Computer and Information Ethics

Historical Milestone

Mid 1940s is the new branch of ethics: Computer Ethics or Information Ethics. At the center, Norbert Wiener, professor of mathematics and engineering at MIT. He was a pioneer in the study of stochastic and noise processes, contributing work relevant to electronic engineering, electronic communication, and control systems. In the mathematical field of probability the Wiener sausage is a neighborhood of the trace of a Brownian motion up to a time t, given by taking all points within a fixed distance of Brownian motion. Brownian motion is a seemingly random movement of particles (mathematical model do describe such random movement). 

Foundation of  C&I Ethics.

Wiener foresaw enormous social and ethical implications of cybernetics combined with electronic computers. His predictions is, after war world would undergo a second industrial revolution automatic age with enormous potential for good and evil staggering number of new ethical challenges & opportunities effects on information technology on key human values; life, health, happiness, abilities, knowledge, freedom, security, and opportunities.

Computer ethics.

- Term: Computer Ethics (1976 Walter Maner). Ethical questions in his field (medical ethics) got more complicated when computers go involved. Studies ethical problems “aggravated, transformed or created by computer technology”. Computer ethics “starter kit” monogram published in 1980 contained curriculum materials and pedagogical advice for university teachers. Discussions of topics like privacy and confidentiality, computer crime, computer decisions, technological dependence and professional codes of ethics. 

- What is Computer Ethics”, classic paper by Moor, 1985. Broader and more ambitions than definitions by Maner or Johnson. Went beyond descriptions and examples of computer ethics problems. Offered explanation of why computing technology raises so many ethical questions compared to other kinds of technology . The computer is the nearest thing we have to a universal tool. Indeed, the limits of computers are largely the limits of our own creativity. With computers people can do many things that could not be done before. The question is whether one ought to do them? Implies the likely lack of laws, standards of good practices, specific ethical roles. Moor’s term for this: policy vacuum.

Moor’s problem-solving method:

1. Identify a policy vacuum generated by computing technology.

2. Eliminate any conceptual muddles.

3. Use the core values and the ethical resources of just  consequentialism to revise existing — but inadequate — policies, or else to create new policies that justly eliminate the vacuum and resolve the original ethical issue.

Computers in the workplace.

Computers are a universal tool, it replace humans like threat to jobs. Incentives to replace humans with computers like perform task faster, more accurate, does not make mistakes, no sleep, does not get tired, does not get sick, no vacation. Many jobs have already been replaced like auto workers, for example, a modern car manufacturing plant. Also a bank tellers (ATM), graphic artist - who draws, sits at the drawing board? Not limited to the obvious jobs like professionals can be replaced as well; doctors, teachers, accountants, etc. As we know, computer industry creates many new jobs. HW/SW engineer, sys, admin, web programmer/master computer service sector, computer sales force, etc. But it also has a health & safety concerns. Introduce computers: consider likely impacts on health and job satisfaction, stress of trying to keep up with technology, injuries resulting from repeating same physical movement, radiation from computer monitors, etc.

Computer Crime

Malicious software, from viruses to who-knows-what. Trusted computer users, many crimes originate from trusted users, the insider ans hacker.

Privacy and Anonymity

Privacy is one of the earliest computer ethic topics. Who is collecting data? governments, organizations, even individuals.

1960s US government created large DB about citizens. US congress passed bill to issue personal identification number and start collecting information. Public outcry: “big-brother government”, consequence: Congress scrapped plan US president appoints committees to recommend privacy legislation.

1970s - present major computer privacy laws passed in USA process of collecting ease and efficiency of collecting is it getting out of control? dealing with sensitive information e.g. medical record, what is sensitive and what is public? data-mining, data matching, etc.

Intellectual Property

One can own the following aspects of a program

1. The “source code” which is written by the programmer(s) in 

a high-level computer language like Java or C++.

2. The “object code”, which is a machine-language translation 

of the source code.

3. The “algorithm”, which is the sequence of machine 

commands that the source code and object code represent.

4. The “look and feel” of a program, which is the way the 

program appears on the screen and interfaces with users.

Professional responsibility

Computer professionals specialized knowledge position with authority and respect in community. With power comes responsibility they are able to have a significant impact upon the world, including many of the things that people value. Along with such power to change the world comes the duty to exercise that power responsibly [Gotterbarn, 2001]. ACM and IEEE have established codes of ethics, curriculum guidelines, accreditation requirements to help computer professionals understand and manage ethical responsibilities.

Globalitazion

For the first time in history, efforts to develop mutually agreed standards of conduct, and efforts to advance and defend human values, are being made in a truly global context, ethics and values are debated and transformed with no limit to geographic regions, or constrained by specific religion or culture, may be one of the most important social developments in history.

- Global Laws

Assume computer user in US wants to protect his freedom of speech on the internet -- Whose laws apply? over 200 countries connected to the Internet the First Amendment protection for freedom of speech is just a “local law” on the Internet. How about controversial topics like pornography, intellectual property, invasion of privacy. Can I be tried in some country where certain dealings are illegal?

- Global Cyberbusiness

It is up and running, e.g. eBay, Amazon, etc What will be the political and economic fallout from rapid global cyberbusiness? Will accepted business practices in one part of the world be perceived as “cheating” or “fraud” in other parts of the world? Will this contribute to “the winner takes all” and widen the gap between rich and poor?

- Global Education

World-wide student growth is by far surpassing availability o universities. Largest impact in parts of the world with high population growth. Impact of global education on political dictatorships, isolated communities, coherent cultures, religious practices.

Conclusions

I encourage you take a look at the article Computer and Information Ethics and wealth of resources.