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ICS2604 - Computer Ethics 2

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74 views18 pages

ICS2604 - Computer Ethics 2

Uploaded by

Phillipe Alain
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chapter 4

Computer Ethics
Computer Ethics

 Ethics
 Pertaining to right or wrong in conduct

 Ethical
 In accordance with the rules or standards for right
conduct or practice, especially the standards of a
profession.
 The rules of conduct recognized in a particular class of
human actions.
Computer Ethics …
 The overriding principles are-
 fairness
 integrity
 openness
 responsibility
 commitment to accuracy and truth

 Members of a profession should act always for the


maintenance for the community, rather than for sectional
interests
Computer Ethics …

 This includes the exposure of hypocrisy, falsehoods or


double standards.
 Members should seek to present fair, balanced and accurate
material.
 Confidentiality must be protected at all costs.
Computer Ethics …
 Fair and honest means should be used to obtain material,
including information. Misrepresentations and the user of
concealed equipment or surveillance devices should be
avoided.
 Members of an organization should have equal opportunity to
develop their skills.
 The employer organization is obliged to provide a healthy and
safe working environment.
Computer Ethics …
 Activities outside work hours may be seen to have an impact
on the individual’s or the employer organization.
 No person should be harassed or discriminated against on
grounds of gender, color, race, nationality, religious belief,
impairment, age, height, weight, marital status, appearance or
sexual preference.
 Managers or others with access to personal information
relating to other members are required to treat such
information as confidential, and not to disclose such
information except in the course of discharging formal
responsibilities.
Computer Ethics …
 Members should not use their position to obtain private benefit
for themselves or others.
 Members should not be influenced by family or other personal
relationships.
 Members should be alert to conflict of interests which may
arise and declare to a senior person or officer any real or
perceived conflict of interest which arises or is foreseen.
Computer Ethics …
 Members engaged in the development of software or hardware
or communications or other Information Technology facility
and who believe they have a interest on such development,
maintenance, or installation should acknowledge such interest.
 Members in doubt as to whether a conflict of interest exists
should consult a senior officer.
 No payment, gift or other advantage which may be seen to
undermine accuracy, fairness or independence is to be
accepted.
Computer Ethics …
 Other people’s material is not to be reproduced without
reference and acknowledgement.
 The source of material obtained form another organization
should be acknowledged.
Areas of Ethical Problems
 Personal intrusion
 Privacy
 Morality
 Deception
 Security
 Resources
 Intellectual property
 Inappropriate use
 Technology and social responsibility
Computer Ethics Issues: Examples
 Computers in the Workplace
 Computer Crime
 Privacy and Anonymity
 Intellectual Property
 Professional Responsibility
 Globalization
The ACM Code of Conduct

 According to the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)


code, a computing professional:
o Contributes to society and human well-being
o Avoids harm to others
o Is honest and trustworthy
o Is fair and takes action not to discriminate
o Honors property rights, including copyrights and patents
o Gives proper credit when using the intellectual property of others
o Respects other individuals’ rights to privacy
o Honors confidentiality
The need for a code of ethical conduct

 Business ethics
 Plagiarism
 Cybersquatting
Levels of Computer Ethics

Three “Levels” of Computer Ethics


1. Pop computer ethics
2. Para computer ethics
3. Theoretical / Professional computer ethics
Levels of Computer Ethics ..
1. Pop computer ethics
 This is the overall goal of what some call “pop” computer ethics.
Newspapers, magazines and TV news programs have engaged
increasingly in computer ethics of this sort. Every week, there are
news stories about computer viruses, or software ownership law
suits, or computer-aided bank robbery, or harmful computer
malfunctions, or computerized weapons, etc.
 As the social impact of information technology grows, such articles
will proliferate. That is good. The public at large should be sensitized
to the fact that computer technology can threaten human values as
well as advance them.
Levels of Computer Ethics ..
2. Para computer ethics
 The second “level” of computer ethics can be called “para” computer
ethics. Someone who takes a special interest in computer ethics
cases, collects examples, clarifies them, looks for similarities and
differences, reads related works, attends relevant events, and so on, is
learning “para” computer ethics.

 By analogy with a para medic – who is not a physician, but who does
have some technical medical knowledge – a “para” computer ethicist
is not a professional ethicist, but does have some relevant special
knowledge.
Levels of Computer Ethics ..
2. Para computer ethics
 A para medic, of course, cannot do all that a physician does, but he or
she can make preliminary medical assessments, administer first aid
and provide rudimentary medical assistance. Similarly, a “para”
computer ethicist does not attempt to apply the tools and procedures
of a professional philosopher or lawyer or social scientist. Rather, he
or she makes preliminary assessments and identifications of
computer ethics cases, compares them with others, suggests possible
analyses.
Levels of Computer Ethics ..
3. Theoretical / Professional computer ethics
 The third level of computer ethics I call “theoretical / professional”
computer ethics, because it applies scholarly theories to computer
ethics cases and concepts. Someone proficient in “theoretical”
computer ethics would be able not only to identify, clarify, compare
and contrast computer ethics cases; she or he could also apply
theories and tools from philosophy, social science or law in order to
deepen our understanding of the issues. Such “theoretical” computer
ethics is normally taught in college-level courses with titles like
“Computer Ethics,” “Computers and Society,” “Computers and the
Law.”

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