Should Data Scientists Adhere to a Hippocratic Oath?

https://www.wired.com/story/should-data-scientists-adhere-to-a-hippocratic-oath/

A growing amount of my time is being spent countering Silicon Valley spin:

Aral Balkan argues that an ethics code like that drafted this week could actually worsen societal harms caused by technology. He fears it will be used by corporations as a signal of virtue, while they continue business as usual. “What we should be exploring is how we can stop this mass farming of human data for profit…” https://mastodon.ar.al/media/NnSLeFSy5jMqkqv3lrE

@aral Corporations don't need a code of ethics. They need democratic governments holding guns to their heads, ready to shut them down at the first sign of malfeasance.

Getting there, of course, is the hard part.

@starbreaker @aral democratic governments don't need code of ethics. They need democratic go- wait this does not work

@digital @aral Democratic governments need a knife at their throats held by the people from whose consent they derive their lawful power.

The only justification for government is that it exists because the people as a whole have delegated limited authority for the purpose of creating a peaceful society where all are protected and can prosper.