Author:
(1) Angelica Sofia Valeriani, Ethics of Information Technology, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy. Table of Links 1 Introduction 2 The new Empire of Surveillance Capitalism 3 Target Advertisement 4 Military technology and Politics 5 Focus on Ethical Frameworks 5.1 Utilitarian Framework 5.2 Deontology Framework 5.3 Direct comparison between Utilitarianism and Deontology 6 Conclusions, Acknowledgements, and References 6 Conclusions This analysis has brought important conclusions. In both frameworks, we have seen how important the aspect of awareness is, even if to front different issues, according to the specific ethical framework. Another important point that was raised, considering the first scenario, is that an apparently less damaging and “innocent”, meaning harmless, action, like the one of the targeted advertisement, can be as well perceived as very much annoying and is not at all less serious than more evident forms of control. It can be seen as a pleasant form of intrusion in the Utilitarian framework, perhaps, or as controversial in the Kantian framework, but in both cases needs to be controlled, normalized, not abused. It is very important that research today is going in the direction of making data anonymous in order to allow business analysts to take profit from it because it means that people are sensitive to topics of privacy, autonomy and surveillance and that one-day commercial benefits and welfare, increasing business, could be derived in the total respect of the human being. The most important thing is to make IT able to protect rights. Considering the second scenario, the last point that was raised was the importance of social and national Security, together with the tendency of manipulation that can derive from the owning of important means like the ones of IT. In this case, social education would prevent the improper use of the control that can be applied and brought the Kantian framework into contradiction, always considering that inappropriate behaviors are always possible and the goal is the one of minimizing unfairness. While the issues of privacy, autonomy, and surveillance have been around for a long time, they have become more pressing in recent years due to the increasing amount of personal data that is being collected and analyzed by companies and governments. As technology continues to advance, the potential for abuse of this data becomes even greater, and it is essential that we take steps to protect individual rights and freedoms. One possible solution is to increase transparency and accountability in data collection and usage. This can be achieved through measures such as data anonymization, which allows analysts to work with aggregated data without compromising the privacy of individual users. Additionally, regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States aim to give individuals greater control over their personal data and require companies to be more transparent about their data practices. Another important consideration is the role of education in promoting responsible data usage. This includes not only educating the general public about their rights and how to protect their privacy but also providing training to professionals in fields such as data science, who need to be aware of the ethical implications of their work. By promoting a culture of responsible data usage and creating incentives for companies and governments to prioritize individual rights, we can work towards a future where technology is used to benefit society as a whole, rather than just a few powerful actors. In conclusion, the issues raised in this essay highlight the complex ethical considerations that arise in the context of data usage and control. While there is no easy solution to these challenges, it is clear that we need to prioritize individual rights and work towards greater transparency, accountability, and education in order to minimize the potential for abuse and promote a more just and equitable society. The practice of surveillance capitalism raises important ethical questions that must be carefully considered in the context of rapidly evolving technology and changing social norms. By examining the phenomenon from multiple ethical frameworks and real-world examples, researchers and practitioners can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the complex trade-offs involved. Acknowledgements I want to thank professor Viola Schiaffonati for supporting the development of this work, giving food for thoughts and raising awareness for many ethical issues related to the IT profession. Computer ethics also allows us to consider the diverse perspectives and values of various stakeholders, including users, communities, and society as a whole. This helps to ensure that our research and practice align with broader ethical and social considerations, and can contribute to positive social and environmental outcomes. Furthermore, it promotes the development of a culture of ethical responsibility and professionalism in the technology sector. By emphasizing the importance of ethical decision-making and accountability, we can help to create a more just and equitable society where technology serves the common good. I think this consciousness is essential to improve us as engineers. References [1] JB Foster, RW McChesnet. Monthly Review 2014. Surveillance capitalism: Monopoly-finance capital, the military-industrial complex, and the digital age [2] JE Cohen. Cambridge Handbook of Surveillance Law, eds. David. 2017. Surveillance vs. Privacy: Effects and Implications [https://papers.ssrn.com] [3] SM West. Business & society, 2019. Data capitalism: Redefining the logics of surveillance and privacy [https://journals.sagepub.com] [4] O Barbu. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2014. Elsevier. Advertising, microtargeting and social media [5] CE Tucker. 2013, Social Networks, personalized advertising, and privacy controls [6] RG Pensa, G Di Blasi. Expert Systems with Applications, 2017. Elsevier. A privacy self-assessment framework for online social networks [7] J Raudeliunien ¯ e, V Davidavi ˙ cien ˇ e, M Tvaronavi ˙ cien ˇ e. Sustainability, ˙ 2018. Evaluation of advertising campaigns on social media networks [https://mdpi.com] [8] D Muench, B Hilsenbeck, H Kieritz. Optics and Photonics for Counterterrorism, Crime Fighting, and Defence XII. 2016. Detection of infrastructure manipulation with knowledge-based video surveillance [https://spiedigitallibrary.org] [9] J Burkell, PM Regan. Internet Policy Review, 2019. Voter preferences, voter manipulation, voter analytics: policy options for less surveillance and more autonomy [https://econstor.eu] [10] WJ Jie, 2020. Between Surveillance and Security: The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill (POFMA) [https://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg] [11] C Ess, C Kwok, NK Chan, M Bay. AoIR Selected Papers of Internet Research, 2020. LEGAL AND ETHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON (BIG) DATA, PLATFORMS, AI AND ALGORITHMS [https://journals.uic.edu] [12] K Plangger, M Montecchi. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 2020. Elsevier. Thinking Beyond Privacy Calculus: Investigating Reactions to Customer Surveillance [13] M Andrejevic. Surveillance & Society, 2019. Automating surveillance [https://ojs.library.queensu.ca] [14] Shoshana Zuboff, 2015. Big other: surveillance capitalism and the prospects of an information civilization. Journal of Information Technology [15] JM Jacobs, QB Fox. 2019. Surveillance capitalism and its (un) intended consequences [https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au] [16] N Couldry. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 2017. Taylor & Francis. Surveillance-democracy [17] S Sevignani. Historical Social Research/Historische Sozialforschung, 2017. JSTOR. Surveillance, classification, and social inequality in informational capitalism: The relevance of exploitation in the context of markets in information [18] Yama, Hiroshi. (2020). Morality and Contemporary Civilization. 10.4018/978-1-7998-1811-3.ch004. [19] Shoshana Zuboff. The age of surveillance capitalism. The fight for a human future at the new frontier of power. VPRO Documentary. 2019 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIXhnWUmMvw] This paper is available on arxiv under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED license. Author: (1) Angelica Sofia Valeriani, Ethics of Information Technology, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy. Author: Author: (1) Angelica Sofia Valeriani, Ethics of Information Technology, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy. Table of Links 1 Introduction 1 Introduction 2 The new Empire of Surveillance Capitalism 2 The new Empire of Surveillance Capitalism 3 Target Advertisement 3 Target Advertisement 4 Military technology and Politics 4 Military technology and Politics 5 Focus on Ethical Frameworks 5 Focus on Ethical Frameworks 5.1 Utilitarian Framework 5.1 Utilitarian Framework 5.2 Deontology Framework 5.2 Deontology Framework 5.3 Direct comparison between Utilitarianism and Deontology 5.3 Direct comparison between Utilitarianism and Deontology 6 Conclusions, Acknowledgements, and References 6 Conclusions, Acknowledgements, and References 6 Conclusions This analysis has brought important conclusions. In both frameworks, we have seen how important the aspect of awareness is, even if to front different issues, according to the specific ethical framework. Another important point that was raised, considering the first scenario, is that an apparently less damaging and “innocent”, meaning harmless, action, like the one of the targeted advertisement, can be as well perceived as very much annoying and is not at all less serious than more evident forms of control. It can be seen as a pleasant form of intrusion in the Utilitarian framework, perhaps, or as controversial in the Kantian framework, but in both cases needs to be controlled, normalized, not abused. It is very important that research today is going in the direction of making data anonymous in order to allow business analysts to take profit from it because it means that people are sensitive to topics of privacy, autonomy and surveillance and that one-day commercial benefits and welfare, increasing business, could be derived in the total respect of the human being. The most important thing is to make IT able to protect rights. Considering the second scenario, the last point that was raised was the importance of social and national Security, together with the tendency of manipulation that can derive from the owning of important means like the ones of IT. In this case, social education would prevent the improper use of the control that can be applied and brought the Kantian framework into contradiction, always considering that inappropriate behaviors are always possible and the goal is the one of minimizing unfairness. While the issues of privacy, autonomy, and surveillance have been around for a long time, they have become more pressing in recent years due to the increasing amount of personal data that is being collected and analyzed by companies and governments. As technology continues to advance, the potential for abuse of this data becomes even greater, and it is essential that we take steps to protect individual rights and freedoms. One possible solution is to increase transparency and accountability in data collection and usage. This can be achieved through measures such as data anonymization, which allows analysts to work with aggregated data without compromising the privacy of individual users. Additionally, regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States aim to give individuals greater control over their personal data and require companies to be more transparent about their data practices. Another important consideration is the role of education in promoting responsible data usage. This includes not only educating the general public about their rights and how to protect their privacy but also providing training to professionals in fields such as data science, who need to be aware of the ethical implications of their work. By promoting a culture of responsible data usage and creating incentives for companies and governments to prioritize individual rights, we can work towards a future where technology is used to benefit society as a whole, rather than just a few powerful actors. In conclusion, the issues raised in this essay highlight the complex ethical considerations that arise in the context of data usage and control. While there is no easy solution to these challenges, it is clear that we need to prioritize individual rights and work towards greater transparency, accountability, and education in order to minimize the potential for abuse and promote a more just and equitable society. The practice of surveillance capitalism raises important ethical questions that must be carefully considered in the context of rapidly evolving technology and changing social norms. By examining the phenomenon from multiple ethical frameworks and real-world examples, researchers and practitioners can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the complex trade-offs involved. Acknowledgements I want to thank professor Viola Schiaffonati for supporting the development of this work, giving food for thoughts and raising awareness for many ethical issues related to the IT profession. Computer ethics also allows us to consider the diverse perspectives and values of various stakeholders, including users, communities, and society as a whole. This helps to ensure that our research and practice align with broader ethical and social considerations, and can contribute to positive social and environmental outcomes. Furthermore, it promotes the development of a culture of ethical responsibility and professionalism in the technology sector. By emphasizing the importance of ethical decision-making and accountability, we can help to create a more just and equitable society where technology serves the common good. I think this consciousness is essential to improve us as engineers. References [1] JB Foster, RW McChesnet. Monthly Review 2014. Surveillance capitalism: Monopoly-finance capital, the military-industrial complex, and the digital age [2] JE Cohen. Cambridge Handbook of Surveillance Law, eds. David. 2017. Surveillance vs. Privacy: Effects and Implications [https://papers.ssrn.com] [3] SM West. Business & society, 2019. Data capitalism: Redefining the logics of surveillance and privacy [https://journals.sagepub.com] [4] O Barbu. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2014. Elsevier. Advertising, microtargeting and social media [5] CE Tucker. 2013, Social Networks, personalized advertising, and privacy controls [6] RG Pensa, G Di Blasi. Expert Systems with Applications, 2017. Elsevier. A privacy self-assessment framework for online social networks [7] J Raudeliunien ¯ e, V Davidavi ˙ cien ˇ e, M Tvaronavi ˙ cien ˇ e. Sustainability, ˙ 2018. Evaluation of advertising campaigns on social media networks [https://mdpi.com] [8] D Muench, B Hilsenbeck, H Kieritz. Optics and Photonics for Counterterrorism, Crime Fighting, and Defence XII. 2016. Detection of infrastructure manipulation with knowledge-based video surveillance [https://spiedigitallibrary.org] [9] J Burkell, PM Regan. Internet Policy Review, 2019. Voter preferences, voter manipulation, voter analytics: policy options for less surveillance and more autonomy [https://econstor.eu] [10] WJ Jie, 2020. Between Surveillance and Security: The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill (POFMA) [https://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg] [11] C Ess, C Kwok, NK Chan, M Bay. AoIR Selected Papers of Internet Research, 2020. LEGAL AND ETHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON (BIG) DATA, PLATFORMS, AI AND ALGORITHMS [https://journals.uic.edu] [12] K Plangger, M Montecchi. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 2020. Elsevier. Thinking Beyond Privacy Calculus: Investigating Reactions to Customer Surveillance [13] M Andrejevic. Surveillance & Society, 2019. Automating surveillance [https://ojs.library.queensu.ca] [14] Shoshana Zuboff, 2015. Big other: surveillance capitalism and the prospects of an information civilization. Journal of Information Technology [15] JM Jacobs, QB Fox. 2019. Surveillance capitalism and its (un) intended consequences [https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au] [16] N Couldry. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 2017. Taylor & Francis. Surveillance-democracy [17] S Sevignani. Historical Social Research/Historische Sozialforschung, 2017. JSTOR. Surveillance, classification, and social inequality in informational capitalism: The relevance of exploitation in the context of markets in information [18] Yama, Hiroshi. (2020). Morality and Contemporary Civilization. 10.4018/978-1-7998-1811-3.ch004. [19] Shoshana Zuboff. The age of surveillance capitalism. The fight for a human future at the new frontier of power. VPRO Documentary. 2019 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIXhnWUmMvw] This paper is available on arxiv under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED license. This paper is available on arxiv under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED license. available on arxiv

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Exposing the Hidden Costs of Data Control: Why Transparency and Education Are Your Best Defenses

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