Disruptive or defective? Towards ethical tech innovation

Technology has a profound effect on humankind. But the exponential progress resulted in negative societal impact—from data breaches, promoting inequality to rampant harassment. Tech is incredibly susceptible to bias and manipulation, which has led us astray from humanity towards profitability and exclusion. Disruption cast a shade on responsibility for our creations.

In this talk, you will see examples of algorithmic bias, learn how to understand the impact of exclusionary decision-making and implement actionable strategies to combat it. Come and learn about the pitfalls of disruption and how to design products, business models and cultures for ethical innovation.

Transcript

1. Disruptive or defective? Towards ethical tech innovation Presented by @fox
2. Technology is redefining our world—its economics, culture, society and democracy.
3. “We demonstrated that the Web had failed instead of served humanity. The increasing centralisation, has ended up producing a large-scale emergent phenomenon which is anti-human.”
4. Technology negatively affects mental health. Source: Is social media bad for you? The evidence and the unknowns
5. Technology is a megaphone for harassment. Source: Twitter Has a Serious Harassment and Abuse Problem but Doesn’t Seem to Want to Cure It
6. Technology treats personal data as currency. Source: Uber concealed massive hack that exposed data of 57m users and drivers
7. Technology fosters unfairness and exclusion. Source: Tech Leavers by Kapor Center 78% of employees report some form of unfair treatment. 1 out of 10 women are subject to unwanted sexual attention. Women of colour are twice as likely to experience stereotyping.
8. Humans are paying the price for (un)intended consequences of rapid advancement. We are facing a crisis.
9. “A dangerous form of magical thinking often accompanies new technological developments, a curious assurance that a revolution in our tools inevitably wipes the slate of the past clean.” Virginia Eubanks, Automating Inequality
10. Ethical principles defend and systematise moral, righteous conduct.
11. Human rights and democracy №1
12. Algorithms create filter bubbles, preventing us from seeing disagreeable content. It’s harder to make informed choices as citizens. Source: Your filter bubble is destroying democracy
13. Tech ought to support and improve the civic processes on which democratic societies depend.
14. • Respects and extends human rights • Serves and support democracy • Fights against the spread of misinformation • Encourages civic engagement Ethical technology:
15. Well-being №2
16. Tech-saturated world decreases our cognitive capacity and fosters anxiety, depression and stress. Source: The Future of Well-Being in a Tech-Saturated World
17. Technology should be a mindful, quiet companion to our lives rather than an overbearing disruptor, hijacking attention. Reference: Calm Tech and Centre for Humane Technology
18. Ethical technology: • Requires minimum attention • Informs and create calm • Works in the background • Respects societal norms
19. Security and safety №3
20. Data breaches might have catastrophic consequences; from identity theft to doxxing or swatting. Source: My Three Years in Identity Theft Hell
21. Ethical technology: • Responds promptly to crisis • Eliminates single points of failure • Invests in cryptography and security • Protects the most vulnerable
22. Responsibility and accountability №4
23. It’s humans who put artificial intelligence in place, and it’s humans who should take ownership for its systemic flaws.
24. Source: Able, Allowed, Should: Navigating Modern Tech Ethics by Margaret Gould Stewart
25. Ethical technology: • Is aware of diverse social and cultural norms • Creates policies for algorithmic accountability • Collaborates with lawmakers to advance regulations • Complies with national and international guidelines
26. Data protection and privacy №5
27. Data can be used to enhance user experience, but it can also be easily weaponised. Source: Facial recognition software is not ready for use by law enforcement
28. Sensitive data should be easily modifiable, restricted, exported and deleted. Don’t collect it. Don’t store it. Don’t keep it. Source: Haunted by Data by Maciej Cegłowski
29. Ethical technology: • Only collects data necessary for operation • Gives full control of data, including permanent 
 and swift deletion • Allows anonymity
30. Transparency №6
31. Lack of transparency increases the magnitude of harm and lowers accountability. Black boxes cannot be challenged.
32. Ethical technology: • Responsibly discloses abuse of software • Establishes clear rules for reporting 
 and accountability • Has mission and value statements
33. Misuse and bias awareness №7
35. Algorithms are thoughtless. Software doesn’t learn. We teach it. Source: How Machines Learn to Be Racist
36. “Technologies and their design do not dictate racial ideologies; rather, they reflect the current climate.” Safiya Umoja Noble, Algorithms of Oppression
37. Ethical technology: • Is aware and combat unconscious bias • Tests for misuse and malice • Fights against harmful societal inequalities
38. Diversity and inclusion №8
39. Diverse teams are more creative, performant and welcoming. Source: Why Diverse Teams Are Smarter
40. Technological redlining, reinforcing oppressive social relationships and enacting racial profiling, cannot exist in the ethical world.
41. “When automated decision-making tools are not built to explicitly dismantle structural inequities, their speed and scale intensify them.” Virginia Eubanks, Automating Inequality
42. Ethical technology: • Is inclusive of all people • Prioritises diverse teams and organisations • Prevents technological redlining
43. Tools and resources
44. Recommended reading
46. Canvases, workshops and applications Source: How to practice ethical design?
47. Manifestos and pledges Source: Ethical Design Manifesto by ind.ie
48. “We demonstrated that the Web had failed instead of served humanity. The increasing centralisation, has ended up producing a large-scale emergent phenomenon which is anti-human.” Sir Tim Berners-Lee
49. The shift towards more humane technology is happening, but it needs your help.
50. We all are responsible for what the Web has become today and will become tomorrow.
51. “Should we build this?” has to become the ethical foundation for our work.
52. The Web is ought to enhance our lives and fulfil our dreams, rather than crush hopes, magnify fears and deepen our divisions.
53. Let’s build a more welcoming Web, together.
54. Thank you Questions and feedback: in person or hi@thefox.is. Slides: https://speakerdeck.com/fox/disruptive-or-defective-towards-ethical-tech-innovation