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Anticipating ethical issues in emerging IT

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Abstract

In this essay, a new approach to the ethics of emerging information technology will be presented, called anticipatory technology ethics (ATE). The ethics of emerging technology is the study of ethical issues at the R&D and introduction stage of technology development through anticipation of possible future devices, applications, and social consequences. In the essay, I will first locate emerging technology in the technology development cycle, after which I will consider ethical approaches to emerging technologies, as well as obstacles in developing such approaches. I will argue that any sound approach must centrally include futures studies of technology. I then present ATE and some applications of it to emerging information technologies. In ATE, ethical analysis is performed at three levels, the technology, artifact and application levels, and at each levels distinct types of ethical questions are asked. ATE analyses result in the identification and evaluation of a broad range of ethical issues that can be anticipated in relation to an emerging information technology. This ethical analysis can then be used for ethical recommendations for design or governance.

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Notes

  1. See also http://www.etica-project.eu/, especially the deliverables.

  2. The ETICA project also uses these data to perform social and legal analyses. However, in my discussion I will focus on its use for ethical analysis.

  3. Some technologies are defined in terms of specific types of artifacts that they aim to develop and use. Examples are fuel cell technology and membrane technology. In such technologies, the technology and artifact level blend into each other.

  4. Certain complex artifacts, like power plants and railroad systems, may involve human actors as well. In such cases, human actors playing predefined roles are part of the design of the artifact, and the artifact is hence not a completely physical entity but also, in part, a social one.

  5. For particular purposes, it may be useful to employ more specific lists, e.g., lists that reflect European values, Asian values, conservative values or Christian values. In addition, it may be useful to develop specific checklists for specific types of technology. E.g., a checklist for information technology may focus on such values as privacy, security and accountability, whereas a checklist for medical technology may focus on such values as beneficence, nonmaleficence, human dignity and informed consent.

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  1. Department of Philosophy, School of Behavioral Sciences, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands

    Philip A. E. Brey

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Correspondence to Philip A. E. Brey.

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Brey, P.A.E. Anticipating ethical issues in emerging IT. Ethics Inf Technol 14, 305–317 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10676-012-9293-y

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