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Social and Professional Issues in IT

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ContentsWhat is Computer Ethics?Professional issuesIT IssuesWhy Study Professional Ethics?Ethics in an Information SocietyEthical analysis

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Ethical Issues: Who is morally responsible for consequence of use ?

Social Issues: What should society expect to allow ?

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What is Computer Ethics?Analysis of the nature & social impact of

computer technology and the corresponding formulation & justification of policies for the ethical use of such technologies

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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ETHICAL, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL ISSUES IN AN INFORMATION SOCIETY

The introduction of new information technology has a ripple effect, raising new ethical, social, and political issues that must be dealt with on the individual, social, and political levels. These issues have five moral dimensions: information rights and obligations, property rights and obligations, system quality, quality of life, and accountability and control.

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Model for thinking about ethical, social, political issues

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Society as a calm pondIT as rock dropped in pond, creating ripples of

new situations not covered by old rulesSocial and political institutions cannot respond

overnight to these ripples—it may take years to develop etiquette, expectations, lawsRequires understanding of ethics to make

choices in legally gray areas

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Professional issues:

Relevant to emergent technologies (e.g. autonomous systems) there is a particular duty of engineers to: identify and evaluate and, where possible, quantify

risks. be aware of the issues that engineering and technology

raise for society, and listen to the aspirations and concerns of others.

actively promote public awareness and understanding of the impact and benefits of engineering achievements.

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Location tracking

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IT IssuesEmail

Easy way to keep in touchSpam has become a real problem

WebFree access to huge amounts of informationHarmful consequences of some sites

CDs, MP3s, MP4sFree or cheap copies readily availableMay be unfair to musicians

Credit cardsConvenience over cash and checksIncreases possibility of identity theftWho owns information about transactions?

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TelecommutingSaves time, allows more flexible work hoursCan lead to longer work hoursMay result in fewer chances for promotion

Improved global communication networkAllow companies to sell to entire worldAllow companies to move jobs out of their home

countries.World Wide Web

A conduit for democratic ideas?Another tool for totalitarian governments

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THE SPAMMING PROBLEM

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Why Study Professional Ethics?What is the point in studying engineering ethics?

What can be gained from taking an ethics course? A professional ethics course is not about preaching virtue so that the immoral and amoral students will adopt a certain established set of beliefs.

Rather, it means to increase the ability of concerned engineers, managers and citizens, to first recognize and then responsibly confront moral issues raised by technological activity.

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Ethics in an Information SocietyResponsibility:

Accepting the potential costs, duties, and obligations for decisions

Accountability: Mechanisms for identifying responsible parties

Liability: Permits individuals (and firms) to recover damages

done to them Due process:

Laws are well known and understood, with an ability to appeal to higher authorities

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Ethical analysis1. Identify and clearly describe the facts2. Define the conflict or dilemma and

identify the higher-order values involved3. Identify the stakeholders4. Identify the options that you can

reasonably take5. Identify the potential consequences of your

options

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Referenceshttps://

www.raeng.org.uk/societygov/engineeringethics/pdf/Autonomous_Systems_Report_09.pdf

http://www.ieee.org/portal/pages/iportals/aboutus/ethics/code.html

http://www.cssl.lk/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=66

http://www.documents.gov.lk/Acts/2007/Computer%20Crime%20-%20Act%2024/Act%20No.%2024E.pdf

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THANK YOU!