Technology and Society.Ethics Thanks to Dr. Joseph Ng from HKBU.

Technology and Society.Ethics

Thanks to Dr. Joseph Ng from HKBU

2

Technology and Society Ethics

◦ Ethics vs. Law Computer Ethics

◦ Example topics Code of Professional Ethics

Do you like technology? How has technology affected your life? How has technology improved society? Has technology harmed society? How has technology affected privacy? How will technology affect society in the

future?

Ethics◦ A branch of philosophy that studies morality

Morality: a system of rules for guiding human conduct, and principles for evaluating those rules.

◦ Development of reasonable standards for deciding what is morally right and wrong

Law◦ Minimum level of

behavior◦ Right behavioral

standards backed up by civil/criminal sanction

Ethics Highest level of behavior Right behavioral standards

backed up by community sanction

6

Computer ethics◦ Analysis of the nature and social impact of

computer technology and the corresponding formulation and justification of policies for the ethical use of such technology

Why study computer ethics?◦ Four key technology trends that raise ethical

issues Rapid advances in computing power Advances in data storage Advances in data mining Advances in telecommunications

7

Ownership and Intellectual Properties Security and Computer Crime Liability and Reliability

8

Ownership and Intellectual Properties◦ Intellectual property rights -- Bundles of

exclusive rights over creations of the mind, both artistic and commercial Copyright Patent Trademark Trade secret

◦ Protection of intellectual property rights protects creativity

Computer Ethics – Example Topics (Cont)

9

Security and Computer Crime◦ Computer crime -- criminal activity where a

computer or network is the source, tool, target, or place of a crime (Wikipedia)

crime that is directly targeted at the computer or computer system

crime that uses the Internet crime that involves the retrieval of digital data of

evidential value

◦ Offending related laws◦ Moral obligation to ensure the IT system to be

properly secured.

10

Liability and Reliability◦ Given that it is impossible to deliver a bug-free

program… Should a company or a person be accountable for an

incident caused by the program? Should he/she be responsible, deserve blame, or be

liable to punishment?

◦ Examples Customer blames bankruptcy on IBM IT failure “Vaporware” – software/hardware products announced

and promoted well in advance of release; products brought to the market prematurely without adequate testing

American LaFrance (ALF), the “leading brand of custom-made fire fighting, fire rescue vehicles, ambulances, and heavy-duty work refuse vehicles,” has declared bankruptcy, blaming IBM and a failed ERP implementation.

… Almost immediately upon the changeover to the ERP System, ALF recognized serious deficiencies with the system that had a crippling impact on ALF’s operations.

… ALF is currently analyzing potential causes of action against IBM based upon services provided by IBM in connection with the problem-riddled transition to the ERP System.

12

Software engineers shall adhere to the following Eight Principles:

1. PUBLIC – Software engineers shall act consistently with the public interest.

2. CLIENT AND EMPLOYER - Software engineers shall act in a manner that is in the best interests of their client and employer consistent with the public interest.

13

3. PRODUCT - Software engineers shall ensure that their products and related modifications meet the highest professional standards possible.

4. JUDGMENT - Software engineers shall maintain integrity and independence in their professional judgment.

14

5. MANAGEMENT - Software engineering managers and leaders shall subscribe to and promote an ethical approach to the management of software development and maintenance.

6. PROFESSION - Software engineers shall advance the integrity and reputation of the profession consistent with the public interest.

15

7. COLLEAGUES - Software engineers shall be fair to and supportive of their colleagues.

8. SELF - Software engineers shall participate in lifelong learning regarding the practice of their profession and shall promote an ethical approach to the practice of the profession.

16

Identify and formulate the basic ethical issues in each case.

Consider the legal issues and see if there is a conflict between law and morality

Check with your moral intuition Consult appropriate guidelines (e.g., ACM) Analyze the issues from viewpoints of

different ethical theories Come up with normative conclusion

(organization’s and individual’s course of action)

17

www.isworld.org www.ethicsweb.ca/codes http://www.acm.org/about/se-code ACM/IEEE Software Engineering Code of Ethics

and Professional Practice, G Walshham, Ethical Theory, Code and Ethics

and IS Practice, Information Systems Journal, pp. 69-81, 1996

D G Johnson, Computer Ethics, Prentice Hall, 2001

Richard A. Spinello, Case Studies in Information and Computer Ethics, Prentice Hall, 1997