Information and Computer Ethics

Chapter 6
Information and Computer ethics
Information is the processed data on which decisions and actions are based. For the

decision to be meaningful, the processed data must qualify for the following characteristics −
Timely − Information should be available when required.
An information system is software that helps you organize and analyse data.
Computer ethics is the analysis of nature and social impact of computer technology and the
corresponding formulation and justification of policies for the ethical use of technology.
Ethics is a dynamic and complex field of study, which cover both social as well as personal
policies for ethical use of technology. The commonly faced problem while dealing with
computer ethics is the policy vacuum which means how computer technology should be used.
Ethics refers to standards of conduct, standards that indicate how one should behave based on
moral duties and virtues, which themselves are derived from principles of right and wrong.
As a practical matter, ethics is about how we meet the challenge of doing the right thing when
that will cost more than we want to pay.
Computer Ethics
Computer ethics defined as the application of classical ethical principles to the use of
computer technology
Ethical problems related to computers are not unique but they tend to occur on a much
larger scale and scope
i) Scope: communications networks bring the world together
ii) Anonymity: beneficial but creates problems of integrity
iii) Reproducibility
Aspects of computer ethics:
i) Analysis of the nature of problems related to the social impact of computers
ii) Formulation and justification of policies needed to manage computer technology
1) Categories of Computer Ethics Issues:=
 Privacy
i) Computers create a false sense of security
ii) People do not realize how vulnerable information stored on computers are
 Property
i) Physical property
ii) Intellectual property (in both copyright and patent)
iii) Data as property
 Access
i) Access to computing technology
ii) Access to data
 Accuracy
i) Accuracy of information stored
1) Moral and Ethical Problems:=
 Hacking, cracking and virus creation
i) Serious crimes that cannot be justified
ii) Attempts at justifying such actions
a) Electrons are free- they do not belong to anybody
b) Companies have weak protection
c) Point out flaws and vulnerabilities in information systems
d) Hacking or virus creation is right in a particular country or culture
 Software piracy
i) Unauthorized copying of software is stealing
ii) It is morally wrong as it constitutes a violation of someone else’s rights
1) Problems with Codes of Ethics:=
 A legal system is not a complete and correct guide to moral behavior
 Codes of ethics are mostly voluntary
 May encounter situations for which the code makes no explicit recommendations
 Goodness cannot be defined through a list of Dos and Don'ts
 You must use your internal sense of ethics
1) Computer Ethics Awareness and Educational Issues:=
 How to raise the moral consciousness and ethical level
 Possibilities of developing global computer ethics codes
 Computer ethics education should include:
i) Explanation of disruptive potential of even a single user
ii) Understanding of importance of ethics and lack of laws in
Computer/information technology
ii) Explanation of information security & related problems

iii) Making people aware of ethical impact of their actions
v) Training and education by professionals.
1) Computing Ethics and Guidelines – Example

 Respect privacy of other users and do not share your account with others.
 Respect appropriate laws and copyrights
 Obey established guidelines for any network or system used
 Do not use computer resources for unauthorized purposes
 Do not use computer resources for commercial endeavors
 Do not use computer resources in ways detrimental to normal operation.
1) Computer Ethics - Case Studies Administrator Dilemma:-
 The problem here is that every file on the system is accessible by the administrator
and they have no tracks when they change a file
 If administrator is always believed, he is given the ability to take advantage of
anybody at any time
 If user is always believed, he is given the ability to get away with anything he
does
 Anything on the system can be faked without evidence
1) Computer Ethics - Case Studies Software Licensing: Stuck in the Middle:=
 You are contracted to install Netscape Navigator software on all the PCs of
company X
 After doing half the work, you found that company X is not paying Netscape
for the copies you are installing
 You notified company X’s contact that they are out of compliance with
Netscape licensing requirement, but got no response
 What do you do?
1) Computer Ethics - Case Studies:=
 You are asked to write a program to print tags for a sale. Your boss asks you to
put tags that have a price 10% higher, with a 10% discount marking it back to
original price. Do you do this?
 You wrote a software that matches the requirement your company was given. But,
requirements are so bad that you know the software will not match the actual
needs
i) Should you say anything?
ii) Should your company say anything? Even if it would mean loss of future
contracts?
1) THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR COMPUTER ETHICS:=
 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 files.
 Thou shalt not use a computer to steal.
 Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness.
 Thou shalt not use or copy software for which you have not paid.
 Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources without authorization.
 Thou shalt not appropriate other people's intellectual output.
 Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you write.
 Thou shalt use a computer in ways that show consideration and respect.
1) Conclusion:-
 Must understand cultural, social, legal and ethical issues related to computing
 Expect to face variety of ethically difficult situations
 Hold to highest possible ethical standards
 Use your internal sense of ethics
 Making the wrong ethical choice begins with focusing on short-term self-
interest
 Ethical behavior is a way of life, best learned through experience
 Living ethically requires strong and sincere motivation

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Chapter 6

Information and Computer ethics

Information is the processed data on which decisions and actions are based. For the

ii) Explanation of information security & related problems

1) Computing Ethics and Guidelines – Example

1) THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR COMPUTER ETHICS:=

 Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people.

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