COMPUTER ETHICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES
A field of Applied ethics that addresses ethical issues in the
use, design and management of Computer Science and in
the forma�on of ethical policies for its regula�on in the
society.
The Ten Commandments!
1,Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people
2,not interfere with other people's computer work
3,Thou shalt not snoop around in other people's files
4,Thou shalt not use a computer to steal
5,Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness
6,not use or copy so�ware for which you have not paid
7,Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources
without authoriza�on
8,not appropriate other people's intellectual output
9,Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the
program you write
10,Thou shalt use a computer in ways that show
considera�on and respect:
History of Computer Ethics
Purpose
Interpret human conduct
-Acknowledging & dis�nguishing between right & wrong.
Ethics helps us not only in dis�nguishing between right
and wrong but also in knowing why and on what grounds
our judgment of human ac�ons is jus�fied.”
Narrow view: apply tradi�onal ethical issues regarding the
use of computer technology
Very Broad view:Also include: standards of professional
prac�ce, codes of conduct, aspects of computer law,
public policy, corporate ethics
Informa�on technology creates ethical issues because:
a)IT changes the distribu�on of decision-making rights,
power and other resources.
b)IT creates new opportuni�es to commit crimes
Five Moral Dimensions of the Informa�on Age
-Informa�on rights and obliga�ons (about ourselves,
organiza�on)
-Property rights and obliga�ons (protec�on of intellectual
property rights)
-Accountability and control (who will be held accountable
if harm is done)
-System quality (standards of data and system quality)
-Quality of life (preserva�on of values, culture)
Key Technology Trends that Raise Ethical Issues
-Compu�ng power doubles every 18 months: Dependence
on computer systems increases, and it becomes more cost
effec�ve to process massive amounts of personal informa�
-Rapidly declining data storage costs: Lowers the cost of
crea�ng huge na�onal databases composed of private
info; lowers the cost of storing and using illegal music files.
Responsibility: Accep�ng the poten�al costs, du�es, and
obliga�ons for decisions
Accountability: Mechanisms for iden�fying responsible
par�es
Liability: Permits individuals (and firms) to recover
damages done to them
Due process: Laws are well known and understood, with
an ability to appeal to higher authori�es
Candidate Ethical Principles
Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do
unto you
Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Impera�ve:If an ac�on is
not right for everyone to take,then it isn‘t right for anyone
Descartes’ rule of change: If an ac�on cannot be taken
repeatedly, then it is not right to be taken at any �me
U�litarian Principle: Take the ac�on that achieves the
greatest value for all concerned
Risk Aversion Principle: Take the ac�on that produces the
least harm or incurs the least cost to all concerned
Ethical “no free lunch” rule: Assume that all tangible and
intangible objects are owned by someone else, unless
shown the contrary. If someone has created something of
value to you, that person probably wants compensa�on
for your use
IEEE Code of Ethics
1,to accept responsibility in making decisions consistent
with the safety, health and welfare of the public, and to
disclose promptly factors that might endanger the public
or the environment;
2,to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever
possible, and to disclose them to affected par�es when
they do exist;
3. to be honest and realis�c in sta�ng claims or es�mates
based on available data;
4. to reject bribery in all its forms;
5. to improve the understanding of technology, its
appropriate applica�on, and poten�al consequences;
Mid 1960s, Donn Parker of SRI “when people entered
the computer centre they le� their ethics at the door”
Late 1960s, Joseph Weizenbaum (MIT) nspired many
thinkers and projects in computer ethics
Mid 1970s, Walter Maner inquiry dealing with ethical
problems aggravated, transformed or created by computer
technology
By the 1980s, a number of social and ethical
Consequences of IT going public:-computer-enabled crime
-disasters caused by computer failures
-invasions of privacy via computer databases
-major law suits regarding so�ware ownership
Computer virus Self-propaga�ng computer program
Designed to alter or destroy a computer system resource
James H. Moore -> Computer ethics is the analysis of the
nature and social impact of computer technology and the
corresponding formula�on and jus�fica�on of policies for
the ethical use of such technology .
Why You Should Study Computer Ethics
1,Study computer ethics as remedial moral educa�on
-because doing so will make us behave like responsible
professionals. ->because doing so will teach us how to
avoid computer abuse and catastrophes.
2,Computer ethics educa�on not as a moral educa�on
but as a field worthy of study in its own right because the
advance of compu�ng technology will con�nue to create
temporary policy vacuums.->b/c the set of novel &
transformed issues are large enough and coherent enough
to define a new field
Ethical Analysis
-Define the conflict or dilemma, the values involved
-Iden�fy the stakeholders -Iden�fy and describe the facts
-iden�fy the op�ons
-Iden�fy the consequences
Consequen�alism Human ac�ons are judged good or bad
depending on the results of the ac�ons
Three general types of Consequen�alism
1,Egoism: Individual interests and happiness above
everything else
2,U�litarianism:Group interests & happiness above
individual
Act U�litarianism: Consider the consequences of an
ac�on for the ones which will benefit the most
Rule U�litarianism: Obey the rules that brings max
happiness to max people
3,Altruism: Ac�on is right if the results of the ac�on is
good for everyone but the actor
Deontology Does not concern itself with the
consequences of an ac�on rather the will of act. If a
person commi�ng an act had a good reason for doing so
Rela�vism There is no existence of universal moral norm
Right & wrong are rela�ve to society, culture, or individual.
Hedonism Pleasure is z only good thing in human life End
of life is z highest good Maximize pleasure/minimize pain/
Emo�vism-Ethical statements are neither true nor false
can’t be proven are really only about how someone feels
Kan�anism People’s ac�ons ought to be guided by
universal moral laws Moral laws are derived from reason
Should be able to cite why an ac�on is right or wrong
6. to maintain and improve our technical competence and
to undertake technological tasks for others only if
qualified by training or experience, or a�er full disclosure
of per�nent limita�ons;
7. to seek, accept, and offer honest cri�cism of technical
work, to acknowledge and correct errors, and to credit
properly the contribu�ons of
others;
8. to treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as
race, religion, gender, disability, age, or na�onal origin;
9. to avoid injuring others, their property, reputa�on, or
employment by false or malicious ac�on;
10. to assist colleagues and co-workers in their
professional development and to support them in
following this code of ethics.
ACM Code of Ethics
-8 general moral impera�ves
-8 more specific professional responsibili�es
-6 organiza�onal leadership impera�ves
-Affirma�on of compliance with the code
Objec�ves of Code of Ethics
-Disciplinary: ensures professionalism and integrity
-Advisory: good source of �ps and offer advice
-Educa�onal: educa�onal tools -Inspira�onal -Publicity
Ethical Issues Associated with Changing Technology
Different Tempta�ons
-Speed -Privacy and anonymity -Nature of medium
-Aesthe�c a�rac�ons -Increased availability of poten�al
vic�ms -Interna�onal scope
-The power to destroy
Different Means of Delivery Complacent Society