Ethical Issue Computer Ethics

Why do we have to consider computer ethics? The advancements of computer/internet have significant influence on our lives. Although some of the issues are encountered in other technologies (books, newspaper, photography, telephone, TV etc) computer/internet is much more powerful in the dissemination of information than these technologies. We should therefore pay attention to the ethical use of this technology and its impact on society. Issues of computer ethics Freedom of expression Privacy Intellectual property Computer crime Internet access Software monopoly?

Computer Ethics: Freedom of Expression The speed and efficiency and the mode of information dissemination in internet makes this an important issue. United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinion without interference to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.” Exemptions Defamation: libel (written), slander (spoken) Obscenity: Some civil libertarians believe that obscenity should enjoy free-speech protection. However, US supreme court does not recognize this right Definition: (a) whether ”the average person, applying contemporary community standards” would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest. (b) whether work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law. (c) whether the work taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. Advocate overthrowing a government, racial hatred??

Computer Ethics: Privacy Information stored in computer are far more easy to access than other medium of storage. Google, Baidu, Bing, Ebay, Taobao etc. can profile your private life: websites you visited, things you bought, places you went etc. In many countries there is no adequate law to prohibit these organizations to collect these information or on their use. Confidential information in “secure” storage can be accessed by hackers.

Computer Ethics: Intellectural Property Intellectual property protection (patent, copyright, trademark) is important to encourage creative work. Internet/computer makes it extremely easy to violate IP protection: Downloading/uploading music, video, photographs, articles without permission Copying software for a friend Plagiarism

Computer Ethics: Computer Crimes Hacking to steal confidential information Sending out computer viruses; malicious damage of website Scams to cheat money via Sending out obscene

Computer Ethics: Network Access Internet provides rich source of information that is invaluable for economic, scientific, social, artistic and other forms of human endeavor. Internet is also a rich source for undesirable information: obscene material, avocation of racial hatred, financial scam etc. Is restriction of internet access the answer? Should internet be made available to everybody free?

Computer Ethics: Software Monopoly? Do you think Microsoft monopolize the software industry?

Writing an Essay on Ethical Issue Describe the issue Reasons for the opposing side Reasons for the supporting side Moral judgment, citing utilitarian or Kantian’s argument Any alternate means to resolve the problem?