Qué es la ética de la tecnología y por qué debería importarte | Gemma Galdón-Clavell | TEDxZaragoza

Introduction to the Ethics of Technology

In this section, the speaker introduces the topic of technology ethics and highlights its importance in today's world.

Understanding the Impact of Technology

• The speaker mentions Mark Zuckerberg's testimony before the US Congress, where he justified Facebook's privacy issues.

• It is now widely known that when we use free technological products, we are actually becoming the product ourselves, as our data is used for targeted advertising.

• Smart devices, such as smart TVs, are capable of spying on us, leading to concerns about privacy and surveillance.

The Broader Scope of Technology Ethics

• The speaker emphasizes that technology ethics goes beyond just privacy concerns.

• She shares her personal experience with studying video surveillance for her doctoral thesis and realizing that there were many aspects of technology that needed attention.

• Richard Sennett's book "The Fall of Public Man" made her question whether the technological advancements we are making align with what we truly desire in our cities and society.

Impact on Young People

• The speaker discusses how young people are often neglected when it comes to considering their rights and privacy in a digital world.

• She highlights how young individuals' digital footprints can have long-lasting consequences on their lives, affecting relationships and job opportunities.

The Cost of Remembering and Forgetting

This section explores the concept of remembering and forgetting in relation to technology.

Shift from Remembering to Forgetting

• Historically, it was more difficult to remember information due to limited means like writing on parchment or printing books.

• In today's digital age, it has become challenging to forget as everything leaves a digital record.

Implications for Personal Lives

• The speaker reflects on her own life before social media when there were fewer records of personal moments.

• She highlights how the digital footprint of young people can impact their future, causing fear and anxiety.

Exploring Technology Ethics

In this section, the speaker shares her involvement in various projects related to technology ethics.

Projects on Technology Ethics

• The speaker has been fortunate to work on projects that explore important questions about technology and its impact on society.

• She emphasizes the need for asking critical questions and ensuring that technology addresses ethical concerns.

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Biometric Match and Automation of Border Control

The speaker discusses the introduction of biometric match technology in border control and the automation of border crossing processes. They highlight how this shift from human policing to data-driven processes was initially considered a technical amendment without requiring public or political oversight. However, it has significantly transformed the concept of borders, making them longer and continuous spaces of control.

• Biometric match technology is used to determine if individuals can pass through border control based on their identification documents.

• The automation of border crossing processes was initially seen as a technical amendment by the European Parliament, not requiring public or political debate.

• This automation was believed to have no impact on the conceptualization of borders, leading to a lack of public or political control over the process.

• The introduction of automation in border control has resulted in the disappearance of physical borders, with travel authorization starting at ticket purchase or visa application.

• The validity of visas is monitored until individuals leave the country, with alarms raised if they do not depart as scheduled.

• Data collection and automation have completely changed the nature and perception of borders, turning them into long spaces under continuous surveillance.

Consequences for Migrants and Identity Control

The speaker highlights how automation and biometric identity verification have had severe consequences for migrants' fundamental rights. In the past, individuals could burn their passports to avoid being identified or returned to their home countries. However, now passports are replaced by biometric data stored in fingerprints. This technological shift has led migrants to resort to extreme measures like self-mutilation to prevent their bodies from becoming an obstacle.

• In the past, individuals could burn their passports to avoid being identified or returned to their home countries.

• Biometric data stored in fingerprints has replaced physical passports, making it impossible for migrants to hide their identity.

• Migrants are resorting to extreme measures like burning their fingers or self-mutilation to prevent biometric identification and avoid deportation.

• The decision to automate identity control was initially downplayed, with little consideration given to its brutal impact on migrants' fundamental rights.

Trust in Technology and Potential Risks

The speaker discusses the trust placed in technology for automated identity control at border crossings. While many travelers prefer automated processes due to perceived efficiency and fairness, there is a concern about what happens if the machine makes an error. False positives can lead individuals into difficult situations without mechanisms or laws guaranteeing their ability to rectify mistakes made by automated decision-making systems.

• Travelers from non-European countries often prefer automated controls over human policing due to trust in technology's efficiency and fairness.

• However, when asked about the consequences of machine errors, travelers express fear and a sense of helplessness if they are wrongly flagged by automated systems.

• There is a lack of mechanisms and laws that ensure individuals can rectify false positive identifications made by automated systems.

Ethical Implications of Citizen Science

The speaker explores the ethical implications of citizen science projects that rely on public participation for data collection. They highlight a case where researchers requested personal data without adequate precautions for privacy protection. This raised concerns about the misuse of volunteered information and led to efforts in creating mechanisms that prioritize people's interests over research objectives.

• Citizen science projects involve public participation in data collection, such as monitoring marine movements or bird migration.

• Researchers often requested large amounts of personal data, including geolocated photographs, without sufficient privacy safeguards.

• The lack of precautions in managing personal data raised concerns about the misuse of volunteered information.

• Efforts have been made to establish mechanisms that prioritize people's interests and protect their privacy in citizen science projects.

Misguided Technology Adoption in the Workplace

The speaker discusses how decision-makers in companies tend to make poor choices when it comes to technology adoption. They prioritize investing in technology rather than non-technological processes, leading to unnecessary implementation of technologies like exoskeletons and 24/7 monitoring sensors. These decisions are driven by a belief that technology improves efficiency and profitability without considering actual needs or benefits.

• Company directors and CEOs often prioritize spending on technology over non-technological processes.

• This leads to the adoption of technologies like exoskeletons and constant monitoring sensors in workplaces where they are not necessary for improving efficiency or profitability.

Building Mechanisms for Ethical Technology

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of empowering individuals to distinguish when technology truly helps or hinders us. This is the focus of ethical technology.

Empowering Individuals to Evaluate Technology

• The speaker emphasizes the need to empower individuals in understanding whether a technology is beneficial or not.

• The field of ethical technology aims to address this issue and provide mechanisms for evaluating technology's impact.

Security Technologies and Algorithmic Bias

This section explores the topic of security technologies and highlights an example related to algorithmic bias in surveillance cameras.

Auditing Intelligent Surveillance Cameras

• The speaker mentions working extensively on security technologies.

• An example is given where algorithms for intelligent surveillance cameras were audited.

• These cameras are capable of automatically recognizing potentially criminal behavior based on people's movements.

• However, engineers had inadvertently encoded their own biases into the algorithms, leading to false identifications of suspicious behavior.

• For instance, older individuals spending more time at a bank were flagged as potential suspects due to deviating from how engineers would use the space.

Biases in Airport Surveillance

• Another example involves families at airports.

• While some travelers rush through airports, others may spend more time exploring or resting.

• Algorithms designed by engineers often fail to account for these differences and label such behaviors as abnormal or suspicious.

Predictive Algorithms and Technological Arrogance

This section delves into predictive algorithms used in security contexts and highlights their limitations. It also addresses the issue of technological arrogance.

Limitations of Predictive Algorithms

• The speaker emphasizes that predicting the future accurately is impossible; it is merely speculation based on past patterns.

• Calling these predictions is risky, and the insistence of law enforcement agencies on obtaining algorithms for predicting radicalization or pre-crime is unrealistic.

• While technology can assist to a certain extent, it cannot fully predict human behavior.

Presumption of Innocence

• The speaker asserts that everyone has the right to presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

• Technology often overlooks this principle and claims the ability to predict and anticipate individuals' actions before they even occur.

Challenges with Autonomous Vehicles

This section focuses on autonomous vehicles as an example of how engineering arrogance can hinder progress.

Safety Perception of Autonomous Vehicles

• Autonomous vehicles are statistically safer than non-autonomous ones.

• However, whenever an accident involving an autonomous vehicle occurs, it receives widespread attention, creating a perception that they are less safe.

• Engineers need to address public concerns and work on building acceptance and trust in this technology.

Irresponsibility in Technology Development

This section highlights the lack of responsibility in current technology development practices.

Lack of Testing in Technology Development

• The speaker compares technology development to pharmaceutical industry practices.

• In medicine, untested drugs or those with harmful side effects cannot be released into society.

• However, in computer engineering, there is a tendency to release technologies without proper testing or consideration for their social impact.

Changing Perspectives

• The speaker expresses optimism about a changing perspective regarding responsible technology development.

• It is crucial to incorporate social awareness and responsibility into technological conceptualization and implementation processes.

The Importance of Ethical Considerations in Technology Development

In this section, the speaker discusses the increasing importance of considering ethics and impact assessments in technology development. They emphasize the need to justify the desirability and societal impact of new products before launching them into the market.

The Significance of Impact Studies

• Impact studies are becoming more widespread as a means to improve transparency and control over algorithms.

• Similar to how environmental impact assessments are required for infrastructure projects, it is essential to justify the environmental and social impact of technological products before their release.

Responsible Innovation

• It is crucial to evaluate whether the impact of a product is desirable or not.

• Efforts should be made to increase the desirability of a product through responsible innovation.

• Many individuals are currently engaged in creating responsible innovation for the future, which is deemed necessary.

Balancing Ethics and Innovation

• Despite efforts towards ethical considerations, some argue that prevention, ethics, and regulation hinder innovation.

• However, throughout history, humanity has always regulated technology for safety purposes.

Limiting Technological Capabilities

• Analogies are drawn with car safety measures such as seat belts, speed limits, pedestrian crossings, traffic lights, and emission controls.

• These safety measures were added by society to ensure that technological innovations align with social perspectives on desirability.

• By limiting certain capabilities of technology, we aim to enhance safety while still benefiting from its advancements.

Neglecting Ethical Logic in Computer Engineering

• The speaker expresses concern about how ethical considerations have been overlooked in computer engineering.

• It is important for debates and social consensus to emerge around new technologies similar to those established for cars over time.

Ethical Technology Development

• Ethical discussions should determine aspects such as safety measures (e.g., human or mechanical control at borders).

• Ethical technology development involves collective decision-making and taking responsibility for the impact of technology on society.

Integrating Values into Technical Specifications

• Technical specifications can be used to align technologies with societal expectations and desires.

• Just as cars have been designed to be less harmful, technologies can also be developed to contribute positively to society's future.

Placing People at the Center of Technological Development

• The essence of technology ethics lies in prioritizing people and ensuring that technology serves them.

• Currently, there is a tendency for people to serve technology rather than the other way around.

Addressing Misconceptions about Ethics and Innovation

In this section, the speaker addresses misconceptions regarding the relationship between ethics, regulation, and innovation. They emphasize that ethical considerations do not hinder innovation but rather ensure responsible and desirable technological advancements.

Debunking Misconceptions

• Some argue that prevention, ethics, and regulation impede innovation.

• However, throughout history, humanity has always regulated technology for safety purposes without hindering progress.

Balancing Innovation with Responsibility

• Ethical considerations are necessary to ensure responsible innovation.

• By addressing societal concerns through regulations and ethical frameworks, we can create innovations that benefit society while minimizing harm.

Technology as a Tool for Progress

• The purpose of ethical considerations is not to limit creativity or restrict engineers' capabilities.

• Instead, it aims to harness technology as a tool for progress while safeguarding human well-being and societal values.

The Importance of Ethical Logic in Computer Engineering

In this section, the speaker emphasizes the significance of incorporating ethical logic into computer engineering. They highlight how neglecting ethical considerations in technological development is concerning.

Neglecting Ethical Logic

• It is worrisome that ethical considerations have been overlooked in computer engineering.

• Ethical logic should be an integral part of technological development to ensure responsible and desirable outcomes.

Learning from History

• Throughout history, society has regulated technology to align with social values and address safety concerns.

• The same approach should be applied to computer engineering, considering the impact of technology on society.

The Role of Ethics in Technological Innovation

In this section, the speaker emphasizes the need for ethical discussions and consensus around new technologies. They highlight how ethical considerations can shape technical specifications and contribute to a better future for society.

Ethical Discussions for New Technologies

• When new algorithms or technological innovations emerge, ethical discussions should take place.

• These discussions aim to determine safety measures and societal frameworks that govern the use of these technologies.

Shaping Technical Specifications

• Ethical considerations can influence technical specifications to align with societal expectations.

• By integrating values such as social cohesion, trust, non-discrimination, and human rights into technical specifications, technologies can better serve society's needs.

Enhancing Technology's Impact

• Technical specifications offer opportunities to improve technologies' responsiveness to societal expectations.

• Similar to how car safety measures have reduced fatalities, technologies can be developed to minimize harm while contributing positively to society's future.

Placing People at the Center

• The ultimate goal of technology ethics is placing people at the center of technological development.

• Technology should serve people rather than vice versa, ensuring that it enhances their lives while upholding ethical principles.