This document discusses computer ethics and related issues in an information society. It introduces computer ethics as the analysis of technology's social impact and formulation of policies for ethical use. When new technologies are introduced, they can create ripple effects raising new ethical, social, and political issues on individual, social, and political levels regarding information rights, property rights, system quality, quality of life, and accountability. Engineers have a duty to evaluate risks of emergent technologies and promote public awareness of impacts. Common information technology issues like email, the web, and file sharing can enable both benefits and harms that challenge existing rules and norms. Studying professional ethics increases ability to recognize and address moral issues from technology.
2. Contents
What is Computer Ethics?
Professional issues
IT Issues
Why Study Professional Ethics?
Ethics in an Information Society
Ethical analysis
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3. Ethical Issues: Who is morally
responsible for consequence of use ?
Social Issues: What should society
expect to allow ?
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4. What is Computer Ethics?
Analysis of the nature & social impact of
computer technology and the corresponding
formulation & justification of policies for the
ethical use of such technologies
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5. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ETHICAL,
SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL ISSUES IN AN
INFORMATION SOCIETY
The introduction of new information technology
has a ripple effect, raising new ethical, social, and
political issues that must be dealt with on the
individual, social, and political levels. These
issues have five moral dimensions: information
rights and obligations, property rights and
obligations, system quality, quality of life, and
accountability and control.
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8. Society as a calm pond
IT as rock dropped in pond, creating ripples
of new situations not covered by old rules
Social and political institutions cannot
respond overnight to these ripples—it may
take years to develop etiquette, expectations,
laws
Requires understanding of ethics to make
choices in legally gray areas
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9. Professional issues:
Relevant to emergent technologies (e.g.
autonomous systems) there is a particular duty of
engineers to:
identify and evaluate and, where possible,
quantify risks.
be aware of the issues that engineering and
technology raise for society, and listen to the
aspirations and concerns of others.
actively promote public awareness and
understanding of the impact and benefits of
engineering achievements.
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11. IT Issues
Email
Easy way to keep in touch
Spam has become a real problem
Web
Free access to huge amounts of information
Harmful consequences of some sites
CDs, MP3s, MP4s
Free or cheap copies readily available
May be unfair to musicians
Credit cards
Convenience over cash and checks
Increases possibility of identity theft
Who owns information about transactions?
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12. Telecommuting
Saves time, allows more flexible work hours
Can lead to longer work hours
May result in fewer chances for promotion
Improved global communication network
Allow companies to sell to entire world
Allow companies to move jobs out of their home
countries.
World Wide Web
A conduit for democratic ideas?
Another tool for totalitarian governments
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14. Why Study Professional Ethics?
What is the point in studying engineering ethics?
What can be gained from taking an ethics course? A
professional ethics course is not about preaching
virtue so that the immoral and amoral students will
adopt a certain established set of beliefs.
Rather, it means to increase the ability of concerned
engineers, managers and citizens, to first recognize
and then responsibly confront moral issues raised by
technological activity.
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15. Ethics in an Information Society
Responsibility:
Accepting the potential costs, duties, and obligations
for decisions
Accountability:
Mechanisms for identifying responsible parties
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 authorities
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16. Ethical analysis
1. Identify and clearly describe the facts
2. Define the conflict or dilemma and identify
the higher-order values involved
3. Identify the stakeholders
4. Identify the options that you can
reasonably take
5. Identify the potential consequences of your
options
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