Ignoring harm to others when you yourself benefit

Ignoring harm to others when you yourself benefit

How harmful does something need to be for people to stop using it? How much do you yourself need to benefit to choose to ignore the harm done to others?

When I left Facebook some years ago I emphasised how it was the (very late) acknowledgement of harm done to others that was the final straw.

Being complicit in the use of tools that enforce bias, oppression, power imbalance and the climate crisis is an active choice. I honestly don't think many people think of this as being complicit – but I believe future historians won't let anyone off easy.

What can matter in the moment - and for your future wellbeing - is living true to your values. I often encourage my students to start there, because we so rarely are given time and space to validate and reflect on our own values.

We won't always get it right, but that can't stop us from working to get it right more often.


Five reasons why I deleted my Facebook account
Here are the most clear-cut reasons I deleted my Facebook account. TheseFacebook practices triggered ethical considerations that helped decide on a pathforward that would bring me, personally, more well-being. 1. Systematically using methods to encourage addictive behavior . 2. Allowing verbal…
AI responsibility in a hyped-up world
It’s never more easy to get scammed than during an ongoing hype. It’s March 2023 and we’re in the middle of one. Rarely have I seen so many people embrace a brand new experimental solution with so little questioning. Right now, it’s important to shake off any mass hypnosis and
Why that open letter urging an AI development pause is problematic
Applied ethics isn’t a checklist. It’s about putting in the time and effort to understand risks to wellbeing with the express intent of avoiding, mitigating and monitoring harm. It makes sense then to assume that the open call to pause AI development is a good thing. Well, yes – but no.

Comment