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Ethical Issues in Computer Science

CSCI 328, Fall 2013Session 35

Professional Ethics in Computing

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Types of Professional Relationship

•As professionals, must manage different types of relationships:

•Employer-Employee

•Client-Professional

•Other Stakeholders-Professional

•Professional-Professional

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Employer-Employee• When you accept a job, you enter into a relationship with

the employer.

• Many conditions are explicit: (Examples?)

• Some conditions assumed: (Examples?)

• Moral foundation: Kant's Categorical imperative.• Each party exercises autonomy.• Each individual should be treated with respect.

• Loyalty: What does employee owe employer out of loyalty?• Companies require some loyalty to function.• Employees do not owe blind loyalty.• Trade Secrecy.

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Client-Professional

• Client-professional relationships are often governed by a written contract.

• Disparity of knowledge: Client must trust professional.

• Models of relationship:• Agency model.• Paternalistic model.• Fiduciary model.

• Example from medicine.

• Which is best for computer professionals?

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Other Stakeholders-Professional

• Professional activities may affect others who are not clients of employers. (Example?)

• Sometimes stakeholders' interests protected by law.

• Professionals are in the best position to see the effects of their work because of their "special knowledge".

• Connection to other stakeholders may seem distant.

• Paradigm of professions:• Society grants right to practice profession in exchange

for promise to practice in ways to benefit society.

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Professional--ProfessionalDo members of a profession have an obligation to other members of

the profession?Loyalty--Should you report a colleague who is an alcoholic?Obligation to other members of the profession.

Conflicting Responsibilities:It's not always easy to fulfill responsibilities to all groups.

(Example--Safety of products)

Whistle blowing--Opt against loyalty to employer.

Questions:Should you work on projects likely to have bad effects?What do you do when you know system cannot be built safely?What do you do when client settles for too little safety/security?