Data Ethics and Practices of Human-Nonhuman Sound Technologies and Ecologies

TL;DR

This paper explores the ethical considerations and power dynamics involved in human-nonhuman sound interaction technologies, emphasizing the importance of responsible design to protect nonhuman interests.

Contribution

It introduces a conceptual framework addressing nonhuman data ethics and offers design takeaways for ethical human-nonhuman sound interaction.

Findings

Identifies key ethical challenges in nonhuman data practices

Highlights power relations affecting nonhuman stakeholders

Provides design recommendations for ethical HNI in sound ecologies

Abstract

Human-nonhuman sound interaction and technologies aim to bridge the gap of inter-species communication. While they emerge from attempts to understand and communicate with nonhumans, they also raise questions on the ethics of nonhuman data use, for example regarding the unintended consequences such data extraction can have to nonhumans. In this paper, we discuss power relations and aspects of representation in nonhuman data practices, and their potential critical implications to nonhumans. Drawing from prior research on data ethics and posthumanities, we conceptualize two challenges of nonhuman data ethics for the design of Human-Nonhuman Interaction (HNI) and technologies in sound ecologies. We provide takeaways for how sensitivities toward nonhuman stakeholders can be considered in the design of HNI in the context of sound ecologies.