As former and active technologists, regulators, and changemakers with experience working for some of the largest technology organizations in the world, we understand the problems arising from the rapid evolution of technologies we're experiencing right now. We also know what kind of impact can be expected from companies hiding behind their algorithms. For these reasons and more, we decided to launch BEACON, the Better Ethics and Consumer Outcomes Network.
BEACON is a social innovation organization on a mission to create a better future, through technology—a mission that requires working with several different levers of society.
BEACON aims to achieve its mission by working to improve both data and overall technical literacy within the general population; by enabling technologists to create products that respond to informed consumer demand while also creating a positive social impact and increasing revenue; and by helping policymakers understand what’s happening so they can ask the right questions and create regulation that not only protects consumers but also enables businesses to operate successfully in our global economy.
BEACON’s for-profit initiative, BEACON Labs, works with companies to identify ethical dilemmas and translate them into business language so that the issues can be operationalized into product solutions that both improve consumer outcomes and increase revenue. BEACON’s non-profit initiative, BEACON Institute, works to educate consumers and accelerate communities into the age of automation through active participation in the modern world.
We believe approaching our efforts this way—by working with consumers, corporations, and legislators—is the only way to successfully make the changes that need to be made.