Ethical Software: How not to build bombs in the modern era

Transcript

1. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:No_More_Bombs_Graffiti_-_Sarinena_Spain_-_panoramio.jpg
2. Ethical Software How not to build bombs in the modern era Jeri Sommers https://pronoun.is/she?or=they&or=he Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
3. What is this talk *not* about? • How to determine whether something is ethical • The intricacies of finding allies Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
4. Loose agenda • Intro <-- you are here! • Having strong feelings about a thing... • Supporting employees with strong feelings • Outro Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
5. As a person with strong feelings about a thing... Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
6. As a person with strong feelings about a thing... • If at all possible, don’t act alone Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
7. As a person with strong feelings about a thing... • If at all possible, don’t act alone. Find allies! Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
8. As a person with strong feelings about a thing... • If at all possible, don’t act alone. Find allies! • Try approaching the issue from a different angle. Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
9. As a person with strong feelings about a thing... • If at all possible, don’t act alone. Find allies! • Try approaching the issue from a different angle. • Organize! Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
10. As a person with strong feelings about a thing... • If at all possible, don’t act alone. Find allies! • Try approaching the issue from a different angle. • Organize! • If all else fails, get out of a bad situation Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
11. Whistleblowing • You will likely face employer retaliation 1, 2 • It may be a career ending move: ◦ You may end up in prison 3 ◦ You may have to leave the country 4 • However, there are times when it is the best solution.5 If you’re considering this, please talk to a lawyer first. Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
12. As a company, what do I do about all these feelings? Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
13. As a company, what do I do about all these feelings? • Hire people who care Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
14. As a company, what do I do about all these feelings? • Hire people who care • Build process around discussing feelings and issues Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
15. As a company, what do I do about all these feelings? • Hire people who care • Build process around discussing feelings and issues • Move employees off problematic projects Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
16. As a company, what do I do about all these feelings? • Hire people who care • Build process around discussing feelings and issues • Move employees off problematic projects • Shut down extremely problematic projects Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
17. As a company, what do I do about all these feelings? • Hire people who care • Build process around discussing feelings and issues • Move employees off problematic projects • Shut down extremely problematic projects • Have a rainy day fund Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
18. As a company, what do I do about all these feelings? • Hire people who care • Build process around discussing feelings and issues • Move employees off problematic projects • Shut down extremely problematic projects • Have a rainy day fund • At all times, be as transparent as you possibly can Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
19. Ethical Software How not to build bombs in the modern era Jeri Sommers https://pronoun.is/she?or=they&or=he Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
20. Additional Watching • Emily Gorcenski @ JSConf EU 2017 The Ethics of the Internet of Things https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLL7Fo_em2E • Liz Fong-Jones, Google, and Emily Gorcenski @ SREcon18 Europe SRE for Good: Engineering Intersections between Operations and Social Activism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Dro0mreAxk • Olivia Liddell @ Abstractions II 2019 Socially Engineering Your Pathway to a Better Team https://www.slideshare.net/OliviaLiddell/olivia-liddell-abstractions-2019-socially-engineering-your-pathway-to-a-better-team Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics)
21. Additional Reading Slides at: sojeri/ethics (https://github.com/sojeri/ethics) • Having Difficult Conversations https://hbr.org/2017/05/8-ways-to-get-a-difficult-conversation-back-on-track https://www.judyringer.com/resources/articles/we-have-to-talk-a-stepbystep-checklist-for-difficult-conversations.php • Workplace Organizing http://socialistworker.org/2019/01/11/organizing-a-workplace-campaign https://libcom.org/organise/workplace-organising • Whistleblowing organizations https://www.spj.org/whistleblower/whistleblowing-organizations.asp • Tech Workers Coalition: “We organize for activism, civic engagement and education in the Bay Area, Seattle, and across the United States.” https://techworkerscoalition.org/#connect