Transcript Computer Ethics

Ethical Issue
Computer Ethics
Computer Ethics
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Why do we have to consider computer ethics?
The advancements of computer/internet have significant influence on our lives.
Although some of the issues are encountered in other technologies (books,
newspaper, photography, telephone, TV etc) computer/internet is much more
powerful in the dissemination of information than these technologies. We should
therefore pay attention to the ethical use of this technology and its impact on society.
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Issues of computer ethics
Freedom of expression
Privacy
Intellectual property
Computer crime
Internet access
Software monopoly?
Computer Ethics: Freedom of Expression
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The speed and efficiency and the mode of information
dissemination in internet makes this an important issue.
United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to
hold opinion without interference to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through
any media regardless of frontiers.”
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Exemptions
Defamation: libel (written), slander (spoken)
Obscenity: Some civil libertarians believe that obscenity should enjoy free-speech protection.
However, US supreme court does not recognize this right
Definition: (a) whether ”the average person, applying contemporary community standards”
would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest. (b) whether work
depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the
applicable state law. (c) whether the work taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic,
political, or scientific value.
Advocate overthrowing a government, racial hatred??
Computer Ethics: Privacy
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Information stored in computer are far more easy to access
than other medium of storage.
Google, Baidu, Bing, Ebay, Taobao etc. can profile your
private life: websites you visited, things you bought, places
you went etc. In many countries there is no adequate law to
prohibit these organizations to collect these information or on
their use.
Confidential information in “secure” storage can be accessed
by hackers.
Computer Ethics: Intellectural Property
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Intellectual property protection (patent, copyright, trademark)
is important to encourage creative work.
Internet/computer makes it extremely easy to violate IP
protection:
Downloading/uploading music, video, photographs, articles without permission
Copying software for a friend
Plagiarism
Computer Ethics: Computer Crimes
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Hacking to steal confidential information
Sending out computer viruses; malicious damage of
website
Scams to cheat money via e-mail
Sending out obscene e-mail
Computer Ethics: Network Access
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Internet provides rich source of information that is
invaluable for economic, scientific, social, artistic and
other forms of human endeavor.
Internet is also a rich source for undesirable
information: obscene material, avocation of racial
hatred, financial scam etc.
Is restriction of internet access the answer?
Should internet be made available to everybody free?
Computer Ethics: Software Monopoly?
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Do you think Microsoft monopolize the software
industry?
Writing an Essay on Ethical Issue
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Describe the issue
Reasons for the opposing side
Reasons for the supporting side
Moral judgment, citing utilitarian or Kantian’s
argument
Any alternate means to resolve the problem?