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Ethical by Design: Principles for Good Technology

TYPE:THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY & DESIGN

PUBLISHED: SEP 2018

Ethical By Design: Principles for Good Technology

Learn the principles you need to consider when designing ethical technology, how to balance the intentions of design and use, and the rules of thumb to prevent ethical missteps. Understand how to break down some of the biggest challenges and explore a new way of thinking for creating purpose-based design.

You’re responsible for what you design – make sure you build something good. Whether you are editing a genome, building a driverless car or writing a social media algorithm, this report offers the knowledge and tools to do so ethically. From Facebook to a brand new start-up, the responsibility begins with you. In this guide we offer key principles to help guide ethical technology creation and management.

"Technology seems to be at the heart of more and more ethical crises. So many of the ethical scandals we’re seeing in the technology sector are happening because people aren’t well-equipped to take a holistic view of the ethical landscape."

DR MATTHEW BEARD

WHATS INSIDE?

White triangle outline on a dark teal background. Geometric shape with three sides forming a triangular figure, simple design, modern abstract art.

What is ethics + ethical theories

Isometric view of a white rectangle, angled from the lower left to the upper right, against a solid dark teal background.

Techno-ethical myths

White sun cross symbol on a gray background. Wheel cross or solar cross, an ancient religious symbol.

The value of ethical frameworks

Concentric circles design. White circles on a gray-blue background create a target-like pattern. Minimalist graphic with geometric shapes.

Rules of thumb to embed ethics in design

White hexagon outline on a solid teal background. Geometric shape with six sides. Simple graphic design element. Modern, clean, and minimalist.

Case studies + ethical breakdowns

White semi-circle shape on a teal background. Arch design element. Abstract graphic. Minimalist illustration. Simple geometric form.

Core ethical design principles

White geometric pentagon shape on a gray background. Abstract pentagon design with triangular and linear elements.

Design challenges + solutions

White double chevron arrow pointing right on a dark teal background. Symbol for forward, next, or advance. Directional sign.

The future of ethical technology

Whats inside the guide?

PREVIEW THE GUIDE

Ethical design principles: Triangle graphic illustrating purpose, values, & principles for good technology. Ethics framework on black background.

Ethical by Design principles: Ought Before Can, Non-Instrumentalism, Self-Determination, Responsibility, Net Benefit, Fairness, Accessibility, Purpose.

Ethical by Design principle: Self-determination. Gold sunburst on pink background. Text: Maximize the freedom of those affected by your design.

Ethical by Design: Diagram showing ethical design challenges & solutions, harm metrics, and quarantines for good technology principles.

Ethical by Design: Hand interacts with technology on a smartphone, displaying travel content. Accessibility, good technology principles.

Authors

Dr Matt Beard

is a moral philosopher with an academic background in applied and military ethics. He has taught philosophy and ethics at university for several years, during which time he has been published widely in academic journals, book chapters and spoken at national and international conferences. Matt’s has advised the Australian Army on military ethics including technology design. In 2016, Matt won the Australasian Association of Philosophy prize for media engagement, recognising his “prolific contribution to public philosophy”. He regularly appears on television, radio, online and in print.

Dr Simon Longstaff

has been Executive Director of The Ethics Centre for over 25 years, working across business, government and society. He has a PhD in philosophy from Cambridge University, is a Fellow of CPA Australia and of the Royal Society of NSW, and in June 2016 was appointed an Honorary Professor at ANU – based at the National Centre for Indigenous Studies. Simon co-founded the Festival of Dangerous Ideas and played a pivotal role in establishing both the industry-led Banking and Finance Oath and ethics classes in primary schools. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2013.

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