Han’s Jonas paper, “Technology and Responsibility” is a call to action for the reader to reassess ethical considerations given how far reaching, permanent, and the scale of modern human actions. His metaphor on the short arm of tech reminds us to consider the potential long-term consequences of our actions as technology continues to race forward. Going forward, cyber policy should not merely respond to threats but rather be guided by a future oriented ethical approach that speaks for both our ignorance and our power.  

Cyber technology is embedded in everything from national security to devices we will interact with on a daily basis and implementations made within this domain could stand for a long time with potential for many other technologies to be built from other tech rather than from scratch. This can create cause and effect chains that may last for a long time, affecting both our digital environment and the face of the human agency itself. Jonas would argue this demands a new approach: Act so that the effects of cyber-policy are compatible with the permanence of a humane and autonomous digital society.  

Overall, Jonas calls for three major considerations to be made on the future evaluation of ethical policies related to technology. Policy should serve as ethical foresight, even for generations that have yet to be born. Cyber-policies should also embrace humility and consider that we don’t know what all the consequences may be; therefore, we should design things that are modifiable in the event we need to reverse course and try new methods. Lastly, to understand that ethical traditions arose to control power, however, with digital technology changing even the definition of human autonomy, we must also ensure that cyber policy not only secures systems but also safeguard the right of human choice, privacy, and unpredictability.  

Cited:  

> Jonas, H. (1973). Technology and responsibility: Reflections on the new tasks of ethics. Social Research, 40(1), 31–54. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40970125