Skip to main content

Author: admin_tech_ethos_strong

Tool | 20 November 2023

Y/our Ethics Decide: an interactive Digital Installation on the ethical dimensions of Climate Engineering and Natural Language Processing

Written by admin_tech_ethos_strong on . Posted in Resource, Tool (main).

Tool

Y/our Ethics Decide: an interactive Digital Installation on the ethical dimensions of Climate Engineering and Natural Language Processing

In an era dominated by unprecedented technological advancements, the ethical implications of innovation must have a central role. Y/our Ethics Decide, a revolutionary digital installation, invites you to explore the complex interplay of ethics, technology, and societal values. Embark on this immersive experience, where “Ethics by design” shapes the narrative right from the inception of emerging technologies.

Have a closer look at the Digital Installation

Y/our Ethics Decide: A Visionary Approach to Tech Ethics

Y/our Ethics Decide is not only a digital installation – but a journey into the future of responsible technology. Based on the principle of Ethics by design, Y/our Ethics ensures that societal values lead the way in the development of new technologies. This unique approach empowers individuals from diverse backgrounds to actively participate in shaping the ethical landscape of emerging realms.

Climate Engineering: Addressing the Urgency of Our Time

Y/our Ethics Decide navigates the realm of Climate Engineering. Technologies like Nature-based Carbon Dioxide Removal and Engineered Carbon Dioxide Removal take center stage, aiming to mitigate the effects of climate change. Solar Radiation Management, a pivotal aspect of Climate Engineering, explores innovative methods to reflect sunlight and cool the planet.

Natural Language Processing: Decoding the Heart of Digital Interaction

Our digital installation delves into the heart of Digital Extended Reality. Here, artificial intelligence comprehends and responds to human communication, offering insights into the evolving landscape of interactive technologies. Affective computing and chatbots further enhance these capabilities, underscoring the critical need for responsible development in this fast-paced and dynamic space.

Do you want to find out more and discover further information about emerging technologies? Check the interactive Y/our Ethics Decide here.

This exhibition is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC-BY-SA) licence. This means that it is open for sharing, copying and redistributing the material in any medium or format, and for adapting, remixing, transforming, and build upon the material for any purpose, including commercially. This is applicable for both the digital and the physical versions of the exhibition. You are required to credit Ecsite – the European Network of Science Centres & Museums, and the TechEthos project.

Do you want to make your own version of the installation? 

Share:

Continue reading

Deliverable | 20 November 2023

Anticipation of societal embedding of new and emerging technologies

Written by admin_tech_ethos_strong on . Posted in Deliverable (main), Resource.

Deliverable
Anticipation of societal embedding of new and emerging technologies: using scenarios to explore public awareness and attitudes in climate engineering, digital extended reality and neurotechnologies

Policy brief | 30 October 2023

In short

This deliverable sheds light on the intricate landscape of societal integration for new and emerging technologies like neurotechnology, digital extended reality, and climate engineering. Notably, the document delves into the public’s awareness and attitudes surrounding these technologies.

The findings underline the importance of anticipating societal responses to innovations, emphasizing values such as equity, reliability, and the well-being of both people and the planet. The document also advocates for justifying research and innovation investments by addressing the expectations, concerns, and aspirations of a vast array of stakeholder groups.

Find out more about our conclusions by downloading the deliverable.

Author

Eva Buchinger, Michael J. Bernstein, Masafumi Nishi, Wenzel Mehnert, and Alexandra Csabi.

Date of publication

20 November 2023

Status

Draft version submitted to the European Commission for review

Cite this resource

Buchinger E, Bernstein MJ, Nishi M, Mehnert W, Csabi A (2023). D3.4 Anticipation of societal embedding of new and emerging technologies: Using scenarios to explore public awareness and attitudes in climate engineering, digital extended reality and neurotechnologies. TechEthos Project Deliverable to the European Commission. Available at: www.techethos.eu.

Share:

go to top

Continue reading

News | 7 November 2023

Newsletter #7: Spotlight on policy briefs & key messages on ethical governance for European policymakers

Written by admin_tech_ethos_strong on . Posted in Newsletter (main), Resource.

Newsletter #7
Spotlight on policy briefs & key messages on ethical governance

News | 17 may 2023

In short

Welcome to the seventh instalment of the TechEthos newsletter. In this issue, we share new policy briefs with key messages on ethical governance of our three technology families in focus: Climate Engineering, Neurotechnologies, and Digital Extended Reality. These are the results of the social, ethical, and legal analyses conducted in the TechEthos project. 

Date of publication

7 November 2023

Share:

go to top

Continue reading

Policy Brief | 06 November 2023

XR and General Purpose AI: from values and principles to norms and standards

Written by admin_tech_ethos_strong on . Posted in Deliverable (main), Deliverable + Policy brief, Policy brief, Resource.

Policy brief
XR and General Purpose AI: from values and principles to norms and standards

Policy brief | 30 October 2023

In short

This policy brief explores the ethical challenges of eXtended Reality (XR) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) within the expansive realm of General Purpose Artificial Intelligence (AI).

This brief, addressed to EU policymakers and global stakeholders, delves into human-machine dynamics, ethical data usage, and the urgent need for operational norms and standards in the AI domain.

The document offers important recommendations to enhance ethical practices concerning these emerging technologies and addresses issues like transparency, manipulation risks, user dignity, responsibility, autonomy levels, equitable labor conditions, decency in Generative AI, environmental impacts, and privacy concerns.

Find out more about each recommendation by downloading the policy brief below.

Author

Laurynas Adomaitis (CEA), Alexei Grinbaum (CEA).

Date of publication

06 November 2023

Cite this resource

TechEthos (2023) XR and General Purpose AI: from values and principles to norms and standards. Deliverable to the European Commission. Available at: www.techethos.eu.

Share:

go to top

Continue reading

Policy brief | 30 October 2023

Key messages for the ethical governance of Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) research

Written by admin_tech_ethos_strong on . Posted in Deliverable (main), Deliverable + Policy brief, Policy brief, Resource.

Policy brief
Key messages for the ethical governance of Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) research

Policy brief | 30 October 2023

In short

Solar Radiation Modification (SRM), a type of climate engineering technique aimed at mitigating atmospheric heating by reflecting sunlight and heat back into space.

Tailored for EU policymakers and global stakeholders, this policy brief emphasizes ethical governance, international collaboration, and public engagement in SRM research.

To ensure responsible, just and sustainable SRM research, TechEthos project encourages EU policymakers to:

  • Define SRM Field Testing, Deployment, and SRM Research on an international level;
  • Formulate transparent and accountable EU Research Policy through politically legitimate bodies;
  • Adopt a precautionary approach guided by ethical considerations when assessing the risks of SRM research policy programs;
  • Include normative values like legitimacy and global justice in assessing SRM implications for human rights.

Find out more about each recommendation by downloading the policy brief below.

Author

Bennet Francis, Dominic Lenzi, Michel Bourban.

Date of publication

30 October 2023

Cite this resource

TechEthos (2023) Key messages for the ethical governance of Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) research. Deliverable to the European Commission. Available at: www.techethos.eu.

Share:

go to top

Continue reading

Policy brief | 30 October 2023

Key messages for the ethical governance of neurotechnologies

Written by admin_tech_ethos_strong on . Posted in Deliverable (main), Deliverable + Policy brief, Policy brief, Resource.

Policy brief
Key messages for the ethical governance of neurotechnologies

Policy brief | 30 October 2023

In short

Neurotechnologies, delving into direct neural system interaction, needs ethical governance. This policy brief outlines recommendations for EU policymakers involved in legislation on neurotechnologies, medical devices, dual-use items, privacy, data protection, and AI systems.

To ensure ethical, legal, and fundamental rights in neurotechnology development, this brief details the following key messages:

  • Recognize and define neurorights by incorporating them within existing EU fundamental frameworks;
  • Address justice, equality, and discrimination gaps in relation to neurotechnology applications and use cases;
  • Monitor and evaluate regulatory frameworks by assessing adequacy of existing regulations for emerging neurotechnology use cases, including consumer and dual-use applications;
  • Consider Appropriate Legal Instruments to regulate neurotechnologies in the EU;
  • Clarify regulation of AI-based neurotechnologies, specifically addressing use cases under the proposed AI Act.

Find out more about each recommendation by downloading the policy brief below.

Author

Michael J. Bernstein, Wenzel Mehnert, Masafumi Nishi, Renata Mandzhieva, Alexandra Csabi, Eva Buchinger.

Date of publication

30 October 2023

Cite this resource

TechEthos (2023) Key messages on ethical values and principles for neurotechnology development and use. Deliverable to the European Commission. Available at: www.techethos.eu.

Share:

go to top

Continue reading

Policy brief | 30 October 2023

Key messages for the ethical governance of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)

Written by admin_tech_ethos_strong on . Posted in Deliverable (main), Deliverable + Policy brief, Policy brief, Resource.

Policy brief
Key messages for the ethical governance of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)

Policy brief | 30 October 2023

In short

Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) is a pivotal climate engineering technique aiming to mitigate climate change by removing atmospheric CO2 and storing it in geological, terrestrial, or oceanic reservoirs. TechEthos, in its policy brief, delves into the regulatory challenges within EU laws and policies surrounding CDR. Addressed to European Union (EU) policymakers and officials engaged in climate-related initiatives, the recommendations are crafted to ensure ethical, rights-based, and sustainable development of CDR.

To ensure it, TechEthos project encourages EU policymakers to:

  • Define the legal status of carbon removals, distinguishing them from emission reductions;
  • Advocate for harmonized terms, aligning with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), for clarity in discussions on climate engineering, geoengineering, carbon removal, and CDR;
  • Seek clarity on CDR’s role in achieving the EU’s binding net-zero target by 2050;
  • Explicitly include EU fundamental rights in policies and decision-making processes governing CDR techniques;
  • Outline sustainability requirements for CDR, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the EU Taxonomy Regulation, and the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) initiative;
  • Promote international collaboration for standardized removal accounting to prevent double counting, ensuring global enforcement;
  • Review the adequacy of environmental liability regimes concerning CDR activities, including research and deployment.

Find out more about each recommendation by downloading the policy brief below.

Author

Bennet Francis, Dominic Lenzi, Michel Bourban.

Date of publication

30 October 2023

Cite this resource

TechEthos (2023) Key messages for the ethical governance of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR). Deliverable to the European Commission. Available at: www.techethos.eu.

Share:

go to top

Continue reading

Deliverable | 30 October 2023

Complementing the ALLEA European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity

Written by admin_tech_ethos_strong on . Posted in Deliverable (main), Resource.

Deliverable
Complementing the ALLEA European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity

Deliverable | 28 October 2023

In short

This report presents the views of the TechEthos consortium partners (collected both in writing and in an online workshop) to provide further feedback for the revision of the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity.

The feedback of the TechEthos consortium did not only serve as an input on broad research integrity issues. It also allowed for the collection of critical opinions on the ethical, legal, and societal aspects related to the development and application of new technologies, as well as on the responsible use of new technologies in collecting, analysing, and publishing research results.

The full version of the European Code of Conduct, as well as a document that summarizes the stakeholder consultation process and its outcomes, can be accessed directly via https://allea.org/code-of-conduct/.

Authors

Hiney M. (ALLEA), Vleugel M. (ALLEA).

Date of publication

30 October 2023

Status

Draft version submitted to the European Commission for review

Cite this resource

Maura Hiney & Mathijs Vleugel (2023). TechEthos Deliverable D5.5: Complementing the ALLEA European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity. TechEthos Project Deliverable. Available at: www.techethos.eu.

Share:

go to top

Continue reading

Deliverable | 28 October 2023

Criteria for ethical review by RECs in emerging technology research

Written by admin_tech_ethos_strong on . Posted in Deliverable (main), Resource.

Deliverable
Criteria for ethical review by RECs in emerging technology research

Deliverable | 28 October 2023

In short

This deliverable underlines the complexities of ethical review processes within Research Ethics Committees (RECs) concerning emerging technologies like neurotechnology (NT), digital extended reality (DXR), and climate engineering (CE).

Thanks to a comprehensive methodology involving literature review, REC member surveys, and expert workshops, the report identifies critical challenges faced by RECs. These challenges comprise both structural aspects (e.g., limitations in scope and expertise) and topical elements (including the assessment of fairness, autonomy, and private sector involvement)

The document provides vital recommendations aimed at enhancing REC capabilities and promoting ethical research practices in the realm of new and emerging technologies.

Authors

Carly Seedall (EUREC Office), Tom Lindemann (EUREC), Renate Klar (EUREC), Lisa Tambornino (EUREC).

Date of publication

28 October 2023

Status

Draft version submitted to the European Commission for review

Cite this resource

Seedall, C., Lindemann, T., Klar, R., Tambornino, L., (2023). Criteria for ethical review by RECs in emerging technology research. TechEthos Project Deliverable. Available at: www.techethos.eu.

Share:

go to top

Continue reading

Deliverable | 30 September 2023

Suggestions for the revision of existing operational guidelines for emerging technologies

Written by admin_tech_ethos_strong on . Posted in Deliverable (main), Resource.

Publication
Suggestions for the revision of existing operational guidelines for climate engineering, neurotechnologies, and digital XR technologies

Deliverable | 20 July 2023

In short

This report scrutinizes current ethical guidelines for three new and emerging technologies (Climate Engineering Technologies, Digital Extended Reality, and Neurotechnologies) and proposes targeted improvements – based on the technology functions, applications, and socio-economic impacts.

The document proposes a series of key recommendations that can be used for proposed improvements to guidelines.

  • Bespoke Governance: Establish relevant administrative bodies for guideline application, with training and support.
  • Diverse Stakeholder Participation: Facilitate engagement across stakeholders, fostering co-creation and co-decision making.
  • Impact Testing: Assess guideline efficacy with real-world examples to ensure practical outcomes.
  • Inter-Sector Skills Exchange: Institutionalize collaboration between technology providers and policymakers.
  • Responsibility to the Future: Prioritize responsible forecasting, ethical defensibility, and sustainability.
  • Social and Communicative Awareness: Cultivate social awareness among developers, enhancing accessibility and feedback.

Find out more about each recommendation by downloading the policy brief below.

Author

Sara Cannizzaro (DMU), Laurence Brooks (DMU), Kathleen Richardson (DMU), Nitika Bhalla (DMU), Bennet Francis (UT), Dominic Lenzi (UT)

Date of publication

30 September 2023

Status

Draft version submitted to the European Commission for review

Cite this resource

Cannizzaro, S., Bhalla, N., Brooks, L., Richardson, K., Francis, B. and Lenzi, D. (2023), TechEthos Deliverable D5.3: Suggestions for the revision of existing operational guidelines for climate engineering, neurotechnologies and digital XR technologies. Available at www.techethos.eu

Share:

go to top

Continue reading