Can We Make the Digital World Ethical? A Report Exploring the Dark Side of the Internet of Things and Big Data

"Until now, the Internet has been about connecting humans, enabling us to share content and ideas, even if some of it is unpalatable, offensive or illegal. In the next five years, however, algorithms, software bots and smart devices are set to outstrip human Internet activity. Cloud computing, big data and the 'Internet of Things' mean that machines will increasingly make decisions without human involvement. Done right, this could be a blessing, but what if things were to go wrong? Could machines be held accountable? Whose fault would it be? Who decides the ethical boundaries of technology? In his new paper, Can we make the Digital World ethical? Peter Warren, with contributions from Michael Streeter and Jane Whyatt, explores these key issues and raises important questions about our relationship with technology and the Internet." --