Tarja Cronberg calls for an open debate on technology — "Democratic practices offer ways to prevent the misuse of technology"
— Technology is always ambivalent, meaning that it can be used for both good and bad, starts Tarja Cronberg, President of the Peace Union of Finland and distinguished associate fellow at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
It is not technically possible to limit a technology to a single purpose.
— Therefore, it is not possible for a technology to be purely peaceful. In the end, the use of technology should always be guided by political decision making.
Cronberg gives an example of drones. How to distinguish their military use from peaceful use? If drones are sent to measure drought, how is it prevented that they are not used for shooting people at the same time?
In the end, it is a matter of legislation.
— If you are developing a peaceful drone, you cannot prevent the development of military drones.
“Technology is always ambivalent.”
Cronberg has addressed these boundaries in a project for the Copenhagen Peace Research Institute. In her research she analysed the possibility of war industry to transfer to the production of peaceful technology after the Cold War. She discusses the same themes in a book that she is currently writing about nuclear technology.
How then should one be prepared for the misuse of peaceful technology? As an example, Cronberg gives information technology and artificial intelligence. They can be used to both liberate and control people.
— This highlights the importance of the societal decision making. For example, how will artificial intelligence be used in the military or in the peaceful industries? How are the lines drawn, for example, regarding cyber security?
The use of new technologies has always raised fears. According to Cronberg, it all depends on how technology is built as part of the society.
She talks about social shaping of technology. Technology itself cannot be limited to a single use, but it can be limited by social debate and control.
Social participation, legislation and widespread awareness ensure, that the technology developed for peaceful uses does not end up in military missions.
— It is our democratic practices that offer the way to prevent the misuse of technology.
Proactive discussion is needed
According to Cronberg, people have too much faith in technologies, especially in Finland. Thus it is even more important to create open dialogue on the use of technologies.
— Unfortunately, new technologies have often been introduced in Finland without much discussion. On the other hand, it is generally difficult for financiers to control the different uses of the technology.
Overall, Cronberg emphasises that the discussion should take place well before the introduction of a new technology.
— Technological development process starts with assessing its social and societal links. It involves culture as well as politics and legislation.
In addition, technology needs to be evaluated by wide range of actors. Technology developers also need to consider the political framework.
— Like this, the technology will not end up being used for undesirable purposes.
“Technological development process starts with assessing its social and societal links.”
Technology and society are thus closely interlinked. For this reason, there must be a societal debate on the financing of technology. Cronberg suggests that funding should be directed to sustaining the technology policy debate rather than to the development of peace technology.
— Through the societal discussion good technological alternatives can be made visible, but at the same time the possibility of abuse must be kept in mind.
In any case, the duality of technologies must be taken into account throughout their development process.
Dr. Tarja Cronberg is the President of the Peace Union of Finland and a distinguished associate fellow at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Among other places, she has previously worked as a professor of technology assessment at the Technical University of Denmark. She has a broad background in international peace work in both politics and research, as well as education and experience in the field of technologies.
Peace Invaders is a Finnish NGO working to harness the power of technology and media for conflict transformation.
We want peace. We mean business.
Peace Invaders blogging crew
HANNA PARTANEN
Journalist, filmmaker and executive director of Peace Invaders. Email me at hanna@peaceinvaders.fi and let’s start a conversation!
MARI TARKKONEN
Historian and marketing manager specialising in narratives, peacetech and circular economy innovation. Email me at mari@peaceinvaders.fi