Ethics and the Information Ethics and the Information RevolutionRevolution

Terrell Ward BynumTerrell Ward BynumPage 13Page 13

IntroductionIntroduction

Computer is a universal tool because it is logically Computer is a universal tool because it is logically malleablemalleable– Can be shaped and molded to perform nearly any taskCan be shaped and molded to perform nearly any task

Term: Information and Communication Term: Information and Communication Technology (ICT)Technology (ICT)

ICT now affects (in both good and bad ways) ICT now affects (in both good and bad ways) community life, family life, human relationships, community life, family life, human relationships, education, freedom, democracy, and so oneducation, freedom, democracy, and so on

Let’s talk about this – make a list of good and bad Let’s talk about this – make a list of good and bad for each of the above categoriesfor each of the above categories

Computer Ethics – Historical Computer Ethics – Historical MilestonesMilestones

Field of study founded by Norbert Wiener, MIT Field of study founded by Norbert Wiener, MIT professor in early 1940’s during WWII while professor in early 1940’s during WWII while helping to develop an antiaircraft cannon capable helping to develop an antiaircraft cannon capable of shooting down warplanesof shooting down warplanes

Read excerpt from his book on page 15 – don’t Read excerpt from his book on page 15 – don’t say what year it was written until next slide….say what year it was written until next slide….

In 1950 Wiener published, The Human Use of In 1950 Wiener published, The Human Use of Human Beings, established himself as founder of Human Beings, established himself as founder of Computer EthicsComputer Ethics

Ahead of his time, his foundation for the field was Ahead of his time, his foundation for the field was virtually ignored for decades.virtually ignored for decades.

More WienerMore Wiener

Felt integration of computer technology into society would Felt integration of computer technology into society would constitute remaking of society, a second industrial constitute remaking of society, a second industrial revolutionrevolution

Would take decades of effort and would radically change Would take decades of effort and would radically change everythingeverything

Workers must adjust to radical changes in the workplace – Workers must adjust to radical changes in the workplace – read story p. 118 old bookread story p. 118 old book

Governments must establish new laws and regulationsGovernments must establish new laws and regulations Industry and businesses must create new policies and Industry and businesses must create new policies and

practicespractices Professional organizations must develop new codes of Professional organizations must develop new codes of

conduct for their membersconduct for their members

The 60’sThe 60’s

Donn Parker, SRI International, began to examine Donn Parker, SRI International, began to examine unethical and illegal uses of computers by computer unethical and illegal uses of computers by computer professionalsprofessionals

Parker wrote: “It seemed that when people entered the Parker wrote: “It seemed that when people entered the computer center they left their ethics at the door.”computer center they left their ethics at the door.”

Published Rules of Ethics in Information Processing in Published Rules of Ethics in Information Processing in CACM in 1968CACM in 1968

Published a great deal and gave lectures re-launched the Published a great deal and gave lectures re-launched the field, a second founder of computer ethicsfield, a second founder of computer ethics

The 1970’sThe 1970’s

Joseph Weizenbaum, MIT CS professor developed Joseph Weizenbaum, MIT CS professor developed ELIZAELIZA– A crude imitation of a psychotherapistA crude imitation of a psychotherapist– Joseph was shocked at others reactionsJoseph was shocked at others reactions– Growing tendency among scientists and general public Growing tendency among scientists and general public

to see humans as mere machinesto see humans as mere machines» Why did this bother him? What are the ethical issues which Why did this bother him? What are the ethical issues which

arise if a human is viewed more as a machine?arise if a human is viewed more as a machine?

– He authored Computer Power and Human Reason, a He authored Computer Power and Human Reason, a classic in Computer Ethics and is considered a key classic in Computer Ethics and is considered a key person in the formative history of the areaperson in the formative history of the area

– Show a crude imitation…..FrankShow a crude imitation…..Frank

70’s Continued70’s Continued

Walter Maner (mid 70’s) at Old Dominion and Walter Maner (mid 70’s) at Old Dominion and now Bowling Green State Univ began to user term now Bowling Green State Univ began to user term “Computer Ethics” to refer to that field of applied “Computer Ethics” to refer to that field of applied professional ethics dealing with ethical problems professional ethics dealing with ethical problems aggravated, transformed, or created by computer aggravated, transformed, or created by computer technology.technology.

Really focused on the teaching of the field, even Really focused on the teaching of the field, even prepared a starter kit prepared a starter kit

1980’s1980’s

Growth in number of social and ethical consequences of Growth in number of social and ethical consequences of information technologyinformation technology

Becoming public issues in U.S.Becoming public issues in U.S. Deborah Johnson published her first text book in the field – Deborah Johnson published her first text book in the field –

the defining textbook for more than a decadethe defining textbook for more than a decade Terrell Bynum began work in the field planning with Maner Terrell Bynum began work in the field planning with Maner

conferences that led to publications, videos, teaching conferences that led to publications, videos, teaching materials in the fieldmaterials in the field

More and more universities began to incorporate computer More and more universities began to incorporate computer ethics into their curricula as portions of courses or complete ethics into their curricula as portions of courses or complete coursescourses

Developed Research Center on Computing & Society AT Developed Research Center on Computing & Society AT Southern Connecticut State UnivSouthern Connecticut State Univ

1990’s1990’s

Development of the Centre for Computing and Development of the Centre for Computing and Social ResponsibilitySocial Responsibility

More development of conferencesMore development of conferences Feeling that there was a need for a “second Feeling that there was a need for a “second

generation” of Computer Ethics developmentsgeneration” of Computer Ethics developments

Defining and Redefining the Field of Defining and Redefining the Field of Computer EthicsComputer Ethics

Walter Maner – defined the discipline as one that Walter Maner – defined the discipline as one that examines “ethical problems aggravated, examines “ethical problems aggravated, transformed, or created by computer technology.”transformed, or created by computer technology.”

Some old ethical problems are made worse by Some old ethical problems are made worse by computers while others are wholly new because of computers while others are wholly new because of information technologyinformation technology

Defining – Deborah JohnsonDefining – Deborah Johnson

Defines the field as: “one that studies the way in Defines the field as: “one that studies the way in which computers pose new versions of standard which computers pose new versions of standard moral problems and moral dilemmas, exacerbating moral problems and moral dilemmas, exacerbating the old problems and forcing us to apply ordinary the old problems and forcing us to apply ordinary moral norms in uncharted realmsmoral norms in uncharted realms

She didn’t believe that computers created wholly She didn’t believe that computers created wholly new moral problemsnew moral problems

She felt computes gave a new twist to ethical She felt computes gave a new twist to ethical issues already knownissues already known

Defining – James MoorDefining – James Moor

Defines computer ethics as a field concerned with Defines computer ethics as a field concerned with policy vacuums and conceptual muddlespolicy vacuums and conceptual muddles

A Key task of the field is to determine what we A Key task of the field is to determine what we should do in such cases, formulate policies to should do in such cases, formulate policies to guide our actionsguide our actions

He also describes the technology as revolutionary He also describes the technology as revolutionary because it is logically malleablebecause it is logically malleable

Describes the computer revolution occurring in Describes the computer revolution occurring in two phases – see pg. 19two phases – see pg. 19

Defining Terrell Ward BynumDefining Terrell Ward Bynum

Elaborates on Moor so that Computer Ethics Elaborates on Moor so that Computer Ethics identifies and analyzes the impacts of information identifies and analyzes the impacts of information technology on social and human values like technology on social and human values like health, wealth, work, opportunity, freedom, health, wealth, work, opportunity, freedom, democracy, knowledge, privacy, security, and democracy, knowledge, privacy, security, and self-fulfillment, etc.self-fulfillment, etc.

A broad view embracing technology assessment, A broad view embracing technology assessment, computer law, sociology of computing, etc.computer law, sociology of computing, etc.

Motivated by belief that IT will profoundly affect Motivated by belief that IT will profoundly affect everything that human beings hold dear – discuss!everything that human beings hold dear – discuss!

Donald GotterbarnDonald Gotterbarn

A different view – Computer Ethics should be A different view – Computer Ethics should be viewed as a branch of professional ethics which is viewed as a branch of professional ethics which is concerned primarily with standards of practice and concerned primarily with standards of practice and codes of conduct of computing professionalscodes of conduct of computing professionals

Is a co-author of latest version of the ACM Code Is a co-author of latest version of the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and is working of Ethics and Professional Conduct and is working to establish licensing standards for SW Engineersto establish licensing standards for SW Engineers

Who was listed earlier in this chapter as working Who was listed earlier in this chapter as working on the first ACM guides of professional conducton the first ACM guides of professional conduct

What state licenses software engineers?What state licenses software engineers?

Sample Topics in Computer EthicsSample Topics in Computer Ethics

Computers in the workplaceComputers in the workplace– Lost jobs, lost skills – human working robots, loss of human Lost jobs, lost skills – human working robots, loss of human

knowledgeknowledge

– Physical ailments – health issues because of work with computing Physical ailments – health issues because of work with computing devicesdevices

Computer SecurityComputer Security– Viruses, privacy concerns, data integrityViruses, privacy concerns, data integrity

– More to the point of logical security than physical securityMore to the point of logical security than physical security

– Consistency in service, controlling access to resources, unimpaired Consistency in service, controlling access to resources, unimpaired serviceservice

– Computer crimes, hackers, etc.Computer crimes, hackers, etc.

Software OwernershipSoftware Owernership

Copyrights, trade secrets, patents,Copyrights, trade secrets, patents, Intellectual propertyIntellectual property Owernship of source code, object code, algorithm, Owernship of source code, object code, algorithm,

look and feellook and feel

Professional ResponsibilityProfessional Responsibility

What types of professional relationships are there?What types of professional relationships are there?– Employer-employeeEmployer-employee

– Client – professionalClient – professional

– Professional – professionalProfessional – professional

– Society – professionalSociety – professional

– Any others?Any others?

Conflicts of interest – try to avoidConflicts of interest – try to avoid Professional organizations have published codes Professional organizations have published codes

of conduct p 626 and p 633 in our textof conduct p 626 and p 633 in our text

Global Information EthicsGlobal Information Ethics

Because of networks the discussion and debate on Because of networks the discussion and debate on computer ethics issues will be globalcomputer ethics issues will be global

Global laws, cyberbusiness, education will all be Global laws, cyberbusiness, education will all be discussed and debateddiscussed and debated

Global education - online learning goes Global education - online learning goes worldwide, the great universities will offer coursesworldwide, the great universities will offer courses– AASU already doesAASU already does

Information Rich and Information Poor countriesInformation Rich and Information Poor countries– How will cybertechnology impact these issues?How will cybertechnology impact these issues?

The Future of Computer EthicsThe Future of Computer Ethics

Pg. 25Pg. 25

Read selected portions and discuss in class if time Read selected portions and discuss in class if time permitspermits

The end…The end…