Should Data Scientists Adhere to a Hippocratic Oath?; Wired, February 8, 2018

Tom Simonite, Wired; Should Data Scientists Adhere to a Hippocratic Oath?

"The tech industry is having a moment of reflection. Even Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook are talking openly about the downsides of software and algorithms mediating our lives. And while calls for regulation have been met with increased lobbying to block or shape any rules, some people around the industry are entertaining forms of self regulation. One idea swirling around: Should the programmers and data scientists massaging our data sign a kind of digital Hippocratic oath?

Microsoft released a 151-page book last month on the effects of artificial intelligence on society that argued “it could make sense” to bind coders to a pledge like that taken by physicians to “first do no harm.” In San Francisco Tuesday, dozens of data scientists from tech companies, governments, and nonprofits gathered to start drafting an ethics code for their profession."

Ethics board aiming to build trust in the city; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 11/28/16

Adam Smeltz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Ethics board aiming to build trust in the city:

"Since the legislation passed, several organizations designated under the measure — including the Allegheny County Bar Association, the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh and the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership — nominated volunteer board members. City council finished the confirmation process in recent months.

“The board is designed to assure an open and transparent government. That’s part of our mission statement,” said Linda A. King, a lawyer hired to be the board’s executive manager on a part-time basis...

The full text of the Ethics Code is available through the board’s website at http://pittsburghpa.gov/mayor/group?id=28. Anyone who suspects that a city worker, former worker, vendor or would-be vendor has broken the code can reach Ms. King at 412-255-8882 or linda.king@pittsburghpa.gov, Mr. Peduto’s administration has said."

City ethics board opens an office; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 11/21/16

Adam Smeltz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; City ethics board opens an office:

"Pittsburgh officials opened an office last week for the city’s reconstituted Ethics Hearing Board.

The board held its first public meeting in several years on Nov. 3, following new ethics legislation approved by Mayor Bill Peduto in October 2015. Board members will receive and investigate complaints under the reworked city Ethics Code, which requires independent and impartial conduct by city workers...

The board, which also can offer advice on ethical conduct, has a website."