Should computer science researchers disclose negative social consequences?

Re:Should computer science researchers disclose negative soc... by wwhitlow on Friday August 03, 2018 @08:32AM (#17679289)

I like the intent behind this idea and think that it is important for ethics to start becoming part of Computer Science. I'd be curious if someone with more knowledge about medicine could explain how those publications handle these dilemmas. Especially with regards to CRISPR Cas9 as that is probably the most famous recent discovery that needs some serious ethical considerations.

My fear is that if Computer Science doesn't start acknowledging the ethical consequences of the work being done that it will lead to a sharp increase in regulations. This fear is primarily held with self driving cars which some seem to have been rushed into production and have lead to some serious consequences.

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Re:Should computer science researchers disclose negative soc... by dekhn on Friday August 03, 2018 @09:18AM (#17679557)

CRISPR doesn't really mean the ethical considerations have changed. It's just a tool that makes genomic changes easier (and the jury is still very much out whether it can do so safely). Other tools already existed to do this, just more expensive and more challenging to work with.

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Re:Should computer science researchers disclose negative soc... by Kalium on Friday August 03, 2018 @04:32PM (#17683383)

I won't claim to speak for others, but my formal education in Computer Science included a course on ethics and professionalism. It presented several ethical frameworks.

None of those ethical frameworks would lead me to conclude that, say, self-driving vehicles are net-negative for society.

My personal experience conducting research in computer science is that at least some of it is too abstract to have clear social consequences. What are the social consequences of making it marginally easier and faster to produce chip designs that are easy to manufacture?

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