[Air-L] the new ethics document

[jeremy hunsinger]

I am sorry, I don't think I can support it as is at this time.  I think it still needs revision and clarification.   The reasons are that the document has things like:

"Because all digital information at some point involves individual persons..."

which is false. 

and:


"consideration of principles related to research on human subjects may be necessary even if it is not immediately apparent how and where persons are involved in the research data."

which this is broadening the standard accepted doctrine on the difference between document/object and subject too far.  It also will create confusion.

Similarly the document seems to go on at length about issues which are part of grey areas to a few types of practices and attempts to deeply problematize those grey areas without considering those practices where the exact same material and practice is not grey, but has been very clear for 20, sometimes even 50 years.   Minimally, where one provides access to the grey area in such deep positions, one should recognize the practices of people who don't see it as grey and why it is not grey.  In particular the focus on authors seems to deny the many years of dealing with them in journalism and literature, similarly the question as data as person has been considered for years in hci/computer science.  

I know there is a tendency to want to universalize our problems as researchers and make our problems accessible to all, but here I am particularly wary because many of our colleagues do research in manners in which this report could bring into ethical question.  That can have detrimental effects on people's careers, and as such I think we, as an interdisciplinary and international organization per our mission, need to minimally acknowledge the prior practices and plurality where they are already viewed as ethical just a bit more.  We just have to provide more of the counterpoint that 'this can be ethical' where people already consider it ethical.  

Otherwise, I think this is an excellent project and an excellent start.  

j







Jeremy Hunsinger
Communication Studies
Wilfrid Laurier University
Center for Digital Discourse and Culture
Virginia Tech



Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.
--Pablo Picasso