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Using technology for the public good rather than to its disadvantage
ethical design
About the center
Technology has no say in how it's used. People make that choice. People can use the same technology to construct either heaven or hell. Our center aims to elaborate the sensible boundaries of technology use, so that it may benefit the people, rather than hinder their lives.
Key issues
Personal data
Personal data belongs to the people, not to the state or corporations that use it in any way they see fit.
Surveillance
People closely observe the actions of the state and corporations, instead of the state and corporations tracking their every step.
Manipulation
Protect the people from ongoing manipulations instead of creating ever more efficient manipulations.
Autonomous weapons
Reduce suffering and preserve civilian lives instead of escalating military conflicts and increasing the number of victims.
Bioengineering
Improve people's lives instead of creating the perfect soldiers/workers, or turning economic inequality into biological inequality.
Bias
Struggle with the current biases instead of reinforcing the existing ones, cultivating new ones and embedding them in artificial systems.
Transforming institutions
Technologies will entirely change numerous aspects of life. Whether it's for better or for worse – that's up to us.
Labor market
Today machines are challenging people not only in physical, but in intellectual labor. The speed at which the old workplaces are disappearing and new ones emerging is growing. At a certain point, the majority of people won't be able to cope with the speed of changes and will become redundant for the economy. In a situation like this we have to protect people, rather than workplaces.
Education
The current education system provides skills and knowledge early on in life. It is presumed that these skills and knowledge won't become obsolete, and a person will be engaged in one and the same type of work for all of their life. Today that's hardly feasible. Education should continue throughout the entire life. The set of skills acquired at the outset of life should be completely reexamined.
Inequality
Economic inequality is deepening. Means of production and big data are concentrated in the hands of small groups. Distribution of wealth, established by the fourth industrial revolution, may lead to even greater inequality - not only economic, but biological as well. At the same time, inequality may decrease via the implementation of instruments like universal basic income.
Stages of work
1
Collecting information
Searching for all available information on the issue in question, both in Russian and international sources. Creation of a relevant database.
2
Processing information
Structuring information, preparing data for use by the workgroup. Determining the issues that require expert solutions.
3
Developing solutions
Developing solutions within the workgroup via a series of open discussions. As a result of these discussions, decisions are made and formalized as legal acts.
4
Popularization of decisions
Making the decisions public via the media, social networks, press-conferences and other methods. Informing the maximum number of people.
5
Implementing decisions
Persuading and exerting public pressure on the authorities to implement the decisions adopted by the center – both in Russia and in other countries. Tracking the course and the quality of implementation.
Deployment of the mass surveillance system has to be stopped
Our partners
You can always get in touch with us. We'll be happy to answer all questions.
Russia, Moscow
info@ethicsandtech.ru