Ethical Dilemmas and The New Technology in Computers

Ethical Dilemmas of the New, Improving Computer Technology

Society has become extremely dependent on the new comings of technology, and raises the ethical dilemma the future of the technology brings. Though many positive outcomes have risen from new and developing computers, social issues and environmental issues have proven to be the major obstacles and hindrances to their development. During the early 1940s, the generation of the first computers have proven to be one of the most significant innovations since the industrial revolution. However, with the new power of accessible cyber communication, improved multitasking of several routine tasks, and the new perspective of exploration for information held within the world, issues have arisen in the topic of personal privacy and security, thus increasing awareness of the impact of technology on society and its coming generations.

Computers have offset a wide array of controversial issues, such as "…the unauthorized use of hardware, the theft of software, disputed rights to products, the use of computers to commit fraud, the phenomenon of hacking and data theft, sabotage in the form of viruses, responsibility for the reliability of output, making false claims for computers, and the degradation of work” (Forester 4). Internet privacy continues to be the leading problem, as people put trust into the security of their device to withhold personal information. As a result of the increasing popularity of technology, hacking, cracking, phishing, and data / identity theft have also become proportionally popular, thus affecting the citizen’s reliance of their precious information. Therefore, the sophistication of technology increases as people become more aware of their security, making it essential that they go to the effort of keeping their data safe.

Google announced the upcoming new invention “Project Glass” in 2012, thus inducing major ethical concerns as people began to see the actual capability of technology, that it may have become too powerful, thus putting into question the necessity of Google Glass. An incident occurred when California Highway Patrol officer Keith Odle pulled over a software developer Cecilia Abadie while driving along Interstate 15 in San Diego. The officer noticed that the lady was wearing a pair of high-tech glasses by Google. California Vehicle Code Section 27602 bans people from driving with video cameras operating in front of the vehicle. Due to the now easily accessible pieces of technology, Google Glass can have a detrimental influence on the legal system, such as copyright and privacy (Davis). Driving and other daily tasks with in addition with the use of Google Glass may present the same dangers as texting while driving bring; limited attention. It may create further distractions to the driver and result in accidents while on the road with other drivers who may also be led astray by their own technology. Though Google Glass redefines multitasking and wearable technology, citizens have become increasingly concerned with the compromise of their privacy, which remains the leading issue among it’s non users. Those who wear the Google Glass may inconspicuously take photos or videos on command, leaving the surrounding population completely oblivious. This violates a person’s right to privacy as well as their own personal space. While users may legally wear them in the their common day to day tasks, the social normalities for the product have yet to be determined.

Three dimensional technology is a new state of the art method of printing that has worked its way up in popularity in recent years. While scientists and technologists are discovering different out ways to print out unimaginable figures, ethical dilemmas come up as objects are being printed that could potentially be dangerous to society. Certain objects and figures may not be the most beneficial because it could potentially cause harm and even be immensely destructive in the hands of the wrong citizen. In February 2013, due to he increased use of 3d printing, California Senator Keven De Leon introduced Senate Bill 808, clearly aimed towards 3D printed firearms or ‘ghost guns’. This would make it a crime under California law for a person to manufacture a firearm without first obtaining California Department of Justice approval to do so” (Krassentein). 3D printing creates many concerns among people because producers now have the ability to size up objects in full scale to the replace items they do not have or cannot have, such as drug development machinery. As the printers become more sophisticated, producers are finding newer ways to promote increased productivity and accuracy, which may create societal, ethical and religious problems, specifically due to the effects of bioprinting. To many, this brings about the idea of “playing God”, by creating organs, appendages, and cartilage, thus inducing highly controversial issues to those who believe that our body must remain organic and devoid of artificiality. Though 3D printing may be constructive to the progression of humanity, it still challenges many beliefs, thus putting to question its moral value in society.

Technology may continue to define our evolution into the future, but it may also prove to be a great bane to government. The consequences of our actions will always bring about a constant worry as new and more powerful pieces of technology is being put into the hands of the everyday citizen. Ethical and societal issues are skewing the idea of what is considered “ethical” and what is “legal”. Our privacy and dependency both play an interrelated role, as users will trust their device to keep and store their private information, yet our mentality of what is really held to be “private” may not be the same as what the government may hold to be private. The NSA, for example, plays a major role in securing the privacy and safety of our citizens, however, its done through the exploitation of the items of communication that we depend on. In addition, Google Glass may seem to be the new and creative innovation of wearable computers, yet legal issues and privacy issues to others are evident as it takes its first step into the lives of everyday citizens. With 3D printing, people will be able to bring to life what used to be simple two dimensional sketches and diagrams, thus handing the power to create illegal objects that ordinarily could only be found in the underground market, such as the firing pin of an automatic weapon. Thus, its imperative that we keep the population knowledgeable of the security threats posed to our information, and what we can do to avoid cyber theft.

As our world is plunged into the new era of a technologically advanced society, our people are given the capability of flexible multi tasking and self dependence. In the previous century, it would’ve been nearly impossible to conceptualize wearable technology and the threat of unknown images captured by those using it. The main dilemma is that it becomes very difficult to control a population once the flow of information has reached a singular contiguous network at the hands of those with access to the already abundant technology. There comes a point where privacy cannot be defined, for data theft, hacking, and “checking” up on citizens for the sake of national security may not be so different in this age. The world has clearly transitioned into the utilization of cyber technology to promote efficiency, and a result have become more aware of the amount of power that security analysts, black hat hackers, banks, corporates, and other entities may hold over them. As the population becomes more technologically dependent, they start to understand that data theft is now a real and present threat, thus skewing the common mentality of safety. Though our future may see a population of technically educated individuals, there will always exist those who feel uncomfortable with the change of the flow, those who who will resist the new era, those who fear the future.