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2 Technology in Action Technology in Focus: Information Technology Ethics Information Technology Ethics

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 3 Ethics Defined Study of morals and moral choicesStudy of morals and moral choices Match established ideas of right and wrongMatch established ideas of right and wrong FairnessFairness EquityEquity Guidelines for decision makingGuidelines for decision making

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 4 Ethics Defined Systems of ethical conductSystems of ethical conduct –Moral relativism –Situational ethics –Religious traditions

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 5 Ethics Defined Unethical behaviorUnethical behavior –Not conforming to a set of approved standards –Social or professional

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 6 Personal Ethics Checklist of personal decisionsChecklist of personal decisions May be well-definedMay be well-defined May be applied inconsistentlyMay be applied inconsistently

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 7 Personal Ethics How do they develop?How do they develop? –Family and cultural bias –Religious affiliation –Life experiences

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 8 Define Your Personal Ethics Describe yourselfDescribe yourself List your beliefsList your beliefs Identify external influencesIdentify external influences Consider “why”Consider “why” Prepare a statement of valuesPrepare a statement of values

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 9 Personal Ethics Benefits of ethical livingBenefits of ethical living –Obeying laws –Less stress and anger –Increased happiness

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 10 Personal Ethics in the World View Do your ethics match the workplace?Do your ethics match the workplace? Are you ethics away from work a concern for your employer?Are you ethics away from work a concern for your employer?

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 11 Technology and Ethics Technology is all around usTechnology is all around us Technology moves quicklyTechnology moves quickly Rules governing technology move more slowlyRules governing technology move more slowly Use of technology left to personal ethicsUse of technology left to personal ethics

6 areas of ethical concern Social Justice – Can technology be used to benefit everyone?Social Justice – Can technology be used to benefit everyone? Intellectual Property - What is fair about ffair use?Intellectual Property - What is fair about ffair use? Privacy - Is personal privacy a casualty of the modern age?Privacy - Is personal privacy a casualty of the modern age? Commerce - Is online gambling a problem?Commerce - Is online gambling a problem? Communication - When does big business limit free speech?Communication - When does big business limit free speech? Computer Abuse - Does restricting online information protect children?Computer Abuse - Does restricting online information protect children? © 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 12

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 13 Social Justice: Can Technology Be Used to Benefit Everyone? Can we use technology to achieve social justice?Can we use technology to achieve social justice? Can we apply these technologies to poor areas?Can we apply these technologies to poor areas? –Solar energy –Genetic engineering –Internet access

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 14 Social Justice: Can Technology Be Used to Benefit Everyone? Point: Technology Provides Economic Opportunity for AllPoint: Technology Provides Economic Opportunity for All –Could be used to eliminate poverty –Could improve quality of life in poor countries –Could be an ethical force

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 15 Social Justice: Can Technology Be Used to Benefit Everyone? Counterpoint: Technology Doesn’t Provide Economic Opportunity for AllCounterpoint: Technology Doesn’t Provide Economic Opportunity for All No one can solve the problem of povertyNo one can solve the problem of poverty –Should not be addressed by technologists Potential risks of new technologiesPotential risks of new technologies Threats to existing world economiesThreats to existing world economies

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 16 Intellectual Property: What Is Fair About Fair Use? Copyright laws protect intellectual propertyCopyright laws protect intellectual property Fair useFair use –Allows for exceptions to copyright laws Fair use criteriaFair use criteria –What is the purpose of the work? –What is the nature of the proposed work? –How much copyrighted material is being used? –What is the effect on the original material?

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 17 Intellectual Property: What Is Fair About Fair Use? Point: Liberal Fair Use Standards Are BeneficialPoint: Liberal Fair Use Standards Are Beneficial –Encourages wide dissemination of information –Allows the most democratic, free society –Existing laws not up-to-date with technology

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 18 Intellectual Property: What Is Fair About Fair Use? Counterpoint: Strict Fair Use Standards Are BeneficialCounterpoint: Strict Fair Use Standards Are Beneficial –Existing laws should not be changed because technology has changed –Copyright holders should control their own work

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 19 Privacy: Is Personal Privacy a Casualty of the Modern Age? Privacy is a basic human rightPrivacy is a basic human right Many of our transactions are recordedMany of our transactions are recorded –Debit cards –Loyalty cards –Electronic toll passes

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 20 Privacy: Is Personal Privacy a Casualty of the Modern Age? Point: Protect Personal PrivacyPoint: Protect Personal Privacy –No reason to watch me –Government misuse of data –Government control of population –National ID cards remind people of Nazis –Privacy controls are expensive

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 21 Privacy: Is Personal Privacy a Casualty of the Modern Age? Counterpoint: Reduced Privacy Is a Fact of Modern LifeCounterpoint: Reduced Privacy Is a Fact of Modern Life –Should have nothing to hide –Help enhance the detection of terrorists –Protect citizens from being abused –National ID card worth the cost

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 22 Commerce: Should Online Gambling Be Banned or Regulated? Multi-billion dollar industryMulti-billion dollar industry Already illegal in U.S.Already illegal in U.S. Facilitates addictive gamblingFacilitates addictive gambling

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 23 Commerce: Should Online Gambling Be Banned or Regulated? Point: Ban Online GamblingPoint: Ban Online Gambling –Easy access for minors and compulsive gamblers –Could support criminal activities –No regulation: who keeps the house honest? –Allows gamblers to hide their addiction

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 24 Commerce: Should Online Gambling Be Banned or Regulated? Counterpoint: Legalize Online GamblingCounterpoint: Legalize Online Gambling –Protect consumers –Allow for scrutiny of all transactions –Standardize the industry –Generate tax revenues –Regulated in other countries –Easier to regulate than prohibit

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 25 Communication: When Does Big Business Limit Free Speech? Google concedes to demands from Beijing to self-censor its search engineGoogle concedes to demands from Beijing to self-censor its search engine –Helps suppress dissent in return for access to the Chinese market –Cost of doing business in Chinese market –Potential Chinese market is huge

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 26 Communication: When Does Big Business Limit Free Speech? Point: Google Acted UnethicallyPoint: Google Acted Unethically –Sacrificed free speech for business –Violated human rights –No incentive for China to change –Other rights hang in the balance –How far is too far?

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 27 Communication: When Does Big Business Limit Free Speech? Counterpoint: Google’s Actions Were JustifiedCounterpoint: Google’s Actions Were Justified –Companies should pursue profits –Withdrawing from China would further restrict free speech –Advances the slow progress toward democracy

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 28 Computer Abuse: Does Restricting Online Information Protect Children? Internet allows –Sexual predators to contact potential victims –Distribution of pornography –Cyberbullying –Phishing –Dissemination of hate speech

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 29 Computer Abuse: Does Restricting Online Information Protect Children? Children are especially vulnerableChildren are especially vulnerable –Use technology more than adults –More trusting than some adults –May not recognize malicious intent

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 30 Computer Abuse: Does Restricting Online Information Protect Children? Point: Monitoring Software Protects Children –Laws have proved ineffective –Make sure libraries and schools are safe –Uphold moral standards of the public –Logical extension of the library screening process

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 31 Computer Abuse: Does Restricting Online Information Protect Children? Counterpoint: Monitoring Software Restricts Access to Information –Blocks informational content –Amounts to censorship –Is not 100% reliable –Widens the “digital divide” –Education is a better alternative

The minute paper What is the most important thing you learned in today’s class? © 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 32

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 33 Using Computers to Support Ethical Conduct Charitable organizations use the Internet for fund raisingCharitable organizations use the Internet for fund raising Companies must provide mechanisms to report unethical behavior anonymouslyCompanies must provide mechanisms to report unethical behavior anonymously Intranets and are used to inform employees of ethics policiesIntranets and are used to inform employees of ethics policies Your personal ethics must guide your decisions concerning technologyYour personal ethics must guide your decisions concerning technology