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RubyConf 2018 - Ethical Data Collection for Regular Developers by Colin Fleming The DC Abortion Fund collects extremely sensitive data about people seeking abortions. That's terrifying for the engineering team, who are responsible for keeping client data safe! We've made a lot of carefully measured ethical decisions about data intake and usage. In this talk we'll examine how we have done data modeling, collection, and scrubbing, and the ethical reasoning and tradeoffs we've made along the way.
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In his talk at RubyConf 2018, Colin Fleming addresses the critical theme of ethical data collection, particularly in sensitive fields like the DC Abortion Fund. He underscores the profound responsibilities developers hold in ensuring ethical handling of data while navigating the risks and potential harms that can arise. Fleming begins by highlighting a philosophical thought experiment involving a teleportation device that, despite its benefits, involves fatal ethical compromises, symbolizing the weight of ethical decisions in technology. Key points from the discussion include: - **Ethical Duality of Software**: Software can be transformative but also dangerous, necessitating careful consideration of developers' responsibilities. - **Public Perception and Accountability**: Ongoing industry scandals have decreased trust in technology; developers must accept accountability for their choices and the systems they create. - **Framework for Ethical Decision-Making**: Fleming suggests defining ethics rooted in shared and individual values, incorporating principles from the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) code of ethics as a guide. - **Values of the DC Abortion Fund**: Key values include ensuring individual agency in making personal choices and recognizing the need for transparency regarding data collection, highlighting the tension between asking necessary questions and respecting client comfort. - **Case Studies and Decision Points**: The team discusses real-world scenarios illustrating dilemmas faced at the DC Abortion Fund, such as recalibrating their approach to collecting sensitive information in response to changing social and political contexts. - **Balancing Data Collection and Patient Respect**: Decisions around data retention and use are weighed against the potential risks posed to individuals, ensuring that actions align with their established values. Fleming emphasizes the importance of maintaining a mindset prepared to confront ethical questions, encouraging developers to reflect on their values and the power dynamics involved in their work. He concludes by asserting the need for practical approaches to ethical dilemmas, advocating for direct engagement with the ethical implications of data usage, and reinforcing the importance of accountability in the tech industry.
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