01.07.2022

Humans in the virtual shop window

Digitalization brings changes and raises numerous questions. What content do we post online, and to what extent can conclusions be drawn from it? Can we truly enjoy our smart homes according to the motto "Home sweet home," or are we perhaps not entirely alone? Are Alexa and similar devices listening in on family meals? Digital ethics addresses these questions in the context of technological change.

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Clicks & Likes at Any Price?

Digital developments now permeate all areas of life. Robotics, intelligent assistance systems, and smart technologies offer support in everyday life. Digital media enable communication, networking, and exchange. Consequently, they also exist in a constant tension between community and physical distance. The boundaries between the real and virtual worlds are blurring. Alongside the numerous advantages and opportunities that the use of current technological advancements brings, the risks must not be ignored. Balancing the relatively even use and activity of digital tools or social networks seems to be a delicate balancing act. Driven by the urge to revel in clicks and likes, data protection and privacy are quickly forgotten.

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"Home sweet home" – or is it?

Smart technologies never sleep

In light of cybercrime, fake news, potential dangers from addictive programming, objectionable media content, and hurtful online communication (cyberbullying, hate speech), it's no wonder that there are constant calls for personal responsibility and the promotion of mindfulness and awareness. The data processing associated with digital communication can be both a blessing and a curse. The same is true for technical tools and applications. Algorithms and smart technologies never sleep and are always attentive to our needs. While this optimizes search results, practical benefits, and efficient application, it also means we're constantly in the virtual shop window. Behaviors, decisions, and actions can always have consequences; our actions leave traces. Consequently, we shouldn't throw stones at people who live in glass houses – at least, as the old saying goes. But we also reap what we sow in our own glass house, meaning that the information we share online doesn't go unnoticed. Furthermore, applications in the context of networked technologies (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) are fed our data daily and utilize it. Can we truly enjoy our "home, smart home" according to the motto "Home sweet home," or are we perhaps not entirely alone? How can we be sure that someone isn't watching us through the smart home's own security camera? Are Alexa and similar devices listening in on family meals?

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Digital Ethics

Against this backdrop, the protection of our data, autonomy, and privacy is gaining increasing importance. Media content, digital services, and their responsible use are increasingly coming into focus. Alongside societal and digital transformation and the changing barriers to online access, the question of how to deal with the potential impairment of freedom of action and decision-making regarding transparency and big data plays a central role. Digital ethics addresses these issues, examining both the opportunities and the risks of digitalization. To meet these diverse challenges, the consideration of differing experiences in the digital space is given equal importance as addressing participation, reflective communication behavior, values-based media literacy, and moral codes of conduct. The field of digital ethics is broad. In addition to media and information ethics, it also examines ethical aspects in the creation and production of technological developments. Furthermore, not everything is accepted without question; criticism is voiced, and existing conditions are scrutinized. Digital ethics is also gaining increasing importance in academia and research. Companies are relying on ethics boards or commissions, among other things, to increase ethical standards, diversity, independence and transparency.

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Events at St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences

In recent years, St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences has increasingly addressed this context through various conferences and symposia. Last year's Media Ethics Symposium explored the challenges of emerging conspiracy theories from societal, ethical, and individual perspectives. The 2022 Media Ethics Symposium, entitled "AI and Algorithms as Ethical Challenges for a Mediatized Society," examined the ethical, technological, and economic implications.