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I built an app for micro-jounaling emotions in 2012 and while I've felt so grateful to be using it and excited how it could help so many people, I have also fel

I built an app for micro-jounaling emotions in 2012 and while I've felt so grateful to be using it and excited how it could help so many people, I have also felt terrified at what might happen if such deeply personal information leaked. I tried to make it local-only, using an encrypted database and a required password, and yet I still feared that the device could get hacked and it would lead to suicide, murder, overdose, etc., if not war, depending on whose phone it was. At what point should we refrain from releasing a tool that may powerfully help people but also powerfully hurt people?

ChrisMarshallNY 6y ago
Thanks for doing that. I deliberately avoided reading this thread for quite a while, because I could see where it was going. It's pretty depressing how willing (and even enthusiastic) we can be, in dehumanizing other people. I have been deliberately vague, in specifics, because even a bit more specific could lead to people figuring out some of the identities of the folks I have known. I have enough respect for these people, and for the extreme damage that can be done, if it leaks, that I'm willing to take shots from the "Give us concrete examples, or you're a liar!" crowd. Here's an example of how tools could be misused. One of the things that I've done, over the years, is design a Web-driven, decentralized system for aggregating 12-Step fellowship (drug recovery) meetings. It's pretty much becoming the de facto world standard. In some nations (I'm looking at you, Philippines), people can be killed, just for being drug addicts. In other nations (I'm looking at you, Mexico), drug rehabs and recovery gatherings can be targeted by mass-murderers, in efforts to kill just one member. It's entirely possible that the tool I wrote could become a "murder menu" for these places, and that is not a thought that I take lightly. Nevertheless, those are "might," scenarios, and there's no question at all, that the tool has saved many, many lives. I don't think that it's being used in the Philippines, but they are considering using it in Mexico. I did my due diligence in the design of the tool. A number of compromises needed to be made, in order to ensure that it would be adopted by its intended user base, but it's pretty hard to abuse. Also, the team that took over after I turned it over, includes a number of security experts, so I leave it in good hands. I can't tell you what to do, but, if you feel that you have done all you can, legitimately, to secure it, then you can probably confidently release it, maybe with some published guidance, outlining risks.
- jimkleiber 6y ago
  This may be the first time since I've built that app that I've interacted with someone who may understand the level of fear and anxiety I've felt when thinking about releasing it. Many people have told me, "Oh, don't worry, just release it!" I feel grateful that you've not only built the tool and put it out there, but that you took the time to share with me a little of your story and that it sounds like you have also felt the weight of such a decision. I'm sure other people feel it as well, I just rarely, if ever, have heard someone articulate the saving a life vs taking a life aspects of such technology. Thank you.
  - ChrisMarshallNY 6y ago
    Good luck, Jim. You sound like a decent chap. I like “martial art for an open heart.” We can use as much of that as possible, in today’s world.
    - jimkleiber 6y ago
      Thank you, Chris :-) I know I still need it and imagine there is always at least one other person who may as well :-D You sound like decent chap as well. I have a lot of friends who have benefited strongly from the 12-step process. I also imagine I might have other friends in some of those nations you mentioned who benefit from the care you put into protecting their privacy. Good luck to you as well!

ChrisMarshallNY 6y ago

Thanks for doing that. I deliberately avoided reading this thread for quite a while, because I could see where it was going. It's pretty depressing how willing (and even enthusiastic) we can be, in dehumanizing other people. I have been deliberately vague, in specifics, because even a bit more specific could lead to people figuring out some of the identities of the folks I have known. I have enough respect for these people, and for the extreme damage that can be done, if it leaks, that I'm willing to take shots from the "Give us concrete examples, or you're a liar!" crowd. Here's an example of how tools could be misused. One of the things that I've done, over the years, is design a Web-driven, decentralized system for aggregating 12-Step fellowship (drug recovery) meetings. It's pretty much becoming the de facto world standard. In some nations (I'm looking at you, Philippines), people can be killed, just for being drug addicts. In other nations (I'm looking at you, Mexico), drug rehabs and recovery gatherings can be targeted by mass-murderers, in efforts to kill just one member. It's entirely possible that the tool I wrote could become a "murder menu" for these places, and that is not a thought that I take lightly. Nevertheless, those are "might," scenarios, and there's no question at all, that the tool has saved many, many lives. I don't think that it's being used in the Philippines, but they are considering using it in Mexico. I did my due diligence in the design of the tool. A number of compromises needed to be made, in order to ensure that it would be adopted by its intended user base, but it's pretty hard to abuse. Also, the team that took over after I turned it over, includes a number of security experts, so I leave it in good hands. I can't tell you what to do, but, if you feel that you have done all you can, legitimately, to secure it, then you can probably confidently release it, maybe with some published guidance, outlining risks.

jimkleiber 6y ago
This may be the first time since I've built that app that I've interacted with someone who may understand the level of fear and anxiety I've felt when thinking about releasing it. Many people have told me, "Oh, don't worry, just release it!" I feel grateful that you've not only built the tool and put it out there, but that you took the time to share with me a little of your story and that it sounds like you have also felt the weight of such a decision. I'm sure other people feel it as well, I just rarely, if ever, have heard someone articulate the saving a life vs taking a life aspects of such technology. Thank you.
- ChrisMarshallNY 6y ago
  Good luck, Jim. You sound like a decent chap. I like “martial art for an open heart.” We can use as much of that as possible, in today’s world.
  - jimkleiber 6y ago
    Thank you, Chris :-) I know I still need it and imagine there is always at least one other person who may as well :-D You sound like decent chap as well. I have a lot of friends who have benefited strongly from the 12-step process. I also imagine I might have other friends in some of those nations you mentioned who benefit from the care you put into protecting their privacy. Good luck to you as well!