Ethics in UX: Dark History
This is a part of my class Assignment at UW Madison.
In the last class, the discussion of real-life examples of ‘Unethical Research’ intrigued me the most. Consequently, I decided to delve deeper into numerous such incidents and explore the dark history of ethics in UX, particularly during the 20th century. One incident that particularly captured my attention was something that occurred back in my home country during a government emergency period. It rapidly shifted from being framed as “we are conducting this extensive experiment for the collective good” to becoming associated with coercion and sterilization camps.
A Case Study — The Indian Sterilization Camps (1970s-1980s, India)
I was not yet born when this occurred in India, but I still heard about the horrors and panic it caused from my grandparents. What started as a ‘well-intentioned program’ eventually delved into population eugenics.
Background: The Family Planning Program in India
In the 1970s and 1980s, India faced the challenge of overpopulation, and the government launched a massive family planning program to address this issue. As part of the program, sterilization was promoted as a primary method of contraception. The campaign aimed to provide monetary incentives to individuals, especially men, who opted for sterilization. Unfortunately, this well-intentioned effort quickly spiraled into a series of unethical practices, leading to the establishment of sterilization camps.
Ethical Dilemma:
- Coercion and Lack of Informed Consent: In many cases, individuals were pressured or coerced into undergoing sterilization procedures, often without fully comprehending the consequences.
- Quantitative Targets Over Quality: The government set ambitious sterilization targets, incentivizing medical professionals to prioritize quantity over quality. This metric-driven approach incentivized hasty procedures and neglect of proper medical protocols, compromising the safety and well-being of individuals.
- Vulnerable Populations: The sterilization camps primarily targeted vulnerable populations, such as those from low-income backgrounds, rural areas, and marginalized communities.
- Lack of Accountability: Medical professionals and authorities often went unpunished for unethical practices, leading to a lack of accountability.
The key is to always prioritize user welfare, informed consent, inclusivity, and ethical responsibility in the design process.
Other Documented Studies:
In Peru, the government implemented a family planning program in the 1990s, which led to allegations of forced sterilizations. In China, there have been reports of forced sterilizations as part of the country’s one-child policy, which was in place for several decades. In the United States, there have been instances of sterilizations performed on marginalized and vulnerable populations, such as the forced sterilization of Native American women in the mid-20th century and the eugenics movement in the early 20th century.
As a UX Designer, it is crucial to embrace inclusive design, obtain informed consent from users, take accountability, and practice transparency.
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