Putting Information Ethics to Work Rafael Capurro Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences COST/TIST Conference, June

Putting Information Ethics to Work

Rafael CapurroHochschule der Medien

Stuttgart University of Applied Scienceswww.capurro.de

COST/TIST Conference, June 28, 2005, Vitznau Switzerland

Capurro: Putting Information Ethics to Work

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IT and Information Ethics „In designing tools we are designing ways

of being“ (Winograd/Flores 1986, xi) Designing ways of (well) being is the

matter of ethics Conclusio: In designing (good) (IT) tools we

are dealing (implicitly) with ethics.


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Shannon & Weaver (Source: http://www.cultsock.ndirect.co.uk/MUHome/cshtml/index.html


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Shannon & WeaverThree levels of communication problems

(Shannon/Weaver 1949/1972, 4): Level A. How accurately can the symbols of

communication be transmitted? (The technical problem)

Level B. How precisely do the transmitted symbols convey the desired meaning? (The semantic probem)

Level C. How effectively does the receiver meaning affect conduct in the desired way? (The effectiveness problem)


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Shannon & Weaver „The effectiveness problem is closely

interrelated with the semantic problem, and overlaps it in a rather vague way; and there is in fact overlap between all of the suggested categories of problems.“ (Shannon/Weaver 1972, 5-6)


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Message Society Digital Networks Global & Local = „glocal“ Interactivity Sustainable (IT) development Human-centered and inclusive information

society


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Lawrence Lessig: „Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace“

CODE

MARKET

LAW

MORALITY


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Infoethics: Morality & IT

Morality

Code

Ethics

Infoethics


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„Code is law“ (L. Lessig) What kind of (moral) code?

Human dignity Freedom of speech Privacy Autonomy Cultural diversity Freedom of scientific research


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Information EthicsInformation ethics deals with ethical

questions in the field of digital production and reproduction of phenomena and processes such as the exchange, combination and use of information.


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Information EthicsFields of research: Development of moral standards, norms or

values Critical appraisal on the creation of (new)

power structures Critical appraisal of information visions

and myths Critical appraisal of hidden contradictions

and intentionalities in information theories and practices


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Putting Information Ethics to WorkPromoting Reflection and Sustainability at: Macro-Level:

WSIS: Overcoming the Digital Divide Ethics Committees (EGE, National Ethics C.)

Meso- und Microlevel: Creating spaces of ethical reflection Codes of ethics Decision support groups Ethics counseling


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Putting Information Ethics to Work Sustainable IT Processes: Legal, economic,

ecologic, social, ethical Self-awareness (individual, institutions) Which information should be

communicated with whom, how far, how long…?

Transparency, data protection („habeas data“)

Open Source, Free Software, Open Access


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Putting Information Ethics to Work

Coaching information values: Sustainability Solidarity Responsibility Fairness Integrity Privacy Security Confidentiality


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Putting Information Ethics to Work Managing Information Ethics:

Promoting Reflection Local and global awareness Responsibility and Accountability Identity and diversity Cultural awareness

Best Practices


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The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) The EGE is an independent, pluralist and

multitisciplinary body which advises the European Commission on ethical aspects of science and new technologies in connection with the preparation and implementation of Community legislation or policies.


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EGE Members 2001-2004Prof. Göran HERMERÉN (Sweden), President, Philosopher, Professor of Medical Ethics, Faculty of

Medicine, Lund University. Prof. Linda NIELSEN (Denmark), Vice-President, Professor of Law, Rector of the University of

Copenhagen. Prof. Nicos C. ALIVIZATOS (Greece), Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Athens. Prof. Rafael CAPURRO (Germany), Professor of Information Management and Information Ethics at

University of Applied Sciences. Prof. Inez DE BEAUFORT (The Netherlands), Professor of Health Care Ethics at the Medical Faculty of the

Erasmus University, Rotterdam. Prof. Yvon ENGLERT (Belgium), Head of Fertility Clinic, Free University of Brussels (ULB), Professor of

Medical Ethics and Deontology, ULB. Prof. Catherine LABRUSSE-RIOU (France), Centre de recherche en droit privé, Université de Paris. Dr. Anne McLAREN (United Kingdom), Geneticist, Research Associate at Wellcome CRC Institute,

Cambridge. Prof. Pere PUIGDOMÈNECH ROSELL (Spain), Research Professor at the Department for Molecular

Genetics, Director of Institut de Biologia Molecular de Barcelona, CSIC Prof. Stefano RODOTA (Italy), Professor of Civil Law, University of Rome, Chairman of the Italian Data

Protection Authority, Chairman of the European Group of the Data Protection Authorities. Prof. Günter VIRT (Austria), Professor of Theology, Institute of Catholic Moral Theology, University of

Vienna. Prof. Peter WHITTAKER (Ireland), Biologist, Professor of Biology, Institute of Environment, Philosophy and

Public Policy, University of Lancaster, Furness College.


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EGE Members 2001-2004


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EGE SecretariatDr. Michael D. Rogers, European

Commission, BERL 10/345, rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium.

EGE-Website: europa.eu.int/comm/european_group_ethics

EGE-Newsletter "Ethically Speaking": providing also information on the activities of the National Ethics Committees.


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EGE Opinions 2001-2005 Opinion n. 16 (2002)

Ethical aspects of patenting inventions involving human stem cells

Opinion n. 17 (2003)Ethical aspects of clinical research in developing countries

Opinion n. 18 (2003)Ethical aspects of genetic testing in the workplace

Opinion n. 19 (2004)Ethical aspects of cord blood stem cells banks

Opinion n. 20 (2005)Ethical Aspects of ICT implants in the human body (2005)


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Ethics and Public Policy Ethics councils within the sphere of public

policy have the function of reflecting on the moral and legal foundations of specific controversial issues without being itself neither a legal nor a moral authority.

Their task is reflection, not decision-making or dogmatic proclamation.


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Ethics and Public Policy They should counterbalance ethical

arguments and give an opinion on matters that remain controversial and subject to revision.

Today’s public policy has a need for such counsels particularly with regard to new developments in science and technology


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Ethics and Public Policy Although they might look for consensual

opinions, consensus should not be a conditio sine qua non of their proposals. It is also not their function to make public policy ‘more moral,’ but to encourage ethical reflection within the public sphere


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National and International Ethics Committees Most European and non-European national and

international ethics committees have been created in the nineties.

UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee (IBC) was created in 1993. The Steering Committee on Bioethics of the Council of Europe dates from 1992.

US President George W. Bush created The President’s Council on Bioethics on the basis of the Executive Order 13237 from November 28, 2001 (http://www.bioethics.gov/).

Most national and international ethics committees are in fact (until now) committees on bioethics. The EGE is the first international committee with a broader scope.


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Bibliography Capurro, Rafael: Ethics and Public Policy within a

Digital Environment. In: I. Alvarez, T. W. Bynum, J.A. de Assis Lopes, S. Rogerson (Eds.): The Transformation of Organisations in the Information Age: Social and Ethical Implications, ETHICOMP 2002, Lisboa 2002, 319-327. Online: http://www.capurro.de/ethicomp02.html

Capurro, Rafael: Ethics Between Law and Public Policy. In: Journal of International Biotechnology Laws (JIBL) Vol. 1, Issue 2 / 2004, 62-66.Online: http://www.degruyter.de/rs/280_7046_DEU_h.htm


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Bibliography Lessig, Lawrence: Code and Other Laws of

Cyberspace. New York 1999 Shannon, Claude E. / Weaver, Warren: The

Mathematical Theory of Communication. Univ. of Illinois Press 1949/1972, 5th ed.

Winograd, Terry / Flores, Fernando: Understanding Computers and Cognition. A New Foundation for Design. New Jersey 1986.


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Portals & Journals World Summit on the Information Society

(WSIS): http://www.itu.int/wsis ICIE (International Center for Information

Ethics): http://icie.zkm.de

IRIE (International Review of Information Ethics): http://www.i-r-i-e.net

EIT (Ethics and Information Technology) ICES (Journal of Information,

Communiation and Ethics in Society)

Documents

Putting Information Ethics to Work Rafael Capurro Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences COST/TIST Conference, June