Uncovering hidden consequences in our digital world
Informed Progress
Building technology with conscience and foresight
We track and interrogate the ethical dimensions of technology—from how AI models are trained to who gets exploited in global supply chains. Every chip carries choices. Every algorithm embeds values. And every "neutral platform" isn't. Our work exposes the moral architecture underneath our digital experiences.
What We Cover
AI Ethics & Model Misconduct
We investigate hallucinations, algorithmic bias, manipulation techniques, surveillance expansion, and synthetic media deception. As AI systems gain more influence over our lives, we examine who designs these systems and what values they encode.
Tech Labor & Exploitation
Who builds the future—and who gets burned doing it? We spotlight the often-invisible workers from underpaid data annotators and content moderators to cobalt miners. Their stories reveal the true human cost behind our digital conveniences.
Corporate Power & Accountability
What happens when a handful of companies control the global digital infrastructure? We analyze concentration of power, regulatory capture, and the responsibility gaps that emerge when private entities govern what are effectively public spaces.
Design Ethics
Dark Patterns
Interfaces designed to trick users into actions they wouldn't otherwise take, from hidden subscription renewals to privacy-invasive defaults
Attention Engineering
Techniques that exploit psychological vulnerabilities to maximize engagement, regardless of user wellbeing
Surveillance Capitalism
Business models that turn user behavior into prediction products, creating incentives that undermine privacy and autonomy
Ethical Alternatives
Design approaches that respect user agency, promote wellbeing, and create sustainable engagement models
Ethics isn't just about what technology does—it's about how it presents itself. The interfaces we interact with daily contain hidden persuasions and manipulations that shape our behavior in ways we rarely notice.
Moral Outsourcing to Machines
Encoded Values
How human biases and priorities become embedded in algorithmic systems
Automated Decisions
The shift from human judgment to algorithmic determinations in critical domains
Accountability Gaps
The diffusion of responsibility when machines make consequential choices
Ethical Frameworks
Approaches to embedding moral reasoning in autonomous systems
Who gets to decide what a self-driving car does in a crash? Spoiler: it's not you. As we delegate more decisions to machines, we're often outsourcing moral judgments to engineers and corporations with minimal oversight or transparency. These encoded ethics shape outcomes that can mean life or death.
Who We Serve
Policymakers
Officials seeking evidence-based approaches to technology regulation and governance frameworks that protect public interests while fostering innovation
Students & Scholars
Those studying the societal impacts of technology who need case studies, frameworks, and critical perspectives to inform their research and future careers
Tech Workers & Engineers
Professionals who want to build responsible technology and need practical tools to advocate for ethical approaches within their organizations
Concerned Citizens
People who refuse to be reduced to data points and seek to understand how technology shapes their lives and communities
Resources We Provide
Ethics Case Files
Real-world examples of ethical dilemmas in AI, big data, robotics, and beyond, with analysis and lessons learned
Whistleblower Watch
Following the voices inside Big Tech who are pushing back against unethical practices, with resources for would-be whistleblowers
Code of Ethics Toolkits
Practical frameworks for startups and developers to implement ethical considerations throughout the development lifecycle
Public Accountability Index
Comprehensive tracking of tech companies and their policies (or lack thereof) on key ethical issues
We don't just identify problems—we provide solutions. Our resources are designed to be practical, actionable, and accessible to everyone from policy experts to individual developers wanting to make more ethical choices in their work.
Join The Movement
Subscribe to Ethical Short Circuits
Our monthly dispatch delivers a punchy, digestible roundup of ethics-in-tech news, whistleblower leaks, policy shifts, and deep dives. Stay informed without getting overwhelmed by the constant stream of tech developments.
Attend Our Ethics Workshops
Join our regular virtual and in-person workshops where we tackle pressing ethical challenges in technology. Connect with others who share your concerns and develop practical approaches to implementing ethics in your work.
Contribute Case Studies
Have you witnessed ethical issues in your technology work? Share your experiences (anonymously if needed) to help others learn and to create accountability within the industry. Your insights help build our collective understanding.
Support Our Research
Our independent investigations into technology ethics require resources. Your support helps us maintain independence from the very companies we scrutinize, ensuring unbiased analysis and recommendations.
The future is being built. Let's make sure it has a conscience. Join us in demanding technology that respects human dignity, protects vulnerable populations, and enhances rather than exploits our shared humanity.