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Legal and Ethical Issues in

Computing

Lecture one

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Why a class on Ethics?

2

Technology can be a blessing and a curse

Fire is a prime example of a technology
that kicked off civilization, yet no doubt
with a down side.
Many people have died from fire, but
countless many people lived long
productive lives because society had
fire.
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What other technologies can

we compare computers to?

Trains
Planes
Automobiles

Explosives

Insecticides

Drugs.

Guns

All have their Pros & Cons Can you list some?
Lets make a list..
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Benefits of Computer
Technology

Medical

Commerce

Automation

Complex Systems
that require
computers

Communication

List some more.

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What about the down side

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Loss of Privacy

Theft of Intellectual Property

Computer Errors

List more of the negatives

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What is ethics?
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Derived from the Greek word ethos, which

means custom, habit, and way of living
Ethics is concerned with human conduct, i.e.,
behavior of individuals in society
Ethics is a system of morals of a particular person,
religion or a group
Moral: means dealing with, or capable of,
distinguishing between right and wrong, and
between just and unjust
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What is ethics?
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According to the Webster Dictionary, ethics is the

system or code of morals of a particular person,
religion, group, or profession.
Ethics are subject to personal interpretation. Two
people may not view the same ethical issue the
same way.
eg, Allen may think that Nelly's behaviour is
unethical, but Dorah may not think that Nelly is
acting unethical at all.
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What is ethics? Cont-8

Professional Ethics: concerns one's conduct of behavior and

practice when carrying out professional work, e.g., consulting,
researching, teaching and writing.
Professional Ethics must take into account:
Relations between professionals and clients
Relation between profession and society
Relations among professionals
Relations between employee and employer
Specialized technical details of the profession

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A computing professional must understand

Cultural, social, legal, and ethical issues in computing
Responsibility and possible consequences of failure

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IEEE - Code of Ethics (1)

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In recognition of importance of our

technology in affecting the quality of life
we commit ourselves to conduct of the
highest ethical and professional manner
and agree to:

accept responsibility in making decisions

consistent with safety, health, and welfare
of the public.

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IEEE - Code of Ethics (2)

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avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest

be honest and realistic in stating claims or
estimates
reject bribery in all forms
improve understanding of technology, its
application, and potential consequences
maintain and improve our technical
competence and undertake technological
tasks for others only if qualified
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IEEE - Code of Ethics (3)

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seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work

acknowledge and correct errors
credit properly the contributions of others
treat all persons fairly regardless of race, religion, gender,
disability, age, or national origin
avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or
employment by false or malicious action
assist colleagues and co-workers in their professional
development and to support them in following this code of
ethics
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Computer Ethics (1)

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Computer Ethics

Special Responsibilities Facing Computer

Professionals and Users
Maintaining

relationships with and responsibilities

toward customers, clients, coworkers, employees,
and employers.
Making critical decisions that have significant
consequences for many people.
Determining how to manage, select, or use
computers in a professional setting. Computer
ethics defined as the application of classical ethical
principles to the use of computer technology
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Computer Ethics (2)

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Do the Right Thing

Behaving Ethically Includes:

Being

honest.
Keeping promises.
Doing your job well.
Not stealing.

Scope: communications networks which

brings the world together
Anonymity: beneficial but creates problems
of integrity.
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Computer Ethics (3)

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Aspects of computer ethics:

Analysis of the nature of problems related

to the social impact of computers
Formulation and justification of policies
needed to manage computer technology

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Ethical vs. Legal Issues

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Ethical issues are not legal issues.

Legal issues have documented definitions
(laws) with specific consequences if the
laws are broken.
Ethical issues are guidelines set by a
specific group of people with no real
documented definitions of what is right and
what is wrong.
Individuals can choose if they wish to
follow the ethical guidelines or not.
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Law vs. Ethics

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Ethics

LAW
1.

2.
3.

4.
5.

6.
7.

Described by formal written

documents

1.

Interpreted by courts

2.

Established by legislatures
representing all people

3.

Applicable to everyone

4.

Priority determined by laws

if two laws conflict
Court is final arbiter for right
Enforceable by police and
courts

5.

6.
7.

Described by unwritten
principles
Interpreted by each individual
Presented by philosophers,
religions, professional groups
Personal choice
Priority determined by an
individual if two principles
conflict
No external arbiter
Limited enforcement usually
the court of public opinion
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Examples of Legal Issues in

computing

Criminal statures
Federal and state regulations
Commonly accepted professional
practices
Variations among countries and regions
Un authorised access
Sabotage and destruction of data
Theft of commercial software
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19

The Three Ethical Decision

Theories.

These theories explain how people make

ethical decisions, and are guidelines to
how individuals look at an ethical issue
and make a decision.

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Utilitarianism Theory

Considers the ethical issue and its

relationship to individuals
Makes a decision based on what
benefits the most people
"The greater good of the most people".

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Pluralism Theory
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Believes there are two options in an ethical

issue, right and wrong decisions
Pluralism stresses each person has a
decision-making duty, must make ethical
decisions based on that duty, and never
break away from the decision-making duty.
All decisions are clear-cut, black and white
E.g. No one should ever lie.

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Rights-based Theory

All people have rights, and those rights

must be respected
Decisions are based on respecting
individual rights
E.g. you should never read a persons
email because it violates a persons
rights to privacy, and resist the
temptation.

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(Possible exam questions)

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What are ethics? In your discussion of

ethics, respond to the following
questions:

Why are ethical questions so difficult to

answer?
What are some examples of ethical issues
concerning the use of computers?
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Instructions for Assignment

one

In groups of Five attempt the following

questions and hand in on Tuesday 9th Feb
2015 before 12:00pm. Late submission
will not be accepted. Avoid copy and
paste any work that raises suspicions of
copying will lead to loss of marks.
Include the references at the end of your
work.

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GUIDELINES ON ANSWERING THESE

QUESTIONS
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Type-set your work using font 12 of new times

roman, double spaced, and justify your work
References of not less than 6 books, if it is online of
www..Indicate date when it was accessed.
Define key terms in the question
Sign against your names
Indicate the name of your lecturer
Include, name, code, of your course unit and yr
program. Please deliver good well researched work

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Assignment one
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1. Explain the three fundamental tenets of

ethics. i.e Responsibility, Accountability, and
Liability.
2. What are the major objectives of codes of
ethics?.
3. Giving examples explain the various types of
computer abuses that employees commit in
their work places.
4. Discuss with examples the various threats to
an information security
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THANK YOU.

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