Given that we live in an era where millions of human lives are dependent on software, isn’t it high time that this industry, including it’s professionals and the products we create, are regulated like other industries where human lives are at stake?

That has already been the case for decades. The thing is just that with most software, nothing is at stake except some convenience.

Software that needs to be regulated is regulated. Software that doesn't maintain someone's livelihood or drive a car for you for example, no one gives a shit about.

Regulations around safety critical software are the reason aeroplanes don't just fall out of the sky! 🤔

@nibor That wasn't a software problem. It was a system design problem, and a problem of a quantitative change leading to a qualitative one while deliberately ignoring the system impact for re-classification.

It was also a problem of putting the fox in charge of the henhouse with regard to checking whether the regulations were even followed properly.

I have been saying this for years.

software engineers and architects need to be held accountable. if we were required to hold a license it would make saying "no" so easy.

"I want you to track our users internet activities so that we can sell their information without their permission", no, and if you do it I'll report you to the software ethics board.

basically, if you don't have a license you can't work for a company. complaints against a company for infractions are public. the days of plain text passwords would be over and standard security compliance would be applied regularly(not just at audit times).

We can add HIPPA or 508 compliance, or whatever level of encryption you want.

Most gov contracts require them, as well as personal background checks.

I had to interview with an FBI agent to code for a government contract...

Not sure how much further regulations could be up a programmers ass without instantiating an ouroboros.

@sariel It'd also make a whole new industry of rogue, black market Devs prepared to do whatever though. I suspect it'd just make things more divisive - you'd have a set of companies doing it the right way, and a set doing everything wrong, with not much ok between.

@AlmondSauce those already exist though. and if you're operating without a license, much like a doctor, you're fined, and eventually imprisoned if found after multiple infractions.

people will always do the bad things, enforcing a standard will only improve software and quality of life for engineers. it will also improve the quality of the world we live in.

@ostream but how do you track that information without tracking the engineers building it?

companies will constantly be shady af, and will hire engineers that will go with it because we all have bills to pay. as an engineer you have no incentive to speak up and usually your job security wins.

if career security was on the line it would make engineers, and thus companies, act with moralistic and ethical integrity.

sure, they could hire unlicensed engineers, but then the companies would be fined outrageous amounts that could bankrupt them.

I agree that it's a slippery slope, but I still believe it's the only way we can preserve this world. the tools we build are being used in unexpected and malicious ways that are literally ripping the fabric of our society and someone needs to be held accountable.

Na. Let’s automate the whole process and squeeze as much money as possible out of the system 👍🏼👍🏼