rules we use to determine the right and wrong things to do in our lives
are the rules we use to determine the right and wrong things to do in our lives. Normative ethics[close]
normative ethics
determining a standard or "norm" of ethical rule that underlies ethical behavior
involves determining a standard or “norm” of ethical rule that affects ethical behavior. Applied ethics[close]
applied ethics
the application of normative ethical beliefs to controversial real-life issues
involves determining how normative ethics should be applied to controversial reallife situations. A branch of applied ethics, computer ethics,
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computer ethics
the adapting of traditional ethical thought and behavior to issues involving computers and computer technology; computer ethics is a newly formed branch of applied ethics
deals with the new ethical situations raised by computer technology.
What types of personal privacy protection issues do technology users need to be aware of?
Computer users face a number of major threats. One such threat is the availability of a great deal of personal information online, information that is subject to stealing or misuse. Commercial threats to privacy come from businesses gathering personal information using such tracking technologies as cookies or Global Unique Identifiers (GUIDs).
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Global Unique Identifier (GUID)
an Internet tracking device using unique identification numbers that can be coded into both hardware and software
legislation aimed at protecting children under the age of 13 from privacy violations
has been passed by the U.S. Congress, there is no similar national legislation protecting the privacy rights of adults. Consumers can protect their privacy by ensuring that their financial transactions are done on secure sites protected by encryption technology, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)[close]
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
an encryption protocol used for secure servers commonly found on sites that involve financial transactions, such as the use of credit card information
a newer encryption protocol used for secure servers that may replace SSL
Some other safety measures include avoiding Internet sites without privacy statements, disabling the cookie function, and limiting the amount of personal information voluntarily provided. Governmental agencies such as the FBI and the NSA use software to monitor citizens’ online and telephone activities, which some critics fear might be misused to monitor innocent citizens. The USA PATRIOT Act[close]
USA PATRIOT Act
antiterrorism legislation enacted in 2001 that allows law enforcement agencies to eavesdrop on private telephone messages and to intercept and read e-mail messages sent by individuals and groups
is controversial legislation that was enacted after September 11, 2001, to fight the war on terrorism. The FBI has also warned that the uncontrolled availability of encryption techniques lessens its ability to monitor criminal activity. The workplace also has the potential for violations against personal privacy. Employers currently have broad rights to snoop on their employees by listening to workplace phone conversations and tracking computer and Internet use. Some organizations have drafted policies to protect employees, such as the American Civil Liberties Union’s Fair Electronic Monitoring Policy. But until legal protection is enacted, employees should be aware that every aspect of their computer use in the workplace may be under surveillance.
What types of property protection ethical issues threaten technology users?
Computer technology makes it much easier to copy and distribute intellectual property[close]
intellectual property
creative endeavors that are claimed as the personal property of the person who created them
the legal protection of an individual's or business's original work, such as applications software, music, and books, that prohibits others from duplicating or illegally using such work or products; an artist or author whose work is copyrighted has the right to charge others for its use
an award made to inventors that allows them ownership of their invention; an inventor whose work is patented has the right to charge others for the use of the invention
The wealth of material on the Internet has also led some to copy written work and present it as their own, making plagiarism[close]
plagiarism
the unlawful use of another's ideas or written work
legislation updating copyright protection to bring it in line with the technical changes brought about by computer technology that generally prohibits people from taking action to break down software encryption programs and other safeguards that copyright holders have established to control access to their works, including DVDs, software, and digitized books and music
was signed in 1998 to cope with the changes to fair use[close]
fair use
the right by law to use copyrighted materials under certain conditions
brought about by computers and the Internet. Software industry organizations such as the Software Publishers Association (SPA) and the Business Software Alliance (BSA) work to prosecute those using illegal software. Computer users can install firewalls and antivirus programs to protect themselves from hackers and viruses.
What types of personal and social ethical issues threaten technology users?
Web sites containing pornography or hate speech have proliferated on the Web. Because this kind of activity has been interpreted as freedom of speech under the U.S. Constitution, efforts to control or shut down these sites have generally met with failure, although the Child Pornography Protection Act of 1996 does prohibit child pornography and is vigorously enforced. Parents, and guardians can install a filtering program[close]
filtering program
software that can prevent access to sites, keep track of sites visited, limit connection time, record keystrokes, prevent downloading, and allow users to view only those sites that have been accessed
legislation requiring public schools and libraries to install Internet filtering software on their computers
requires public schools and libraries to install Internet filtering software. Online gambling sites are another social problem that has increased in recent years.
a term created to describe the gap between those who have access to computers and the Internet and those who do not
is the gap between those who can access digital technologies and those who cannot. In the United States, the digital divide is shrinking, and the once-wide gap between the sexes has virtually disappeared. Bridging the gap in developing nations is much more difficult, given that many communities in those nations lack even the most basic infrastructures, such as adequate electricity or telephone lines.
Software producers have been criticized for concentrating on their rights at the expense of consumers, who complain of expensive programs that do not work as intended. Every year poorly designed software causes billions of dollars in productivity losses. Some software industry professionals have created ethical codes to ensure that they create the best work possible. One of the best known is the Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice. Computers are powerful tools, capable of great good or great harm. To assist in identifying the issues and to offer guidelines for behavior, it is a good idea to examine some of the codes of ethics written by others and to develop a personal ethical code.
Many people are affected by disabilities that prevent their taking advantage of computers and the Internet. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that people with disabilities have full accessibility to any government Web sites. This act may also cover commercial sites.
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