Data Ethics, Part I

Data Literacy

Background

  • A sub-discipline of Ethics of Technology
  • World War II and the Atomic Bomb
  • How do we build and use technology ethically?
  • How do we collect and manage data ethically?
  • Just because we can, does not mean we should.
  • The atomic bomb was a turning point.
  • Now had more devastating weapon than had ever existed.
  • How do we manage a world in which technology has such awesome power.

What Happens Without Data Ethics: Positive?

  • Increased performance
  • Faster decision making.
  • Techno-optimism
  • Techno-optimism: the belief that technology can solve all problems and improve society.

Difference Between Ethics and Law

  • Law says what we must do.
  • Ethics, what we should do.
  • Example:
    • It’s not illegal to collect publicly available data.
    • Is it unethical to scrape faces/names off social media for facial recognition?

What Happens Without Data Ethics: Negative?

  • Discrimination.
  • Privacy Issues.
  • Accountability.
  • Vulnerability of Public Relations.
  • Discrimination: Data can be used to discriminate against certain groups of people, such as minorities
    • What we never want is for our analysis to negatively impact one group of people.
  • Privacy Issues: Data can be used to invade people’s privacy, such as tracking their online activity or collecting personal information without their consent.
    • Collecting information without consent.
    • Collecting faces off Facebook.
  • Accountability: Forces companies to be accountable for their own actions and decisions, which can lead to better decision-making and more responsible behavior.

Why Care About Data Ethics?

  • Reputation
  • Do not alienate users.
  • Loss of revenue.
  • Helps make models more accurate.

Balance Utility and Ethics

  • Too much utility, you lose ethics.
  • Too much ethics, you lose utility.
  • The virtue is the mean between the two.

Neutrality Thesis

  • Tools have no inherent moral value.
  • Their use has moral value.

Embedded Value in Technology

  • Technology built for specific purposes.
  • Embedded Values create Embedded Consequences.
    • Example: bridge that does not permit buses due to low overhangs.

Co-Shaping of Technology

  • Intention flows through the device.
    • Example: Gun extends lethal force to anyone holding it.
    • Example: Instagram extends power to communicate to its user.
      • What about the power of the algorithm?

Data Specific Issues

  • Privacy Issues.
    • Example: Facial Recognition
  • Discrimination Issues.
    • Example: Facial Recognition
    • Example: AI recognition software.
  • How does the neutrality thesis fit here?