The introduction of information technology in the society and its pervasiveness in every aspect of citizens' daily life highlight societal stakes related to the goals regarding the uses IT, such as social networks. This paper examines two cases that lack a straightforward link with privacy as addressed and protected by existing law in Europe and the United-States , but whose characteristics, we believe fall on other privacy function and properties. In Western societies, individuals rely on normative discourses, such as the (...) legal one, in order to ensure protection. Hence, the paper argues that other functions of privacy need either further framing into legislation or they need to constitute in themselves normative commitments of an ethical nature for technology development and use. Some initiatives at the EU level recall such commitments, namely by developing a normative discourse based on ethics and human values. We argue that we need to interrogate society about those normative discourses because the values we once cherished in a non-digital society are seriously being questioned. (shrink)

Cet article traite la problématique du facteur humain dans la société en réseau en mettant en évidence que les TIC sont à la fois créatrices et destructrices de lien social. Il propose une approche de la fracture numérique selon deux niveaux: - un accès inégalitaire à Internet et aux TIC; - des savoirs et savoir-faire insuffisants pour communiquer dans une société désormais régie par la manipulation et les mécanismes de génération de la connaissance. Il prend comme exemple référentiel la génération (...) Internet née de la double médiation technique et sociale caractéristique du lien social engendré par l'usage des TIC. Et, il situe ainsi la véritable origine de la fracture numérique dans les inégalités socio-économiques et culturelles qui existaient pour la plupart avant l'introduction des TIC et la mise en réseau de la société.This paper addresses the problem of the human factor in the network society by highlighting that ICTs are both creative and destructive social links. It proposes an approach to the digital divide in two levels: - unequal access to the Internet and ICT - knowledge and skills sufficient to communicate in a society now governed by the manipulation and generation mechanisms of knowledge. He takes as an example the Internet generation born repository of double mediation technical and social characteristics of social ties generated by the use of ICT. And it is thus the true origin of the digital divide in the socio-economic and cultural existed mostly before the introduction of ICT and networking company. (shrink)

In this position paper, we would like to promote the alternative approach positioned between the two extreme positions consisting in refusing any innovation or in adopting technology without questioning it. This approach proposes a reflexive and responsible innovation based on a compromise between industrial and economic potentialities and a common respect of our human rights and values. We argue that the “silence of the chips right” is timely, relevant and sustainable to face ethical challenges raised by IoT such as protecting (...) privacy, trust, social justice, autonomy or human agency. We believe this technical solution may support establishing an ethics of IoT embedded in the technology itself. Our position is not ‘technocratic’: we do not agree with discourses arguing technology can fix problems. Through the responsible research and innovation approach we promote the idea that only human agency and user empowerment constitute a valid answer to the ethical, legal and social issues raised by IoT. (shrink)