Formal Codes of Ethics

1
Formal Codes of Ethics

• Why?
• How enabled

2
Reasons

• Professional Organizations have thought about
  them
• Problems in their absence (Quebec bridge in
  1800s led to iron ring)
• Human equivalent of building standards
• Prototypes for corporate codes, also

3
Professional Organizations

• Active buy-in
• Nurses, engineers, MDs, teachers, code developers
• cant say werent told
• breach of code an offence (deterrence - very
  necessary for dealing with vulnerable people)
• Corporate buy-in
• acceptable use policy

4
Licencing of Software

• Active buy-in
• like fee for banking services, refusal to be
  searched at airport, customs
• must provide an outlet where possible
• what about computing?
• what about personal stance in breach?
• Value of certification - why engineers preferred

5
Acts, Enabling, Regulations

• Standards of conduct as opposed to minimal
  compliance
• Interaction with personal code of ethics
• Roman Catholic policeman required to guard an
  abortion clinic
• Alternative to military service
• irresistible force versus immovable object

6
Behaviour in code development

• understanding of assumed risks
• digital reliability versus analog reliability
• principle of due diligence
• principle of disclosure of risk
• who is responsible when someone is asked to work
  outside his/her competence zone

7
Behaviour in assuming credit

• Whose contributions
• When?
• Nature of contracts (everything you do is a type
  of contract)
• etc., etc.

8
Ensuring confidentiality, etc.

• Responsibility to deliver, not to do obvious
  wrongs (sabotage), less obvious wrongs
  (transporting IP out)
• Employer has right to considerations, they should
  be part of terms of contract