I think this is a very pure and cynical view to take to humanity. We’re a whole lot more than systems and equations. I get this is hacker news but this surely is a result of your own personal view which is valid but ultimately yours? Thus not answering the question. Or have I jumped the gun a bit?
Programmers should have a moral and defensible right to object to something that severely harms those who use their systems. Saying he was just doing what he was told fails to account for the fact that had he said no and flagged this as immoral, some customers may have their cash… maybe. Worst comes to worst he is fired but working at that level you’ll find a job in 5 mins and have sufficient capital to weather the storm. I’m a strong believer that ethics and basic philosophy should be taught as part of a cs curriculum. For precisely events like this.