Readings in Cyberethics Notes from book by Spinello

Chapter One Cybertechnology, Ethical Concepts, and Methodological Frameworks: An Introduction to Cyberethics 1

Contents Privacy in Cyberspace Security and Crime in Cyberspace Professional Ethics, Codes of Conduct, and Computer/Information Professionals

Cyberethics The field of applied ethics that examines moral, legal, and social issues in the development and use of cybertechnology.

Cybertechnology Cybertechnology: the broad spectrum of technologies that range from stand-alone computers to the cluster of networked computing, information, and communication technologies.

Pioneers in Field Terrell Bynum -- applied ethics Deborah Johnson -- “new species” theory James Moore -- logical malleability (general purpose machines) gives rise to “vacuums.”

Terrell Byrnum “Ethics and the Information Revolution” History of cyberethics beginning with Norbert Weiner, 1940s Unique moral issues? Powerful technologies have profound social consequences

Deborah Johnson “Ethics Online” Unique ethical considerations: –Global and interactive scope of the Net –Anonymity –reproducibility

James Moore “What is Computer Ethics?” Multipurpose machine Vacuums –Laws and social policies –Conceptual frameworks and muddles

James Moore 4 steps –Identify any policy vacuums –Clarify conceptual muddles –Revise policies or formulate new ones –Justify them “routine ethics” not sufficient

Cyberethics methodology Brey’s “disclosive computer ethics” 3-levels –Disclosive –Theoretical –application

Rational Ethical Theory Consequences or duty Utilitarianism -- assess consequences of a policy -- advance the greatest good for the greatest number Deontological (duty-based) -- everyone is respected as an individual.