Ethics Kathleen

Amora February 7,

2012

What Are Ethics?Difference between right and wrong

Based on approved morals of social and professional behavior

Ability to live with the decision

Computer Ethics Use of basic ethical principles to help make the right decisions in daily computer use

Ethical principles promote trust, fairness, good behavior, and kindness

Helps you to consider your options

An Act Is Ethical If…Whole world will

benefit

Does not treat individuals as an ends to a means

Unbiased observers will judge that it is fair to everyone involved

Ten Commandments 1. Thou shalt always use a computer in ways that ensure

consideration and respect for your fellow humans 2. Thou shalt not appropriate other people’s intellectual output3. Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program

you are writing or the system you are designing4. Thou shalt not interfere with other people’s computer work5. Thou shalt not snoop around in other people’s computer files6. Thou shalt not use a computer to steal7. Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness8. Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary software for which you

have not paid9. Thou shalt not use other people’s computer resources without

authorization or proper compensation 10. Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people

Computer Ethics for Organizations

Company computer use for non-business related tasks is usually not permitted

Protect data from loss or changeMaking copies of data

Continuous backups help to prevent loss

Keep information privateMust ask customer’s permission before you share data

Computer Experts Public safety is a top priority

In charge of various programs

Responsible for autopilot

Bugs are inevitableProgrammers cannot predict all the ways

programs interact with their environment

Unethical and Illegal Use of someone else’s ideas or written

work is plagiarism

Unethical to pass someone else’s work as your own

Illegal to copy without permission

Questions?