A Facebook request: Write a code of tech ethics

#1

Post by zachr » Wed, May 01, 2019, 1:39 PM UTC

A Facebook request: Write a code of tech ethics
latimes.com

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

#2

Post by tonetheman » Wed, May 01, 2019, 1:44 PM UTC

Programmers/technologist often work for those who only work money... ethics generally do not work in such places...

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

#3

Post by matz1 » Wed, May 01, 2019, 2:23 PM UTC

tonetheman wrote: post #2

Programmers/technologist often work for those who only work money... ethics generally do not work in such places...

Well that is still ethics. It largely my ethics too. Works for me. It might be different than yours but still.

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

#4

Post by zwkrt » Wed, May 01, 2019, 2:23 PM UTC

tonetheman wrote: post #2

Programmers/technologist often work for those who only work money... ethics generally do not work in such places...

I actually had the exact same thought on different lines. A software code of ethics will be toothless without a financial code of ethics. But a financial CoE is antithetical to finance's goals.

Edit: to be clear that doesn't mean we shouldn't have one!

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

#5

Post by seibelj » Wed, May 01, 2019, 2:24 PM UTC

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...

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

#6

Post by maxxxxx » Wed, May 01, 2019, 2:24 PM UTC

I am usually not averse against regulation but one advantage of tech is that it's still the Wild West where it's possible to innovate quickly and change things. Lawyers and doctors are in much more controlled environment where not much innovation is happening. I am also not sure how to determine what's ethical or not.

I much prefer laws like GDPR where there is a set of rules everyone has to follow.

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

#7

Post by maxxxxx » Wed, May 01, 2019, 2:26 PM UTC

seibelj wrote: 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...

Some people will think creating weapons for defense is an ethical thing to do. I prefer not to do that but I think the point is valid and there is no clear way to determine what’s ethical and what isn't.

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

#8

Post by effnorwood » Wed, May 01, 2019, 2:26 PM UTC

Works well

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

#9

Post by MangezBien » Wed, May 01, 2019, 2:28 PM UTC

seibelj wrote: 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.

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

#10

Post by Kalium » Wed, May 01, 2019, 2:28 PM UTC

I can't speak for others on this, but I do have one: https://www.acm.org/code-of-ethics

Like medical and legal professionals, it is concerned with professional ethics. Many people would be surprised to find their personal ethics are not present.