Accessible unethical technology

Not all work is created equal.

Ethical technology

I can’t get excited about work used to exploit people.

What defines unethical technology?

1: Inequality in distribution and access

2: Lack of accountability and responsibility

Misinformation

Profiling

Automated decisions

Targeting

Insufficient security

“Intent does not erase impact.”

Ask for permission, not for forgiveness.

3 Environmental impact

4 Business ethics

Proprietary lock-in

Industry monopoly

Tracking

Profiling is enabled by tracking.

I block trackers.

What is a tracker?

What are my interests according to AppNexus?

Data Brokers

It’s not just the data brokers.

It’s for more than just advertising.

How to protect ourselves (individuals)

1 Avoid logging in. (If you can.)

2 Avoid providing your real name.

3 Use custom email addresses.

4 Avoid providing your phone number.

5 Use a reputable Virtual Private Network (VPN)

6 Use private browsing or browsing containers.

7 Log out.

8 Disallow third-party cookies.

9 Use a tracker blocker.

10 Use DuckDuckGo for search. (Not Google.)

11 Don’t use Gmail.

12 Don’t use Whatsapp.

13 Don’t use Facebook. (For everything.)

14 Seek alternatives.

We’re not just tracked on the web.

Your choices affect your friends and family.

This is too much work.

Don’t blame the victim.

Our concept of privacy is being twisted.

Shouldn’t we be smart about what we share publicly?

Sharing should be a social concern, not a privacy concern.

Corporations blame us for giving up our privacy.

It is not informed consent.

It’s not consent if there’s not a real choice.

We’re asked to give up everything or get nothing.

The technology we use is our new everyday things.

Accessible unethical technology

Intersectionality

Disability also intersects with race, class, wealth, occupation…

We need to talk about unethical accessible technology.

It’s inequality.

What about if you have difficulty reading?

Privacy and access

Screen reader detection is an invasion of privacy.

A data point is more than just a data point.

Sam’s non-tech perspective.

We should be allowed to make the real choice.

Technology amplifies social and systemic issues.

Technology colonialism

“Nothing about us without us.”

We have to hold our communities to account.

Accessibility is not charity or kindness, it’s a responsibility.

It’s hard to advocate for change when alternatives don’t yet exist.

We have the power to make that change.

How to build ethical technology

Build small technology

Building small technology: approaches

How to build small technology: Make it easy to use.

How to build small technology: Make it inclusive.

How to build small technology: Don’t be colonial.

How to build small technology: Make it personal.

Building small technology: architecture

How to build small technology: Make it private by default.

How to build small technology: Make it zero-knowledge.

How to build small technology: Make it peer-to-peer.

How to build small technology: Make it interoperable.

How to build small technology: Make it share alike.

How to build small technology: Make it non-commercial.

Building small technology: personal approaches

It feels impossible. It probably is!

1: If you can’t do it at work, do it at home.

2: Use small technology as job criteria.

3: Developing accessibility best practices is always a good thing.

Building small technology: who builds it?

Luddites, rebels and tin-foil hats.

Our whole approach matters.

You are not your job.

1. Be independent.

2. Be the advisor.

3. Be the advocate.

4. Be the questioner.

5. Be the gatekeeper.

6. Be difficult.

7. Be unprofessional.

8. Be the supporter.

Eat your vegetables.

We deserve better.

Thank you!