Accountability in a computerized society

Helen Nissenbaum

doi:10.1007/BF02639315

Accountability in a computerized society

Helen Nissenbaum

Media, Culture & Communication

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This essay warns of eroding accountability in computerized societies. It argues that assumptions about computing and features of situations in which computers are produced create barriers to accountability. Drawing on philosophical analyses of moral blame and responsibility, four barriers are identified: 1) the problem of many hands, 2) the problem of bugs, 3) blaming the computer, and 4) software ownership without liability. The paper concludes with ideas on how to reverse this trend.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	25-42
Number of pages	18
Journal	Science and engineering ethics
Volume	2
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02639315
State	Published - 1996

Keywords

Accountability
Bugs
Computer ethics
Liability
Moral responsibility
Standard of care

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Issues, ethics and legal aspects
Health(social science)
Health Policy
Management of Technology and Innovation

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10.1007/BF02639315

Cite this

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Accountability in a computerized society

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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