Every decision we make is one made on behalf of your user. How do we know the decisions we make are the right ones? It is time we initiate a conversation: About where we are and where we want to go, about how we define and measure goodness and rightness in the digital realm, about responsibility, about decisions and consequences, about building something bigger than our own apps. It is time we talk about the ethics of web design. This talk introduces a method for ethical decision making in web design and tech. Rather than a wet moralistic blanket covering the fires of creativity, ethics can be the hearth that makes our creative fires burn brighter without burning down the house.
Presented at WordCamp Europe 2018: https://2018.europe.wordcamp.org/session/the-ethics-of-web-design/
7. – Nick Foster, Selfish Ledger video
“As cycles of collection and comparison extend,
it may be possible to develop a species-level
understanding of complex issues such as
depression, health, and poverty.”
8. – Nick Foster, Selfish Ledger video
“As cycles of collection and comparison extend,
it may be possible to develop a species-level
understanding of complex issues such as
depression, health, and poverty.”
12. Yeah…
I thought we were
making world peace.
I just want to build cool
things on the internet.
13.
14. I think that’s what they
call “ethics.”
How do I know if what
I’m doing is the right
thing to do?
15. How do we judge if what we do is
good or bad, right or wrong?
16. From the Greek ethos, meaning “character” or “custom”.
: rules of behavior based on ideas about
what is morally good and bad.
ethics
17. From the Latin mores, meaning “customs”.
: concerning or relating to what is right
and wrong in human behavior.
morals
18. Ethics are the science of morals,
morals are the practice of ethics.
19. : rules of behavior based on ideas about
what design is morally good and bad.
: tools to help make and explain moral
judgements about design decisions.
design ethics
20. QWhat if your device could diagnose
the emergence of clinical depression?
AI have some questions
we need to discuss…
26. : the doctrine that the morality of an action is
to be judged solely by its consequences.
consequentialism
27. : the doctrine that actions are right if they are
useful or for the benefit of a majority.
utilitarianism
28. The rightness of an act is judged by how
well it promotes happiness.
The greatest happiness for the greatest
number should be the guiding principle
of conduct.
32. In hindsight, it’s obvious
we’d run into some issues.
How decisions end up being made:
33.
34. GDPR
tl;dr: You had your chance to do this
right, but you messed up so now we’re
going to regulate your playground.
35. 1.• What are the consequences?
• Does this improve the common good
of those affected?
• How do we measure utility?
• Who decides which users matter
and why?
47. 2.• What norms are established?
• What duties of care do we have, and
how do we uphold them?
• Should every other person or company
in this position to do the same?
49. “The United States government
has demanded that Apple take
an unprecedented step which
threatens the security of our
customers. We oppose this
order, which has implications
far beyond the legal case at
hand. This moment calls for
public discussion, and we want
our customers and people
around the country to
understand what is at stake.”
Tim Cook, Apple CEO, February 16, 2016
56. • A designer is first and foremost a
human being.
• A designer is responsible for the
work they put into the world.
• A designer values impact over form.
• A designer owes the people who
hire them not just their labor, but
their counsel.
• A designer welcomes criticism.
• A designer strives to know their
audience.
• A designer does not believe in edge
cases.
• A designer is part of a professional
community.
• A designer welcomes a diverse and
competitive field.
• A designer takes time for self-
reflection.
A Designer’s Code of Ethics
by Mike Monteiro
57.
58. GPL
tl;dr: I believe all people should be able to
use this software and create from it
whatever they want, so I’ll build that in
as a requirement.
59. “To me, and the rest of
the Confrere team, accessibility
is simply the right thing to do
— morally.”
Ida Aalen, Chief Product Officer at confrere.com
60. 3.• What person / company do we become
by doing this?
• What behaviors are we modeling
for others and for ourselves?
• What virtues do we believe and promote?
65. “Why is not about making
money. That’s a result. Why is a
purpose, cause, or belief. It’s the
very reason your organization
exists.”
Simon Sinek
66. Asking “why” is a way of
clarifying your desire to
shape the world to your vision.
Me, in this talk
67. : theoretical framework that entails two core normative claims:
1. The freedom to achieve well-being is of primary moral
importance,
2. that freedom to achieve well-being is to be understood in
terms of people's capabilities, that is, their real opportunities to
do and be what they have reason to value.
capability approach
68. An action is right if it grants or enables
those acted upon capabilities in the form
of real opportunities to do and be what
they have reason to value.
72. - Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
“The road to hell is paved
with good intentions.”
“Those who cannot
remember the past are
condemned to repeat it.”
- George Santayana
73. “Move fast and break things.”
Give everyone the capability
to do and be what they have
reason to value.
74. “As the creators of applications
and the data flows they create,
we can play a critical and
positive role in protecting our
users from attacks on their
privacy, their dignity, and even
their safety.”
Heather Burns for Smashing Magazine
75. 4.• What capabilities are we granting and
enabling for the end-user?
• Do these capabilities allow them the
freedom to achieve well-being?
• What future are we building?