Computer Ethics

What is Ethics? Is the discipline that deals with what is good or bad , with moral duty & obligation Is concerned with individual human opinions and beliefs Is the principals of right and wrong that individuals, acting as free moral agents, use to make choices to guide their behavior

In other words ethics is the branch of philosophy that’s concerned with determining what’s right and wrong, especially in the context of moral dilemmas or Cont’ Ethics: the system or code of morals of a particular person, religion, group or profession. Moral are : generally accepted standards of goodness or rightness in conduct or character; principles, standards or habits with respect to right or wrong.

Ethics hard to define? However, ethics is hard to define, because “most of our moral responses seem to be more a matter of intuitions and feelings than of reasoning and logical deduction – we are not always the rational creatures we would like to be” Gross, (1996)

Common Unethical Acts... lying to supervisors falsifying records alcohol and drug abuse conflict of interest stealing gift/entertainment receipt in violation of company policy

Key Causes of Unethical Behavior... meeting overly aggressive financial or business objectives meeting schedule pressures helping the organization survive rationalizing that others do it resisting competitive threats saving jobs

“ETHICAL DILEMMA” ? An ethical dilemma is a situation which involves choices between right and wrong where values are in conflict ...

Ethical dilemma Moral dilemmas arise in two situations when it’s not clear which, if any, moral rule applies when 2 or more rules apply, and they conflict An act is ethical if . . . -everyone to act the same way, society as a whole would benefit -impartial observers would judge that it is fair to all parties concerned.

Ethical Principals Ethical principals are tools which are used to think through difficult situations. Three useful ethical principals: An act is ethical if all of society benefits from the act. An act is ethical if people are treated as an end and not as a means to an end. An act is ethical if it is fair to all parties involved.

What is Computer Ethics? According to James H. Moore, who is believed to have first coined the phrase "computer ethics", computer ethics is the analysis of the nature and social impact of computer technology and the corresponding formulation and justification of policies for the ethical use of such technology It is a study, an analysis of the values of human actions influenced by computer technology.

Computer Ethics Has four primary issues Privacy – responsibility to protect data about individuals (Companies need information about their employees and customers to be effective in the marketplace. ) Accuracy - responsibility of data collectors to authenticate information and ensure its accuracy Property - who owns information and software and how can they be sold and exchanged Access - responsibility of data collectors to control access and determine what information a person has the right to obtain about others and how the information can be used

Why Should you Study Computer Ethics? According to Maner, we should study Computer Ethics because: doing so will make us behave like responsible professionals ( who is a professionals ) doing so will teach us how to avoid computer abuse and catastrophes the advance of computing technology will continue to create temporary policy vacuums the use of computing permanently transforms certain ethical issues to the degree that their alterations require independent study the use of computing technology creates, and will continue to create, new ethical issues that require special study.

Why study Computer Ethics So that we apply ethical point of view to real-world computing context Identify and solve ethical problems in specific fields of computing

Who are Computer Professionals are loyal to their clients or employees, and they won’t disclose confidential information. express their opinions based on facts, and they are impartial in their judgments. keep up with the latest knowledge in their field and perform services only in their area of competence.

Who are Computer Professionals Are experts in their field, Know that customers rely on their knowledge, expertise, and honesty, Understand that their products (and related risks) affect many people, Maintain an expected level of competence and are up-to-date on current knowledge and technology, and Educate the non-computer professional Follow good professional standards and practices including code of Ethics,

CODES OF ETHICS Codes of ethics establish broad rules of conduct for a profession and its members, and thus can be differentiated from an individual moral code which governs particular decisions in both private and professional life. Codes of ethical conduct for the professional and moral decisions for the individual overlap with legal requirements but are distinct from them.  

Codes of Ethics and Law Legal provisions and professional codes of ethics are often in agreement--that is, professional conduct is usually both legal and ethical, or occasionally both illegal and unethical. Sometimes, however, the two may not clearly coincide and the resulting conflict may pose some real dilemmas for the professional. Professional conduct may be unethical and yet remain legal; in some instances conduct may be illegal and yet still be ethical. A simple topology will illustrate the relation between law and ethics.

10 Commandments of Computer Ethics*: 1. Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people 2. Thou shalt not interfere with other people’s computer work 3. Thou shalt not snoop around in other people’s computer files 4. Thou shalt not use a computer to steal 5. Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness 6. Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary software for which you have not paid 7. Thou shalt not use other people’s computer resources without authorization or proper compensation 8. Thou shalt not appropriate other people’s intellectual output 9. Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you are writing or the system you are designing 10. Thou shalt always use a computer in ways that insure consideration and respect for other humans

There are also many acts that are considered illegal but ethical. Discuss???15 min

Factors That Determine How You Decide Ethical Issues The practical circumstances surrounding decisions include: Consequences - how much or how little benefit or harm will come from a particular decision? Society’s opinion - what is your perception of what society really thinks of your intended action? Likelihood of effect - what is the probability of the harm or benefit that will occur if you take the action?

Factors That Determine How You Decide Ethical Issues Cont. Time to consequences - what length of time will it take for the benefit or harm to take effect? Relatedness - how much do you identify with the person or persons who will receive the benefit or suffer the harm? Reach of result - how many people will be affected by your action?