[alicebot-aiethics] ethical questions

Michael Landau alicebot-aiethics@list.alicebot.org
Tue, 18 Oct 2005 08:04:34 -0700 (PDT) 

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There are some other things about pandorabots the website that I want to discuss with you.  First, if  anyone is using code from other people's robots without notifying them, I think that is at 

the very least unethical, and possibly illegal. Even if you 

are only using the interaction logs from the clients of other 

people's robots, that still raises some ethical questions.

 

Second,  I have noticed that whenever a client talks to a 

robot the conversation is recorded on the pandorabots 

website.  The clients do not know that someone has the 

ability to observe their conversation with the robot.  The 

client is under the impression that he or she is having a 

private conversation with the robot "therapist". I  believe 

that for anyone to observe this conversation without the 

knowledge of the client would be considered an invasion of 

privacy by most people.  I think that Dr. Wallace should put a 

disclaimer somewhere on the website stating that these 

conversations are being recorded, and can be viewed by other 

people. In other words, the client has the right to be 

informed that he or she is not engaging in a private 

conversation. You may say that the client is not identified, 

however there is no reason to believe that the client would 

not identify himself at some point during the conversation.  

In fact, most people do identify themselves in some way when 

talking to the robot.

 

I hope you don't take these comments the wrong way. I just 

wanted to point out that the technology that Dr. Wallace has created 

raises some ethical questions that perhaps he may not have 

considered.  

 

Thanks,

 

Michael


		
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<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">&nbsp;</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">There are some other things about pandorabots the website that I want </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">to discuss with you.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>First, if&nbsp;&nbsp;anyone is&nbsp;using code from other </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">people's robots without notifying them, I think that is at <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">the very least unethical, and possibly illegal. Even if you <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">are only using the interaction logs from the clients of other <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">people's robots, that still raises some ethical questions.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Second,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>I have noticed that whenever a client talks to a <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">robot the conversation is recorded on the pandorabots <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">website.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>The clients do not know that someone has the <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">ability to observe their conversation with the robot.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>The <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">client is under the impression that he or she is having a <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">private conversation with the robot "therapist". I<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>believe <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">that for anyone to observe this conversation without the <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">knowledge of the client would be considered an invasion of <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">privacy by most people.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>I think that Dr. Wallace should put a <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">disclaimer somewhere on the website stating that these <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">conversations are being recorded, and can be viewed by other <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">people. In other words, the client has the right to be <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">informed that he or she is not engaging in a private <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">conversation. You may say that the client is not identified, <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">however there is no reason to believe that the client would <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">not identify himself at some point during the conversation.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In fact, most people do identify themselves in some way when <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">talking to the robot.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">I hope you don't take these comments the wrong way. I just <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">wanted to point out that the technology that Dr. Wallace has created <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">raises some ethical questions that perhaps he may not have <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">considered. &nbsp;</SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Thanks,</SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 47.95pt 95.9pt 143.85pt 191.8pt 239.75pt 287.7pt 335.65pt 383.6pt 431.55pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Michael</SPAN></P></DIV><p>
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