[Music] [Applause]
it’s a story we’re all familiar with
it’s a story we’re all familiar with girl boy meets girl boy gets girl boy
girl boy meets girl boy gets girl boy
girl boy meets girl boy gets girl boy loses girl but there’s one difference
loses girl but there’s one difference
loses girl but there’s one difference today I’m not going to talk about boys
today I’m not going to talk about boys
today I’m not going to talk about boys and girls I’m going to talk about elves
and girls I’m going to talk about elves
and girls I’m going to talk about elves I was doing a two-year ethnographic
I was doing a two-year ethnographic
I was doing a two-year ethnographic study in a place called second life
study in a place called second life
study in a place called second life second life is a digital platform built
second life is a digital platform built
second life is a digital platform built by a company called Linden Labs the idea
by a company called Linden Labs the idea
by a company called Linden Labs the idea was this they would build the platform
was this they would build the platform
was this they would build the platform they would create a landmass an
they would create a landmass an
they would create a landmass an atmosphere and then invite users to come
atmosphere and then invite users to come
atmosphere and then invite users to come in and create content as a researcher
in and create content as a researcher
in and create content as a researcher that idea of human beings going into a
that idea of human beings going into a
that idea of human beings going into a world without boundaries and being able
world without boundaries and being able
world without boundaries and being able to do whatever they wanted to was
to do whatever they wanted to was
to do whatever they wanted to was fascinating in Second Life you first
fascinating in Second Life you first
fascinating in Second Life you first create an avatar you can create any kind
create an avatar you can create any kind
create an avatar you can create any kind of avatar you like and the folks who are
of avatar you like and the folks who are
of avatar you like and the folks who are interested in elf literature think of
interested in elf literature think of
interested in elf literature think of Lord of the Rings created elf avatars
Lord of the Rings created elf avatars
Lord of the Rings created elf avatars there were droves there were half elves
there were droves there were half elves
there were droves there were half elves there were wood elves and yes there were
there were wood elves and yes there were
there were wood elves and yes there were even a few orcs in the community but the
even a few orcs in the community but the
even a few orcs in the community but the thing that’s important to remember is
thing that’s important to remember is
thing that’s important to remember is behind every character in second life is
behind every character in second life is
behind every character in second life is a real-life human being sitting in a
a real-life human being sitting in a
a real-life human being sitting in a keyboard somewhere yeah so about the
keyboard somewhere yeah so about the
keyboard somewhere yeah so about the time I had been in the community for a
time I had been in the community for a
time I had been in the community for a short while two people entered we’re
short while two people entered we’re
short while two people entered we’re going to call them ahmadi and Carlos and
going to call them ahmadi and Carlos and
going to call them ahmadi and Carlos and they learn the ropes together and then
they learn the ropes together and then
they learn the ropes together and then became very close friends and after a
became very close friends and after a
became very close friends and after a few weeks there was a big event in the
few weeks there was a big event in the
few weeks there was a big event in the elf lands a dance so these two ended up
elf lands a dance so these two ended up
elf lands a dance so these two ended up dancing together and yes they fell in
dancing together and yes they fell in
dancing together and yes they fell in love and over the next few weeks
love and over the next few weeks
love and over the next few weeks they shared hours together they built a
they shared hours together they built a
they shared hours together they built a home together they shared many details
home together they shared many details
home together they shared many details of their real life and if
of their real life and if
of their real life and if actually they got partnered Ahmadi was a
actually they got partnered Ahmadi was a
actually they got partnered Ahmadi was a clever young lady she wrote code so she
clever young lady she wrote code so she
clever young lady she wrote code so she was quickly promoted within the Elf
was quickly promoted within the Elf
was quickly promoted within the Elf hierarchy because she was very useful to
hierarchy because she was very useful to
hierarchy because she was very useful to the community and eventually she was
the community and eventually she was
the community and eventually she was asked to sit on the High Council the
asked to sit on the High Council the
asked to sit on the High Council the governing body of the elf lands all
governing body of the elf lands all
governing body of the elf lands all seemed to be going well a few months
seemed to be going well a few months
seemed to be going well a few months passed by however and Carlo because of
passed by however and Carlo because of
passed by however and Carlo because of real-life activities was able to spend
real-life activities was able to spend
real-life activities was able to spend less and less time online then one day
less and less time online then one day
less and less time online then one day ahmadi signed on came to the off lands
ahmadi signed on came to the off lands
ahmadi signed on came to the off lands but there was a big difference Ahmadi
but there was a big difference Ahmadi
but there was a big difference Ahmadi was no longer a she ahmadi
was no longer a she ahmadi
was no longer a she ahmadi was a he now playing cross-gender in
was a he now playing cross-gender in
was a he now playing cross-gender in virtual worlds and in virtual games and
virtual worlds and in virtual games and
virtual worlds and in virtual games and online is not unusual but what was
online is not unusual but what was
online is not unusual but what was unusual in this case is often times
unusual in this case is often times
unusual in this case is often times people disclose that they are playing
people disclose that they are playing
people disclose that they are playing cross-gender
cross-gender
cross-gender and she had not so I was very curious as
and she had not so I was very curious as
and she had not so I was very curious as to how people would react to this and
to how people would react to this and
to how people would react to this and what I found in the elf lands as a
what I found in the elf lands as a
what I found in the elf lands as a researcher was no people no two people
researcher was no people no two people
researcher was no people no two people really have the same reaction to it
really have the same reaction to it
really have the same reaction to it there was a broad range from some people
there was a broad range from some people
there was a broad range from some people believe that a Mahdi should be banned
believe that a Mahdi should be banned
believe that a Mahdi should be banned from the elf lands some people felt like
from the elf lands some people felt like
from the elf lands some people felt like she shouldn’t be banned from the elf
she shouldn’t be banned from the elf
she shouldn’t be banned from the elf lands but that she should at the very
lands but that she should at the very
lands but that she should at the very least be removed from a position of
least be removed from a position of
least be removed from a position of power and trust and authority in the
power and trust and authority in the
power and trust and authority in the higher hierarchy others said nothing
higher hierarchy others said nothing
higher hierarchy others said nothing should be done it’s the Internet
should be done it’s the Internet
should be done it’s the Internet caveat emptor let the buyer beware or as
caveat emptor let the buyer beware or as
caveat emptor let the buyer beware or as The New Yorker cartoon famously said
The New Yorker cartoon famously said
The New Yorker cartoon famously said years ago on the Internet
years ago on the Internet
years ago on the Internet no one knows you’re a dog as a
no one knows you’re a dog as a
no one knows you’re a dog as a researcher I found this very curious
researcher I found this very curious
researcher I found this very curious this lack of uniform reaction so I
this lack of uniform reaction so I
this lack of uniform reaction so I started digging a bit and trying to find
started digging a bit and trying to find
started digging a bit and trying to find out what’s a code of ethics for behavior
out what’s a code of ethics for behavior
out what’s a code of ethics for behavior in a digital world
in a digital world
in a digital world and what I found was there was none not
and what I found was there was none not
and what I found was there was none not just for a digital world but for any
just for a digital world but for any
just for a digital world but for any behavior online we did not have a code
behavior online we did not have a code
behavior online we did not have a code of ethics in other words the technology
of ethics in other words the technology
of ethics in other words the technology ecology had outpaced our ability to make
ecology had outpaced our ability to make
ecology had outpaced our ability to make good moral decisions about our behavior
good moral decisions about our behavior
good moral decisions about our behavior in using that technology I don’t know if
in using that technology I don’t know if
in using that technology I don’t know if you know this person her name is Imani a
you know this person her name is Imani a
you know this person her name is Imani a Roth she was a blogger who is living in
Roth she was a blogger who is living in
Roth she was a blogger who is living in Syria she wrote a very popular blog
Syria she wrote a very popular blog
Syria she wrote a very popular blog called a gay girl in Damascus homosexual
called a gay girl in Damascus homosexual
called a gay girl in Damascus homosexual behavior is illegal in Syria frowned
behavior is illegal in Syria frowned
behavior is illegal in Syria frowned upon and so she got quite a following
upon and so she got quite a following
upon and so she got quite a following because people were very interested and
because people were very interested and
because people were very interested and how a woman who is gay and out could
how a woman who is gay and out could
how a woman who is gay and out could survive in the culture in fact CNN did a
survive in the culture in fact CNN did a
survive in the culture in fact CNN did a email interview with her to sort of get
email interview with her to sort of get
email interview with her to sort of get insight into the issue she faced she
insight into the issue she faced she
insight into the issue she faced she blogged once that she was concerned for
blogged once that she was concerned for
blogged once that she was concerned for her own safety because she thought
her own safety because she thought
her own safety because she thought security forces were following her then
security forces were following her then
security forces were following her then one day she stopped blogging it was
one day she stopped blogging it was
one day she stopped blogging it was reported that three armed men had taken
reported that three armed men had taken
reported that three armed men had taken her into custody
her into custody
her into custody people were really frightened for her
people were really frightened for her
people were really frightened for her safety
safety
safety a Facebook page sprung up the free of
a Facebook page sprung up the free of
a Facebook page sprung up the free of money or off Facebook page
money or off Facebook page
money or off Facebook page quickly it got ten thousand followers
quickly it got ten thousand followers
quickly it got ten thousand followers the US State Department said they would
the US State Department said they would
the US State Department said they would inquire into her whereabouts and if she
inquire into her whereabouts and if she
inquire into her whereabouts and if she was safe there’s only one problem here’s
was safe there’s only one problem here’s
was safe there’s only one problem here’s who is writing the blog
who is writing the blog
who is writing the blog Tomic master an American graduate
Tomic master an American graduate
Tomic master an American graduate student who is studying at the
student who is studying at the
student who is studying at the University of Edinburgh why did he do it
University of Edinburgh why did he do it
University of Edinburgh why did he do it he said to draw attention to issues in
he said to draw attention to issues in
he said to draw attention to issues in the Middle East what this case what both
the Middle East what this case what both
the Middle East what this case what both of these cases and dozens hundreds
of these cases and dozens hundreds
of these cases and dozens hundreds others of cases made me think about
others of cases made me think about
others of cases made me think about again was what kinds of ethical
again was what kinds of ethical
again was what kinds of ethical decisions are we making online how are
decisions are we making online how are
decisions are we making online how are we using this technology and it is our
we using this technology and it is our
we using this technology and it is our ability to sort of make good decisions
ability to sort of make good decisions
ability to sort of make good decisions keeping pace with all that’s happening
keeping pace with all that’s happening
keeping pace with all that’s happening in 2010 we founded the Center for
in 2010 we founded the Center for
in 2010 we founded the Center for Digital ethics and policy at Loyola in
Digital ethics and policy at Loyola in
Digital ethics and policy at Loyola in Chicago the idea was this to convene the
Chicago the idea was this to convene the
Chicago the idea was this to convene the conversation about digital ethics but
conversation about digital ethics but
conversation about digital ethics but also to encourage researchers and other
also to encourage researchers and other
also to encourage researchers and other folks to do more good work on this
folks to do more good work on this
folks to do more good work on this digital ethics topic digital ethics
digital ethics topic digital ethics
digital ethics topic digital ethics generally falls into a number of
generally falls into a number of
generally falls into a number of different categories privacy is one
different categories privacy is one
different categories privacy is one think Edward Snowden in the NSA what
think Edward Snowden in the NSA what
think Edward Snowden in the NSA what happens to our data online when people
happens to our data online when people
happens to our data online when people or organizations collect it with or
or organizations collect it with or
or organizations collect it with or without our permission are we ever safe
without our permission are we ever safe
without our permission are we ever safe from hackers
from hackers
from hackers how long does our information live
how long does our information live
how long does our information live online do we ever have the right to be
online do we ever have the right to be
online do we ever have the right to be forgotten then there’s this idea of
forgotten then there’s this idea of
forgotten then there’s this idea of content sharing think Napster and
content sharing think Napster and
content sharing think Napster and Spotify BitTorrent is it ever okay to
Spotify BitTorrent is it ever okay to
Spotify BitTorrent is it ever okay to file share online and with the music
file share online and with the music
file share online and with the music sharing services do musicians ever
sharing services do musicians ever
sharing services do musicians ever really get a fair shake and speaking of
really get a fair shake and speaking of
really get a fair shake and speaking of sharing what about uber and airbnb is
uber really not a transportation company
uber really not a transportation company has Airbnb built a platform that allows
has Airbnb built a platform that allows
has Airbnb built a platform that allows people to systematically discriminate
people to systematically discriminate
people to systematically discriminate against people of color then comes the
against people of color then comes the
against people of color then comes the subject of robots and artificial
subject of robots and artificial
subject of robots and artificial intelligence
intelligence
intelligence what would an ethical drone look like is
what would an ethical drone look like is
what would an ethical drone look like is it okay to put a robot in a Senior
it okay to put a robot in a Senior
it okay to put a robot in a Senior Center to help with caregiving is Watson
Center to help with caregiving is Watson
Center to help with caregiving is Watson simply a gimmick from IBM to sell H&R
simply a gimmick from IBM to sell H&R
simply a gimmick from IBM to sell H&R Block services or is turning over
Block services or is turning over
Block services or is turning over control of our lives to artificial
control of our lives to artificial
control of our lives to artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things
intelligence and the Internet of Things
intelligence and the Internet of Things going to eventually lead to our demise
going to eventually lead to our demise
going to eventually lead to our demise as humans then there’s digital behavior
as humans then there’s digital behavior
as humans then there’s digital behavior all the attacks that happen online
all the attacks that happen online
all the attacks that happen online trolls outing people giving out other
trolls outing people giving out other
trolls outing people giving out other people’s personal information daxing and
people’s personal information daxing and
people’s personal information daxing and swatting and flaming
swatting and flaming
swatting and flaming this world of an honest behavior where
this world of an honest behavior where
this world of an honest behavior where people attack and attack in ways that
people attack and attack in ways that
people attack and attack in ways that they would never do face-to-face or in
they would never do face-to-face or in
they would never do face-to-face or in the light of day
the light of day
the light of day and what about accurate information in
and what about accurate information in
and what about accurate information in these politically charged times where
these politically charged times where
these politically charged times where can anyone go to find accurate
can anyone go to find accurate
can anyone go to find accurate information what’s fake news and what
information what’s fake news and what
information what’s fake news and what isn’t fake news we live in an era where
isn’t fake news we live in an era where
isn’t fake news we live in an era where people can create completely fictitious
people can create completely fictitious
people can create completely fictitious websites filled with completely
websites filled with completely
websites filled with completely fictitious stories and profit off of
fictitious stories and profit off of
fictitious stories and profit off of those we live in an era where
those we live in an era where
those we live in an era where politicians can make completely
politicians can make completely
politicians can make completely fictitious statements in order to
fictitious statements in order to
fictitious statements in order to distract the public from serious policy
distract the public from serious policy
distract the public from serious policy issues what would an ethics of accurate
issues what would an ethics of accurate
issues what would an ethics of accurate information look like would any
information look like would any
information look like would any politician agree to it
politician agree to it
politician agree to it and what role do the service providers
and what role do the service providers
and what role do the service providers play in all this they’re the ones that
play in all this they’re the ones that
play in all this they’re the ones that often are passing on the fake news how
often are passing on the fake news how
often are passing on the fake news how do we hold them accountable and what
do we hold them accountable and what
do we hold them accountable and what role do they play
role do they play
role do they play finally there’s area of access who has
finally there’s area of access who has
finally there’s area of access who has access to the Internet and who doesn’t
access to the Internet and who doesn’t
access to the Internet and who doesn’t who has access to high speed and who
who has access to high speed and who
who has access to high speed and who doesn’t who can see the whole internet
doesn’t who can see the whole internet
doesn’t who can see the whole internet and who can only see a bit of the
and who can only see a bit of the
and who can only see a bit of the internet because of a politically
internet because of a politically
internet because of a politically imposed firewall what’s the what’s the
imposed firewall what’s the what’s the
imposed firewall what’s the what’s the relationship between freedom and access
relationship between freedom and access
relationship between freedom and access to technology these are all important
to technology these are all important
to technology these are all important questions and the real question comes up
questions and the real question comes up
questions and the real question comes up what what can we do what do we do about
what what can we do what do we do about
what what can we do what do we do about all this I think the answer is first we
all this I think the answer is first we
all this I think the answer is first we can become better informed we can think
can become better informed we can think
can become better informed we can think about ways in which we can learn how
about ways in which we can learn how
about ways in which we can learn how digital decision maker nough bout
digital decision maker nough bout
digital decision maker nough bout ethical decision making how and how it
ethical decision making how and how it
ethical decision making how and how it applies to all these digital issues we
applies to all these digital issues we
applies to all these digital issues we can hold account of
can hold account of
can hold account of all our selves online how do we behave
all our selves online how do we behave
all our selves online how do we behave online everyday how do we treat other
online everyday how do we treat other
online everyday how do we treat other people and we can also help hold
people and we can also help hold
people and we can also help hold accountable to other other people and
accountable to other other people and
accountable to other other people and organizations as well I endorse a model
organizations as well I endorse a model
organizations as well I endorse a model of digital citizenship citizenship tells
of digital citizenship citizenship tells
of digital citizenship citizenship tells us that we have great freedoms but with
us that we have great freedoms but with
us that we have great freedoms but with those freedoms come some
those freedoms come some
those freedoms come some responsibilities as well one of those
responsibilities as well one of those
responsibilities as well one of those responsibilities might be treating each
responsibilities might be treating each
responsibilities might be treating each other
other
other civilly recently I wrote an editorial
civilly recently I wrote an editorial
civilly recently I wrote an editorial for USA Today asking for the large tech
for USA Today asking for the large tech
for USA Today asking for the large tech companies to hire chief ethicists who
companies to hire chief ethicists who
companies to hire chief ethicists who could help them negotiate ethical
could help them negotiate ethical
could help them negotiate ethical decision-making these can’t be people
decision-making these can’t be people
decision-making these can’t be people who only have a title they have to be
who only have a title they have to be
who only have a title they have to be trained ephesus who actually have access
trained ephesus who actually have access
trained ephesus who actually have access to the executive suite they can help
to the executive suite they can help
to the executive suite they can help executives make better decisions about
executives make better decisions about
executives make better decisions about the technology they’re releasing every
the technology they’re releasing every
the technology they’re releasing every day they can also harness the knowledge
day they can also harness the knowledge
day they can also harness the knowledge and experience of the many bright
and experience of the many bright
and experience of the many bright employees of these tech companies who
employees of these tech companies who
employees of these tech companies who many of them also have concerns about
many of them also have concerns about
many of them also have concerns about how the technologies being used imagine
how the technologies being used imagine
how the technologies being used imagine a world where both humans and
a world where both humans and
a world where both humans and organizations treated each other in
organizations treated each other in
organizations treated each other in digital spaces with respect and honesty
digital spaces with respect and honesty
digital spaces with respect and honesty and kindness imagine a world where
and kindness imagine a world where
and kindness imagine a world where organisations and people were direct
organisations and people were direct
organisations and people were direct with each other and transparent in such
with each other and transparent in such
with each other and transparent in such a world a boy might meet a girl and be
a world a boy might meet a girl and be
a world a boy might meet a girl and be honest and direct and all would be well
honest and direct and all would be well
honest and direct and all would be well in elf lands again thank
in elf lands again thank
in elf lands again thank [Music]
”
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