14 IT & Ethics

Question 1

What is the main issue when it comes to ethics in IT?

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Answer 1

• not It itself is discriminating, but the historical data behind it (racist data -> racist results)
• e.g. training a neural network with male dominated data, the recommendation software will be biased

Question 2

What are the roots causes ?

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Answer 2

• powerful IT enablers that allow us to do more and more things
• moore´s law
• the world wide amount of data gets bigger and bigger
• advances in data analytics, AI
• more mobile devices (phones, sensors, cameras, … increased networking)
• convergence of networks (power/ TV nw)
• integration of virtual and real world (computer become part of everyday things, e.g. coffee machines)
• BELIEVE IN PROGRESS

Question 3

Believe in progress as a root cause

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Answer 3

• people wanting to create added value for themselves (data is knowledge, money power - itself not bad because its the engine for progress)
• often, quality of IT systems is not questioned (what data was even used? result by computer, so not questioned anymore, not clear to users that decision is partly influenced by arbitrary parameters)

Question 4

What are the philosophical principles?

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Answer 4

• categorical imperative (kantian imperative) - an action is not right for anyone if not right for everyone
• descarts rule of change - action only right if it can be performed repeatedly
• utilarian principle - action right if the greatest possible overall benefit can be achieved
• principle of risk avoidance - action makes sense if it causes the least possible harm

BUT only in theory, not really practicable in reality!