L05: Ethics in SWE

Question 1

What are ethics?

Answer 1

• A system or set of moral principles that helps us differentiate right from wrong
• An aid to answer the question “what should I do?” in any situation

Branches of ethics
- Meta-ethics
- Normative ethics
- Applied ethics

Question 2

What is normative ethics?

Answer 2

Normative ethics seeks to answer questions about how people should act, what actions are morally permissible or impermissible, and what makes certain actions or behaviors morally right or wrong.

Ethics that deals with how things ought to be or what one ought to do
- Norms for actions

3 broad schools
- Consequentialism
- Deontology
- Virtue ethics

Question 3

Why do we need ethics in SWE?

Answer 3

Software is everywhere
- Critical to the functioning of our society and the wellbeing of its people
- More than half the world’s population uses the internet
- But not everyone has adequate digital literacy
- It is the professional and moral responsibility of software engineers to consider the impact of their decisions and actions on all stakeholders
- Technical decisions can have ethical ramifications on a much wider scale than we might initially think

Question 4

Who are the stakeholders of SWE?

Answer 4

• Employers
• Clients
• End users
• Colleagues
• Third parties affected by use of software
• Suppliers
• Vendors

Question 5

What is technical debt in SWE?

Answer 5

Technical debt
- Incurring additional effort or cost in the future by deliberately choosing short term goals over quality

Question 6

What is ethical debt in SWE?

Answer 6

Ethical debt
- Ethical debt, in the context of software engineering (SWE), is a concept that parallels the more commonly recognized technical debt. Just as technical debt refers to the trade-offs made during the software development process that can result in future issues or inefficiencies, ethical debt refers to the trade-offs made in ethical considerations or practices during the development of software or technology that could lead to ethical issues or moral dilemmas in the future.
- Potential negative impact on society, including unintended consequences

Question 7

What do we mean by ethics in SWE?

Answer 7

• Professional and moral responsibilities of software engineers
• Ethics for us and for the systems we create
• Eliminate (or at least minimise) threats to fairness and equality in aspects such as work, business, impact
• Cannot be done by a single group of stakeholders
• There are challenges in translating ethical principles into practice

Question 8

What are the 3 generations in the evolution of corporate ethics?

Answer 8

1. First generation
   Maximise profits without breaking laws
2. Second generation
   Respect rights of own workers
3. Third generation
   Acknowledge complex (possibly global) consequences of decisions and activities

Question 9

What is the ACM/IEEE SWE Code of Ethics?

Answer 9

The ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) and IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) jointly developed a code of ethics that provides guidelines and principles for software engineers and computing professionals.
- Public interest
- Client and employer interests
- Products meeting highest standards
- Integrity and independence of professional judgment
- Ethical management of software projects
- Integrity and reputation of profession
- Being fair and supportive to colleagues
- Self-improvement through life-long learning

Question 10

Principles of ethics: What is accountability?

Answer 10

• Accountability, as a principle of ethics, refers to the obligation of an individual or an organization to take responsibility for their actions, decisions, and their consequences.
• For decisions derived from algorithms and data
• Explicit representation of moral values and societal norms

Question 11

Principles of ethics: What is responsibility?

Answer 11

• Chain of responsibility for decisions made by software
• Link from decision to user, owner, developer, etc

Question 12

Principles of ethics: What is transparency?

Answer 12

• Provenance of algorithms and data

Question 13

Principles of ethics: What is beneficence?

Answer 13

Beneficence, as a principle of ethics, refers to the concept of doing good or acting in ways that promote the well-being and benefit of others.
- Promoting wellbeing, preserving dignity, sustaining planet

Question 14

Principles of ethics: What is non-maleficence?

Answer 14

Non-maleficence is an ethical principle that emphasizes the obligation to do no harm or to prevent harm to others.
- Privacy, security and capability caution

Question 15

Principles of ethics: What is autonomy?

Answer 15

Autonomy, as a principle of ethics, refers to the fundamental right of individuals to make informed and voluntary decisions about their own lives, free from external influence or coercion.
- The power to decide (to decide)

Question 16

Principles of ethics: What is justice?

Answer 16

Justice refers to the fair and impartial treatment of individuals, ensuring that they receive what is due or owed to them. It involves the fair distribution of benefits, burdens, rights, and opportunities within society, without discrimination or bias.

• Promoting prosperity, preserving solidarity, avoiding unfairness

Question 17

Principles of ethics: What is explicability?

Answer 17

Explicability in the context of ethics or technology ethics specifically refers to the principle that complex systems or decisions should be explainable or understandable to stakeholders affected by these systems or decisions.
- Enabling other principles through intelligibility and accountability

Question 18

Risks of being unethical: Ethics Shopping

Answer 18

• Choosing ethical principles that justify current behaviour

To mitigate these risks, companies are increasingly focusing on ethical practices, transparency, and corporate social responsibility, aligning their values with those of their customers. Embracing and actively promoting ethical behavior and standards not only helps in retaining customers and gaining their loyalty but also contributes to a positive brand image, fosters trust, and encourages long-term sustainability.

Question 19

Risks of being unethical: Ethics Blue-washing

Answer 19

• Appearing to be more ethical than they are

“Blue-washing” is a term used to describe the practice of misleadingly portraying a company or organization as more ethical, socially responsible, or environmentally friendly than it actually is. It involves exaggerating or falsely marketing a commitment to ethical practices and values, aiming to create a positive public perception without truly implementing substantial ethical initiatives.

Question 20

Risks of being unethical: Ethics Lobbying

Answer 20

• Arguing against or attempting to weaken legal enforcement citing self-regulation

To mitigate the risks associated with unethical lobbying, it’s essential to ensure transparency, uphold integrity, and prioritize the common good over self-interest. Establishing clear guidelines and regulations, promoting transparency in lobbying activities, and encouraging a fair and inclusive decision-making process can help maintain ethical standards in the practice of lobbying. Furthermore, fostering a culture that prioritizes ethical considerations and the public interest in policymaking is crucial for ethical and responsible lobbying practices.

Question 21

Risks of being unethical: Ethics Dumping

Answer 21

• Moving unethical practices to / using outcomes from regions with weaker ethical enforcement

“Ethics dumping” refers to the unethical practice of conducting research or carrying out projects in locations or communities where ethical standards might not be adequately enforced or protected. It involves taking advantage of vulnerable populations or regions by conducting research or activities that would be considered unethical in more regulated or protected environments.

Question 22

Risks of being unethical: Ethics Shirking

Answer 22

• Neglecting ethics where it does not bring other benefits

“Ethics shirking” typically refers to the practice of avoiding ethical responsibilities or obligations, especially within a professional or organizational context. This behavior involves consciously neglecting or sidestepping ethical considerations, often to prioritize short-term gains or avoid facing the consequences of unethical behavior.

Question 23

What are some aspects of software ethics to consider?

Answer 23

• Data security and privacy
• Fairness of algorithms – avoiding bias
• Consideration of unintended uses / consequences
• Quality of product
• Fairness of business and working practices
• Transparency of business models
• Sustainability
• Accessibility

Question 24

What are some causes of ethical issues in SWE?

Answer 24

• Abstract ethical guidance (if any)
• Inspirational ethics vs practical ethics
• Lack of ethical deliberation in the software lifecycle
• Lack of tool and process support
• Lack of ethical training for software engineers
• Incomplete information on potential uses and consequences
• Lack of ethical guidance in organisational culture
• Lack of clearly allocated ethical responsibilities
• Ethical dilemmas

Question 25

What can we do to avoid ethical problems in SWE?

Answer 25

• Work on ethics for software engineering
• Work on ethics in general that can be applied to software engineering, e.g. philosophy
• Work on ethics in specific areas of CS that can be generalised to software engineering, e.g. AI

Question 26

What useful developments have there been in regard to ethics in SWE?

Answer 26

Research and practice
- Ethics by Design
- Value-sensitive Design
- Participatory Design

Laws and regulations
- Data Protection Act
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- The Equality Act

Improving awareness of stakeholders