I was reading a case in a Data Ethics course about a nonprofit mental health organization that considered selling its data to a for-profit company for “service optimization.” This sparked a huge ethical debate, and after much back-and-forth, they decided not to sell the data in the end.
Reading this, I couldn’t help but think of all the mental health projects I’ve come across as a venture capital investor in earlier days. The scenario described in the case feels like a standard pitch for securing funding. And as for data ethics? That’s not even on the radar. I’d bet that in every mental health project I’ve encountered, not a single investor has ever raised concerns about user privacy or ethics. If anything, they’re more likely to ask about code security than user privacy.
I’m not bringing this up to criticize privacy issues in certain contexts. What really intrigues me is the question: To what extent can “ethics” actually rein in the natural impulses or desires for economic growth, scaling up, and technological advancement? Because, judging by reality, it seems like ethics doesn’t stand a chance.
Artists’ work gets fed into AI models. Patients’ data gets sold. Databases get breached. Everyone’s a victim, but who has the capacity to care? Websites that store passwords in plaintext are still in use, and people continue to use facial recognition payments. For most people, their only “action” is to click “Agree to Privacy Policy Updates.” What else can they do?
What’s more, the decision-making power often doesn’t rest in the hands of the people who need protection. In all those projects I’ve seen, decisions about features and data use are entirely up to the team and their investors. Legal counsel merely ensures the bare minimum compliance, let alone addressing ethical concerns.
Reading this kind of material always makes me understand why “the humanities are in global decline.” Sure, some aspects of the humanities are meant for gazing at the stars. But sometimes, the stars feel so far from the ground. Compared to the starlight, you’re more likely to feel the mud caked on your legs.
I can’t figure it out. Maybe expecting the humanities to be “useful” is a mistake? Maybe they’ve just been stuck in their self-referential bubble for too long?
