Is it Time to Introduce Ethical Guidelines for the Quantum Computers of the Future?

Quantum computing and its potential power is rapidly making headlines worldwide – from AI and cryptocurrency collaborations to Google’s impressive Willow computer. Unlike traditional computers, which process information as bits (0s or 1s), quantum computers use qubits, which can exist in multiple states at once thanks to a concept called superposition. This allows for complex problems to be resolved much more efficiently than classical machines.

To the uninitiated, this may sound like a natural technical upgrade but in truth, it’s so much more. Quantum computing could reshape entire industries. For example, pharmaceutical discovery could be revolutionised through stimulating molecules in a precise calculation previously unobtainable; financial decisions could be made quicker with faster and more reliable risk analysis; and global logistics can be optimised with cost efficiencies and emissions reduction.

All of this means that quantum computing has the ability to become a pivotal moment for society worldwide. The decisions made now about how it’s developed and used will have long-term consequences – which raises the question of the potential ethical guidelines that may need to be introduced before much more progress is made. Waiting until quantum computing is fully deployed and mainstream worldwide to address ethical issues around data security, access, inequality, and misuse will make regulations and guidelines considerably more difficult to implement.

What makes Quantum Computing Different?

The power of quantum computing cannot be understated. It does not just ‘solve problems quicker’, but exponentially so. As qubits work through exploit superposition and quantum entanglement, many possibilities can be explored simultaneously – making the computing especially powerful for complex optimization, simulation, and cryptographic tasks.

Perhaps the most famous example of this is Shor’s Algorithm. This is a quantum method for breaking up large numbers into their prime factors. Traditional computers struggle with this as numbers increase, but Shor’s Algorithm uses superposition and quantum entanglement to find patterns in the number to reveal their factors. In making this task so much quicker, it has the potential to render existing encryption methods insecure.

Why is now the time to raise Ethical Questions around Quantum Computing?

The potential applications of quantum computing in the real world are hugely wide-ranging and could be transformative for many fields. What’s more, the progress being made in the field is particularly rapid – which also means its trajectory remains somewhat unpredictable. Breakthroughs are being made all the time and major players such as IBM and Google are pushing the boundaries all the time. There’s still a great deal of progress to be made, with lots of engineering challenges around error correction and system stability to be resolved, but the speed at which things are moving mean it’s difficult to predict just how long it’ll take to reach its full potential.

The uncertainty around this is why, realistically, any ethical issues need to be addressed now. Once key thresholds in development are reached, there may not be much time to react – so a proactive approach rather than a reactive approach should be adopted.

Quantum Computing: Security and Cryptography Risks

Today’s digital security will be seriously challenged by an increase in quantum computing methods. RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) encryption is currently the mainstream option for security, using a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. However, it was created in 1977, and relies on the mathematical difficulty of factoring large prime numbers. As quantum computing can process these numbers, the protection it provides would be broken much faster; making data encrypted by this method readable.

RSA encryption is used worldwide by governments, banks and everyday apps. If the protection was to no longer be valid, sensitive financial data, state secrets, and personal communications could be exposed or manipulated.

To combat this, encryption needs to be created that is ‘quantum resistant’. While this undoubtedly could be developed, it needs to be done fairly quickly – and systems all around the world need to be updated, which would take considerable time, co-ordination and trust… and would rely on the systems being open or compatible to upgrade.

These security risks pose further ethical questions around who is responsible for protecting data during any transition. While the system operators may assume immediate responsibility, the companies developing the technology also need to provide input.

Quantum Computing: Inequality and Access Risks

As quantum computing develops, the race won’t just result in technical upgrades – but it can also shape the possibilities for power and opportunity in the future. This poses risks around access and inequality.

Building and managing quantum computers remains very expensive due to their technical complexity. It requires specialized facilities, rare expertise, and significant investment, which puts it out of reach for most universities, startups, and especially lower-income countries. This can already be seen in the small number of major corporations who are dominating the field, such as Google, Microsoft and IBM. While their innovation drives progress, it also concentrates control over a powerful technology in the hands of a few (already powerful) organizations.

The concentration of this technology to just a few major players could compound further global inequality. Countries with access to quantum resources may gain advantages in areas like cybersecurity, medicine, and economic optimisation, while others fall further behind.

There is the potential for such issues to be addressed with solutions such as international collaboration, shared research, open standards, or policies that ensure the benefits of quantum computing are distributed broadly – but the question remains about who will take the lead on this.

Quantum Computing: Environmental and Resource Considerations

Quantum computing is considerably resource-heavy; with energy and infrastructure key considerations. Many quantum systems need to be kept cool, with temperatures of near absolute zero required for optimal performance. This is usually achieved using dilution refrigerators, which run continuously and consume significant energy – and that’s before the supporting hardware, data centers, and control systems are addressed.

Furthermore, as quantum technology scales up, sustainability will become a bigger concern. As more of this tech is deployed globally, the combined energy use and resource demands are likely to grow rapidly. There are already environmental strains because of traditional data centers, and this will grow further.

A balance needs to be found. While quantum computing does pose the opportunity to help solve lots of climate-related issues, it ideally wouldn’t crate new problems in the process. To ensure this isn’t the case, those in quantum computing must invest in efficient hardware, and cleaner energy source. Thoughtful system design from the start should be standard so that the innovations made don’t come at the cost of sustainability.

Quantum Computing: Dual-use and Misuse Risks

Technology that can be used for both beneficial and harmful purposes is known as ‘dual-use’. Quantum computing very much fits this definition.

While quantum systems could unlock real progress in a variety of fields, such power also creates risk. Advanced cyberattacks could be enacted, mainstream encryption could be quickly rapidly rendered useless and surveillance capabilities for malicious bodies could be extended by processing vast datasets. This all raises concern around privacy, security, and misuse by both state and non-state powers.

It’s worth noting that this isn’t a unique position for quantum computing. Other technologies such as nuclear tech and AI have faced similar questions – posing serious risks if misused but also offering major benefits. As with these technologies, the main concern continues to be governance. Governments, international organizations, companies, and researchers all have a role, but their interests don’t always align, so it can be difficult to know who should or could manage these risks.

Quantum Computing: Privacy Concerns

Privacy is one of the biggest concerns around quantum computing – because arguably the risk is already here before quantum systems go mainstream. Known as ‘harvest now, decrypt later’, those with malicious intend can collect encrypted data now even though they can’t yet access it. If it’s able to be stored securely until computing is powerful enough to break through its encryption, it can be accessed at a later date. This means that essentially any currently ‘secured’ data could be unsecured in the future.

Of course, this is a long-term risk for all sensitive data. The access of medical records, financial histories, government communications, and/or personal messages could remain harmful even decades after its creation. This raises a whole host of questions around how ethical it is for organisations to keep encrypted data indefinitely; just how applicable is consent to long-term data storage without understanding the future risks; and should limits be placed on how long such data can be retained.

So, now what for Quantum Computing Ethics?

Any rules set initially for the advancement of quantum computing are already ageing and are unlikely to be relevant for long. With no clear global framework established for its management, or agreed set of international standards covering development, access, security, or ethical use, the long-term management of it remains unclear. This leaves behind a current climate of a patchwork of national approaches, which can create gaps and inconsistencies.

That said, some international bodies are starting to engage. Groups like the World Economic Forum and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development have begun publishing guidance, encouraging responsible innovation, and fostering dialogue between governments, companies, and researchers. However, these efforts are still early and largely advisory rather than enforceable.

At Procurri, we have long championed the ethical and environmental solutions that many in our field have not. We believe, therefore, that the scope of quantum computing’s impact being so wide, means that an international approach needs to be formed to understand and tackle the myriads of questions, concerns and risks posed.

Parallels exist with nuclear technology and AI (albeit the latter is still evolving), so although challenging, we know such an approach can be taken. Cross-border cooperation is essential to set shared standards, prevent misuse, and avoid a fragmented or competitive ‘tech race’ that prioritizes speed over safety.

We believe that now is the best time to start, with frameworks, guidelines, policies and regulation able to develop and grow over time as the risks, and the solutions to them, are better understood.

Are you considering quantum computing or ethical tech usage in your company? Procurri would love to help. Get in touch with our team today!