Computer Ethics Panels

Tuesday 29 January, 2013 -- Panel #7: Privacy 2, Identity theft and "hot" files

Having seen some privacy concerns, let us examine the responsibilities for those keeping records. Why should identity theft be so easy? Why should anybody be in effect tracking us in our daily lives?
Identity thief
Naive consumer
Suspicious consumer, prefers to pay cash
System supervisor with hot files, confidential inf
Privacy Commissioner

Tuesday 12 February, 2013 -- Panel #13: Intercepting Satellite and Wireless Signals

The CRTC regards "the Electromagnetic Spectrum" as a common good, and assigns broadcast licences based upon the public good. Marconi sent the first message across the Atlantic, the letter S, over a century ago. After that, Reginald Fessenden, a Towhshipper, developed radio broadcasts and FM radio, and now radio waves are use for everything from remote controls and cell phones to satellite relays of television network programming and data communications.

Now, the nature of radiation is to spread out (rather than being confined to a wire) so that all these signals pass through your head. Why not listen in? Some countries charge a tax for using a radio or TV, in North America we let advertisers pay for the broadcasts. As more and more frequencies open up, other models of paying for service abound. At least the following come to mind:

  1. Watching a sports event you are supposed to pay for
  2. listening in on a private conversation over a cell phone
  3. Getting free internet by connecting to your neighbour's wireless router
  4. What else can you think of?
Satellite TV broadcaster
Rural resident with a "satellite dish"
Investigator listening to cell phone talk
Taxpayer
Security expert

Thursday 14 February, 2013 -- Panel #14: Computers at work - change & proper use

Computers are incresingly present in workplaces. The nature of work is changing as a result. Jobs are lost, and new skills are required. At the same time employees may use their computers for non-work related activities. Should employers monitor this? What about privacy? Browser history will disclose internet activity, or keystrokes can be monitored surreptitiously.
Lear to use the computer or lose my job
Employee receiving personal email
Employer concerned about productivity
Clerk suffering carpal tunnel syndrome
System administrator with privileged access

Tuesday 19 February, 2013 -- Panel #16: Laptop Searches at Customs

One's rights seem to be at a minimum when crossing borders. Recently travelers to the US have reported searches of their "luggage" that extended to being asked to turn on their laptops, give passwords, have files copied and browser histories scanned. People are delayed for hours, and asked to explain things such as the contents of junk emails in their trash. Today we will try to balance the interests of security and privacy.
"Homeland Security" officer
Customs agent
Traveler with a laptop
Lawyer with confidential files
Judge upholding privacy

Tuesday 12 March, 2013 -- Panel #20: Blackberry - How intense the e-mail?

The Blackberry provides hand-held email, and other services. Should they interrupt business meetings? Should employees be on an "electronic leash" 24/7? In a Recent discussion on CBC radio, Business professor Linda Duxbury doesn't think so. And employees of Citizenship and Immigration have been told to turn them off from 7pm to 7am, and on weekends. During a meeting, here are:
Employee giving presentation
Participant responding to Blackberry alert
Boss - chair of meeting
Spouse fed up with weekend interruptions
Came late - meeting just announced Sunday night

Sunday 3 November, 2013 -- Panel #18: Telemedicine - "Doctor Web"

Quebec company Myca announced the "Doctor Web" service in February 2008 (Ottawa Citizen). It would enable a patient to chat with a doctor by video conference within 3 hours. It would cost $10/month and $50 for each consultation. Fast and convenient, but the doctor can't do a physical examination. Should such a service be offered? As of today (October 2009) myca.com seems to be not offering this, but web-based medical record keeping to doctors.
Myca vice-president
On line Doctor
Patient
Regular Doctor
Quebec Health Minister

Tuesday 19 November, 2013 -- Panel #24: Internet Pornography

Since content on the Internet is not regulated, there is apparently a lot of pornography available. Law enforcement is particularly concerned about child pornography, as it purports to show actual child abuse. Should it be a crime to produce such images, to consume (download) them? Whom should the cops go after?
Pornographer: I provide a service for a profit
Curious Teenager
Adult connoisseur of artistic erotica
Internet service provider - not my problem
RCMP officer concerned about child abuse

Saturday 11 January, 2014 -- Panel #3: Build better bombs? (Kantian)

Very well, what happened in 1945 happened. That left a lot of atomic scientists very conflicted. Was it ethical to continue to develop bigger bombs? Today we will apply only Kantian theory to this problem, as a political decision has to be made, then each scientist has to decide whether to work on a continued project.
Edward Teller (father of the H-bomb)
Leo Szilard (founded Bulletin of Atomic Scientists
Fidel Castro (willing to host missiles)
Canadian Citizen
Soviet Citizen

Monday 17 February, 2014 -- Panel #12: "AI" computer's life or death decisions

The Apache system is "artificially intelligent" and designed to aid ER doctor's decisions on how to use and withdraw life support. Trouble is, after a while the doctors get used to Apache's advice, and don't think through their own decisions. How much should we rely on computer systems?
Emergency room doctor
Patient in a coma
Patient's relative
"helpful" computer's voice
Lawyer for the deceased's estate

Wednesday 13 January, 2016 -- Panel #1: Who "owns" a picture?

A photographer takes a picture of Lenard Cohen, noted Montreal poet and singer, with a street person at a soup kitchen. The photographer puts this picture on an obscure web page, www.homelessnation.org. A student, who will moderate this panel, copies it to Facebook, from where the Journal de Montréal publishes it. The photographer and both subjects of the picture feel they could use some money for the use of their image.

Let's discuss the ethics of all these actions, and try to decide what is overall best.
Lenard Cohen, poet
Street person
Photographer
Facebook user (student)
Journal de Montréal

Wednesday 20 January, 2016 -- Panel #2: Atomic Bomb? (Utilitarianism)

One of the most important decisions of the last century was whether to drop the atomic bomb in 1945. This was such a new problem that it required a lot of novel thought, today we will discuss it strictly from the standpoint of Utilitarian theory (as the Kantian analysis seems pretty simple). The panel members will try, from very different perspectives, to choose a course that maximizes overall happiness (worldwide).
Gen. Douglas MacArthur (for)
Albert Einstein (pacifist, against)
Harry Truman (president, must decide)
Emperor of Japan (victim)
Pilot of the Enola Gay (dropped it )

Wednesday 27 January, 2016 -- Panel #34: Sony Pictures data breakin - Nov. 2014

This cracking exploit was widely publicized. Unreleased pictures and 25Gb of employee data were taken, including id numbers and medical data -- and made available on the Internet. Sony "warned media outlets" not to publish any of it. The hackers seem to object to the release of a picture involving the assassination of North Korea's leader.
Sony executive, (or lawyer)
Sony employee
Hacker (North Korean?)
Website offering the data
editor of Sherbrooke Record

Wednesday 3 February, 2016 -- Panel #8: GPS Surveillance

George Orwell predicted that "Big Brother is Watching You" through 2-way telescreens. Today's technology offers better. Anyone (person,or even a whale) carrying a GPS device can be located at any time (ok, a whale must surface) within a few meters. When is it justified to track a person, their cell phone, or car in this way? What is cell company's role? What about that "free WiFi?"
10 year old out late
Employee being tracked by cell phone
CSEC spokesperson - "we track you at airports"
Cell phone company operator
Privacy Commissioner

Monday 14 March, 2016 -- Panel #21: Laptops in elementary schools

The ETSB has been giving out laptops to every child from grade 3 on for many years. Two years ago they reviewed the program, which had run up a debt surpassing even that of Bishop's University. They concluded on the basis of a lower drop-out rate that the program is justified, and to save money they would switch to tablet computers. We want to come up with good guidelines for determining the success of a "one computer per child" program, and some opinions on whether it makes sense to introduce computers in the classroom at such a young age.
Eight-year-old getting new laptop
Parent concerned about internet use
3rd grade teacher - what is effective use?
School board member, ask questions!
Promoter from Apple Computer

Monday 1 January, 2018 -- Panel #11: Will you trust a computer with your life?

We rely on computers more and more, they fly our airplanes and may soon drive our cars. If something goes wrong, who is to blame? The Therac-25 killed a few people with overdoses of radiation. What are the professional responsibilities of those designing, implementing, and using a system? Let us suppose that a high speed train is proposed, that is to be controlled by a computer system. Do we need a person in front, who can apply an emergency brake? The bosses want to keep costs down, the professional engineers should insist on adaquate design and testing to ensure reliability. Should the designer "Blow the whistle?" How will the others react?
Software designer refuses to cut corners
Transit system wants to keep costs down
Safety regulator wants the "redundant" operator
Passenger wants low fares and safety

Monday 22 January, 2018 -- Panel #4: ATM Fraud

ATM Machines and debit cards, a great convenience. Stores no longer accept the hassle of personal cheques. But, instead of your signature, the bank accepts your "PIN" as proof that it is you. This gives the criminals several ways to take your money. Simply by looking over your shoulder... So, if you are defrauded, who loses the money, you or the bank? What can the bank do to reduce this new risk?
Bank Executive
Fraud artist
Victimized customer
Security expert
Judge in the case, should fraudster get caught.

Wednesday 24 January, 2018 -- Panel #6: Privacy: who cares? - personal data

Computers make possible the storage and retrieval of massive amounts of data, much of it personal. Does what the governments and business have on you trouble you? Is it even accurate? How might it be used, and by whom?
People voluntarialy put a lot of personal information on Facebook and other sites. The police have a nationally distributed database of arrest records. Who is justified in searching for your information?
Student who was arrested at a protest
Law Enforcement agent
Concerned parent
University admissions officer checking Facebook
Canada's Privacy Commissioner

Wednesday 7 February, 2018 -- Panel #10: What software do you use?

The internet works because of interoperability. Everyone communicates using agreed, published standards and protocols. Microsoft is profitable because its software is propriatary, how it works is a trade secret. Where do you stand? Do you pay for your software? Should you?
Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft
User who paid for "Word"
User who "borrowed" a friend's software disk
User of Free Software
Richard Stallman, Free Software Foundation

Wednesday 14 February, 2018 -- Panel #31: Responsibility for pacemaker problems

A heart pacemaker is needed by some people to regulate heart rate. When one is exercising, this needs to increase. In normal individuals, lowering of blood oxygen speeds the heart up. "My heart is pounding after running to class." We will suppose that an engineering team, including software engineers, decides to use a motion detector to speed up the pacemaker. This will be fine for a jogger, but how about someone riding on a bumpy curvey road? Who is responsible for problems?
Pacemaker manufacturing co. CEO
User who rode a roller coster, and collapsed
Engineer who can't figure out a proper method
Software engineer asked to use motion detector
Programmer implementing the software

Wednesday 21 February, 2018 -- Panel #29: Bionic Brain - Next Evolution for Humankind?

It should soon be possible to replace failing functions: artificial memory for Alzheimer's patients, vision for the blind by direct input to the visual cortex.
But can we do better? With a neural-electronic interface, how about better memory and a Blackberry in the brain. Transmit your thoughts, connect to the internet. But, can you shut it off? Can the police read your thoughts?
I want a memory upgrade
I've always wanted telepathic powers
At last, tools for the thought police
I want a mind cell phone I can turn off
Leave my brain alone!
Medical Ethics Committee member

Monday 26 February, 2018 -- Panel #15: Telecommuting - working from home

Since the industrial revolution, we have become accustomed to "going to work" at a factory or office. Now with the internet, many people are able to work from home. What is good or bad about this arrangement?
Employer encouraging telecomutting
Person working from home with some kids
Occupational helath and safety watchdog (moderator
Person who'd miss "the office"
Employer opposed to working at home

Wednesday 28 February, 2018 -- Panel #17: Computers in Business, e-Commerce

Computers and telecommunications help the environment by cutting down on business travel, by use of teleconferencing and electronic ordering and dispatching.
How about e-Commerce -- on-line shopping? Is it Beneficial: Convenient, safe and reliable, or impersonal, risky, and lacking service? What should the rules and safeguards be?
What are the implications for small, local stores? For big box stores?
Owner of small clothing store
Student starting small e-Store
On-line shopper
Skeptical consumer
LL Bean, representing large e-Commerce

Monday 12 March, 2018 -- Panel #19: Medical Records

Hospital's patient records were traditionally files of papers, with lab results and handwritten doctor's notes. Wouldn't it be better to store these electronically for sharing, faster access, and to avoid misreading bad handwriting? Records can be stored in a database, or in a chip on the health insurance card. Who should keep the database? How secure can it be, given the confidential nature of the information? Suppose you are sent to a different hospital?
Doctor who trusts paper
Database expert, can organize it better
Expert hacker, advising on security
Patient - when was last tetnus shot?
Pharmasist who misread a prescription
Young teck-savvy doctor

Monday 19 March, 2018 -- Panel #22: Computers at University

So, does having computers at a University help your education, or provide tools for cheating? Is a Facebook group a legitimate study aid? Are Internet sources as legitimate as library material? Should professors be using Google to check for plagiarism? Should students be looking things up on-line during class? Would a professor be justified in assessing penalties, and to whom? At Bishop's, the Ombudsmperson has to sort this all out.
Student posting math solutions on Facebook
Student doing research using the Internet
Lazy student finding somebody else's work on line
Professor unhappy with any of the above
Ombudsperson mediating an appeal (moderator)

Wednesday 4 April, 2018 -- Panel #38: Cell Phone Addiction

Can you leave home without your cell phone? Is it an addiction? Have they and their "apps" been designed to be addictive?
Developer: people want newer & better
App creator: keep 'em busy
Addected Adult
Resort owner in cell-free location
Child given a phone for safety, now hooked on apps

Monday 9 April, 2018 -- Panel #33: Privacy and brain-computer interface

What rights should we ensure in the future? Smart phones already identify us, but they can be lost, or the battery go dead. Next step is to embed the logic in our bodies, and interface with our brains. This could solve the present "authentication" problems, but what if I don't want to be identified? Facebook is already working on a brain interface so you can "think" the words of your posts.
Person wishing to post an anonymous comment
Politician seeking to influence the vote
Social media developer designing new "brain apps"
CSEC tech setting up "Brain-Jacking"
Ethisist concidering risks of new technology
Store recording customer visits and purchases

Wednesday 11 April, 2018 -- Panel #27: Computers and the Environment

Computers, cell phones, etc. can both help and harm the environment. They use electricity, and the technology changes so fast they are discarded after a few years, with their hazardous materials. They can also reduce paper use, and business need for air travel.
Coltan, a vital material, is often mined in irresponsible fashion in Africa. An open-pit lithium mine is proposed for Val dor, Quebec.
Hardware developer, favours innovation
Green computing: recycle, energy efficiency
Scientist modelling global warming with computers
Paper company executive
Computer and cell phone user
African militia leader controlling Coltan sources

Wednesday 18 September, 2019 -- Panel #28: The Digital Divide

Noam Chomksy asserts that the Internet is irrelevant to the vast majority of humanity. How can we provide its benefits to everybody? Perhaps governments of rich countries should provide the infrastructure to developing countries.
The XO computer is really cheap and powered by occasionally pulling a cord. Or are basic need for food, water and health more important?
Member of the digital elite (that's us)
Been to Africa, Internet speed is way too slow
One Laptop Per Child sends XO laptops to Africa
Child of goatherder in Kenya wants Internet
Woman in Senegal needs well to water vegatables

Friday 20 September, 2019 -- Panel #30: Electronic Books, Copyright, and the Internet

Google is busy digitizing books. They have proposed an agreement with authors. Who gets to offer, to download books. Should further distribution be regulated? How? Does the idea of copyright still make sense?
Author
Print publisher - (with website)
Google
Bookstore & library patron - reads real books
Reader of e-Books
Richard Stallman, Free Software Fdn

Monday 23 September, 2019 -- Panel #36: School confiscates cell phones!

Some teachers become fed up with children being distracted in class by their cell phones Recently some schools have been taking away the phone, and not giving it back until the end of the day, or longer. This has both parents and children upset. What if they don't get it back? What if the school violates privacy by looking at the contents? What if a parent or kid needs to phone the other?
Teacher, wanting children to pay attention
School Principal, making rules
School board member getting complaints (moderator)
Child: what if they read my messages?
Parent

Wednesday 25 September, 2019 -- Panel #9: File sharing -- Music, videos, e-books

What's the big deal? I ysed to make a music tape for my, or a firend's, Walkman. Now I can pay to download a song for my Ipod, but be prevented from playing it on any other device by DRM (Digital Rights Management.) Amazon.com once removed George Orwell's works from the e-readers of customers who had purchased them. What do you think of DRM?

Do you think it is ethical to share files over the internet? Who is affected? Who "owns" music? Should internet service providers monitor your downloads for the police?
amazon.com executive
Teenager downloading music
Established Rock Star
Singer-songwriter looking for recognition
Internet service provider

Wednesday 2 October, 2019 -- Panel #37: Political manipulation

"The Internet" is a great source of information - some of it accurate. But it is open to influencing people to change their vote, and targeting those who are likely to be influenced. What to do?
Website selling targeted ads
person planting fake news
confused voter
Election commissioner
Analytica firm mining personal information

Friday 4 October, 2019 -- Panel #25: Electronic Voting

The attributes of a democratic election are One person one vote, a secret ballot, an accurate, honest count, and a high level of participation. Elections are expensive, and voting is time consuming. The suggestion is that we can increase voter participation, and also get citizen feedback on issues through polls, by using the internet. But, can we also guard against election fraud and ensure a secret ballot?
Manufacturer of voting hardware and software
Young person too busy to vote
Director-General of Elections
Senior citizen
Cracker hired by a political party
Call center worker questions misleading calls

Monday 7 October, 2019 -- Panel #26: Control and Politics of the Internet

We have built an information highway. Just as highways can be used equally by arms dealers and people going on vacation, so the Internet allows anyone to send a message to anyone else. The design is distributed, there is no centralized control. Use should be self-regulating. Is this in accord with "Democratic Principles?" In particular, there is no control over misinformation, anonymity, wiretapping or cultural imperialism. Should government step in to restrict people's usage? Should content from other countries be "filtered?"
Hacker, advocates freedom and voluntary control
Conservative politican, wanting strict laws
Activist on environmental issues
Person fearful of losing their language
Person punished for criticising government

Wednesday 9 October, 2019 -- Panel #5: Hacking and Cracking

What is hacking, and what is our response to various forms of network annoyance and harm? Hackers consider themselves moral, but antagonistic to capitalism, crackers are those hackers who exploit systems to their own gain. Do hackers provide a service by locating security flaws that crackers could exploit, or should we punish them? Is it justified to attack an "enemy" system in time of war?
Ethical Hacker
Malicious Cracker
Dept. National Defense Electronic Warrior
Systems security expert
Victim whose system is compromised

Friday 11 October, 2019 -- Panel #35: Self-Driving Cars

Self-driving cars are now under development. Proponents believe they will be safer than human drivers. Either way, accidents can happen. Who is responsible? Do the new cars need any pedals or steering wheel? Should there be a licensed human driver as well? Should we require new cars to be self-driving? Software Engineer David Parnas long ago said, "Human errors can only be avoided if one can avoid the use for humans." Er, he was referring to who writes the programs!
Google car project leader
Joggger hit by car (did it drive away?)
Person about to buy a self-driving car
Transportation Safety regulator, must certify.
Software developer/programmer

Wednesday 16 October, 2019 -- Panel #23: Computer Game Addiction

Computer games are really neat! But many are violent. And, you don't get any exercise. The World Health Organization lists Video Game Addiction As An Illness. What are the warning signs, and what should be done? Parents have just launched a class action lawsuit, alleging that the Fortnite video game is designed to be addictive, causing their children numerous problems. Let's argue this case.
Child addicted to the game, can't stop playing
Parent of addicted child (uses cell phone a lot)
Game developer, proud of sucess
Psychologist - testifing in court
Judge in the case (moderator)

Wednesday 13 November, 2019 -- Panel #32: Rules for Robots

Bill Joy warns that artificially intelligent robots may replace us. Ray Kurzweil can't wait to share these new abilities. Soon we can expect robots to transcend factory use, and be amongst us. How will we relate? Should we get our brains enhanced, to keep up? Do the intelligent robots have "human" rights? Will they act ethically? (Two panel participants will take robot roles)
Computer Science student
Robot studying philosophy
Humanities student
Robot legal arbitrator
Human spiritual leader

Wednesday 20 November, 2019 -- Panel #39: Polarization of politics

Internet companies like facebook and google polarize individuals by using personal data to give them what they want, omitting dissenting views. Newspapers try to present all sides, and mark opinion pieces as such.
Website using personal data to filter content
Political aide posting items favouring a party
Newspaper editor
Reader of online news unaware of this
Student of AI troubled by it