Tethics Framework
Purpose
"Tethics" (Tech Ethics) is Pied Piper's formal commitment to ethical software development. While the term was coined industry-wide (ironically by Gavin Belson), we adopt it seriously as an extension of our Anti-Hooli principle.
The Three Pillars
1. We Will Not Ship Unfinished Code
Software that is "good enough" is not good enough. We will:
- Complete thorough testing before any release
- Fix known bugs before adding new features
- Never sacrifice quality for arbitrary deadlines
- Maintain comprehensive documentation
Accountability: Engineering lead signs off on release readiness.
2. We Will Act in the Public Interest
Technology should serve humanity, not exploit it. We will:
- Consider societal impact of our products
- Refuse contracts that enable surveillance or harm
- Be transparent about data collection and usage
- Prioritize user benefit over engagement metrics
Accountability: Ethics review for major product decisions.
3. We Will Ensure Data Sovereignty
Users own their data. Period. We will:
- Never sell user data to third parties
- Provide full data export capabilities
- Honor deletion requests completely
- Encrypt user data end-to-end where possible
Accountability: Annual third-party privacy audit.
Implementation
Engineering Standards
- All code changes require peer review
- Security review for public-facing features
- Performance testing before deployment
- Accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.1 AA)
Business Standards
- No partnerships that compromise user privacy
- Transparent pricing with no hidden terms
- Clear terms of service in plain language
- Regular communication with users
Compliance Monitoring
- Quarterly Tethics review board meeting
- Anonymous ethics violation reporting
- External ethics advisory council
Violations
Tethics violations are treated as seriously as security breaches:
| Severity | Response |
|---|---|
| Minor | Documented warning, remediation plan |
| Moderate | Team review, mandatory training |
| Major | Leadership escalation, potential termination |
| Critical | Product halt, public disclosure |
Real-World Test
The ultimate test of Tethics came with DEC-005. When faced with a choice between profit and protecting global privacy, we chose to destroy our own company rather than violate our principles.
This proves Tethics is not marketing—it's who we are.
"The true test of character is what you do when no one is watching—or when everyone is watching and expecting you to compromise."