EPISODE 46: Sometimes, We Are The Villains: Tech Ethics In Software Development

Compromising Positions - A Cyber Security Podcast

In this Episode we are joined by Sergès Goma, a Paris-based software developer specialising in JavaScript. In this episode, Sometimes, we are the Villains - Tech ethics in software development, we dive deep into the ethical dilemmas we face as workers and creators of technology. Heroes are few and far between in this tech landscape, even if we don’t like to admit it, and that includes us in cybersecurity! So it is important we have these conversations and look inward at our industry and the impact it has on culture and society.

We also talk about why developers always seem to top the leader board when it comes to phishing simulation click rates, the complexity of the word ‘privacy’ in different countries, and ask if we are heading towards a more regulated industry and what that might mean for innovation and creativity.

Key Takeaways:

Uncovering the Dark Truth: Discover why those working in tech may not be the heroes we perceive them to be.

The Perils of Overconfidence: Learn how the tech-savviness of developers can lead to risky behaviours and potential security breaches.

From Feature-Focused to Security-Savvy: Learn how training and awareness can empower developers to become active participants in building secure software.

Regulation vs. Innovation: We examine the challenges and opportunities of ethical frameworks in the tech industry.

Global Perspectives on Privacy: Gain insights into how privacy is perceived differently across the world and the impact of cultural nuances on ethical considerations in tech.

Links to everything we discussed in this episode can be found in the show notes and if you liked the show, please do leave us a review.

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We hope you enjoyed this episode - See you next time, keep secure, and don’t forget to ask yourself, ‘Am I the compromising position here?’

Show Notes

Evil Tech: How Devs Became Villains

Background on the Nestle Milk Scandal

The Untold Story of the 2018 Olympics Cyberattack, the Most Deceptive Hack in History by WIRED

Paris Olympics Security Warning—Russian Hackers Threaten 2024 Games by Forbes

Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship by Robert Martin

About Sergès Goma

Sergès Goma is a Paris-based software developer specialized in JavaScript. When she's not fixing codebases, she gives motivational speeches mostly aimed at junior and would-be developers as well as participating in the tech women's empowerment online community Motiv'Her.

LINKS FOR Sergès Goma

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Keywords: cybersecurity, tech ethics, ethics, software development, privacy