Turn in your edited Assignment 2 drafts to the front of the room Make sure your draft includes both your name and the names of your editor!

Computer Ethics ICS 139w 08/17/2011

A reminder: Mutual Respect No wrong answers (Close your laptops) (though some answers are more socially acceptable than others) (Close your laptops) Ethics can be a touchy or highly personal subject for people. You may find you disagree with someone else. But please remain respectful of their views and opinions. Try to hear them out and consider their idea.

Goals and Outcomes The goal is to develop your ethical perception and imagination Students will be able to… Recognize the existence and basis of ethical issues Consider an ethical situation from a variety of perspectives and views Apply ethical tests and codes to the analysis of a situation

An example: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=8304758 How do we decide if whether this action was ethical or not?

Ethics Ethics are principals for how to do the right thing From Greek word ēthos meaning “custom” Study of morality—distinction between right and wrong Ethics are Normative what people should do instead of how people do behave. Professionals held to higher ethical standards

Computer Ethics Technology is a force multiplier Computers adds new ethical concerns: New entities (software, web sites, mass communication, etc) New levels of complexity and unreliability New domains of action (virtuality)

Some Topics in Computer Ethics Privacy Security and information integrity Ownership and accountability Free speech and censorship Online etiquette Cybernetics and virtuality Green computing Professionalism … and more!

Utilitarianism “The greatest good for the greatest number of people” Does an action cause more good than harm? If everyone followed a rule, would it lead to greater overall happiness? Were BART’s actions ethical from a utilitarian perspective? Different philosophical systems we can use to determine what is ethical or not (so we have some basis for our decision)

Fairness/Justice “Treat everyone equally” How equally does an action distribute harm/benefit among members of a group? What are morally justifiable reasons for treating people differently? Need, merit, effort, fault, etc. Consistency Equality as a American social value http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/fairness.html

Natural Rights “Inalienable Rights” Given by nature? e.g., right not to be killed Given by nature? Are morals universal? (Kant) c.f. Relativism each person decides for themselves (moral relativism) decided by social believe structure (anthropological relativism)

Ethical Tests How do we tell what is right or wrong? How do we make these decisions? Ethical tests: heuristics we can use to think about whether an action is ethical

Ethical Tests Harm/Beneficence Test Publicity Test Reversibility Test “Does it do less harm and more good than alternatives?” e.g., Institutional Review Board Publicity Test “Would I want this choice published in a newspaper?” Presentation of self to others and self (consistency) Reversibility Test “Would I think it was a good choice if I were affected by it?” Empathy (also a good skill for design!) Code of Ethics Test “What do the rules of my profession say?”

ACM Code of Ethics Association for Computing Machinery Why have professional organizations? 8-principle code of ethics for software engineers Notes: Should not be used in isolation Not exhaustive, but illustrative A guide, not an algorithm—give thought to the principles Anyone a member?

Reviewing the Code Divide into 8 groups Review the clauses for your principle: Anything that is ambiguous? Anything you disagree with? Redundancies or discrepancies? If so, what is the difference? How might this principle be applied (i.e., in the BART case?) Your goal is to make sure everyone in your group is an expert on your principle! Count off by 8s Have about 5-10 minutes

Reviewing the Code Jigsaw! (regroup) Explain (teach) your principle to your new group How is your section different from theirs? Do you have any overlap? Does everyone agree on the principles? Which principles seem most important? Come up with 2 observations/opinions to share with the class Person closest to me is group A, then person to their left is group B, then to their left is group C, etc. Everyone have their letter? Then switch again! Again, about 10-15 mins, then ask groups to share

ACM Code of Ethics PUBLIC - Software engineers shall act consistently with the public interest. CLIENT AND EMPLOYER - Software engineers shall act in a manner that is in the best interests of their client and employer, consistent with the public interest. PRODUCT - Software engineers shall ensure that their products and related modifications meet the highest professional standards possible. JUDGMENT - Software engineers shall maintain integrity and independence in their professional judgment. MANAGEMENT - Software engineering managers and leaders shall subscribe to and promote an ethical approach to the management of software development and maintenance. PROFESSION - Software engineers shall advance the integrity and reputation of the profession consistent with the public interest. COLLEAGUES - Software engineers shall be fair to and supportive of their colleagues. SELF - Software engineers shall participate in lifelong learning regarding the practice of their profession and shall promote an ethical approach to the practice of the profession. (for during discussion)

Midterm Evaluations Midterm evaluations of me (in email and EEE) What can I do to improve the class? What can I do to better help you learn to write? Is there anything I am missing? (give 5 minutes, then 5-10 min break)

Break

Questions?

Case Studies Shuffle one more time Discuss your case study as a group Who are the decision makers? What options are available to them? What is the ethical course of action? Why do you say that? Use the ethical tests in your evaluation of the situation Harm/Beneficence Test Publicity Test Reversibility Test Code of Ethics Test (which principles apply here?) Shuffle into groups of 3 or 4, with even number of groups

Case 1: George and the Jet George Babbage is an experienced software developer working for Acme Software Company. Mr. Babbage is now working on a project for the U.S. Department of Defense, testing the software used in controlling an experimental jet fighter. George is the quality control manager for the software. Early simulation testing revealed that, under certain conditions, instabilities would arise that could cause the plane to crash. The software was patched to eliminate the specific problems uncovered by the tests. After these repairs, the software passed all the simulation tests. George is not convinced that the software is safe. He is worried that the problems uncovered by the simulation testing were symptomatic of a design flaw that could only be eliminated by an extensive redesign of the software. He is convinced that the patch that was applied to remedy the specific tests in the simulation did not address the underlying problem. But, when George brings his concerns to his superiors, they assure him that the problem has been resolved. They further inform George that any major redesign effort would introduce unacceptable delays, resulting in costly penalties to the company. There is a great deal of pressure on George to sign off on the system and to allow it to be flight-tested. It has even been hinted that, if he persists in delaying the system, he will be fired. What should George do next?

Case 2: ToyTime’s Security Leikessa Jones owns her own consulting business, and has several people working for her. Leikessa is currently designing a database management system for the personnel office of ToyTimeInc, a mid-sized company that makes toys. Leikessa has involved ToyTimeInc management in the design process from the start of the project. It is now time to decide about the kind and degree of security to build into the system. Leikessa has described several options to the client. The client has decided to opt for the least secure system because the system is going to cost more than was initially planned, and the least secure option is the cheapest security option. Leikessa knows that the database includes sensitive information, such as performance evaluations, medical records, and salaries. With weak security, she fears that enterprising ToyTimeInc employees will be able to easily access this sensitive data. Furthermore, she fears that the system will be an easy target for external hackers. Leikessa feels strongly that the system should be more secure than it would be if the least secure option is selected. Ms. Jones has tried to explain the risks to ToyTimeInc, but the CEO, the CIO, and the Director of Personnel are all convinced that the cheapest security is what they want. Should Jones refuse to build the system with the least secure option?

Case 3: The Best Choice for the Job Juan Rodriguez is a private consultant who advises small businesses about their computer needs. Juan examines a company's operations, evaluates their automation needs, and recommends hardware and software to meet those needs. Recently, Juan was hired by a small, private hospital interested in upgrading their system for patient records and accounting. The hospital had already solicited proposals for upgrading the system, and hired Juan to evaluate the proposals they'd received. Juan carefully examined the proposals on the basis of the systems proposed, the experience of the companies that bid, and the costs and benefits of each proposal. He concluded that Tri-Star Systems had proposed the best system for the hospital, and he recommended that the hospital should buy the Tri-Star system. He included a detailed explanation for why he thought the Tri-Star bid was the best. Juan did not reveal to the hospital that he is a silent partner (a co-owner) in Tri-Star Systems. Was Juan's behavior unethical? We will assume for our discussion that Juan evaluated the bids in good faith, and sincerely believed that Tri-Star had given the best bid.

Case 4: Intersections Alison Turner, a highway safety engineer, has to prioritize projects in a county with diverse traffic patterns. She considers two intersections that need safety improvements. One is an urban intersection that handles about 2400 cars per day. The other is a rural intersection that handles about 600 cars per day. The annual number of fatal accidents at each intersection is virtually identical (approximately 2), but the number of minor injury accidents and the amount of property damage at the urban intersection are substantially greater. There is just enough money left in this year's budget to improve one of the intersections. The result of the improvement at either intersection will be to cut the number of annual fatalities roughly in half. There will be a significant reduction in minor injury accidents and property damage if the improvement is made at the urban intersection. To which improvement should Alison give priority? There may not be any room in the budget to improve the other intersection in the future.

Case 5: Dinner Jack Strong is seated between Tom Evans and Judy Hanson at a dinner meeting of a local industrial engineering society. Jack and Judy have an extended discussion of a variety of concerns, some of which are related to their common engineering interests. At the conclusion of the dinner, Jack turns to Tom, smiles and says, "I'm sorry not to have talked with you more tonight, but she's better looking than you." As a younger engineer, Judy is anxious to be recognized first and foremost as a good engineer. She is well aware of the stereotypical view that women are not as well suited for engineering as men. She did not often encounter open manifestations of this attitude while in college. More than 20% of her engineering classmates were women, the faculty were supportive, the male students did not make her feel she had chosen the wrong profession, and she graduated near the top of her class. However, matters quickly changed on her first job. She found that she was the only woman engineer in her division. Now, even after a year on the job, it seems she has to struggle to get others to take her ideas seriously. So, she enjoyed "talking shop" with Jack at the dinner. But she was stunned by his remark to Tom, however innocently it may have been intended. Suddenly she saw the conversation in a very different light. Once again she sensed that she was not being taken seriously as an engineer. Was Jack's remark appropriate? How should Judy respond? How should Tom?

Assignment 3 Write a personal response to one of these case studies Discuss the different decision makers and options Weigh the ethical pros and cons of particular actions Consider the situation from different view points Include personal opinions (they will not affect your score) Polished copy due to EEE on Friday Midnight

Assignment 4 Write a document that makes an argument Should be about the system or topic of Assignment 2 Thesis or argument can be: A change to the system An argument for adoption An argument for a complex interpretation or analysis some other argument (check with us). Details on syllabus Bring a complete draft of the paper to class on Monday Due Tuesday Midnight

Note on Assignments Assignment 3 due Friday, Assignment 4 due Tuesday Assignment 5 draft on Wednesday, due next Friday You will need to be working on multiple assignments at once, so don’t put it off!