Ethical Questions Issues in IT Ethics

What Do You Think? Spammers are just exercising their free speech rights.

What Do You Think? People should not be able to conceal their real identities in chat rooms.

What Do You Think? It’s OK for a university to sell information on students to a credit card company.

What Do You Think? Internet filters are programs that block access to blacklisted Web sites. Parents use them to restrict kid’s Web activity. Some companies that run filtering services sell data on the sites their customers visit to marketing firms. Is that OK?

What Do You Think? There’s some free software you want. Before you can download it, you have to fill in a form giving your name, address, and telephone number. Do you tell the truth?

What Do You Think? It’s OK to copy music from CDs, because the record companies are ripping everyone off.

What Do You Think? A pharmacy chain sells the names of people who buy certain drugs (e.g., for cancer treatment) to a health insurance company. Is that OK?

What Do You Think? Many ATMs take photographs of people using them. Suppose a department store has an ATM, and a powerful computer with cameras and face recognition software. They use it to track where people go in the store, and send them discount coupons. Is that OK?

What Do You Think? Pornography Web sites are a form of free speech. They should be allowed to operate, even if children can visit them.

What Do You Think? Echelon is a satellite intercept system that gathers phone calls and s from around the world, and searches for code words. Is that OK?

Emotions We are walking buckets of emotions We have emotional reactions to almost everything

Emotions and Other People Our emotions are strongly affected by what we think other people will think of us The same person reacts differently in different groups Nerds Blockheads

So What? Most ethical choices involve emotions and other people Which should come first? Which does come first?

Question Is gay marriage OK? If you’re hanging out with these people:

Question Is gay marriage OK? If you’re hanging out with these people:

Choosing Often we pick emotions and opinions that fit in with the group we’re with, or with other groups we belong to.

Lesson 1 Hang out with the right people. If you have to hang out with the wrong people, think about what’s happening.

Lesson 2 If you want to be yourself, you need to think. Choose your own principles. Are your emotions always right? Because something upsets you, does that mean it’s wrong? Because something upsets someone else, does that mean it’s wrong?

Lesson 3 Be mindful. Watch yourself thinking and feeling, especially when you’re with others. Listen to what you say, especially when you’re with others. Is that you talking? Or is it an image of you?