Moral principles in IT: Golden rule

Technology speeds up our processes. We consider this a benefit, but there is one important caveat we need to know about. Fast systems repeat errors fast. So the faster are our systems, the more care we need to give designing them.

Computerized information systems also have another important characteristic differentiating them from systems and workflows operated by people without automation. Computers do exactly what you tell them to do. They do not think; they do not interpret context or adjust behavior. You can tell them to cheat, but then your fraudulent rules will show to the learned eye.

How can we avoid these traps? We need to pay attention to basic moral principles when we design information systems so our systems serve their purpose.

The first moral principle I talk about in the video below is maybe the most well known. We know it as the Golden Rule. It is about reciprocity, the most powerful foundation of all human cooperation.