responsibility of creation (Score 1)

There appears to be a concensus that someone who wrongs is responsible regardless of the instrument they are using. The more difficult question is the degree of responsibility of the designer and manufacturer of the instrument.

Capitalism provides an excellent way to assess the responsibility of manufacturers. A manufacturer can be taxed for wrongs in which their product is instrumental. To use everyone's favorite example (the gun industry), a gun manufacturer could required to yield one hundredth of its yearly profits to the social security program for every crime in which one of their products was instrumental. Patent holders could have their royalties taxed in a similar manner. This doesn't answer the question of ultimate responsibility but it does address the profit that businesses are realizing at the expense of the society.

The larger question is fascinating but I have to go play frisbee so I'll just recommend a few books that provide insights into the question: "A Canticle for Leibowitz" by Walter Miller; "The Cassini Division" by Ken MacLeod; and "Cat's Cradle" by Kurt Vonnegut. The title track of Ani Difranco's new album, "To the Teeth" is also relevant.