Video and slides synchronized, mp3 and slide download available at URL https://bit.ly/2vltxgI. Theo Schlossnagle talks about why software developers should take ethics into consideration and what can be done to incorporate ethics in a software product. Filmed at qconlondon.com. Theo Schlossnagle founded Circonus in 2010, and continues to be its principal architect. He is the author of Scalable Internet Architectures, has contributed to several other published works, and is a frequent speaker at IT conferences. He is a member of the IEEE and a distinguished member of the ACM. He serves on the editorial board of the ACM's Queue Magazine and ACM's Practitioner Board.

1. Ethics in
Computing
A YOUNG
PROFESSION
COPING WITH
ETHICAL DEBT

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swd-ethical-debt
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Strategy
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Highlights
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Presented at QCon London
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4. Theo Schlossnagle
@POSTWAIT
FOUNDER CIRCONUS

5. DISCLAIMER
I AM NOT AN ETHICIST.
THIS TALK HAS MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS.

6. ήθος -> ηθική
 The philosophy of ethics is about
systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right
and wrong conduct.
 Normative Ethics can be viewed from three lenses
 Virtue Ethics
 Deontology (Duties & Rules)
 Consquentialism (Consequences)

7. Virtues
 Perfect virtues vs. continence
 Understanding the importance of practical wisdom

8. Change Over Time
 Ethics exist only within the context of human society.
 Human society changes
 Globalization
 Scientific understanding
 Supernatural belief structures

9. Applying
Ethics
 Clergy

10. Applying
Ethics
 Clergy
 Medical

11. Applying Ethics
 Clergy
 Medical
 Business
 Professional
 Computing

12. VW
Emissions

13. Uber
Greyball

14. Uber
Autonomous
Vehicle
Operation

15. Strava Global
Heatmap

16. Technical
Concepts
Hand Soap
Dispenser

17. Example of
License
Infringement

18. Antecdotes ~ What now?
 What can we do?
 From day to day ask, “what can I do?”
 Is this really my responsibility?
 Yes it &$%@*ing is.
 Build more diverse teams.

19. Dissenting
 Be aware that you are not alone
 Understand that ethics are a spectrum
 Keep records
 Build a dispassionate defense
 Work the system
 Resigning

20. Start The Conversation
 I don’t come with answers… I come with questions.
 Familiarize yourself with a code of ethics for computing.
 ACM’s Ethics policy (current 1992, new one expected 2018)
 ACM’s “Ask and Ethicist”
 We need to ask “what are the ethical implications?” all the time.

21. Notes
Virtue Ethics:
https://plato.stanford.edu/entri
es/ethics-virtue/
ACM Code of Ethics
http://ethics.acm.org/code-of-
ethics/
ACM “Ask an Ethicist”
http://ethics.acm.org/integrity-
project/ask-an-ethicist-faq/
IEEE Dissention Guidelines
http://ethics.iit.edu/ecodes/no
de/5707
Uber Greyball
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/
05/04/technology/uber-federal-
inquiry-software-greyball.html
Uber’s Brazen Illegal Behavior
https://www.theguardian.com/
technology/2016/dec/16/uber-
self-driving-cars-california-
illegal-unethical-tactics
Soap
https://gizmodo.com/why-
cant-this-soap-dispenser-
identify-dark-skin-1797931773
Volkswagen Emissions Scandal
https://www.npr.org/tags/4434
53659/volkswagen-emissions-
scandal
Strava Global Heatmap
https://www.theguardian.com/
world/2018/jan/28/fitness-
tracking-app-gives-away-
location-of-secret-us-army-
bases

22. Watch the video with slide synchronization on
InfoQ.com!
https://www.infoq.com/presentations/swd-
ethical-debt