In Time shows little issues with computer reliability. At multiple points in the story characters question what their technology is showing them, stating "that can't be right", but each and every time, they are assured otherwise. This is seen when will collects his pay and it is less than expected, and more importantly when they are looking at the money go through timezones after will is on the run leaving zone 12.
In our own world, we cannot gaurentee computer reliability. Looking at the financial sector, you can see the harmful effects of a lack of computer reliability. In 2022, a couple lost $10,000 when a wire transfer deposited the money in the wrong account [1]. Additionally, there has been over 200 cybersecurity infiltrations into the financial institutions between 2017 and 2022 [2]. These cyber security incidents ranged from crassing the Moscow Stock exchange, an issue similar to fault timezone board in the movie, to the IRA financial trust losing 36 million in a cyber security attack, similar to the actual bank robberies depicted in the movies [2]. Money not being in the right place is extremely common.
With total computer reliability, any discrepencies can automatically be traced to bad actors. In the world we live in, discrepencies can be due to software failures, bad actors or even typos. This makes it extremely important to have ways to life to go on without reliance on computing, and means that each individual has a risk associated with using online technology.
Ethically, having aboslute computer reliability is something good. According to Kantian analysis, if we could gaurentee every computer or device we were using was accurate then we would have many benefits. This has been evaluated by applying complete computer reliability universally and seeing if there are any contradictions to the rule. We would see a shorter reaction time in dealing with fraud and cyber crime. Additionally, less innocent people would be caught bewildered at transactions going wrong, charging people excessive amounts of money. We could be sure of what we are getting ourselves into and allow a greater trust in the internet across society. After applying universally, we see society experiencing a positive change so we can consider this ethical [3].
[1] - Rosa Marchitelli, "10,000 wrie transfer disappears after bank puts it in wrong account", (CBC, 04 April 2022), https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/wire-transfer-disappears-banks-1.6401776 , Accessed 27 April 2023
[2] - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, "Timeline of Cyber Incidents Involving Financial Institutions", (2022) https://carnegieendowment.org/specialprojects/protectingfinancialstability/timeline . Accessed 27 April 2023
[3] - Michael J. Quinn, "Ethics for the Information Age 8th edition", (Pearson, 5 March 2019)