Codes of Ethics
Because of ethical issues
such as these, various computer groups have sought to develop codes of ethics
for their members. Most computer organizations, such as the Association for
Computing Machinery (ACM), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (IEEE), and the Data Processing Management Association (DPMA), are
voluntary organizations. Being a member of one of these organizations does not
certify a level of competence, responsibility, or experience in computing. For
these reasons, codes of ethics in these organizations are primarily advisory.
Nevertheless, these codes are fine starting points for analyzing ethical
issues.
IEEE
The IEEE has produced a code
of ethics for its members. The IEEE is an organization of engineers, not
limited to computing. Thus, their code of ethics is a little broader than might
be expected for computer security, but the basic principles are applicable in
computing situations. The IEEE Code of Ethics is shown in Figure 11-1.
Figure 11-1. IEEE Code of Ethics. (Reprinted courtesy of the
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers © 1996.)
We, the
members of the IEEE, in recognition of the importance of our technologies in
affecting the quality of life throughout the world, and in accepting a personal
obligation to our profession, its members, and the communities we serve, do
hereby commit ourselves to conduct of the highest ethical and professional
manner and agree
to accept responsibility in making engineering decisions consistent
with the safety, health, and welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly
factors that might endanger the public or the environment;
to avoid real or perceived
conflicts of interest whenever possible, and to disclose them to affected
parties when they do exist;
to be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on
available data;
to reject bribery in all of its forms;
to improve understanding of technology, its appropriate
application, and potential consequences;
to maintain and improve our technical competence and to undertake
technological tasks for others only if qualified by training or experience, or
after full disclosure of pertinent limitations;
to seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work, to
acknowledge and correct errors, and to credit properly the contributions of
others;
to treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as race,
religion, gender, disability, age, or national origin;
to avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment
by false or malicious action;
to assist colleagues and coworkers in their professional
development and to support them in following this code of ethics.
ACM
The ACM code of ethics
recognizes three kinds of responsibilities of its members: general moral
imperatives, professional responsibilities, and leadership responsibilities,
both inside the association and in general. The code of ethics has three
sections (plus a fourth commitment section), as shown in Figure 11-2.
Figure 11-2. ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
(Reprinted courtesy of the Association for Computing Machinery © 1993.)
As an
ACM member I will ...
Contribute to society and human well-being
Avoid harm to others
Be honest and trustworthy
Be fair and take action not to discriminate
Honor property rights including copyrights and patents
Give proper credit for intellectual property
Respect the privacy of others
Honor confidentiality
As an
ACM computing professional I will ...
Strive to achieve the highest quality, effectiveness, and dignity
in both the process and products of professional work
Acquire and maintain professional competence
Know and respect existing
laws pertaining to professional work
Accept and provide appropriate professional review
Give comprehensive and thorough evaluations of computer systems and
their impacts, including analysis of possible risks
Honor contracts, agreements, and assigned responsibilities
Improve public understanding of computing and its consequences
Access computing and communication resources only when authorized
to do so As an ACM member and an organization leader, I will ...
Articulate social responsibilities of members of an organizational
unit and encourage full acceptance of those responsibilities
Manage personnel and resources
Acknowledge and support proper and authorized uses of an
organization's computing and communication resources
Ensure that users and those who will be affected by a system have
their needs clearly articulated during the assessment and design of
requirements; later the system must be validated to meet requirements
Articulate and support policies that protect the dignity of users
and others affected by a computing system
Create opportunities for members of the organization to learn the
principles and limitations of computer systems
As an
ACM member, I will ...
Uphold and promote the principles of this code
Treat violations of this code as inconsistent with membership in
the ACM
Computer Ethics Institute
The Computer Ethics Institute
is a nonprofit group that aims to encourage people to consider the ethical
aspects of their computing activities. The organization has been in existence
since the mid-1980s, founded as a joint activity of IBM, the Brookings
Institution, and the Washington Theological Consortium. The group has published
its ethical guidance as ten commandments of computer ethics, listed in Figure 11-3.
Figure 11-3. The Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics. (Reprinted
with permission, Computer Ethics Institute, Washington, D.C.)
Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people.
Thou shalt not interfere with other people's computer work.
Thou shalt not snoop around in other people's computer files.
Thou shalt not use a computer to steal.
Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness.
Thou shalt not copy or use
proprietary software for which you have not paid.
Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources without
authorization or proper compensation.
Thou shalt not appropriate other people's intellectual output.
Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you
are writing or the system you are designing.
Thou shalt always use a computer in ways that insure consideration
and respect for your fellow humans.
Many organizations take
ethics seriously and produce a document guiding the behavior of its members or
employees. Some corporations require new employees to read its code of ethics
and sign a promise to abide by it. Others, especially at universities and
research centers, have special boards that must approve proposed research and
ensure that projects and team members act ethically. As an individual
professional, it may be useful for you to review these codes of ethics and
compose a code of your own, reflecting your ideas about appropriate behavior in
likely situations. A code of ethics can help you assess situations quickly and
act in a consistent, comfortable, and ethical manner.
Conclusion of Computer Ethics
In this study of ethics, we
have tried not to decide right and wrong, or even to brand certain acts as
ethical or unethical. The purpose of this section is to stimulate thinking
about ethical issues concerned with confidentiality, integrity, and
availability of data and computations.
The cases presented show
complex, conflicting ethical situations. The important first step in acting
ethically in a situation is to obtain the facts, ask about any uncertainties,
and acquire any additional information needed. In other words, first we must
understand the situation.
The second step is to
identify the ethical principles involved. Honesty, fair play, proper
compensation, and respect for privacy are all ethical principles. Sometimes
these conflict, and then we must determine which principles are more important
than others. This analysis may not lead to one principle that obviously
overshadows all others. Still, a ranking to identify the major principles
involved is needed.
The third step is choosing an
action that meets these ethical principles. Making a decision and taking action
are difficult, especially if the action has evident negative consequences.
However, taking action based on a personal ranking of principles is necessary.
The fact that other equally sensible people may choose a different action does
not excuse us from taking some action.
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