Tech Professionals: It’s Time to Take the 'Oath of Plutarch'!

OPINION. The influence of Big Tech giants has never been more striking.

Today, tech leaders are asserting themselves ever more strongly on the political stage, with their power reaching far beyond the economic sphere. This shift raises essential questions about collective responsibility and ethics in the creation of algorithms shaping our daily lives. By Mehdi Houas, president and co-founder of the Talan Group (*)

Rarely has the grip and decision-making power of Big Tech over global balance been so pervasive. Across the world, we are witnessing a deliberate—or sometimes more subtle—shift in the sphere of action of the leaders of some of the planet’s largest companies: yesterday’s tech leaders are now aspiring to play a leading political role. Should we be concerned? Undoubtedly, because beyond their financial and structural firepower, they hold a powerful asset: control over algorithms. These lines of code, invisible to the human eye, play a decisive role in how information is transmitted, proposed, and suggested to us. Whoever controls the algorithm now controls the world’s narrative. 

A bit of context: on average, each of us interacts with six artificial intelligence systems daily. Monitoring subway attendance, regulating traffic, access control… Even the management of your cafeteria card is powered by technology! It’s not about establishing a mass surveillance system but rather about leveraging the tremendous possibilities offered by dynamic or generative environments. The power of today’s systems indeed unlocks extraordinary potential for efficiency and productivity. However, this accelerated “digitalization” of our lives raises questions about our very relationship to the forces at play.

Collective Responsibility 

This evolution challenges us as much as it compels us—those of us working in the technology sector. It is time to reflect collectively on our role in this unfolding phenomenon and to call upon all those contributing to it, directly or indirectly, to take responsibility. At Talan, we support our clients daily in their acceleration, designing alongside them key transformation projects. It is therefore incumbent upon us to contribute to this debate, and we are fully assuming our role by launching a major initiative in this regard. 

Given the critical nature of the issue, I believe it is urgent to set a clear framework for this new paradigm. Developers, researchers, administrators, network architects—we all have a role to play in the design, definition, and management of these fundamental building blocks that shape society far beyond their technical scope. 

We will not be able to claim "we didn’t know" if part of the code we authored ends up being used in ways contrary to our values. 

An Oath to Establish Ethical Foundations 

Without veering into pessimism, it is our duty to stay vigilant and apply critical thinking to this major challenge. I am therefore calling for the creation of a "Serment de Plutarque"—an Oath of Plutarch—for tech professionals, setting a shared ethical framework for all actions related to the creation of algorithms or generative code. Referring to this Stoic philosopher, magistrate, poet, and author of numerous moral works seems to me particularly fitting to embody the level of rigor and foresight needed. 

This is both a societal issue and an opportunity to spark a powerful collective, civic, and solidarity-driven movement. It is also the first concrete step we, as committed tech professionals, are taking toward the collective oath I am advocating for. Now more than ever, in this rapidly shifting environment, human beings must remain at the center. We believe in innovation that combines performance with lasting impact, where technology becomes a true vehicle for progress. And to achieve this, we must rally creative energies within an ethical, thoughtful, and resolutely open framework. 

(*) Mehdi Houas is President and co-founder of the Talan group. A graduate of Télécom Paris, he began his career at Alcatel before joining IBM’s Telecommunications and New Technologies Division. A born entrepreneur, he has founded several companies including Telease (which became Groupe Valoris), the investment fund Chrysalead, and in 2002, the Talan Group, which had grown to 7,200 employees by the end of 2024. From January to December 2011, he served as Minister of Commerce and Tourism in Tunisia’s transitional government, temporarily stepping away from his executive roles. A member of Club du XXIème siècle and board member of Numeum, Mehdi Houas is a committed citizen, engaged in both diversity advocacy and the emerging challenges of the digital age.