Oral Presentation Topics for LANG 5001 (Spring 2015)
Technology Forum on Controversial Engineering/ Business/ HSS issues
In groups of 3-4, you are going to present a controversial Engineering ethical case/ issue
and lead discussion on some key questions. (Business students may choose business
issues while HSS students may choose social issues, etc.). You have to research on and
refer to at least 3 relevant academic references like journal papers, reports or academic
papers. During the presentation, you have to include:
1. A case summary (literature review of the issue) & identify the key issues involved
e.g. public welfare/ safety, conflict of interest, breach of confidentiality, etc.
2. Whenever appropriate, identify the Engineering Ethical Codes breached (e.g. IEEE
Code of Ethics), or conflicting perspectives (e.g. medical, humanistic, social, religious
point of view).
3. 5-10 controversial Qs for discussion in groups.
For example: The ethics of Whistleblowing: The NSA and Edward Snowden
Ethical issues involved



Public welfare and the right to privacy
The rights of the individual versus national security
Internet/government censorship versus safeguarding personal information and
freedom of expression

Breach of Confidentiality
Some Possible Discussion Qs:
1. Who should be responsible in this case? Why? (You may name more than 1 person/
parties.)
2. Snowden said that “I have done nothing wrong.” Do you agree?
3. Is Edward Snowden a whistleblower or a traitor?
4. Which is more important: national security or individual privacy? How do we balance
the two?
5. Do you think the Hong Kong Government should give Snowden a political asylum or
extradite him to U.S.?
6. Do you think there are better solutions regarding this problem?
References:

“Cyber security on a national level.” A student paper written by an experienced
American intelligence officer:
http://www.pitt.edu/~bdl18/FinalEngineering%20Writing%20Assignment%203-engine
ering%20education%20and%20ethics.doc

Privacy and Human rights (A report by Privacy International)
http://gilc.org/privacy/survey/intro.html

HKIE Rule of Conduct
http://www.hkie.org.hk/docs/downloads/membership/HKIERulesofConduct(2001Versi
on).pdf

IEEE Code of Ethics
http://www.ieee.org/about/corporate/governance/p7-8.html

Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice
http://www.acm.org/about/se-code
Below are some recommended topics for Lang 5001 Technology Forum and references:
(A) The Ethics of Information Communication Technology
Cyber manhunt: Is this the right way to justice?

China Communist mouthpiece misleads Chinese Cyber Manhunt [video in Putonghua]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zSBBXBYFDs
The Internet, Big Data and Privacy

Big Data age puts privacy in question as information becomes currency
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/apr/22/big-data-privacy-information-curren
cy

Octopus [HK] sold personal data of customers for HK$44m
http://www.scmp.com/article/720620/octopus-sold-personal-data-customers-hk44m

Big Data, big responsibilities
http://policyreview.info/articles/analysis/big-data-big-responsibilities
The Internet and control/ security:

Should China ban/ restrict access to social networking websites like Facebook, YouTube,
Gmail?

Is China turning its ISPs into internet police?
2
References:

Security, privacy issues hit Chinese firm Xiaomi
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/smartbuy/tech-news/security-privacy-issu
es-hit-chinese-firm-xiaomi/article6305184.ece

Blurred Lines, Drawn Swords: Internet Control Under Xi
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2014/08/blurred-lines-drawn-swords-internet-control-xi-jinping

Throttling Dissent: China's New Leaders Refine Internet Control
http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/special-reports/throttling-dissent-chinas-new-leader
s-refine-internet-control?gclid=CKrfrIyJncACFciCvQodXmAAtQ#.U_IUBPmSxJA

A giant cage
http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21574628-internet-was-expected-help-de
mocratise-china-instead-it-has-enabled
The Internet & Creativity:


Is technology driving/ hindering innovation?
Should ‘shanzhai’ (copycat/ imitations of brand-name products) products be banned/
tolerated in China?

Do we need new laws/ regulations regarding re-creation?
References:

China: ‘Shanzhai’ products one of the Controversial Topics of 2010:
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20101229000072&cid=150
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
Hong Kong: Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2011: Should re-creation be exempted?
http://hklawblog.com/2013/09/25/copyright-amendment-bill-2011-should-re-creation-be-e
xempted/

Creativity and innovation before and after the Net
http://labspace.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=426885&section=4.1
Digital Culture: Social networking websites:


How does human relationship change in the light of technology development?
Do we need new laws/ regulations to prevent abuse such as cyberbullying, cheating,
etc.?
References

Controversy Surrounding Social Media Networking Sites
http://possesocialmedia.com/controversy-surrounding-social-media-networking-sites/
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
Facebook Me: Collective Self-Esteem, Need to Belong, and Internet Self-Efficacy ....
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15252019.2008.10722138#.U_Io3vmSxJA
(B) Ethics of Science and Technology
Genetic Engineering: Promises and Dangers

What are some important uses & controversial issues of genetic engineering
nowadays? (Lit. review)

GM Food: Are Genetically Engineered Food safe?
The Controversy of Genetically Modified Food
http://biotech.about.com/od/Genetically-Modified-Organisms/a/The-Controversy-Of-G
enetically-Modified-Food.htm

Should research on cloning be banned?
Ref. Biomedical Engineering Ethics
http://www.utwente.nl/gw/wijsb/organization/brey/Publicaties_Brey/Brey_2009_Biom
ed_Engineering.pdf

Biotechnology: Is green genetic engineering sustainable?
http://www.alumniportal-deutschland.org/en/sustainability/environment/article/green-g
enetic-engineering.html
Biomedical ethics: Should Euthanasia (Mercy killing) be legalized?

Belgian identical twins in unique mercy killing
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/belgium/9798778/Belgian-identic
al-twins-in-unique-mercy-killing.html
http://www.euthanasia.com/page4.html

Sociological analysis of mercy killing
http://www.lawteacher.net/human-rights/essays/sociological-analysis-of-mercy-killing.
php

Is Mercy Death and Mercy Killing Morally Justifiable?
http://jxb7076.hubpages.com/hub/Moral-Aspirations-of-Mercy-Death-and-Mercy-Killing

Bioethics in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues and Concerns (Ch. 1)
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001359/135911e.pdf
Geoengineering/ Climate Engineering: Our last hope, or a false promise?

Ref. Geoengineering - A Climate Change Controversy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOO4ZrHl7L
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Robotics and Artificial Intelligence:


Should research of robotic research be restricted?
Pros and Cons of Robotic Surgery
http://healthresearchfunding.org/pros-cons-robotic-surgery/

Robots at War: Scholars Debate the Ethical Issues
http://chronicle.com/article/Moral-Robots-the-Future-of/134240/

Code of Ethics for Robotics Engineers
(Note also the section on Current State of Robotics Industry)
http://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Available/E-project-030410-172744/unrestricted/A_C
ode_of_Ethics_for_Robotics_Engineers.pdf
Digital Reality: Driverless cars

The Driverless Car: Mechanics, Benefits and Issues Involved
https://sites.google.com/site/gessicadriverless/home

Smart robots, driverless cars work – but they bring ethical issues too
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/oct/20/artificial-intelligence-impact-lives
Food safety in China: Problems, causes and suggested solutions

Food safety in China
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/china/food-safety
/index.html

Frequency Of Reported China Food Safety Problems May Be A Sign Of Progress
http://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2014/08/21/frequency-of-reported-china-food
-safety-problems-may-be-a-sign-of-progress/
You may choose your own current, controversial topic and seek the class teacher’s
approval.
Reference:

Top Ten Transhumanist Technologies
http://lifeboat.com/ex/transhumanist.technologies

Pros and Cons of 50 Controversial Issues
http://www.procon.org/
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