operations A NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence Initiative. Springer.
- (2014) The Ethics of Information WarfareLaw, Governance and Technology Series. Springer.
Chapters
- (2010) "Introduction" In: The neural basis of reading Cornelissen, P.L., Hansen, P.C., Kringelbach, M.L. and Pugh, K. (eds.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ix-xii.
Conference papers
- (2017) "Just Information Warfare", ETHICS AND POLICIES FOR CYBER OPERATIONS: A NATO COOPERATIVE CYBER DEFENCE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE INITIATIVEPhilosophical Studies Series. Springer International Publishing. 124 67-86.
Journal articles
- (2020) "The ethics of AI in health care: A mapping review", Social Science & Medicine. 260 113172.
- (2020) "Public Health in the Information Age: Recognizing the Infosphere as a Social Determinant of Health", Journal of Medical Internet Research. 22 (8) e19311.
- (2019) "Trusting artificial intelligence in cybersecurity is a double-edged sword", Nature Machine Intelligence. 1 (12) 557-560.
- (2019) "Ethical Aspects of Multi-stakeholder Recommendation Systems", The Information Society. 1-11.
- (2019) "Is Cybersecurity a Public Good?", Minds and Machines. 29 (3) 349-354.
- (2019) "Three Ethical Challenges of Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity", Minds and Machines. 29 (2) 187-191.
- (2019) Designing AI for Social Good: Seven Essential Factors.
- (2019) "The Civic Role of Online Service Providers", Minds and Machines. 29 (1) 1-7.
- (2019) "The Ethics of Digital Well-Being: A Thematic Review", Sci. Eng. Ethics. 26 (4) 2313-2343.
- (2018) "The Limits of Deterrence Theory in Cyberspace", Philosophy & Technology. 31 (3) 339-355.
- (2018) "How AI can be a force for good", Science. 361 (6404) 751-752.
- (2018) "Deterrence and Norms to Foster Stability in Cyberspace", Philosophy and Technology. 31 (3) 323-329.
- (2018) "Artificial Intelligence Crime: An Interdisciplinary Analysis of Foreseeable Threats and Solutions", Sci. Eng. EthicsSocial Science Research Network. 26 (1) 89-120.
- (2018) "Romans would have denied robots legal personhood", Nature. 557 (7705) 309.
- (2018) "Regulate Artificial Intelligence to Avert Cyber Arms Race", Nature. 556 (7701) 296-298.
- (2018) "Enabling Posthumous Medical Data Donation: A Plea for the Ethical Utilisation of Personal Health Data", Sci. Eng. Ethics. 25 (5) 1357-1387.
- (2018) "0 PERSPECTIVEROBOTICS The grand challenges of Science Robotics", Science Robotics. 3 (14) eaar7650.
- (2017) "Trusting Digital Technologies Correctly", Minds and Machines. 27 (4) 565-568.
- (2017) "Deterrence by Norms to Stop Interstate Cyber Attacks", Minds and Machines. 27 (3) 387-392.
- (2017) "Cyber Conflicts and Political Power in Information Societies", Minds and Machines: journal for artificial intelligence, philosophy and cognitive sciences. 27 (2) 265-268.
- (2017) "Data Philanthropy and Individual Rights", Minds and Machines. 27 (1) 1-5.
- (2016) "Artificial Intelligence and the 'Good Society': The US, EU, and UK Approach", Science and engineering ethics. 24 (2) 505-528.
- (2016) "Data philanthropy and the design of the infraethics for information societies.", Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences. 374 (2083) 20160113.
- (2016) "On the Risks of Relying on Analogies to Understand Cyber Conflicts", Minds and Machines. 26 (4) 317-321.
- (2016) "What is Data Ethics?", Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A. 374 (2083) 20160360.
- (2016) "The Ethics of Algorithms: Mapping the Debate", Big Data & Society. 3 (2) 205395171667967.
- (2016) "Philosophy and Computing in Information Societies", Minds and Machines. 26 (3) 203-204.
- (2016) "Just Information Warfare", Topoi. 35 (1) 213-224.
- (2016) "The Debate on the Moral Responsibilities of Online Service Providers.", Sci. Eng. Ethics. 22 (6) 1575-1603.
- (2015) "Information Societies, Ethical Enquiries", Philosophy & Technology. 28 (1) 5-10.
- (2012) "Internet Neutrality: Ethical Issues in the Internet Environment", Philosophy & Technology. 25 (2) 133-151.
- (2012) "A modal type theory for formalizing trusted communications", Journal of Applied Logic. 10 (1) 92-114.
- (2011) "The case for e-trust", Ethics and Information Technology. 13 (1) 1-3.
- (2011) "Analyzing Peer-to-Peer Technology Using Information Ethics", The Information Society. 27 (2) 105-112.
- (2010) "The Case of Online Trust", Knowledge, Technology & Policy. 23 (3-4) 333-345.
- (2010) "Modelling Trust in Artificial Agents, A First Step Toward the Analysis of e-Trust", Minds and Machines. 20 (2) 243-257.
- (2009) "Defining Trust and E-Trust", International Journal of Technology and Human Interaction. 5 (2) 23-35.
- (2009) "Turing's Imitation Game: Still an Impossible Challenge for All Machines and Some Judges-An Evaluation of the 2008 Loebner Contest.", Minds Mach.. 19 (1) 145-150.
- (2007) "A Praxical Solution of the Symbol Grounding Problem.", Minds Mach.. 17 (4) 369-389.
- (2005) "Solving the symbol grounding problem: a critical review of fifteen years of research.", J. Exp. Theor. Artif. Intell.. 17 (4) 419-445.
- Public Health in the Information Age: Recognizing the Infosphere as a Social Determinant of Health (Preprint).
Reports
- (2015) "NATO CCD COE Workshop on ‘Ethics and Policies for Cyber Warfare" In: Ethics and Policies for Cyber Operations. Springer International Publishing.
Other
- (2018) "How to Deter in Cyberspace", Hybrid CoE - Strategic Analysis. Hybrid CoE – The European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats,: Taylor & Francis. 1-9.
Teaching
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The Philosophy and Ethics of Information
This course introduces some key concepts and phenomena related to information, and seeks to answer some crucial theoretical questions of great philosophical significance prompted by the development of the information society.
Videos
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The risks of trusting AI for national defence purposes
Recorded: 3 June 2020
Duration: 01:00:38
Dr Mariarosaria Taddeo, discusses the use of AI and it’s associated trust issues in national defence. Moderated by Andreas Tsamados
News
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The Turing appoints Dstl Ethics Fellow Mariarosaria Taddeo
13 May 2020
Dr Mariarosaria Taddeo has been appointed as Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) Ethics Fellow at The Alan Turing Institute.
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Oxford academic joins distinguished North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) expert group
14 April 2020
Oxford academic joins distinguished North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) expert group
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Action needed now to increase public trust in use of AI in NHS, say Oxford academics
29 November 2019
Leading experts in AI and ethics from Oxford Internet Institute (OII), University of Oxford, are urging healthcare professionals in private and public service to come together to boost public trust in AI-based healthcare.
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New approach needed for defining AI standards in cybersecurity, say Oxford academics
11 November 2019
Leading experts in cybersecurity and ethic present the case for an alternative approach to AI standards and certification in cybersecurity.
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Oxford Internet Institute Launches Digital Ethics Lab: Tackles Ethical Challenges Posed by Digital Innovation
17 May 2017
The Oxford Internet Institute has today launched the Digital Ethics Lab (“DELab”), which aims to tackle the ethical challenges posed by digital innovation.
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What is data ethics?
14 November 2016
A paper published today in Philosophical Transactions A by Luciano Floridi and Mariarosaria Taddeo asks ‘what is data ethics?’ and outlines the context behind this emerging branch of research.
Events
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The risks of trusting AI for national defence purposes
3 June 2020
Dr Mariarosaria Taddeo is Senior Researcher Fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute and Deputy Director of the Digital Ethics Lab. She will discuss the use of AI and it's associated trust issues in national defence.
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John Fell Fund project on Landscaping Strategic Cyber deterrence
3 June 2016
Mariarosaria Taddeo's workshop for the John Fell Fund project on Landscaping Strategic Cyber deterrence.
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Workshop “Understanding the Responsibilities of Online Service Providers in Information Societies”
9 October 2015
This is a one day workshop to discuss online service providers in information societies.
Blog
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Tackling the ethical challenges of the gig economy
10 September 2020
Authors: Nikita Aggarwal, Luciano Floridi
Tackling the ethical challenges of the gig economy By Nikita Aggarwal, Research Associate, Digital Ethics Lab, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford and doctoral ...
Read More Tackling the ethical challenges of the gig economy -
COVID-19 and the Digital Divides
7 July 2020
Authors: Nikita Aggarwal, Josh Cowls, Luciano Floridi, Jakob Mokander, Jessica Morley, Mariarosaria Taddeo, Andreas Tsamados, Vincent Wang, David Watson
The expression “digital divide” refers to the uneven availability, accessibility, use and possession of digital technologies, services, products, or skills within a population. It ...
Read More COVID-19 and the Digital Divides
Press
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Telecom Italia S p A : TIM LAUNCHES NOOVLE SPA, THE BIGGEST CLOUD PROJECT FOR…
25 January 2021 Market Screener
TIM announces the birth of Noovle SpA, the new company wholly owned by the TIM Group intended to become an Italian centre of excellence for Cloud and edge computing,
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Our goal shouldn’t be to build merely ‘trustworthy’ AI
28 September 2020 The Next Web
Mariarosaria Taddeo, Deputy Director of the Oxford Internet Institute's Digital Ethics Lab, explains why AI ethics must be a continuous practice
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Ethical guidelines for COVID-19 tracing apps
28 May 2020 Nature
Protect privacy, equality and fairness in digital contact tracing with these key questions.
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Pay users to spot bias in AI, say top researchers
23 April 2020 Financial Times
Report outlines ethical recommendations including ‘bounties’ for users who flag discriminatory algorithms.
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Artificial Intelligence – Resources to advance the next big discoveries in AI
2 March 2020 Springer Nature
Intelligent systems such as robots, cyber-physical and embedded systems will be driving the technological and societal change in the coming decades.
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Cyber security 2050: hackers to tap smart cities and deep fakes
21 January 2020 Financial Times
Growing connectivity widens scope for large-scale attacks while AI will exploit users.
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‘I feel in control of my life’: Alexa’s new role in public service
7 February 2019 The Guardian
Mariarosaria Taddeo, research fellow at Oxford University’s internet institute and deputy director of its digital ethics lab, believes public services need to exercise care when introducing chatbots.
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Legal Ethics: The Ethical Dilemma of Artificial Intelligence
23 October 2018 National Law Review
While the future of humankind is artificial intelligence, what exactly is the future of artificial intelligence?
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Lay down rules of engagement for cyber war before it is too late
22 October 2018 Financial Times
Computerised assaults are easy to unleash but hard to trace, and befuddle the enemy
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AI, Warfare and Global Security: Mariarosaria Taddeo in Conversation
10 October 2018 Exponential View Podcast
Azeem and Dr Taddeo unpack the state of cyber security and warfare, the complex symbiosis between governments and criminal actors, as well as the ways digital technologies are changing cyber warfare.
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We need to talk about … the impact of artificial intelligence
4 September 2018 The Guardian
What human tasks can artificial technology not replace? Does the physical manifestation of AI change the way we interact with it, and how might we be manipulated by this?
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How AI can be a force for good
24 August 2018 Science
An ethical framework will help to harness the potential of AI while keeping humans in control
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Leaders Who Pledged Not To Build Autonomous Killing Machines Are Ignoring The Real Problem
23 July 2018 Futurism
The pledge, put forth by AI researcher Max Tegmark’s Future of Life Institute, argues that any system that can target and kill people without human oversight is inherently immoral, and condemns any future AI arms race that may occur.
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Elon Musk and DeepMind’s pledge to never build killer AI makes a glaring omission, Oxford academic says
23 July 2018 Business Insider
An Oxford academic, Dr. Mariarosaria Taddeo, told Business Insider that while the pledge's intentions were good, it missed the real threat posed by artificial intelligence in warfare.
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Who needs ethics anyway? Chips with Everything podcast
2 March 2018 The Guardian
Jordan Erica Webber is joined by Dr Mariarosaria Taddeo of the Oxford Internet Institute, Prof Laura Norén of NYU and student Kandrea Wade.
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IoT Security Tough Task for Developers Amid Cyber Pedophile Threat
23 January 2018 Sputnik International
"Guaranteeing security is an effort that producers have to make but only now learning to make it. Security comes at costs that providers need to face," Dr. Taddeo told Sputnik.
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Weekend Woman’s Hour
20 January 2018 BBC Radio 4
We hear from three women immersed in the world of cyber security. Dr Mariarosaria Taddeo is a research fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute. [Halfway through the episode]
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Qatar Crisis: Lessons to Learn in the Age of Cyber Attacks
22 July 2017 Newsweek
What differentiates the ongoing crisis in Qatar from conventional international crises is the means—the deployment of cyber attacks—and the risk of escalation posed by this new brand of warfare, says Mariarosaria Taddeo.
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Moral Philosophy for the Internet
28 June 2017 BBC Radio 4
Mariarosaria Taddeo is a witness on BBC Radio 4's Moral Maze, discussing whether we need a new moral philosophy for the Internet.
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Cybersecurity for the work-anywhere generation
5 October 2015 The Guardian
Mariarosaria Taddeo warns against oversimplifying when discussing online personal security. Organisations need to focus on explaining the dangers better,she says
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NHS-approved health apps leaking private data
25 September 2015 Wired.uk
A study of health-service-approved apps reveals that not all of them securely protect personal data. Mariarosaria Taddeo emphasised the need to include ethical considerations when designing apps to ensure users private data is safeguarded.
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Trusting hackers with your security? You’d better be able to sort the whitehats from the blackhats
10 July 2015 The Conversation
The ‘grey’ areas in which hackers, both well intentioned or malevolent, operate is explored by OII computer ethicist, Mariarosaria Taddeo in The Conversation.
Integrity Statement
I conduct my research in line with the University's academic integrity code of practice.