Beyond Checkboxes: Building Ethics Into Tech
- Imran Aly Saleh
- Jun 13
- 1 min read
Recently I have been reviewing the IEEE 7000-2021 standard which provides a system engineering standard approach integrating human and social values into traditional systems engineering and design.
We’ve seen too many examples recently of how unethical programming leads to harmful outcomes. A social network’s algorithms enabling manipulation. Biased AI systems hurting disadvantaged groups. Voice assistants promoting negative stereotypes. A tracking app for elderly shoppers designed for "helpfulness" over privacy. Voice assistants taking different cultural approaches to expressing compassion
The root issue is often a failure to properly translate human values into code. Technical teams lack frameworks to intentionally design for ethical outcomes.
The new IEEE 7000 standard on value-based system design offers guidance. Key principles include:
- Involving diverse stakeholders to identify core human values at stake
- Making those values like fairness and accountability top priorities, not afterthoughts
- Translating values into technical and organizational requirements
For example, a team building a voice assistant should engage advisors on gender, culture and child development to elicit relevant values. Then they should prioritize empathy and learning over bare metrics. Finally, they derive requirements like: "Assistant responses should model compassion for users expressing distress."
IEEE 7000-2021 gives technologists tools to build ethics from the start. Our industry must move beyond compliance checklists to place human well-being at its center. Adopting value-based methods is an important step.
What do you think? How can we better inspire programming with core human values?
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