Ethical Issues1 Ethics

Ethical Issues2 Modern Problems Change in cost of duplication of information –before xerox & computer disks vs. after Change in cost of data collection & data analysis –manual techniques vs. automatic Results Ethical questions arise that could not have been a problem before.

Ethical Issues3 Privacy Issues Since information is the essence of the modern Industrial Revolution, privacy is an easy victim. Social Security Number Driver License Medical Records Arrest (& Conviction) Records

Ethical Issues4 Privacy & the Soc. Sec. Nmbr. The Social Security Number was originally set up as a part of a national retirement system, it is now extensively used as a “human identification” number. It can be (and has been) used in “identity theft” by creating records that allow a criminal to purchase items against the credit of another person.

Ethical Issues5 Privacy & the Driver License Designed to control access to the “permission to drive”. Since it is required that a driver keep the address current, and since its existence is a public record, the tape of these records has been easily available for sale from many states. This rule is changing as we watch.

Ethical Issues6 Privacy & Medical Records Nearly universally linked via the Social Security Number, these records can and have been used to deny employment to people who have difficult-to-treat illnesses.

Ethical Issues7 Privacy & Videotape Rentals The Bork Law is an example of one way to solve the problem of Privacy in the Information Age. When Judge Bork was being considered for the US Supreme Court, his videotape rental data was introduced as evidence. Congress was so incensed at this that a special law was passed.… enough said about that.

Ethical Issues8 What is Ethics Ethics is usually considered a personal thing. Professional Groups often set up codes of ethics. These codes are, perhaps, half way between personal ethics and legal requirement.