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 | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 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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Cite this
Nissenbaum, H. (1996). Accountability in a computerized society. Science and engineering ethics, 2(1), 25-42. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02639315