Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Dasmarinas

General Education Department

Science, Technology and Society
GEC8000 Module 7:
Intellectual Property Rights and the Effects of Technology in Society

Table of Contents:
• Principle of Human Rights in STS
• The Impact of Technology in the Principles of Human Rights (Ethical Dilemmas)
• Data Privacy in the Age of Information

Presentation by:
STS Faculty
Opening prayer

Heavenly Father and Your Beloved Son Jesus Christ,

We thank you for giving us another life,
We thank you for another Beautiful Morning.
As we go on through our lessons today,
May you make us instruments to do good things.
Please enlighten our minds,
Give us the strength to participate in our subject today.
Thank you for this opportunity to learn and serve others,
and help me to always remember the Truth of Your Glory!
In Jesus’ name. Amen
Principles of Human Rights
To achieve human flourishing (happiness) that results in good life, the
society has developed standards wherein everyone should follow to promote the
common good and achieve shared goals. The shared experiences, concerns, and
learnings among individuals have allowed us to develop the concept of human
rights.

The human rights allow us to maximize our freedom in existence while

simultaneously respecting the freedom of others around us. It provides us the
general rules and policies in which the orderliness in the society is highly
dependent. It can be observed as – either rewarding good behaviors or punishing
bad behaviors that the society have dictated to be accepted or rejected among its
members.
Principles of Human Rights
There are four (4) principles wherein the human rights are patterned from:

Beneficence – the principle of beneficence provides the idea that under any circumstances in
our life, whether it is pertaining to others or towards self, the main goal of any decisions or
actions should be directed towards common good. It is also easily understood as the concept of
– maximizing the possible benefits.

For example:
• All scientific and technological advancements should NOT elicit any harm or risk to any
individual.
• If any harm or risk is unavoidable, any non-positive intervention should be minimized and
have corresponding incentive.
• All procedures that pertain to humans should be based on valid and safe practices.
• No one shall be allowed to perform any actions/decisions without clear evidence and
definite outcome.
Principles of Human Rights
There are four (4) principles wherein the human rights are patterned from:

Non-maleficence - the principle of non-maleficence provides an idea that in any circumstances,

all actions and decisions should not elicit further harm or risk to any individual. The disposition
or concurrent situation of any individual should not make any exception that will put them in a
situation wherein they will be requested or enforced to choose between harm or less viable
option in their decisions. It is also easily understood as the concept of – minimizing the possible
harm.

For example:
• Any personal bias or belief is NOT a valid justification of nullification of decision towards
positive result.
• Any activity or decision has a corresponding accountability whether it elicits an immediate or
prolonged effect to any individual.
• There should be NO instances wherein the outcome is the only consideration, it should always
take note of the possible implications during the procedure of the action itself.
Principles of Human Rights
There are four (4) principles wherein the human rights are patterned from:

Informed Consent – the principle of informed consent provides us the idea that any individual is
given the freedom to decide the best option for their OWN PERSONAL benefit. Although this is
under predicament that an individual that has decided on his/her own shall be solely liable for the
outcome of the decision. The principle can only be applied once all the possible benefits, risks and
harm has been thoroughly explained in a manner wherein an individual can fully comprehend.

For example:
• Any unintentional or intentional screening of information for favored response is NOT accepted
in any form.
• Any individual has the right to be informed in all aspect of the decisions, whether they are NOT
YET able to generate their own decision – in cases of parental relationships.
• It can be overridden in specific but sensitive scenarios wherein HIGHLY COMPETENT
individuals needs to generate immediate decisions.
Principles of Human Rights
There are four (4) principles wherein the human rights are patterned from:

Justice – the principle of Justice provides an idea that everyone in the society should bear all the
positive and negative outcomes depending on their accounted actions and decisions. It means that
the society does not only provide the possible positive or negative outcome in scenarios, but also
the society dictates the possible intensity or gravity of the effect of the action or decision. It is also
more easily understood as – fairness or equity.

For example:
• Any adverse action has a corresponding variation in punishments – imprisonment, fine or
service.
• Each member has a definite role in the society’s communal decision – voting, taxes and duty.
• There is a hierarchy in the society that selectively clusters that benefits and liabilities which
elicits assistance to those who are more deprived and needy – love for the poor or compassion.
• There is an existing official justice system that only qualified members are allowed to make
substantial decisions.
Ethical Dilemmas
Ethical dilemmas are concerns or issues in the society that requires an immediate and concrete decision because
the quality of life (good life) and human happiness (human flourishing) is dependent on it. The science and technology
(STS) in our society has deeply impacted these issues because of the improvement in the possible new solutions that
provides a wide array of options to those members of the society.

These are some ethical dilemmas in the society that needs immediate decisions –

A. Abortion – it can be spontaneous (accidental) or induced (active) termination of life during pregnancy.
B. Suicide – (self) termination of own personal life or (assisted) termination of life of other individual.
C. Euthanasia – termination of life of individuals that are incapable to actively decide on their own life.
D. Cloning and Surrogacy – initiation and propagation of life by technology assistance.
E. Contraception and Population Control – prevention of life by technology assistance.
F. Genetic Engineering (Stem Cell) and Gene Therapy – alteration of the possible quality of life.
G. Organ Donation – transferring organs to other people without informed consent from the dead individual.
H. Sexual Education –enhancement of available information among individuals that are not yet sexually active.
• Targeted Ads: The Dark Side of Divulging Your
Data - YouTube
Ethical Dilemma: Privacy and Technology
In the age of information (internet), there is an abundance of available information to everyone
due to the improvements in the technology that we utilize in our daily lives. The rapid and unregulated
transmission of information has posed a problem in the society because it can be either used in good or
bad actions or decisions.

These are some of the ethical dilemma that the internet has povided –

A. Availability of Personal Information – information that can identify a specific individual.

B. Concerns in Sensitive Information – information that can cause risk or harm to an individual.
C. Information Piracy and Fake Information – manipulation and unauthorized distribution of information.
D. Extended Period of Storage of Information – accessibility of other individuals to any information.
E. Commercialization of Information – collection of information for possible value in the market.
F. Unethical Information Propagation – information that can harm individuals – exploitation.
G. Assistance in Illegal Trade and Services – faster and oblivious transport of illegal and regulated goods.
 Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA NO. 10173)
The Republic of the Philippines has mandated that any information, specifically any personal or sensitive
information should always have informed consent prior collection, utilization and distribution in any possible reason. It is an
act protecting individual personal information in information and communications systems in the government and the private
sector, creating for this purpose a national privacy commission, and for other purposes.

DOST – Philippine Health and Research and Ethics Board (PHREB)

The Philippine National Health Research System Act of 2013 (RA 10532) institutionalized the memorandum of
understanding among the DOST, DOH, CHED and UP Manila to work towards “improving the health status,, productivity
and quality of life of Filipinos by :
(a) ensuring that health research is linked to the health system needs;
(b) ensuring that investments in health research yield the most benefit;
(c) promoting good governance among health research organizations through efficient, effective, transparent and ethical
health research management system ;
(d) engaging in national and international partnerships and networks for health research development and
(e) ensuring sustainability of resources for health research.” It was generally assumed that research ethics was embedded in
objectives (a), (b) and (c).
Links used in this lesson

• What are the universal human rights? - Benedetta Berti

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDgIVseTkuE
• Ethics defined https://youtu.be/4vWXpzlL7Mo
• Know Your Data Privacy Rights! https://youtu.be/Kz-INokaRFs