Technology Ethics Cases

Find case studies illustrating dilemmas in technology and ethics.

Case studies are also available on Internet Ethics.

For permission to reprint cases, submit requests to ethics@scu.edu.

Looking to draft your own case studies? This template provides the basics for writing ethics case studies in technology (though with some modification it could be used in other fields as well).

An Ethical Analysis of the Design and Development of HALoN for Crisis Communications
High Altitude Long-Range Networking (HALoN) for Crisis Communication, a research prototype used in high-stakes environments, enables temporary access to communication infrastructure, particularly for communities and organizations that lack the resources. Engineers must not only ask whether a system can be built, but whether it should be built in a particular way, and who bears the consequences when it is not.
Consent and Consequences
An AI Ethics Case Study
Assessing the creation of a posthumous AI and the complexities of consent.
HALoN and Crisis Communication Networks
An Ethics Case Study
High Altitude Long-Range Networking (HALoN) for Crisis Communication, a research prototype used in high-stakes environments, enables temporary access to communication infrastructure, particularly for communities and organizations that lack the resources.
VR Motion Data Privacy and Re-identification Risks
A case study investigating the interaction between virtual and real objects in a mixed-reality environment and its impact on cognitive load and task performance.
Haptic Interface System Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
A case study investigating the development and application of a haptic interface system utilizing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to generate virtual touch sensations within a Virtual Reality (VR) environment.
Control of Physiological Signals Under Stress Using Biofeedback
Case study investigating the use of biofeedback mechanisms to control physiological signals, such as heart rate variability (HRV) and breathing rate, in response to stressful situations.
Prompt Privacy
An AI Ethics Case Study
Some of the privacy implications of prompting AI chatbots.
Meeting Avatars
An AI Ethics Case Study
Avatars based on personalized LLMs aim to meet the need for more efficient online communication.
Chatbots and Agency
An AI Ethics Case Study
Exploring the intersection of chatbot design, personalization, and agency.
The Environmental Impact of Generating Images with AI
An Ethics Case Study
Image generation tools and day-to-day emissions of using AI have environmental consequences.