The case for ethical technology assessment (eTA)

• Published in: Technological forecasting & social change Vol. 73; no. 5; pp. 543 - 558
• Main Authors: Palm, Elin, Hansson, Sven Ove
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.06.2006
• Subjects: Check-list; Dialogue; embryos; Ethical technology assessment; Ethics; Filosofiämnen; Historisk-filosofiska ämnen; History and philosophy subjects; HUMANIORA och RELIGIONSVETENSKAP; HUMANITIES and RELIGION; new technology; philosophy; Philosophy subjects; problem solving; Technological Change; technology; Technology Assessment; Technology developers; Ethics; Dialogue; Check-list; Technology assessment; Technology developers; Ethical technology assessment
• ISSN: 0040-1625; 1873-5509; 1873-5509
• DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2005.06.002

New technologies often give rise to previously unknown ethical problems, and it often takes many years to fully integrate them in society. We propose a new form of technology assessment that will focus on the ethical implications of new technologies; ethical technology assessment (eTA). Ethical technology assessment will serve as a tool for identifying adverse effects of new technologies at an early stage. It should be undertaken in dialogue with technology developers and have the form of a continuous dialogue rather than a single evaluation at a specific point in time. eTA can be conducted on the basis of a check-list that refers to nine crucial ethical aspects of technology; (1) Dissemination and use of information, (2) Control, influence and power, (3) Impact on social contact patterns, (4) Privacy, (5) Sustainability, (6) Human reproduction, (7) Gender, minorities and justice, (8) International relations, and (9) Impact on human values. Ethical technology assessments should not be committed to any particular moral theory. Instead they should be open to different perspectives and solutions.