Digital ethicswashing: a systematic review and a process‐perception‐outcome framework
Additional information
Authors
Schultz M.,
Conti L. G.,
Seele P.
Type
Journal Article
Year
2024
Language
English
Abstract
The term “ethicswashing” was recently coined to describe the phenomenon of instrumentalising ethics by misleading com-
munication, creating the impression of ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI), while no substantive ethical theory, argument, or
application is in place or ethicists involved. Ethicswashing resembles greenwashing for environmental issues and has become
an issue – particularly since 2019 with Thomas Metzinger’s harsh criticisms as a member of the EU panel for developing
ethical guidelines for AI, which he called “ethicswashing.” Nowadays, increased ethics washing has changed the perception of
AI ethics, leading critics to find a “trivialization” of ethics that may even lead to “ethics bashing.” Considering the scattered
literature body and the various manifestations of digital ethicswashing, we recognise the need to assess the existing literature
comprehensively. To fill this gap, this research systematically reviews current knowledge about digital ethicswashing stem-
ming from various academic disciplines, contributing to an up-to-date assessment of its underlying characteristics. Apply-
ing content analysis to map the field leads us to present five thematic clusters: ethicswashing, ethics bashing, policymaking
and regulation, watchdogs, and academia. In conclusion, we synthesise ethicswashing along a process-perception-outcome
framework to provide future research to explore the multiple meanings of digital ethicswashing.
Keywords
Ethicswashing · AI ethics · AI ethics crisis · Ethicswashing process—Perception—Outcome framework
Journal
AI & Ethics
Volume
5
Pages (or article number)
805–818
