Glossary | Big Tech Ethics

Find detailed definitions and explanations of key concepts related to big tech ethics. It covers concepts like Biometrics, Deepfakes, Hallucination, Surveillance Capitalism and more! This is a helpful resource for people who are just beginning the exploration into Big Tech ethics and several terms that may appear as you dive into the journey behind Big Tech.

Attention Distraction Model:

The Attention Distraction Model refers to a psychological framework that explains how competing stimuli can impact an individual’s ability to focus on a primary task ¹. According to this model, when multiple stimuli vie for attention, an attentional conflict arises, causing the individual to experience increased cognitive load and arousal ¹.

This conflict can lead to decreased performance on the primary task as the individual struggles to filter out distractions and maintain focus. The model highlights the importance of managing environmental stimuli to optimize attention and performance in various settings, such as workplaces, classrooms, and everyday activities ¹.

Biometrics:

Biometrics refers to the measurement and analysis of unique physical or behavioral characteristics used to verify personal identity ¹ ² ³. Common biometric identifiers include fingerprints, facial recognition, iris scans, and voice patterns. These characteristics are often used in security systems to authenticate individuals, ensuring that only authorized persons can access certain information or areas ² ³.

Biometric systems work by capturing and storing these unique traits, then comparing them to the data presented during subsequent access attempts. This technology is widely used in various applications, from unlocking smartphones to securing sensitive facilities ³.

Deepfake:

A deepfake is a type of synthetic media where an image, video, or audio recording is digitally manipulated using artificial intelligence, particularly deep learning techniques, to make it appear as though someone is doing or saying something they did not actually do or say. This technology can convincingly alter the likeness and voice of individuals, often used to create misleading or false content ¹ ² ³.

Deepfakes have raised significant ethical concerns due to their potential misuse in spreading misinformation, creating fake news, and even committing fraud. They highlight the need for robust detection methods and ethical guidelines in the use of AI technologies.

Digital Twin:

A Digital Twin is a virtual representation of a real-world physical object, system, or process. This digital model is designed to accurately reflect its physical counterpart by using real-time data and advanced simulation techniques ¹ ² ³.

Digital twins are used to monitor, analyze, and optimize the performance of their physical counterparts. They can predict potential issues, simulate different scenarios, and provide insights for improving efficiency and effectiveness. For example, a digital twin of a wind turbine can help engineers understand its performance under various conditions and make data-driven decisions to enhance its operation ¹ ².

The concept of digital twins is widely applied in industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and urban planning, where they help in predictive maintenance, process optimization, and strategic planning ² ³.

Fake News:

Fake News refers to false or misleading information presented as news, often created to deceive or misinform the public for various purposes, such as political manipulation, financial gain, or sensationalism ¹ ² ³. This type of content can take many forms, including fabricated stories, manipulated images, and videos, and is typically spread through social media and other online platforms ² ³.

Fake news can undermine trust in legitimate news sources, distort public perception, and influence political and social outcomes. Addressing the spread of fake news involves promoting media literacy, fact-checking, and implementing robust detection and regulation mechanisms ² ³.

Growth Hacking:

Growth Hacking is a marketing strategy focused on achieving rapid growth, particularly for startups, by using innovative, cost-effective tactics ¹ ² ³. Unlike traditional marketing, which often involves broad, long-term strategies, growth hacking emphasizes quick, data-driven experiments to identify the most effective ways to scale a business ² ³.

Growth hackers leverage a combination of technology, analytics, and creative thinking to optimize every stage of the customer journey, from acquisition to retention and referral ¹ ². This approach often involves unconventional methods and a relentless focus on metrics to drive exponential growth with limited resources ³.

Hallucination:

An AI hallucination occurs when an artificial intelligence system, such as a large language model or a computer vision tool, generates outputs that are false or misleading but appear to be plausible or factually correct. These hallucinations can result from various factors, including biases in the training data, overfitting, or errors in the model’s interpretation of input data ¹ ² ³.

For example, an AI might produce a detailed but entirely fabricated response to a question or identify non-existent objects in an image. These inaccuracies can have significant consequences, such as spreading misinformation or making incorrect decisions in critical applications like healthcare ².

Persuasive Technology:

Persuasive Technology refers to digital tools and systems designed to change users’ attitudes or behaviors through persuasion and social influence, rather than through coercion ¹ ² ³. These technologies leverage psychological principles to encourage specific actions, such as making healthier lifestyle choices, increasing productivity, or engaging more with certain content.

Examples of persuasive technology include fitness apps that motivate users to exercise, social media platforms that encourage continuous engagement, and educational games that promote learning through interactive experiences ². While these technologies can have positive impacts, they also raise ethical concerns about manipulation and the potential for misuse ³.

Phantom Notifications:

CertainlyPhantom Notifications refer to alerts or notifications on a digital device that appear to indicate new messages, updates, or other activities, but when checked, there are no actual new notifications ¹ ². This phenomenon can occur due to software glitches, background processes, or even as a result of certain app behaviors designed to re-engage users ².

Phantom notifications can be particularly frustrating as they disrupt the user experience and can lead to unnecessary checking of the device. Addressing this issue often involves troubleshooting steps like restarting the device, updating software, or adjusting notification settings ¹.

Privacy:

Data Privacy, also known as information privacy, refers to the right of individuals to control how their personal information is collected, used, and shared by organizations ¹ ². This includes ensuring that personal data, such as names, addresses, and online behaviors, is handled with confidentiality and used appropriately ² ³.

Data privacy involves compliance with various regulations and laws designed to protect individuals’ privacy rights, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union ¹ ². It also encompasses practices like obtaining user consent before data collection, allowing users to manage their data, and implementing safeguards to prevent unauthorized access ² ³.

Snapchat Dysmorphia:

Snapchat Dysmorphia is a term used to describe a psychological phenomenon where individuals, often influenced by the flawless and heavily filtered images they see on social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram, develop an obsessive desire to alter their real-life appearance to match these idealized versions ¹ ² ³.

This condition is considered a variant of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a mental health disorder where individuals become excessively concerned with perceived flaws in their appearance ². People affected by Snapchat Dysmorphia may seek cosmetic procedures to achieve the unrealistic standards of beauty portrayed by these filters, which can lead to significant mental health issues, including anxiety and depression

Surveillance Capitalism:

Surveillance Capitalism is a term coined by Harvard economist Shoshana Zuboff to describe a market-driven process where personal data is commodified and sold for profit. This practice involves the extensive collection and analysis of personal information by private companies, often without the explicit knowledge or consent of individuals ¹ ² ³.

Surveillance capitalism operates on the premise that online activities are not truly private, allowing companies to harvest data from users’ interactions, such as searches, social media activity, and even offline behaviors tracked through smart devices. This data is then used to create detailed profiles and predict future behaviors, which can be sold to advertisers and other entities aiming to influence consumer actions ².

The implications of surveillance capitalism are profound, raising significant ethical concerns about privacy, autonomy, and the balance of power between individuals and corporations. It highlights the need for greater transparency, regulation, and public awareness to ensure that the benefits of technology do not come at the cost of individual rights and freedoms ¹ ².

Technology Addiction:

Technology Addiction is a behavioral disorder characterized by the excessive and compulsive use of digital devices and online platforms, such as smartphones, social media, gaming, and the internet ¹ ² ³. Individuals with technology addiction often find it difficult to control their usage, leading to negative impacts on their daily lives, including social withdrawal, decreased productivity, and mental health issues like anxiety and depression ² ³.

This addiction can manifest in various forms, such as compulsive checking of social media, excessive gaming, or constant internet browsing, and often requires therapeutic interventions to manage and overcome ¹ ².