Abstract:
The academic study and the applied use of agent-based modelling of social processes has matured considerably over the last thirty years. The time is now right to engage seriously with the ethics and responsible practice of agent-based social simulation. In this paper, we first outline the many reasons why it is appropriate to explore an ethics of agent-based modelling and how ethical issues arise in its practice and organisation. We go on to discuss different approaches to standardisation as a way of supporting responsible practice. Some of the main conclusions are organised as provisions in a draft code of ethics. We intend for this draft to be further developed by the community before being adopted by individuals and groups within the field informally or formally.
Citation:
Anzola, David, Barbrook-Johnson, Pete and Gilbert, Nigel (2022) 'The Ethics of Agent-Based Social Simulation' Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation 25 (4) 1 <http://jasss.soc.surrey.ac.uk/25/4/1.html>. doi: 10.18564/jasss.4907