Social and Economic Impacts of IT Professor Matt Thatcher

2 What Are the Benefits of IT? l Computer games l Digital technologies (movies, tv, music, library retrieval) l Business applications l Internet l Automobiles and trucks l Education and training l Crime fighting l Health and medicine l Tools for the disabled

3 What are the Problems, Risks, and Controversies with IT? l Information privacy –consumer privacy vs. access to information »Capital One (information-based strategies) –workplace privacy vs. access to information »interactive in-class assignment l Freedom of speech vs. control of content on the internet l Intellectual property rights –copyrights, patents, trade secrets, trademarks, etc. l Computer security and computer crimes –interactive in-class assignment (the bank website) l IT safety and reliability vs. fast market entry –Killer Robot Case

4 How Do We Examine These IT Issues? l What? –what is the description of what is happening? –what new technology is being implemented in what context? l So what? –what are the benefits of the IT and the concerns and problems introduced by the IT? –what are the different perspectives in the context? l Now what? –what are the potential solutions to the problem?

5 Ethical Frameworks l Teleological –ends/outcome –gives priority to the good of society in general over the rights of individuals –the right action is that which produces the most net benefit to society (or optimizes social welfare) –the right action depends on the outcome or consequence –no intrinsically evil acts l Deontological –means/process –gives priority to the rights of individuals or obligation of duty over the good of society in general –the right action is independent of the outcome or consequence –actions are intrinsically wrong or right based on duty or rights

6 Steps for Ethical Analysis (Case Reports) 1.Discuss the role that information technology played in creating the special circumstances of the case. 2.List the stakeholders in the case. 3.List and describe alternative courses of action that may be taken and determine the likely consequences of each proposed action for each stakeholder. 4.Analyze the case from a teleological perspective. 5.Analyze this case from a deontological perspective. 6.Describe your normative recommendation in this case (what actions would you recommend – law, norms, market forces, technology). What is the basis of your recommendation (teleological or deontological)?

7 Types of Solutions to Consider l Law –copyrights, patents, trademarks, privacy laws l Industry norms (self-regulation) –Common Industry Formats (CIFs) –third-party enforcement programs such as privacy seal programs l Market forces –consumer awareness and action and competition –management solutions (corporate privacy policies) l Technology solutions –cookies, anonymizers, filtering software, encryption, digital rights management systems

8 Course Administration l Course goal –learn about the social, economic, ethical, and legal issues generated by the use of computers and computer networks, including the Internet. –I want you to be able to see, express, and discuss different perspectives of controversial and complex issues related to IT. l Teaching style –lectures –case studies (every class) –interactive, in-class assignments and discussions –student presentations

9 Thank You l Thank you for your: –Attendance –Participation –Progress (case reports and exams) –Feedback l Please keep in touch!!