Who Is the End User of Morality? Rethinking Responsibility in System Design

In technology, we talk a lot about end users.

They're the soldier on the frontline, the emergency responder in a crisis, the city planner monitoring live data — the people who directly interact with the systems we design.

But when we talk about ethical design, that definition isn’t big enough.

Because the real end user of morality isn’t just the person using the product.
It’s every person affected by what that product does — whether they ever touch it or not.

Ethics Isn’t an Add-On — It’s the Architecture

Too often, ethics is treated like a feature: something we add once the core system is working.

But at RLK Group, we see it differently.
Ethics isn’t the final layer — it’s the foundation.

Every design decision, every line of code, every deployment strategy has the power to shape lives.

Not just for users.
But for entire communities.

Whether it’s an autonomous drone, a decision-making AI, or a real-time surveillance platform — the effects of what we build extend far beyond the interface.

Technology Touches People Who’ll Never Use It

Consider this:

• An algorithm used in one city may shape policy for thousands who never interact with it.

• A sensor network in one location may influence law enforcement strategies elsewhere.

• A tool optimised for speed might unintentionally sacrifice fairness, impacting those on the edge of visibility.

These aren’t theoretical risks — they’re real-world consequences.

And that’s why ethical design can’t stop at the intended user.

We must think about the unintended user.
The bystander.
The person downstream from the system.
The one whose life is altered by a decision made at the design stage.

Building With a Broader Lens

When we say we build human-centred systems at RLK Group, we mean all humans — not just those holding the device.

Ethical responsibility in tech means asking hard questions early:

🧠 Who benefits from this decision?
⚠️ Who might be harmed, even indirectly?
📍 Who doesn’t have a voice in this process — but should?

These are the questions that ensure we’re building systems that serve society, not just sectors.

The True End User Is Everyone

So, who is the end user of morality?

Everyone.

Not just the operator.
Not just the client.
But every person whose life may be touched — directly or indirectly — by the systems we bring into the world.

That’s the standard we hold ourselves to at RLK Group.
Because responsibility doesn’t end at the interface.
It begins long before it.

Interested in how RLK Group designs ethical, human-impact-aware technology from the ground up?

Let’s talk about building systems that serve more than just function — they serve values.