Abstract
In this paper, we question the role of information technology (IT) designers in IT regulation. Through our concept of user centric regulation (UCR) we unpack what a closer alignment of IT design and regulation could mean. We also situate how they can respond to their ethical and legal duties to end users. Our concept asserts that human computer interaction (HCI) designers are now regulators and as designers are not traditionally involved in the practice of regulation hence the nature of their role is ill- defined. We believe designers need support in understanding what their new role entails, particularly managing ethical dimensions that go beyond law and compliance. We use conceptual analysis to consolidate perspectives from across Human Computer Interaction and Information Technology Law and Regulation, Computer Ethics, Philosophy of Technology, and beyond. We focus in this paper on the importance of mediation and responsibility and illustrate our argument by drawing on the emerging technological setting of smart cities.
Highlights
We explore the role of information technology (IT) designers in regulation and question the ethical dimensions of their work
In Part III, we look at the challenges of near future smart cities, considering the role of designers in managing information flows between users, devices and services
We discussed the importance of bringing human computer interaction (HCI) and IT law communities closer together
Summary
We explore the role of IT designers in regulation and question the ethical dimensions of their work. UCR developed from wider analysis of how a specific domain of IT design, human computer interaction, can interact with a field of regulation, information technology law (Urquhart, 2016). For this discussion we focus on unpacking two ethical dimensions of involving IT designers in the practice of regulation. The nature of their wider responsibilities to users and secondly, the relationship between mediating user experiences through IT design and regulation. We look at these issues in the context of the challenges posed by smart cities.
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