Societal Conclusions
Privacy Matters
Project Insight/Zola’s Algorithm used the personal information of individuals to determine whether they would be a threat to HYDRA now or in the future. As stated in the movie, “The 21st century is a digital book.” Zola’s Algorithm uses people’s voting patterns, phone calls, SAT scores, medical histories, emails, bank records, and more to predict people’s future. One single institution having access to all of this information is a breeding ground for disaster. Privacy matters. The first policy of the Privacy Act of 1974 holds the government “to restrict disclosure of personally identifiable records maintained by agencies” [20]. Government agencies should only have access to the information they need to do their job. Because of this, Project Insight/Zola’s Algorithm demonstrates an unethical use of individuals’ private information.
Due Process Matters
As stated previously, Project Insight utilized the personal information of individuals to control and govern them. The Project Insight helicarriers were meant to create a "shield" around the world to protect people by killing targets before crimes have been committed. The scene where Nick Fury informs Captain America about Project Insight includes quotes that encompass the question of due process within Project Insight.
Fury: “We’re gonna neutralize a lot of threats before they happen.”
Steve: “I thought the punishment usually came after the crime.”
Fury: “We can’t afford to wait that long.”
Steve: “Who’s we?”
Fury: “For once we’re way ahead of the curve.”
Steve: “By holding a gun to everyone on Earth and calling it protection?”
Fury: “You know I read those SSR files. Greatest Generation? You guys did some nasty stuff.”
Steve: “Yeah. We compromised. Sometimes in ways that made us not sleep so well. But we did it so that people could be free. This isn’t freedom, this is fear.” [15]
Due process states that “No person shall…be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law” [21]. Project Insight takes away this possibility. Because of this, Project Insight/Zola’s Algorithm is an unethical use of computing technology as it impedes the rights of individuals to be innocent unless proven guilty.