Computer Ethics CSCI 101

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Computer EthicsCSCI 101

• Kara kelly

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Ethics

• Ethics can be defined as a discipline in which
  one attempts to identify, organize, analyze, and
  justify human acts by applying certain principles
  to determine what is the right thing to do in a
  given situation.
• Involves freedom of making a choice and the
  responsibility for the results of the action

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Computer ethics

• From the 1940s through the 1960s there was no
  discipline know as computer ethics.
• In the mid 1970s computer ethics was defined as a
  field in which one examines ethical problems
  aggravated, transformed or created by computer
  technology.
• Computer revolution
• Stage 1technological introduction
• stage2 technological permeation (technology
  gets integrated into every day human activities)

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10 commandments

• 1-- Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other
  people. This catch-all encompasses the remaining
  nine commandments.
• 2-- Thou shalt not interfere with other people's
  computer work. Sending an e-mail bomb --
  thousands of messages to disable the recipient's
  e-mail in-box or server -- is an extreme example.
  Spreading false rumors online can also interfere
  with others' productivity. So can forwarding
  jokes without checking if recipients are
  receptive to them.
• 3-- Thou shalt not snoop around in other people's
  computer files. The weak security built into
  Windows 95 and 98 makes it easy to open the work
  of coworkers by walking up to their PCs.

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• 4-- Thou shalt not use a computer to steal. A
  blatant example is hacking into a computer to
  loot a person's credit card number or a company's
  trade secrets. See Commandments 6, 7, and 8 for
  more subtle, and widespread, transgressions.
• 5-- Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false
  witness. Sending unsolicited, untargeted bulk
  e-mail messages, or spam, is bad in part because
  most spammers conceal their identity

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• 6 -- Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary
  software for which you have not paid. Some
  organizations are tempted to buy one copy of a
  program and copy it onto many computers. Groups
  such as the Business Software Alliance go after
  such pirates tenaciously, and when caught they're
  hit with stiff fines and bad publicity.
• Using a shareware program long-term without
  registering it is also the equivalent of stealing
  it. Because so few people voluntarily register
  shareware, the authors of these programs have had
  to build in time limits for their use.
• 7 -- Thou shalt not use other people's computer
  resources without authorization or proper
  compensation. Some employees don't think twice
  about using their employer's computers or
  Internet connection for personal reasons.
• Organizations are getting more protective of
  their computer possessions. Xerox recently fired
  about 40 employees for looking at pornographic
  Web sites at work. Once, I was nearly fired for
  using my employers computer fro freelance work.

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• 8 -- Thou shalt not appropriate other people's
  intellectual output. The Internet makes it easy
  to copy others' words, artwork, music and HTML.
• 9 -- Thou shalt think about the social
  consequences of the program you are writing or
  the system you are designing. "Big Brother"
  programs let you capture the keystrokes or record
  the Web surfing of employees without their
  knowledge. Companies similarly can intercept any
  e-mail sent through their equipment. Morale can
  suffer if you don't inform employees of these
  practices beforehand.
• 10 -- Thou shalt always use a computer in ways
  that ensure" consideration and respect for your
  fellow humans. This is another good catch-all.

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Illegal File sharing

• David Wright, Ph.D, director of curriculum
  innovation and elearning at the University of
  Dayton
• Students involved with illegal file sharing, and
  saturating the bandwith they have on campus. The
  more the student shared files, the less
  technology was available to everyone else.
• Students can download file sharing software from
  the web at no charge. Programs such as eDonkey.
  Morpheus. Kazaa or limewrire enable student to
  illegally share music, videos and other files.

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Works cited

• Computer Ethics 101. By Dahl, Judy. Distance
  Education Report, 8/15/2005, Vol. 9 Issue 16,
  p3-8, 3p (AN 17938488)
• Ethics in Informatics. By Curtin, Leah L..
  Nursing Administration Quarterly, Oct-Dec2005,
  Vol. 29 Issue 4, p349-352, 4p (AN 18845299)
• Remembering the Ten Commandments of Computer
  Ethics. By Goldsborough, Reid. Community College
  Week, 11/15/99, Vol. 12 Issue 7, p17, 1/2p (AN
  2539373)