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I'm sorry but this position is wrong. Shrugging at big tech partnering with military contractors manages to miss so many points. amywebb/1043132330800570369
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One, that once they start the US is the only country they will partner with. History shows us this is not true. These companies aren't making us more prepared, their perpetuating an exponentially growing arms race in which they are the only victor
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Two, these companies are not making jet engines, they're leveraging technology and data given to them by some willing and some unwilling consumers. We have them data for services, not to be turned into better tools of oppression.
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We deserve to know what's going on at all times with these companies because they wouldn't exist without the foundation of our data. We get to complain about its misuse. We protest because we have a stake in these companies.
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Three, engineers follow their predecessors. They understand, like Oppenheimer, that they have responsibility over what they build. But it is a greater responsibility than before.
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Military technology in WW1, was an effort of thousands. In WW2 it was an effort of hundreds. Now a single engineer could be directly responsible for code that could be used to kill millions of people. They can and should stand up for how they want it used.
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This is different and also entirely unnecessary. The US military already is huge and far more technologically advanced then it needs to be for combat in any realm. What is the point of a better bomb or drone? Not to kill people, we're already effective at that.
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No, new technology for the DoD from these big companies is about making it easier to kill be remote, with less direct oversight, involvement, and care. Perhaps we've reached a turning point? Perhaps it shouldn't be any easier to kill someone then it already is now?
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Let's not make this a false argument. Let's not say: "this is how it always was" It saddens me that someone who works with journalists would lack the viewpoint to understand the ethics of this situation. Engineers need and have ethical standards too. We should support them.
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Peace does come at a cost: a vigilant and engaged citizenry. Not an ever growing military industrial complex.
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Sorry if the advent of social media & interconnected global telecommunications network makes it harder to get away with profiting off the death of millions by using your consumer technology to make it easier to shoot someone without looking them in the eye. That's how this works.