While global governments ponder on how to regulate ever evolving new technologies, it may be useful to draw a parallel view of two crucial developments of the last 130 years: radioactivity and digitalisation.

A comparison of the historical applications/consequences of radioactive and digital technologies reveals a common theme that may be important in developing regulatory policy and process. The comparison is shown here in a schematic table, Parallel View.

Parallel view table: Ethical applications decreasing order: 2-0
A – Radioactive technologies

B – Digital technologies

The common theme becomes apparent from the angle of cui bono: who benefits? From this angle, it is possible to establish a ranking of ethical applications — in the sense of ‘public good’ — for those two technologies. In broad brushes, this consideration becomes measurable, less precise but necessary to add to the more conventional profit and strategic values.

Over the years, we have........

© Pearls and Irritations