Ethics in Scientific Research

call -151 writes: "There is an interesting NYT article `When Science Inadvertently Aids an Enemy' discussing how some of the "encryption should be free for everyone" attitudes are changing with the WTC attacks. The article makes some interesting points and it is good to see discussions like these in more of the mainstream, even if the tone has definitely changed recently." Well, the questions are being asked again, but most of the researchers dealing with these issues have already answered the questions for themselves.

Comments

Re:As a scientist..

[Rogerborg]

• Imagine if physicists were to take the arrogant attitude of today's security developers and say, "If I can build it, I should and also tell everyone else how to do it!"

You mean like Niels Bohr and others did? This reference took me about 10 seconds to find, please don't insult us by re-writing history to suit an argument.

That aside, I do actually agree with your point that inventors (and manufacturers) share in the moral burden of technologies.

On the other hand, pragmatically, if we don't do it, someone else really will.

On balance, I find myself agreeing with the NYT article's conclusion that it's a bitch of a decision and we need to find a thick skinned bastard to make it for all of us navel gazing pussies. (OK, I'm paraphrasing slightly...)