Exploring the role of the Catholic intellectual tradition in guiding the ethics of digital technologies
A new initiative from the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC under the patronage of Cardinal Peter Turkson, chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Science and Social Sciences, and with the support of The Laudato sì Challenge Foundation.
New and emerging digital technologies offer the potential to address global challenges and provide positive impact across our society. At the same time, however, they also can pose unprecedented harms to individuals, societies and our natural environment. Too often, the development of new technology is not accompanied by ethical reflection.
Humanity faces the risk that ongoing technical innovations will direct human activity rather than serve it. Without a comprehensive ethical framework, these rapid advancements can promote inauthentic progress, spread misinformation, sharpen inequalities and leave the marginalized behind. On the other hand, a far-reaching moral vision could set these technologies towards minimizing harm and serving integral human development.
Held in collaboration with the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC under the patronage of Cardinal Peter Turkson, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Science and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, and with the support of the Laudato sì Challenge Foundation, the symposium “Humanizing Networks: Human Fraternity in the Digital Age” brought together technology experts, academics, public officials, spiritual leaders and business executives from across the globe. The June 2023 gathering at the Vatican explored the idea of connectivity and its impact on our society — along with the need for a set of ethical guidelines and practical regulatory frameworks surrounding artificial intelligence, spatial computing, social media and other digital technologies.
Participants:
H. E. Cardinal Peter Turkson, Chancellor, Pontifical Academy of Science and the Ponrifical Academy of Social Sciences
Kyle Ballarta, K.M., trustee, Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC, and organizer, Humanizing Networks Initiative
Dan Finn, trustee, Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC
Fr. James L. Heft, S.M., founder and president emeritus, Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC
Rod Beckstrom, former director of the National Cybersecurity Center and former CEO and president, ICANN
H. E. Ambassador Michele Bowe, G.C.M., Order of Malta Mission to Palestine
Edward Garcia, founder and board chair, Foundation for Social Connection
Rose Gottemoeller, former deputy secretary general of NATO
Carl “Boe” Hartman, co-founder and CTO, Nomi Health, former CTO, Marcus by Goldman Sachs
Ron Ivey, managing director, Humanity 2.0 Institute, and visiting researcher, Harvard University
Chuck Brooks, S.M.E., Homeland Defense and Security Information Analysis
Fr. Philip Larrey, dean, Lateran University
Gregory Manuel, advisor, Google X
Danielle McLaughlin, author and senior analyst, Horizon 2045
Livia Piermatti, president, Farmafactoring Foundation
Jonathan Teubner, Ph.D., research fellow, Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry, Australian Catholic University
John Thompson, partner, Gotham Labs
Marco Ventura, professor of law and religion, University of Siena
Steve Westly, entrepreneur, investor, corporate executive and former California state controller.
