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A Facebook request: Write a code of tech ethics

latimes.com

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Re: A Facebook request: Write a code of tech ethics

#11
I agree with the idea, and so does the IEEE.

https://www.ieee.org/about/corporate/governance/p7-8.html

We, the members of the IEEE, in recognition of the importance of our technologies in affecting the quality of life throughout the world, and in accepting a personal obligation to our profession, its members, and the communities we serve, do hereby commit ourselves to the highest ethical and professional conduct and agree:

1) to hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public, to strive to comply with ethical design and sustainable development practices, and to disclose promptly factors that might endanger the public or the environment;

2) to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and to disclose them to affected parties when they do exist;

3) to be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on available data;

4) to reject bribery in all its forms;

5) to improve the understanding by individuals and society of the capabilities and societal implications of conventional and emerging technologies, including intelligent systems;

6) to maintain and improve our technical competence and to undertake technological tasks for others only if qualified by training or experience, or after full disclosure of pertinent limitations;

7) to seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work, to acknowledge and correct errors, and to credit properly the contributions of others;

8) to treat fairly all persons and to not engage in acts of discrimination based on race, religion, gender, disability, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression;

9) to avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false or malicious action;

10) to assist colleagues and co-workers in their professional development and to support them in following this code of ethics.

Re: A Facebook request: Write a code of tech ethics

#13
Doctor and lawyer ethical codes work because there is a state sanctioned licensing authority. If you try to practice law or medicine without a license, you will be arrested.

Because of that, the ethical codes have teeth, as the medical board or bar can strip you of your license and thus the ability to practice for ethical violations.

There is so such equivalent to the medical board or bar for programmers. Anybody who has the inclination can program. Because of that, any ethical codes will be just words. In fact, companies may actually pay more for people willing to violate these codes.

While I think ethical codes are good, I don’t think they are worth having a licensing authority. I am happy that anyone with the ability is allowed to program and that I don’t need a state license.

Re: A Facebook request: Write a code of tech ethics

#16
post #5

Doctors protect life, and lawyers keep you out of jail. I guess software engineers can take an oath not to kill people or put people in jail, but after that it's your morals vs. mine, no? And if I work for the Department of Defense making missile guidance software, then it's OK to kill people, I suppose...

Making missile guidance software is wholly unethical and is what we should be striving to prevent engineers from working on.

The alternative to guided missiles isn’t peace, it’s carpet bombing.

Re: A Facebook request: Write a code of tech ethics

#17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Making missile guidance software is wholly unethical and is what we should be striving to prevent engineers from working on.

The alternative to guided missiles isn’t peace, it’s carpet bombing.

The planes needed to drop those bombs have software too.
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