Hypothetical (Futuristic) Ethical Question?

I guess I can tell you all, that this question is partly inspired by the Star Trek: TNG episode 'Hollow Pursuits'.

If you'll remember, Barclay was recreating actual crew members in the holodeck. Commander Riker said crewmen shouldn't be recreated on the holodeck. Geordi Laforge replied that there really is no actual rule that says they can't.

Clearly in the not-too-distant future, advanced virtual reality will be available. And this question will come up. Is it ethically permissible to recreate a real person without their permission? I mean, would it be an invasion of their privacy? What about if they were famous? What if it was sexual? And lastly, what if, whoever they were, they never found out?

I await your kindly replies.

 

easiest solution to a problem, and often the best, is to avoid creating it. and there are copyright reasons to avoid roleplaying cannon characters. even having them as npc's is a bit of a hazy area.
a persona projected on a holodeck, and controlled by an aritificial intelligence, is basically the same as a cgi npc in a video game, its not a stealing of their soul. but it is a use of their likeness, and, unless granted, without their permission. so its a matter of your perspective on intillectual property laws. and of course the laws themselves, whatever laws and legal precidents may have been set and applicable to the context. generally again, more mature and intelligent role players and gm's, avoid the use of cannon characters, at least as player characters. and game authors and programers depending on their nation's laws and legal precidents, expose themselves to liability otherwise.

never found out? well if its for your own amusiment in a completely isolated system where no records are kept that could inadvertantly be leaked out, which pretty much means you know that holodeck is going to be pretty much off limits because records are almost certain to be kept and exist for anything and everything that goes on there, on a military ship, and precisely a first officer's headache and responsibility, however innocent the intend might otherwise seam. they're just immages, not even real clones, buuuut, i would expect this to be a real liability issue.

so what this is asking, is exactly the same issue as posting a creation, otherwise of your own, but that includes copyrighted characters. or real persons living or dead.

 

not sure how this relates to the thread, but buckaroo bonisai in the 8th dimension and cowboy beebop.