COMPUTER ETHICS COMPUTERS Computers have become the technological backbone of society as their complexity, applications and sheer numbers continue to increase. They have become helpful in the advancement of the technology that we use today. COMPUTERS Also today, computers have a wide variety of applications and uses in the industry such as in education, business, engineering and scientific research. COMPUTERS Computers are also beneficial in our daily lives such as communication with other people, watching movies and videos, listening to music, studying, etc… COMPUTERS Since computers are still only a few decades old, it is difficult to foresee all the moral issues that will surround them. Many of these issues are free speech, privacy, respect for property, informed consent and harm. COMPUTERS In order to deal with these issues, it is important to learn computer ethics. Computer ethics has importance to those who work with computers such as programmers, designers and systems analysts. WHAT IS COMPUTER ETHICS? WHAT IS ETHICS? Ethics is defined as moral principles that govern a person's behaviour or the conducting of an activity. WHAT IS COMPUTER? Computer is defined as an electronic device for storing and processing data, typically in binary form, according to instructions given to it in a variable program. WHAT IS COMPUTER ETHICS? Computer ethics deals with the procedures, values and practices that govern the process of consuming computing technology and its related disciplines without damaging or violating the moral values and beliefs of any individual, organization or entity. ISSUES AND CONCERNS ON COMPUTER ETHICS THE INTERNET AND FREE SPEECH The Internet has extended all issues in computer ethics. It is the most powerful communication technology ever developed as it is used daily by hundreds of millions of people. The Internet has greatly improved communication as it provides a wellspring of new ways to be in contact with other people and with sources of information. Also, the Internet created greater convenience in ordering consumer items, paying bills, and trading stocks and bonds. Like other major “social experiments,” it also has raised a host of new issues. One set of issues centers on free speech, including control of obscene forms of pornography, hate speech, spam (unwanted commercial speech), and libel. POWER RELATIONSHIPS Computers and the Internet dramatically increase the ability of centralized bureaucracies to manage high quantities of data, involving multiple variables and at astonishing speed. Social critics have been alarmed during the 1960’s and 1970’s that computers would concentrate power in a few centralized bureaucracies of big government and big business, thereby eroding democratic systems by moving toward totalitarianism. Eventually, these were unjustified but they have lessened due to recent developments of computer technology. There are actually reasons why it is believed that computers would inevitably tend to centralize power: Early large computers are much efficient in dealing large tasks. The development of microcomputers changed all this as small computers became increasingly powerful and economically competitive with larger models. Computer have been linked for the purpose in exchanging information and therefore making up the Internet. Despite being feared before, computers are powerful tools that do not by themselves generate power shifts. They contribute to greater centralization or decentralization insofar as human decision makers direct them. JOB ELIMINATION Computers have led and will continue to lead to the elimination of some jobs. Since computers are much more efficient, employers tend to eliminate human costs. CUSTOMER RELATIONS It can be either very difficult or relatively simple for a consumer to notice and correct computer errors or computer printed errors. The prices on cash register receipts have been shown to sometimes vary from those posted on the shelves. BIASED SOFTWARE Sometimes a software can be biased in one direction or another as the development of a software can be influenced by the political and social perspective of the developer. STOCK TRADING Programmed trading is the automatic, hands-off, computer trading of stocks, futures, and options on the stock market. Control over the market is a big problem as some are manipulating the market in order to increase profit. MILITARY WEAPONS Many military weapons can be controlled and used through computers. Many of these are kept in secrecy but the problem will be the unprovoked attacks that will be caused by these weapons. PROPERTY The major concern here is the issue on embezzlement and other forms of stealing money or financial assets. Another issue will be software and information theft. EMBEZZLEMENT Through computers, theft and fraud is done much easier as computers are much faster and at the same time, can cover a large area. Another problem will be anonymity, as the transaction will be harder to trace. DATA AND SOFTWARE The issue about data and software concerns about copyright as some programmers develop software which can be a copy of another program and make some changes into it and sell it into a new one. PRIVACY By making more data available to more people with more ease, computers make privacy more vulnerable to others. INAPPROPRIATE ACCESS If you commit a crime, any information gathered about it will be recorded in computers which will be easily accessed by law enforcement officer. Through the record, it will create a standing bias against you to those who will see it. HACKERS Hackers break the limits of access to information such as individual privacy, national security and freedom within a capitalist economy to protect proprietary information essential in pursuing corporate goals. LEGAL RESPONSES Laws on information access have been a huge problem to people as privacy can be easily invaded by hackers and the laws to implement these violations are very inconvenient and expensive.
