Social and Ethical Issues in Computing: Doing the right

thing

Summary and Key Terms:

 With the high level of integration of computing into society, it is no

longer desirable to leave the social and ethical issues of computing
to the experts; everyone must be knowledgeable and involved.
 One of the major issues confronting society today is the growing
digital divide that separates the computing haves from the have-
nots. To narrow the divide within the United States, the FCC
administers the Universal Service Fund that helps service
providers with the higher costs of providing communication services
to rural areas. The Federal E-Rate program adds a little to
everyone’s telephone bill to provide rate subsidies for Internet
access for schools and libraries. Worldwide, thousands of initiatives
exist within disadvantaged regions and countries to improve access
to the digital world.
 Ergonomics is the use of research in designing systems, programs,
or devices that are appropriate to use for their intended purposes. In
the context of computers, ergonomics refers to human factors
related to the use of computers.
 Many software tools exist that allow employers to monitor the
computer activities of employees. Although there is no requirement
to notify employees of such monitoring, more enlightened
organizations have policies in place to inform employees of
monitoring practices.
 Green computing refers to addressing the environmental impact
of computers use in an environmentally responsible manner. Many
organizations require all newly purchased computer equipment to
meet the EPA’s Energy Star standards for limiting power
requirements.
 Current operating systems contain many energy management
features that reduce the power requirements of computer systems.
 Computer users should make every effort to reduce the amount of
paper waste generated and to recycle laser printer toner cartridges.
 Make every effort to prolong the useful life of your computer. When
you must dispose of it, use and environmentally responsible
recycling company.
 One of the biggest legal problems facing the Internet is the issue of
international jurisdiction. When a dispute arises between individuals
and organizations from several countries, whose laws apply? The
application of national laws to a worldwide medium like the Internet
is a difficult process.
 Within the United States similar jurisdictional issues exists between
states. The imposition of state and local sales taxes on Internet
transactions is a major concern. The Internet Nondiscrimination
Act prohibits states from imposing any new taxes that single out
Internet transactions, but doesn’t prohibit the states from taxing
Internet transactions the same way they tax any other transaction.
 The Internet can be a dangerous place fro children. Blocking
software attempts to prevent children from accessing
objectionable sites. The Communications Decency Act attempted
to prevent people from preying on children on the Internet, but was
struck down by the Supreme Court. The Children’s Online Privacy
Protection Act (COPPA) requires Web sites that target children
under age 13 to post a privacy policy that clearly states what
information they collect and set up parental notification and consent
systems before gathering information from children.
 The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requires libraries
receiving any type of federal funding to implement technology that
blocks or filters certain objectionable material on the Internet. The
Neighborhood Children’s Internet Protection Act (NCIPA)
requires libraries receiving the E-Rate discount to establish an
Internet safety policy to protect children. Enforcement of CIPA has
been blocked by the courts.
 Congress has taken a different approach to child protection by
establishing .kids.us domain that will prohibit content that is
unsuitable for children.
 Ethics refers to standards of moral conduct. Although unethical acts
may be immoral, they are not always illegal, although illegal acts
are almost always unethical.
 Computer professionals are people whose work focuses on the
computer systems themselves, people with titles such as
programmer, systems analyst, network administrator, and computer
operator. A number of professional organizations involved in various
aspects of information technology have developed their own codes
of ethics.
 Nonprofessionals are normally responsible for the everyday use of
computers and must be familiar with the applicable ethical
principles.
 Businesses have the ethical and, in many cases legal, responsibility
to protect the privacy of customer’s personal data stored on their
computers. Under an opt-in policy, businesses notify customers of their privacy
policy, and the customers must specifically agree before the business can release their data to
third parties. With an opt-out approach, customers are assumed to have agreed to the release
of their data unless they specifically request that the business keep it private.
 The ability of computers to alter reality imposes certain ethical obligations on news
organizations.
 Intellectual property (IP) refers to results of intellectual activity in the industrial, scientific,
literary, or artistic fields. IP is legally protected in several ways. The U.S. Copyright Act
protects literary and artistic works. Patents protect inventions, and trademark law protects the
rights of businesses to their identity.
 Copyright protection provides the creator of a literary or artistic work control over the use
and distribution of that work. Digital representation of IP makes it much easier to violate
copyright law. The concept of fair use allows you to make us of copyrighted works for
limited purposes, including criticism, news reporting, education, and research, provided such
use falls within specific guidelines.
 The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) makes it illegal
to use, develop, or publish methods of breaking antipiracy
protections added to copyrighted works and bans devices designed
for that purpose. Critics complain that this law prevents users from
exercising their fair use rights.
 Computer software is classified as copyrightable intellectual
property. The software license specifies the rights of the purchaser,
but generally prohibits selling or giving away copies. The No
Electronic Theft (NET) Act prohibits reproducing or distributing
copyrighted material by electronic means, regardless of the purpose
or motive.
 Copyleft is an alternative means of controlling software rights in
which everyone has permission to run, copy, or modify the program,
and to distribute modified versions, but not permission to add
restrictions of their own.
 Digital Images are protected by copyright. You must have
permission to distribute an image or use it on your Web site.
 Plagiarism is the representation of someone else’s words or ideas
as your own. Fair use allows you to include a portion of another’s
 work within your own, but only if you properly cite, or identify, the
source.
 Patents protect inventions by granting the patent holder exclusive
rights to the invention for 20 years. Business methods implemented
in software may be patented.
 A trademark is a word, name, symbol, or device used to distinguish
one company and its products from another.
 Cybersquatting involves registering common words and phrases
as domain names, with the intention of selling the domain name at
a profit to a company that wants a catchy, easy-to-remember URL.
 The Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act provides
penalties up to $100,000 for anyone registering a domain name
using someone else’s trademark.