It has been said by Lawrence Lessing that “code is law”. This is true already in a society which is dependent on information technology. Even though machines are not full members of this society yet, we already entrust a number of very personal and important functions to them.
In many cases, this trust goes beyond the trust parents would give a small child, who also is a member of society but does not have the right to vote yet. If you step on an airplane you trust your life to the machine and if you take your child with you, you give more trust to a machine you have never seen, and most likely might not even understand, than you would give to most other humans (i.e., strangers), let alone almost all animals.
In this sense, our society is mainly a human-machine hybrid society, with both terms being used fairly widely. In a world which depends on machines behaving in specific ways, the power to code means the power to control a large part of the human-machine hybrid society. Coders often have a degree of direct power governments or lawmakers can only dream of.
Table of Contents
1. Code is Power: Coding, User Dependency and Human Rights
Objectives and Topics
The work examines the pervasive influence of information technology and software architecture on modern society, arguing that coders exercise a form of quasi-legislative power. It addresses the urgent need to limit this power within a human rights framework, as current legal systems fail to adequately regulate the power imbalance between software developers and users in an increasingly digital, cash-free, and surveillance-prone environment.
- The transformation of society into a human-machine hybrid system.
- The power dynamic between coders and users as a modern legislative authority.
- The erosion of privacy through digital infrastructure and data-driven monitoring.
- The limitations of existing national and international law regarding code regulation.
- Strategies for balancing economic freedoms with the protection of fundamental human rights.
Excerpt from the Book
Code is Power: Coding, User Dependency and Human Rights
It has been said by Lawrence Lessing that “code is law”. This is true already in a society which is dependent on information technology. Even though machines are not full members of this society yet, we already entrust a number of very personal and important functions to them. In many cases, this trust goes beyond the trust parents would give a small child, who also is a member of society but does not have the right to vote yet. If you step on an airplane you trust your life to the machine and if you take your child with you, you give more trust to a machine you have never seen, and most likely might not even understand, than you would give to most other humans (i.e., strangers), let alone almost all animals. In this sense, our society is mainly a human-machine hybrid society, with both terms being used fairly widely. In a world which depends on machines behaving in specific ways, the power to code means the power to control a large part of the human-machine hybrid society. Coders often have a degree of direct power governments or lawmakers can only dream of.
Like political power, the power of coders must be limited in order to protect human rights and democracy. Laws made by states are one way to limit the power of coders, but because it transcends borders, by its very nature the regulation of code will have to be global. Like other forms of power, the power of coders can be used to improve human lives. What is different are the directness of the way the power is applied and its scope. One cannot shut down China or India in an instant but there is the technically possibility to shut down major social networks like Facebook. Coders enjoy an unprecedented kind of power, yet they are only subjected to national laws, which in many cases will mean that any limitations placed on their work are merely perceived as nuisances.
Summary of Chapters
1. Code is Power: Coding, User Dependency and Human Rights: This chapter establishes the thesis that code functions as a form of law, creating a power imbalance between those who develop software and the users who depend on it for participation in society.
Keywords
Code is law, Human Rights, Information Technology, Human-machine hybrid, Digital Privacy, Coder power, Democracy, Regulatory oversight, International law, User dependency, Software architecture, Digital society, Data surveillance, Power imbalance, Legislative authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core argument of this work?
The work argues that software code acts as a form of law in modern society, granting developers significant power over individuals and necessitating new legal frameworks to protect human rights.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The central themes include the societal dependency on technology, the erosion of privacy through digital systems, the shift towards cashless economies, and the political power held by software coders.
What is the overarching goal of the author?
The goal is to highlight that current legal systems are insufficient in addressing the power dynamics between coders and users and to advocate for a global legal approach to regulate coding activities.
Which scientific approach is utilized?
The text employs a legal and human rights-based analytical framework to examine the intersection of technology, individual autonomy, and the necessity of state-enforced limitations on private power.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The text explores the concept of the human-machine hybrid society, real-world examples of digital tracking (such as health insurance and banking), and the inadequacy of existing international law to govern coder influence.
Which keywords define the scope of this study?
Key terms include "Code is law," human rights, digital privacy, coder power, and the societal impact of technological dependency.
How does the author view the "cashless society"?
The author views the move toward cashless societies as a mechanism that increases user dependency on electronic systems, thereby creating new vulnerabilities for privacy and individual freedom.
What role do nation states play in the author's view?
The author suggests that nation states are increasingly powerless in a globalized society, yet they remain the only entities responsible for enforcing limitations on coder power to ensure human rights are protected.
- Quote paper
- Stefan Kirchner (Author), 2015, Code is Power. Coding, User Dependency and Human Rights, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/313132
