Chapter 6: ETHICS AND PROFESSIONALISM OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

Introduction

In the previous chapters, emerging technologies like big data, artificial intelligence, internet of
things and augmented reality were discussed. After having a discussion on all of the above
emerging technologies, it is time to study their connection with our ethical values as well as
social values. In this chapter, the connection of emerging technologies with professional ethics,
privacy, accountability, trust was discussed. Finally, the threats and challenges of emerging
technologies will be explained.

After accomplishing this chapter, Students will be able to:

 Distinguish the link between ethics and technology.

 Understand general, professional and leadership ethical questions.
 Explain what digital privacy is, its components and why it is important.
 know the importance of accountability and trust in emerging technologies.
 Identify the threats and challenges we face in developing and utilizing emerging
technologies.

6.1. Technology and ethics

Activity 6.1
 From your civic and ethical education course, what do you understand about the word
ethics?

The Internet boom has provided many benefits for society, allowing the creation of new tools
and new ways for people to interact. As with many technological advances, however, the Internet
has not been without negative aspects. For example, it has created new concerns about privacy,
and it has been hampered by spam and viruses. Moreover, even as it serves as a medium for
communication across the globe, it threatens to cut off people who lack access to it.

Technology can serve to promote or restrict human rights. The Information Society should foster
the use of emerging technologies in such a way as to maximize the benefits that they provide
while minimizing the harms. In many cases, this promotion may be less a matter of technological
control than of oversight: establishing the proper legal or regulatory system to ensure that
technology capable of abuse is not in fact abused and that the benefits of technology are shared
among all.
Ethics is particularly important for the accountancy profession, with a code for professional
ethics based on five basic principles – integrity, objectivity, competence and due care,
confidentiality, and professional behavior. However, the emergence of new technologies raises
some new challenges for the profession to address.

6.2. New ethical questions

Activity 6.2
 What do you think the need for ethics in data science? Is it really important to include
ethical rules when dealing with big data? If your answer is yes, why?

The increasing use of big data, algorithmic decision-making, and artificial intelligence can
enable more consistent, evidence-based and accurate judgments or decisions, often more quickly
and efficiently. However, these strengths can potentially have a darker side too, throwing up
questions around the ethical use of these fairly new technologies.

For example, outputs can be based on biased data, which could lead to discriminatory outcomes.
Indeed, where systems learn from real-world data, there is a significant risk that those systems
simply recreate the past and subsequently build in errors or systemic biases. Closely linked to
discrimination is personalization, and the impact of tailoring decisions very specifically to
individuals, based on preferences, activities and other features. While this can be beneficial for
many, others can lose out, and outcomes can again seem unfair or unethical.

Activity 6.3
 As we discussed in chapter three, AI is all about making a machine learn and decide as
humans do. Do you think that it is necessary to rely on machines and give all the
opportunity to decide? Why?

Additionally, questions are being asked regarding the interaction between computers and
humans. How much reliance can we place on data and models, and what is the role of human
judgment, as well as how do we ensure that we understand the decision-making process?
Whatever the power of the machine, humans will still need to be involved, so that people can be
held accountable, or explain the reasons behind a decision.
 Activity 6.4
 Do you think that integrating ethical rules with emerging technologies is important? If
your answer is yes, why? What are the challenges of integrating ethical rules with the
new technologies?

A central problem of the ethics of technology is that it tends to arrive too late. In many cases,
ethical issues are only recognized when the technology is already on the market and problems
arise during its widespread use. Ethics can then become a tool to clean up a mess that might have
been avoidable. It is probably not contentious to say it would be desirable to have ethical input
at the earlier stages of technology design and development. Indeed, there are ethical theories and
approaches that explicitly aim at an early integration of ethics into the technology life cycle. One
central problem of this type of approach is that the future is unknown. By definition, we do not
know with certainty what will happen in the future and ethics that relies on future development
needs to be able to answer the question of how it decides which technological developments to
pursue. Ethics has traditionally not been well equipped to deal with issues of uncertainty and, in
particular, future uncertainty.

6.2.1. General ethical principles

Activity 6.5
 List down common ethical rules that must be applied in all technologies?

1. Contribute to society and to human well-being, acknowledging that all people are
stakeholders in computing.

2. Avoid harm.

3. Be honest and trustworthy.

4. Be fair and take action not to discriminate

5. Respect the work required to produce new ideas, inventions, creative works, and
computing artifacts.

6. Respect privacy.

7. Honor confidentiality
6.2.2. Professional responsibilities.
Activity 6.6
 List down ethical principles related to professional responsibility?

1. Strive to achieve high quality in both the processes and products of professional work.

2. Maintain high standards of professional competence, conduct, and ethical practice.

3. Know and respect existing rules pertaining to professional work.

4. Accept and provide appropriate professional review.

5. Give comprehensive and thorough evaluations of computer systems and their impacts,
including analysis of possible risks.

6. Perform work only in areas of competence.

7. Foster public awareness and understanding of computing, related technologies, and their
consequences.

8. Access computing and communication resources only when authorized or when

compelled by the public good.

9. Design and implement systems that are robustly and usably secure.
6.2.3. Professional leadership principles.
Activity 6.7
 List down ethical principles related to professional leadership?

1. Ensure that the public good is the central concern during all professional computing work.

2. Articulate, encourage acceptance of and evaluate fulfillment of social responsibilities by

members of the organization or group.

3. Manage personnel and resources to enhance the quality of working life.

4. Articulate, apply, and support policies and processes that reflect the principles of the Code.
 5. Create opportunities for members of the organization or group to grow as professionals.

6. Use care when modifying or retiring systems. Interface changes, the removal of features,
and even software updates have an impact on the productivity of users and the quality of
their work.

7. Recognize and take special care of systems that become integrated into the infrastructure
of society.
Activity 6.8
 Discuss some specific professional ethical principles related to big data, AI and IoT?

6.3. Digital privacy

Activity 6.9
 What do you think about privacy in general? Is it really important?
 In this digital world, what do you mean by digital privacy? Give concrete examples?

Digital Privacy is the protection of personally identifiable or business identifiable information

that is collected from respondents through information collection activities or from other sources.

It is a collective definition that encompasses three sub-related categories; information privacy,

communication privacy, and individual privacy It is often used in contexts that promote
advocacy on behalf of individual and consumer privacy rights in digital spheres, and is typically
used in opposition to the business practices of many e-marketers/businesses/companies to collect
and use such information and data.

6.3.1. Information Privacy

Activity 6.10
 What do you think that private information like passwords, PIN numbers, will be
guarded or shared with the public? Why?

In the context of digital privacy, information privacy is the notion that individuals should have
the freedom, or right, to determine how their digital information, mainly that pertaining to
personally identifiable information, is collected and used. Every country has various laws that
dictate how information may be collected and used by companies. Some of those laws are
written to give
agency to the preferences of individuals/consumers in how their data is used. In other places, like
in the United States, privacy law is argued by some to be less developed in this regard, For
example, some legislation, or lack of, allows companies to self-regulate their collection and
dissemination practices of consumer information.

6.3.2. Communication Privacy

Activity 6.11
 Do you think communication privacy is the only one who is accessing the message will
be the sender’s intended receiver? If your answer is yes, why?

In the context of digital privacy, communication privacy is the notion that individuals should
have the freedom, or right, to communicate information digitally with the expectation that their
communications are secure; meaning that messages and communications will only be accessible
to the sender's original intended recipient. However, communications can be intercepted or
delivered to other recipients without the sender's knowledge, in a multitude of ways.
Communications can be intercepted directly through various hacking methods; this is expanded
upon further below. Communications can also be delivered to recipients unbeknownst to the
sender due to false assumptions made regarding the platform or medium which was used to send
information. An example of this is a failure to read a company's privacy policy regarding
communications on their platform could lead one to assume their communication is protected
when it is in fact not. Additionally, companies frequently have been known to lack transparency
in how they use information, this can be both intentional and unintentional. Discussion of
communication privacy necessarily requires consideration of technological methods of
protecting information/communication in digital mediums, the effectiveness, and ineffectiveness
of such methods/systems, and the development/advancement of new and current technologies.

6.3.3. Individual Privacy

Activity 6.12
 Do you think that it is good to make yourself exposed to every information on the
internet? Why?
In the context of digital privacy, individual privacy is the notion that individuals have a right to
exist freely on the internet, in that they can choose what types of information they are exposed to,
and more importantly that unwanted information should not interrupt them An example of a
digital breach of individual privacy would be an internet user receiving unwanted ads and
emails/spam, or a computer virus that forces the user to take actions they otherwise wouldn't. In
such cases the individual, during that moment, doesn't exist digitally without interruption from
unwanted information; thus, their individual privacy has been infringed upon.

6.3.4. Some digital privacy principles

Activity 6.13
 Give some examples you have to consider to make your data as well as communication
private?

 Data Minimization: collect the minimal amount of information necessary from

individuals and businesses consistent with the Department’s mission and legal
requirements.

 Transparency: Notice covering the purpose of the collection and use of identifiable
information will be provided in a clear manner. Information collected will not be used for
any other purpose unless authorized or mandated by law.

 Accuracy: Information collected will be maintained in a sufficiently accurate, timely, and

complete manner to ensure that the interests of the individuals and businesses are
protected.

 Security: Adequate physical and IT security measures will be implemented to ensure that
the collection, use, and maintenance of identifiable information are properly safeguarded
and the information is promptly destroyed in accordance with approved records control
schedules.

6.4. Accountability and trust

Activity 6.14
 Why are accountability and trust so important in using emerging technologies?

When emerging technology creates far-reaching and rapid change, it can also bring new risks.
Understanding and mitigating them will help to build confidence. Often legal and regulatory
frameworks haven’t kept pace with digital transformation, and organizations are seeking
guidance.
This challenge is exacerbated by the speed at which technological change is occurring and the
breadth of its adoption – which is introducing new risks that demand new responses.

Emerging technologies can provide improved accuracy, better quality and cost efficiencies for
businesses in every sector. They can enhance trust in the organization’s operations and financial
processes, which is crucial for sustainable success. But this can produce a paradox: the very
solutions that can be used to better manage risk, increase transparency and build confidence are
often themselves the source of new risks, which may go unnoticed.

There’s a danger that the use of technology will degrade people’s willingness to judge and
intervene because they feel that they are less personally connected to consumers and consumer
outcomes – the logic of the machine has taken over from individual responsibility.

The obligation of an individual or organization to account for its activities, accept responsibility
for them, and to disclose the results in a transparent manner. It also includes the responsibility for
money or other entrusted property.

6.5. Treats and challenges

6.5.1. Ethical and regulatory challenges
Activity 6.15
 What are the challenges of using technologies like AI, IoT, and big data?

With Technology moving at a fast pace it is always been a challenge for Security. As security
professionals, we need to keep pace with ever-changing technology and be aware of the AI, IoT,
Big Data, Machine Learning, etc. It is no more Guards, guns & gates it is more than that & we
need to play a major role for a security professional to support business or rather we should be
able to understand the language of business and talk to the leaders in their language. With
Growing needs Cyber & Data Security is getting prominence that requires security practitioners
to focus on the business need for securing data, understanding security and risk from a business
perspective by extensively interacting with the business community in understanding their
requirements or what they want.
 Activity 6.16
 What role can technologies such as AI, IoT, Machine Learning and Big Data play in
enhancing the security of an organization?

Emerging technologies are already impacting how we live and work. They're also changing how
we approach, plan, and integrate security operations. Certainly, we are living in an era where
innovation, agility, and imagination are all essential in order to keep pace with the exponential
technological transformation taking place. For security, both physical and cyber, the equation is
the same catalyzing many new potential applications for emerging technologies. Emerging
technologies are making an impact include:

1. Counter-terrorism and law enforcement informatics via predictive analytics and artificial
intelligence.

2. Real-time horizon scanning and data mining for threats and information sharing

3. Automated cybersecurity and information assurance

4. Enhanced Surveillance (chemical and bio-detection sensors, cameras, drones, facial

recognition, license plate readers)

5. Simulation and augmented reality technologies for training and modeling

6. Safety and security equipment (including bullet and bomb proof) made with lighter and
stronger materials

7. Advanced forensics enabled by enhanced computing capabilities (including future

quantum computing)

8. Situational awareness capabilities via GPS for disaster response and crisis response
scenarios

9. Biometrics: assured identity security screening solutions by bio-signature: (every aspect

of your physiology can be used as a bio-signature. Measure unique heart/pulse rates,
electrocardiogram sensor, blood oximetry, skin temperature)

10. Robotic Policing (already happening in Dubai!)

6.5.1.1. Challenges in using Artificial Intelligence
Activity 6.17
 AI has a wide application in health and manufacturing industries. What are the
challenges the world face when implementing the applications of AI in the previously
mentioned industries?

AI is only as good as the data it is exposed to, which is where certain challenges may present
themselves. How a business teaches and develops its AI will be the major factor in its usefulness.
Humans could be the weak link here, as people are unlikely to want to input masses of data into a
system.

Another dilemma that comes along with AI is its potential to replace human workers. As
machines become more “intelligent” they could begin to replace experts in higher-level jobs.
Alternatively, AI also has the potential to take the burden of laborious and time-consuming tasks
from these people, freeing up their time and brainpower for other things e.g. doctors using
diagnostic AI to help them diagnose patients will analyze the data presented by the AI and make
the ultimate decision. Managing the challenges posed by AI will require careful planning to
ensure that the full benefits are realized and risks are mitigated.

6.5.1.2. Challenges in using Robotics in manufacturing

Activity 6.18
 Write down the challenges of using robots in the manufacturing industry? Debate on
the pros and cons of giving jobs to humans or to robots in the manufacturing industry?

With automation and robotics moving from production lines out into other areas of work and
business, the potential for humans losing jobs is great here too. As automation technologies
become more advanced, there will be a greater capability for automation to take over more and
more complex jobs. As robots learn to teach each other and themselves, there is the potential for
much greater productivity but this also raises ethical and cybersecurity concerns.
6.5.1.3. Challenges in using the Internet of Things
Activity 6.19
 As we discussed in chapter 4, IoT has a vast application in different sectors. Write
down some challenges of using IoT in our daily activities?

As more and more connected devices (such as smartwatches and fitness trackers) join the
Internet of Things (IoT) the amount of data being generated is increasing. Companies will have
to plan carefully how this will affect the customer-facing application and how to best utilize the
masses of data being produced. There are also severe security implications of mass connectivity
that need to be addressed.

6.5.1.4. Challenges in Big Data

Almost all the technologies mentioned above have some relation to Big Data. The huge amount
of data being generated on a daily basis has the potential to provide businesses with better insight
into their customers as well as their own business operations.

Although data can be incredibly useful for spotting trends and analyzing impacts, surfacing all
this data to humans in a way that they can understand can be challenging. AI will play a role
here.

6.5.2. Treats
Activity 6.20
 Write down some risks in emerging technologies like driverless cars, drones, and IoT?

New and emerging technologies pose significant opportunities for businesses if they utilize them
well and understand their true value early on. They also pose risks and questions not only to
business but to society as a whole. Planning for how to deal with these emerging technologies
and where value can be derived while assessing potential risks before they become a fully-
fledged reality is essential for businesses that want to thrive in the world of AI, Big Data and
IoT.

Some risks of emerging technology are:

 Driverless car: while a compelling option for future fleer cars, companies could crash and
burn from claims related to bodily injury and property damage.
 Wearables: Google glass, Fitbit and other wearables can expose companies to the
invasion of privacy claims that may not be covered by general liability or personal injury
claims that weren’t foreseen.
 Drones: Turbulence is in the offing for manufacturers and organizations that fail to
protect themselves for property damage and bodily injury, as well as errors and
omissions.
 Internet of things: The proliferation of sensors and cross-platform integration creates
potential exposure from privacy invasion, bodily injury and property damage that may
connect an organization to huge liabilities.
Chapter Six Review Questions

1. What is the importance of ethics in emerging technologies?

2. List down some general ethical rules?
3. List down some professional responsibility related to ethical rules
4. What is digital privacy? What is its importance?
5. Briefly explain digital privacy principles
6. Why we need accountability in using emerging technologies?
7. Is the trust necessary to use an emerging technology platform? Why?
8. Briefly explain the challenges in using:
a. AI?
b. Robots?
c. IoT?
9. Briefly explain the risks we face in augmented reality, IoT and AI?
10. Do you think that dealing with big data demands high ethical regulations,
accountability, and responsibility of the person as well as the company? Why?