Catherine Flick

Informed consent and the Facebook emotional manipulation study

This article argues that the study conducted by Facebook in conjunction with Cornell University did not have sufficient ethical oversight, and neglected in particular to obtain necessary informed consent from the participants in the study. It establishes the importance of informed consent in Internet research ethics and suggests that in Facebook’s case (and other, similar cases), a reasonable shift could be made from traditional medical ethics ‘effective consent’ to a ‘waiver of normative expectations’, although this would require much-needed change to the company’s standard practice. Finally, it gives some practical recommendations for how to implement such consent strategies, and how the ethical oversight gap between university-led research and industry-led research can be bridged, potentially using emerging Responsible Research and Innovation frameworks which are currently gathering momentum in Europe.

ETICA workshop on computer ethics: Exploring normative issues.

The ETICA project aims to identify emerging information and communication technologies. These technologies are then analysed and evaluated from an ethical perspective. The aim of this analysis is to suggest possible governance arrangements that will allow paying proactive attention to such ethical issues. During the ETICA workshop at the summer school, participants were asked to choose one of the 11 technologies that ETICA had identified. For each of these technologies there was a detailed description developed by work package 1 of the project. Workshop participants were asked to reflect on the ethical issues they saw as relevant and likely to arise from the technology. This paper discusses the ethical views of the workshop participants and contrasts them with the findings of the ethical analysis within the ETICA project.

Ethical Governance for Emerging ICT: Opening Cognitive Framing and Achieving Reflexivity

The impact of techno-scientific developments on societal evolution and lifestyles no longer needs to be demonstrated. The last half of the twentieth century has witnessed a considerable acceleration of the integration of technological elements, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into the means of economic production in particular, and social life in general. This article aims to address the methods and practices by which we can effectively open the currently closed cognitive framing of those involved in making ethical governance decisions. This can be done by introducing a second-order reflexivity to allow for accountability and participation in a governance strategy that enables real effectiveness of ethical norm expression in technological projects. This paper draws on the Louvain school of theory of Lenoble and Maesschalk (cf. especially 2006) [10]. The paper’s two authors are both involved in the EGAIS and ETICA EU FP7 projects where they are further developing and testing out the approach outlined in order to establish an effective ethical governance approach for future European co-financed technology projects.

THINKING PROFESSIONALLY The continual evolution of interest in computing ethics

M arch 2018 marked the first reported pedestrian death from a self-driving car [10]. The possibility of such events caused by significant technological advances has stimulated interest in ethical issues. Many people think of these situations as brand-new problems requiring unique solutions. The truth is we have been here before, many times. Each technological change has created ethical challenges—should we use remote-controlled technology to take lives? Should we allow computers to decide our medical treatment? Do we want unethical people to have access to computer power? The difficulty and complexity of each new technical advance’s ethical problems distract each generation from the fact that these problems are just different species of a common problem, namely the problem of ethically managing the interaction of technology with humanity. The rising interest in ethics is positive, but the belief that these issues are brand new or unique to a specific sector is potentially harmful.

Dynamic technology challenges static codes of ethics: a case study

We describe the process of changing and the changes being suggested for the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. In addition to addressing the technical and ethical basis for the proposed changes, we identify suggestions that commenters made in response to the first draft. We invite feedback on the proposed changes and on the suggestions that commenters made.

The ethics of human-chicken relationships in video games: the origins of the digital chicken

In this paper, we look at the historical place that chickens have held in media depictions and as entertainment, analyse several types of representations of chickens in video games, and draw out reflections on society in the light of these representations. We also look at real-life, modern historical, and archaeological evidence of chicken treatment and the evolution of social attitudes with regard to animal rights, and deconstruct the depiction of chickens in video games in this light.

The Observatory for Responsible Research and Innovation in ICT: Identifying Problems and Sharing Good Practice

The implementation of responsible research and innovation (RRI) with the aim of ensuring socially acceptable and desirable outcomes of research and innovation activities requires coordinated action by numerous actors. RRI may be conceptualised as a network of interlinking responsibilities, some of which have long been established, others that will have to be defined. Actors in these networks of responsibilities will require knowledge about possible activities, normative foundations and good practice that they currently are unlikely to possess. In order to provide a platform for the exchange of knowledge and good practice that different actors can use, the UK EPSRC-funded project on a Framework for Responsible Research and Innovation in ICT is developing an Observatory meant to be a community-based resource that can provide the resources required by stakeholders of ICT research. This chapter describes the way the system is developed and tested. In reflecting upon the development process of the observatory, the chapter provides insights into how the broader discourse on responsible innovation could benefit from this type of resource.

Mentorship in computer ethics

Purpose – This paper aims to introduce the concept of ETHICOMP as “community mentor” – the role that the ETHICOMP conference plays outside the standard conference fare, in which it nurtures and supports up-and-coming researchers in the field of computer ethics. Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses an auto-ethnographic methodology to reflexively explore the author’s career from PhD student to early career researcher spanning the years 2005-2013, and how the ETHICOMP community has played a significant role as a mentor in her life. The literature on mentorship is discussed, particularly focussing on the importance of mentorship for women in philosophy-related academic careers, and criteria for successful mentorship are measured against the ETHICOMP “community mentorship”. Additionally, some key philosophical concepts are introduced and reflected upon. Findings – The paper produces recommendations for other philosophical communities wishing to grow their mentorship capabilities through communities ar...

Ethical issue determination, normativity and contextual blindness: Epistemological studies of the limits of formalism in ethics and their consequences for the theory of governance

The impact of techno-scientific developments on societal evolution and lifestyles no longer needs to be demonstrated. In particular, the last half of the twentieth century has witnessed a considerable acceleration of the integration of technological elements into the means of economic production and social life in general. The profound transformations that have taken place in the last few decades equally involve energy, transportation, construction, telecommunications, administration, medicine, pharmacy and agricultural sectors. These transformations are closely linked to techno-scientific developments and particularly to stunning developments in information and communications technologies (ICTs). The information society emerging in the contemporary period, however, can no longer simply be considered as a result of technical mutations. Up to now, this ongoing global phenomenon that is technological, economic, political and cultural, is in search of social and political projects, references and reaffirmed values. We are faced with the task of building networks that are based on a cultural model incorporating clear collective choices, so that the principles of democracy are transferred on line — hopefully without loss — in the future. The knowledge society is the embodiment of a change in civilisation whereby science and technology have become omnipresent and are developing at a disconcerting rate.

Ethics and ICT Governance

Human Choice and Computing is a longstanding series of conferences organised by the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP)’s Technical Committee 9. This conference is the federation’s ninth. One of its tracks concentrates on ethics and information and communication technologies (ICT) governance. A background explains why investigations of ethics and ICT governance are coming to the fore, and it shows how this has been tackled by IFIP’s special interest group (SIG) 9.2.2 on a Framework for Ethics of Computing. On offer is an explanation of the purposes of the track – how to govern ICT ethically, a synthesis of its seven papers, and an overview of the results that the track is anticipated to achieve. It is hoped that, in an ever more global society, such a track and associated panel will enable a much more dynamic dialogue and exchange to take place among a wider diversity of cultures and countries, whether this is among academics, business executives, or policy-makers.