CMPT-184
(computer) Ethics
Ethics and Morality
Morality and ethics have same roots and meaning:
Mores means manner and customs in Latin
Ethos (ΗΘ0Σ) means custom and habits in Greek
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Introduction
• Background
• The Learned Professions
• The Ten Dimensions
• The Current State of Computer Science as a Profession
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The Learned Professions
• A profession is an occupation that requires extensive
training and the study and mastery of specialized
knowledge, and usually has a professional association,
ethical code and process of certification or licensing.
Examples are accounting, law, medicine, finance, the
military, the clergy and engineering.
• Classically, there were only three professions: ministry,
medicine, and law. These three professions each hold to
a specific code of ethics, and members are almost
universally required to swear some form of oath to
uphold those ethics, therefore "professing" to a higher
standard of accountability. Each of these professions
also provides and requires extensive training in the
meaning, value, and importance of its particular oath in
the practice of that profession.
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The Learned Professions
•
Doctors
•
Attorneys
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The Learned Professions
•
•
Teachers
Clergy
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The Ten Dimensions
• Professional Organizations
• Acquired Body of Knowledge
• Maintaining the Body of Knowledge
• Code of Conduct/Ethics
• Client/Provider Relationship
• Service to the Profession
• Certification through Examination
• Regulating the Profession
• Giving Back
• It’s a Calling
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Dimension 1: Professional Organizations
• Doctors - American Medical Association
• Attorneys - American Bar Association
• Nurses – American Nurses Association
• Teachers
– Discipline
– Teaching Level
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Dimension 2: Acquired Body of Knowledge
• Doctors
– 4 years of medical school
– 2+ years of residency/internships
• Attorneys
– 3 years of law school
• College/University Faculty
– Masters
– Ph. D.
• Clergy
– Seminary/School of Theology
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Dimension 3: Maintaining the Body of Knowledge
• Doctors
• Attorneys
• CPAs
• Teachers
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Dimension 4: Code of Ethics
• Doctors – Hippocratic Oath
• Attorneys – Code of Ethics for Practicing Attorneys
• Nurses – ANA Code of Ethics
• Teachers – State Boards
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Dimension 5: Provider/Client Relationship
• Doctor/Patient
• Attorney/Client
• Teacher/Student
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Dimension 6: Service to the Profession
• Regional and National Conferences
• Papers
• Symposium
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Officers
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Dimension 7: Certification through Examination
• Doctors – Medical Licensing Exam
• Attorneys – Bar Exam
• Accountants – CPA Exam
• Nurses – RN Exam
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Dimension 8: Regulating the Profession
• Doctors – State Medical Boards
• Attorneys – State Bar Associations
• Clergy – Religious Denomination
• Teachers – State Board for Education Certification
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Dimension 9: Giving Back (Philanthropy)
• Doctors - Doctors without Borders
• Attorneys – Pro Bono Work
• Clergy – A Life of Service
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Dimension 10: It’s a Calling
• Doctors
• Attorneys
• Teachers
• The Clergy
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Dimension 1: Professional Organizations
• Association of Computer Machinery
• Association of Information Technology Professionals
• Information Systems Security Association
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Dimension 2: Acquired Body of Knowledge
• Computer Science Professionals
– 4-year college education (SIGITE Recommendation)
– Specialization in a specific CS area
• Programming
• Networking
• Web development
• User support
• Etc…
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Dimension 3: Maintaining the Body of Knowledge
• Computer Science Professionals
– Rapid Change
– Professional Development
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Dimension 4: Code of Conduct/Ethics
• ACM
• IEEE
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Ten Rules of Computer Ethics Institute
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people.
Thou shalt not interfere with other people's computer work.
Thou shalt not snoop around in other people's computer files.
Thou shalt not use a computer to steal.
Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness.
Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary software for which you have not
paid.
Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources without
authorization or proper compensation.
Thou shalt not appropriate other people's intellectual output.
Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you are
writing or the system you are designing.
Thou shalt always use a computer in ways that insure consideration and
respect for your fellow humans.
http://www.brook.edu/its/cei/cei_hp.htm
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Association of Computer Machinery (ACM) Code of Conduct
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Contribute to society and human well-being
Avoid harm to others
Be honest and trustworthy
Be fair and take action not to discriminate
Honor property rights including copyrights and patents
Give proper credit for intellectual property
Respect the privacy of others
Honor Confidentiality
See PDF notes
http://onlineethics.org/codes/ACMcode.html
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2. MORE SPECIFIC PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
• As an ACM computing professional I will ....
• 2.1 Strive to achieve the highest quality, effectiveness and
dignity in both the process and products of professional work.
• 2.2 Acquire and maintain professional competence.
• 2.3 Know and respect existing laws pertaining to professional
work.
• 2.4 Accept and provide appropriate professional review.
• 2.5 Give comprehensive and thorough evaluations of
computer systems and their impacts, including analysis of
possible risks.
• 2.6 Honor contracts, agreements, and assigned
responsibilities.
• 2.7 Improve public understanding of computing and its
consequences.
• 2.8 Access computing and communication resources only
when authorized to do so.
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3. ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP IMPERATIVES
• As an ACM member and an organizational leader, I will ....
• 3.1 Articulate social responsibilities of members of an
organizational unit and encourage full acceptance of those
responsibilities.
• 3.2 Manage personnel and resources to design and build
information systems that enhance the quality of working life.
• 3.3 Acknowledge and support proper and authorized uses of
an organization's computing and communication resources.
• 3.4 Ensure that users and those who will be affected by a
system have their needs clearly articulated during the
assessment and design of requirements; later the system
must be validated to meet requirements.
• 3.5 Articulate and support policies that protect the dignity of
users and others affected by a computing system.
• 3.6 Create opportunities for members of the organization to
learn the principles and limitations of computer systems.
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4. COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE
• As an ACM member I will ....
• 4.1 Uphold and promote the principles of this Code.
• 4.2 Treat violations of this code as inconsistent with
membership in the ACM.
– Adherence of professionals to a code of ethics is largely a
voluntary matter. However, if a member does not follow this code
by engaging in gross misconduct, membership in ACM may be
terminated.
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Dimension 5: Client/Provider Relationship
• Provider/Customer
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Dimension 6: Service to the Profession
• Regional and National Conferences
• Papers
• Symposium
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Officers
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Dimension 7: Certification through Examination
•
Computer Science Professionals
– Vendor Certification
• Microsoft
• Cisco
• Sun
– Vendor Neutral
• CompTIA – A+, Network+, Security+, etc.
• International Information Systems Security Certifications
Consortium (ISC)2 - CISSP
• SANS Institute – Global Information Assurance Certification
(GIAC)
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Dimension 8: Regulating the Profession
• SANS - GIAC
• (ISC)2 - CISSP
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Dimension 9: Giving Back (Philanthropy)
• Bill & Melinda Gates
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Dimension 10: It’s a Calling
• “When you find a job you love, you will never work
a day in your life.”
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Sites
Ethics in Computing: http://ethics.csc.ncsu.edu/
Netiquette:
The Net: User Guidelines and Netiquette – Index
http://www.fau.edu/netiquette/net/
Netiquette Home Page http://www.albion.com/netiquette/
Online Netiquette Home Page http://www.onlinenetiquette.com/
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Ethics in computing
http://ethics.csc.ncsu.edu/
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