Super billing computers, ethics, social values

What is Computer Ethics?

Introduction Definition of computer ethics Rationale for studying computer ethics

Technology is entrenched in our society, ethical questions arise regarding the uses of this new technology

Are these ethical issues pertaining to computer professionals new or are these the same issues in a different guise?

Computer RevolutionIntroduction stage

-Computers have been refined Permeation stage

-Computers are an integral part of life-Practical importance for computer ethics

Invisibility factor Invisible abuse

-Invisible operations of the computer are used for unethical conduct

Invisible programming values -Programmer values are put into the program which may include a programmer's bias

Invisible complex calculation -Computers can perform a tremendous number of calculations

Ethical rules and judgments are "applied in a computer context based on professional standards and a concern for the user of the computing product”

Two spheres: - ethical problems that can be reasoned by "analogy with other traditional ethical problems" - ethics for computing professionals

Welfare of the user - service industry No organization to control membership or

sanction violations

"domain in which an action is assessed is not necessarily the same as the domain in which the actor interprets it"

Three components in "doing" ethics-identifying social/ethical issues-entering into serious discourse about the possibilities -taking actions.

Ethics in SocietySociety

An association of people organized under a system of rules designed to advance the good of its members over time

Morality: Rules of conduct describing what people ought and ought not to do

Ethics: Philosophical study of morality, a rational examination into people’s moral belief’s and behavior

Ethical decision leading to the "most opportunity and least vulnerability for most parties"

Social Contracts - negotiation and consensus as tools

Deontological is concerned with rights and obligations. Giving someone rights creates obligations.

Utilitarian is thinking of the "greater good of society."

Case Study The past several months, George, an electrical engineer working for an

aerospace contractor, has been the quality control manager on a project to develop a computerized control system for a new military aircraft. Early simulations of the software for the control system showed that, under certain conditions, instabilities would arise that would cause the plane to crash. The software was subsequently patched to eliminate the specific problems uncovered by the tests. After the repairs were made, the system passed all of the required simulation tests.

George is convinced, however, that those problems were symptomatic of a fundamental design flaw that could only be eliminated by an extensive redesign of the system. Yet, when he brought his concern to his superiors, they assured him that the problems had been resolved, as shown by the tests. Anyway, to reevaluate and possibly redesign the system would introduce delays that would cause the company to miss the delivery date specified in the contract, and that would be very costly.

Now, there's a great deal of pressure on George to sign off on the system and allow it to be flight tested. It has even been hinted that, if he persists in delaying release of the system, the responsibility will be taken away from him and given to someone who is more compliant. . . .

What makes the situation so difficult for George is that he must choose between conflicting duties: loyalty to self, family, employer, and superiors versus the obligation to tell the truth and to protect others from harm. . .

Obligation Relations

ACM "Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct." 1) General Moral Imperatives addresses ethical issues of

honesty, individual contribution to the well being of society, non-discrimination, property rights, intellectual property, privacy, and confidentiality.

2) Specific Professional Responsibilities addresses issues of effectiveness of process and products, maintaining professional competence, respecting existing laws, accepting professional review, comprehensive evaluations of computer systems to assess impacts and risks, honoring contracts, improving understanding of computing, accessing computer communication only when authorized. While the first six items in this section can be applied generally to other professions, the last two items address computing specifically. 2.7 Improve public understanding of computing and its consequences. 2.8 Access computing and communication resources only when authorized to do so.

3) Organizational Leadership addresses encouraging members to accept full social responsibility, design and build systems that enhance working lives, thorough assessment of user needs when analyzing and designing systems, protecting the dignity of users, promote the learning of principles and limitations of computing. This section is extremely important because it places some obligations on management to create an environment where a computer professional can be ethical. Without these management responsibilities the preceding two sections could become impossible to obtain.

4) Compliance with the Code contains 2 items. The first item directs members to be supportive of others. The second item indicates that gross misconduct is grounds for dismissal. It also makes a major point: "Adherence of professionals to a code of ethics is largely a voluntary matter."