C

OMPUTER

E

THICS

: A G

LOBAL PERSPECTIVE

BY G IANNIS S TAMATELLOS Chapter 1 – Ranette Halverson

C HAPTER 1: W HAT IS C OMPUTER E THICS ?

 Information Technology  Application of appropriate technologies to the organization, manipulations & distribution of information by computers & telecommunications  Computer Ethics   From MIT Professor Norbert Weiner (1948+) “What is computer ethics?” James Moor (1985)  Def: the analysis of the nature & social impact of computer technology & the corresponding formulation & justification of policies for the ethical use of such technology (Moor)

W

HY THE NEED FOR

N

EW

S

TUDY

?

 New Technology provides New Choices & Abilities  Behavior   Public Policies Personal Policies

1.2 C

OMPUTER

E

THICS

& M

ORALITY 

Ethics:

     Systematic study of morality A branch of philosophy Involves  Freedom, privacy, equality, duty, obligations choice, justification of judgments, rights, claims The code or set of principles, standards, or rules that guide the moral actions of an individual within a particular social framework Moral judgment & decision: how a person ought to act & the extent to which the action is described as right or wrong

C

OMPUTER

E

THICS   The systematic study of the ethical & social impact of computer in the information society Involve the acquisition, distribution, storage, processing & dissemination of digital data & how individuals & groups interact with the systems & data   Responsibility & accountability Policies, regulations, legislation

E

FFECTS OF

I

NFORMATION

T

ECHNOLOGY 

Exaggerate

 traditional ethical problems New ways to invade privacy 

Convert

already know ethical issues into analogous issues  Change idea of ownership & intellectual property 

Create

 entirely new ethical problems Viruses, hacking

1.3 E

THICAL

D

ECISION

M

AKING  How do I know if an action is ethical?

 Law    Codes of Practice Professional ethics Personal ethics  Two Factors  Person who acts  Those affected by act

F

ACTORS OF

E

THICAL

A

CTION Intentions Action Consequences Each factor is addressed differently by different philosophies of ethics.

Example: Shooting someone with a gun

W

HAT ARE

YOUR M

ORAL

V

IEWS

?

 In my opinion, this is a VERY significant question that you should answer.

 How will you behave out in the real world?

  How have you behaved in college?

How have you behaved at home?

 What are you willing to sacrifice for you principles?

R

EAL

W

ORLD

E

THICS 

Name some ethics of ethical or moral situations in current society?