As well as looking at retro we sometimes look at the development of technology over the years. We have come a long way in the last ten years, and while this has brought with it a great number of new possibilities, it has also raised various challenges. Some of these challenges include ethical considerations that arise due to the availability of certain technologies, the fact we share everything online, or new tools we are developing to help us in day-to-day life. Here are just a few examples of things we didn’t worry about 10-20 years ago, but are in 2022.
Gaming and gambling
Gambling has been popular for hundreds of years, but it is only since it has boomed online that there has been more focus on gambling companies giving back. For decades, offline gambling companies have been involved in reducing the risk of gambling, investing in local and social initiatives, and focusing on responsible and fair gambling.
Some online companies will also invest money into sustainable initiatives to create a brighter future for the community. While it is known that gambling can be challenging for some, it also provides a wealth of jobs and a significant amount of cash to local and national economies, and as mentioned, some companies are keen to give back through various projects and programmes.
AI
If someone had mentioned the phrase “ethics in AI” a decade ago, many people would have thought they were talking about science fiction. But in 2022, the necessity for defined ethical considerations in the AI sector is even discussed at a European Union level.
In 2021, the European Commission launched its EU AI Act proposal in a bid to promote “trustworthy AI” across the bloc. Expected to pass in 2024, consultations, revisions and proposals are currently being made involving stakeholders such as companies, politicians, NGOs and other experts.
Some of the ethical provisions in the draft act include protections around facial recognition, biometric categorisation, storage of data, predictive policing, and the use of AI to comb digital communications, including images.
The use of AI brings with it many potentials and benefits, but as it is still in its infancy, there are many potential issues. Thankfully, governments and NGOs are working to put a number of protections in place.
Data privacy
Every time we go online, we create data such as our search history, which sites we visited, where we are located, what we bought, who we spoke to, and much more. This data can create an in-depth profile about us and our habits, which can be worth a lot of money to third-party companies.
This data can be used to predict what we like or want to buy, who we will vote for, and even matters relating to our health and well-being. The issue here is that not many of us understand how much personal data is out there about us and how it is being monetised.
Much of this data is used to target adverts and products at us, specifically to get us to purchase or to spend more time on a site, absorbing more information and more adverts.
The data can also be used in concerning ways, as was the case with the Cambridge Analytica- Facebook scandal some years ago. Legislators are still slow to catch up with these changes in how our data is used, but progress is being made in the EU and US.
There are many more topics related to this, and as humanity continues to push technology ever-forward, the list of ethical concerns will keep on growing.