Is there such a thing as human morality that can help us distinguish between good and evil. Or, is it influenced by cultures? Nowadays, we talk quite a bit about ethics because technology amplifies the issue: AI, algorithms, privacy, security, and surveillance.

The meaning of life? Bathing at the beach naked or fully dressed? Was Big Brother right or wrong in 1984? How can a personal assistant do its job and respect privacy? Where do we draw a line between safety and privacy?

We discuss these topics and many more in this podcast with Kevin Macnish — Ethics Expert for the European Commission and Former Assistant Professor at the University of Twente.

We started off with defying ethics and who gets to decide what is moral and what is not — then it turns into a full-on roller coaster. It is a fun ride that may scare you a bit and make you think.

What is wrong with that? Well, what is good and what is evil anyway?

Listen up and decide for yourself.

About the book

The Ethics of Surveillance: An Introduction systematically and comprehensively examines the ethical issues surrounding the concept of surveillance.

Addressing important questions such as:

Is it ever acceptable to spy on one's allies?

To what degree should the state be able to intrude into its citizens' private lives in the name of security?

Can corporate espionage ever be justified?

What are the ethical issues surrounding big data?

How far should a journalist go in pursuing information?

Is it reasonable to expect a degree of privacy in public?

Is it ever justifiable for a parent to read a child's diary?

Featuring case studies throughout, this textbook provides a philosophical introduction to an incredibly topical issue studied by students within the fields of applied ethics, ethics of technology, privacy, security studies, politics, journalism and human geography.

REVIEWS "Ours is a world where surveillance is too often justified on a good guy vs bad guy, simplistic, paradigm. Macnish demonstrates the complexities in the ethics of surveillance in a thoughtful and comprehensive book that warrants careful reading by developers, users and subjects of surveillance alike." —Eric Stoddart, University of St. Andrews, UK

"This book provides a compelling introduction to the wide range of ethical issues raised by the ever-present surveillance technologies that are characteristic of our world. In this lucid and philosophically sophisticated text, Kevin Macnish considers the implications of not only government espionage, but also the surveillance undertaken in the pursuit of national security, commercial competition and excellence in education and, further, demonstrates the numerous ways in which the practice of surveillance raises fundamental questions for social and political philosophers." —Adrian Walsh, University of New England, Australia

Guest Kevin Macnish, Ethics Expert, European Commission | Former Assistant Professor, University of Twente | Digital Ethics Consulting Manager, Sopra Steria (@kmacnish on Twitter)

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Resources Book: The Ethics of Surveillance: An Introduction — https://www.amazon.com/Ethics-Surveillance-Introduction-Kevin-Macnish/dp/1138643793

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