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TED Tech

5 ethical principles for digitizing humanitarian aid | Aarathi Krishnan

Dec 6, 2024
Aarathi Krishnan, a tech and human rights ethicist and thought leader in international humanitarian aid, dives into the digitization of aid and its ethical implications. She uncovers the risks of biometric IDs and government surveillance, emphasizing the need for informed consent. Krishnan presents five ethical principles to steer humanitarian tech innovation, advocating for equity and accountability. She urges a reflection on past injustices to shape a future where technology truly benefits vulnerable communities.
17:53

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Aarathi Krishnan underscores the pressing need for ethical principles in humanitarian tech to safeguard vulnerable populations from digital exploitation.
  • The podcast highlights the necessity of informed consent and transparency when implementing technology in humanitarian aid to protect individual rights.

Deep dives

The Cost of Surveillance in Housing

Surveillance technologies, such as facial recognition cameras, have begun infiltrating subsidized housing without tenant consent, raising significant privacy concerns. Residents of Brooklyn's Atlantic Plaza Towers opposed these installations due to their potential invasion of privacy and discriminatory failures, particularly against women and people of color. Legislation has been proposed to address these issues, specifically the No Biometric Barriers to Housing Act of 2021, aiming to restrict the use of such invasive technologies in public housing. This highlights a broader dialogue on the ethical implications of surveillance in living spaces, especially for low-income individuals who face heightened scrutiny and privacy violations.

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