Examples Of Ethical Issues In Computer Ethics

Contents

Introduction 1

Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics 2

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ETHICS AND LAW 2

Ethical Issues 2

Intellectual Property 2

Abuse of Trust 3

Privacy 3

Accuracy 4

Solutions 4

References 4

Introduction

In the advancement of the IT age, computers aren’t the issue for security breach. Instead, it is the ethical and social issue that is arising. Generally, ethics is a set of moral principles that regulate the behaviour of a group or individual regarding to specific matters. Therefore, computer ethics is set of moral principles that regulate the use of computers. Common issues in computer ethics consist of intellectual intellectual propery, privacy, abuse of trust, accuracy and many more. As for today’s world, technology rapidly

The major ethical issues that emerge from these various sources include; codes of ethics, intellectual property, data security and accuracy, personal privacy.

According to Sara Baase in the book of ‘A Gift of Fire’, ethics means the study of to “do the right thing.” It is a complex subject that has occupied philosophers for thousands of years.

• Computer ethics are usually focused in these four area :

1. Privacy – responsibility to protect data about individuals

2. Accuracy – responsibility of data collectors to authenticate information and ensure its accuracy

3. Property – who owns information and software and how can they be sold and exchanged

4. Access responsibility of data collectors to control access and determine what information a person has the right to obtain about others and how the information can be used

Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics

1. Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other

Freeware – Cost nothing

2. Shareware – Free but software authors usually would ask for donations in order to make the software grow

3. Purchased – Program or software that cost users order to use them

When someone installs and uses a commercial software(as above) without paying for it, it is considered as “piracy”. Well, what is “piracy”? Piracy is an act of illegal copying, distribution, or use of software. It is such a profitable illegal "business" that it has caught the attention of organized crime groups in a number of countries.

From whatis.com, these are the types of software piracy :

• Softlifting: Borrowing and installing a copy of a software application from a colleague.

• Client-server overuse: Abusing the amount of possible licensed a product

• Hard-disk loading: Installing and selling unauthorized copies of software on refurbished or new computers.

• Counterfeiting: selling pirated softwares

• Online piracy: download illegal software that has been cracked by using peer-to-peer network, or some other download clients.

All the issues stated above are common to what is happening in today’s computer world. People who stands by his/her own benefit would most likely to violate all the ethics that are being