ProfessionalIssuesinInformation

Technology

PartVII:EthicalCodesforComputerProfessionals

!• 1Introduction• 2FunctionsofanEthicalCode• 3EthicsandtheComputingProfessional• 4TheACMandBCSCodesofConduct• 5ForandAgainstEthicalCodes• 6TheCapabilityApproach• 7.Valuesensitivedesign• 8.Summary

1Introduction!• Computingisanewfield;theprofessionhashadneitherthetimenortheorganisationalcapabilitytoestablishabindingsetofmoralrulesonitsmembers.

!• Olderprofessions,suchasmedicineandlaw,havehadcenturiestoestablishtheircodesofmoralconduct.!

• MedicsandlawyerscanonlypracticeiftheybelongtotheGeneralMedicalCouncil(GMC)andLawSocietyrespectively,andadheretotheethicalcodesoftheseorganisations.

2FunctionsofanEthicalCode

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2.1Professionalisation!Occupationalgroupsadoptethicalcodesinordertodemonstratethattheydeservetobecalledaprofession.!Acodeofethicsholdstheprofessionaccountabletothepublic.Thistendstoyieldapayoffintermsofpublictrustandconsequentsocialandeconomicrewards.

2.2Protectionofgroupinterests!Professionsusecodesofconducttorestricttheactivitiesofnon-members,therebyestablishingamonopolyfortheprofession'sservices.!Bydemonstratingthattheyareabletocontroltheirmembership,professionscanconvincethepublicthattheydeservetobeself-regulating

• 2.3Etiquetteandinspiration!

• Codesofethicsoutlinestandardsofcourtesyandprofessionalconductamongmembersofaprofession.!!

• Anethicalcodecanbeusedtoinspiremembersoftheprofessiontoactappropriately,oftenbyinstillingasenseofprideandself-importance.

2.4Education!Codesofethicsexplicitlystatewhatbehaviourisacceptable.Assuch,theyactasanaidtoindividualdecisionmaking.

2.5Enforcement!Anethicalcodecanalsobeusedtodisciplineordeter.Itmayspecifywhenthenormsofaprofessionhavebeenviolated,andindicatethatsanctionssuchassuspensionorexpulsionwillbeimposed.

2.6Principles,idealsandrules!Ethicalcodesaimtolayoutasetofprincipleswhichfunctionasthebasisforspecificobligations.!Also,acodemayexpressideals,whichwillnotalwaysbestrictlyadheredto,i.e.membersshoulddothisratherthanmembersshalldothis.!Anethicalcodemaycontainaspecificsetofruleswhichapplytoconcretesituations.However,attemptstospecifyexhaustivelistsofdo'sanddon'tsareoftenunsuccessful.

• 2.7Rights!

• Aswellasstatingtheobligationsanddutiesoftheprofessional,thecodemayindicaterightsofmembersandindicatetheobligationoftheprofessionalbodytoitsmembers.

3EthicsandtheComputingProfessional

• Insomecases,computershavesimplycreatednewversionsofageoldmoralissues,suchas

!• Rightandwrong

!• Loyalty

!• Responsibility

!• Confidentiality

!• Fairness

• However,theexistenceofcomputershasalsocreatedawholenewrangeofsocialproblems.Theseinclude:!

• Softwaretheft!

• Computermisuseandcomputercrime!

• Responsibilityforcomputererrors!

• Manyofthesedilemmas(suchascopyingsoftware)are'greyareas'forwhichtherearefewsocialconventions.!

• Shouldcomputerprofessionalsbeboundbyanethicalcodeofconduct?Ifso,whatshoulditinclude?

• 3.1Existingethicalcodesforcomputingprofessionals!

• Anumberofprofessionalcomputerorganisationshaveattemptedtodeviseanethicalcodefortheirmembers:!

• TheAssociationforComputingMachinery(ACM)!• InstituteofElectricalandElectronicsEngineers(IEEE)!

• DataProcessingManagementAssociation(DPMA)!

• InternationalFederationforInformationProcessing(IFIP)!

• BritishComputerSociety(BCS)!

• AustralianComputerSociety(ACS)

• Likeengineers,computingprofessionalshavefourbasictypesofobligations,andconflictscanoccurwithinandbetweencategories:!

• Obligationstosociety!• Obligationstotheiremployers!

• Obligationstotheirclients!

• Obligationstootherprofessionalsandprofessionalorganisations

3.3Howdoethicalproblemsarise?

!• 3.3.1Computersalterrelationshipsbetweenpeople

!• Datacommunicationstakeplacewithoutphysicalcontact

ofthepeopleinvolved,sothevisualandauralsensescannothelptoconveymeaning.

!

!• Electroniccommunicationoccurssoquicklythatonemay

nothavetimetoconsidertheimplicationsoftheinformationbeforeithasbeensentandreceived.

• 3.3Howdoethicalproblemsarise?(continued)!

3.3.2Computerprofessionalshavepower!• Technologyputspowerinthehandsofcomputerprofessionals

throughaccesstofinancial,medicalandmilitaryinformation.Thispowercanbeabused.!

3.3.3Thenatureofelectronicinformation!

• Computersallowrapidprocessing,communication,copyingandprintingofintellectualproperty.Thisintroducesnewethicalissuesofcopyright,plagiarism,piracy,eavesdroppingandinvasionofprivacy.

3.3Howdoethicalproblemsarise?!

3.3.4Societyisvulnerabletotheactionsofcomputerprofessionals!

• Thegeneralpublicdonotunderstandthedangersofprojectsunderthecontrolofcomputerprofessionals.!

3.3.5Clientsatthemercyofcomputerprofessionals!

• Manyclientshavenounderstandingofhowtheircomputersystemswork.Theprocessofcostingasoftwareprojectsispoorlyunderstood.

4TheACM,BCSandIEEECodesofConduct!

• ThreeprofessionalcomputingbodiesthathavedevelopedethicalcodesfortheirmembersaretheAssociationforComputingMachinery(ACM),theBritishComputerSociety(BCS),andtheIEEEassociation.

BCScodeofconduct:rulescoveringfourmainareas

1.Publicinterest2.Professionalcompetenceandintegrity3.Dutytorelevantauthority4.Dutytotheprofession

1.Publicinterest!

Youshall:a)havedueregardforpublichealth,privacy,securityandwellbeingofothersandtheenvironment.

b)havedueregardforthelegitimaterightsofThirdParties*.

c)conductyourprofessionalactivitieswithoutdiscriminationonthegroundsofsex,sexualorientation,maritalstatus,nationality,colour,race,ethnicorigin,religion,ageordisability,orofanyotherconditionorrequirement

d)promoteequalaccesstothebenefitsofITandseektopromotetheinclusionofallsectorsinsocietywhereveropportunitiesarise.

2.ProfessionalcompetenceandintegrityYoushall:

a)onlyundertaketodoworkorprovideaservicethatiswithinyourprofessionalcompetence.

b)NOTclaimanylevelofcompetencethatyoudonotpossess.

c)developyourprofessionalknowledge,skillsandcompetenceonacontinuingbasis,maintainingawarenessoftechnologicaldevelopments,procedures,andstandardsthatarerelevanttoyourfield.

d)ensurethatyouhavetheknowledgeandunderstandingofLegislation*andthatyoucomplywithsuchLegislation,incarryingoutyourprofessionalresponsibilities.

e)respectandvaluealternativeviewpointsand,seek,acceptandofferhonestcriticismsofwork.

f)avoidinjuringothers,theirproperty,reputation,oremploymentbyfalseormaliciousornegligentactionorinaction.

g)rejectandwillnotmakeanyofferofbriberyorunethicalinducement.

3.DutytorelevantauthorityYoushall

a)carryoutyourprofessionalresponsibilitieswithduecareanddiligenceinaccordancewiththeRelevantAuthority’srequirementswhilstexercisingyourprofessionaljudgementatalltimes.

b)seektoavoidanysituationthatmaygiverisetoaconflictofinterestbetweenyouandyourRelevantAuthority.

c)acceptprofessionalresponsibilityforyourworkandfortheworkofcolleagueswhoaredefinedinagivencontextasworkingunderyoursupervision.

d)NOTdiscloseorauthorisetobedisclosed,oruseforpersonalgainortobenefitathirdparty,confidentialinformationexceptwiththepermissionofyourRelevantAuthority,orasrequiredbyLegislation

e)NOTmisrepresentorwithholdinformationontheperformanceofproducts,systemsorservices(unlesslawfullyboundbyadutyofconfidentialitynottodisclosesuchinformation),ortakeadvantageofthelackofrelevantknowledgeorinexperienceofothers.

4.DutytotheprofessionYoushall:

a)acceptyourpersonaldutytoupholdthereputationoftheprofessionandnottakeanyactionwhichcouldbringtheprofessionintodisrepute.

b)seektoimproveprofessionalstandardsthroughparticipationintheirdevelopment,useandenforcement.

c)upholdthereputationandgoodstandingofBCS,theCharteredInstituteforIT.

d)actwithintegrityandrespectinyourprofessionalrelationshipswithallmembersofBCSandwithmembersofotherprofessionswithwhomyouworkinaprofessionalcapacity.

e)notifyBCSifconvictedofacriminaloffenceoruponbecomingbankruptordisqualifiedasaCompanyDirectorandineachcasegivedetailsoftherelevantjurisdiction.

f)encourageandsupportfellowmembersintheirprofessionaldevelopment

• Definitions:• Legislation-Theterm“Legislation”meansanyapplicablelaws,

statutesandregulations.• ThirdParties-Theterm‘ThirdParties’includesanypersonor

organisationthatmightbeaffectedbyyouractivitiesinyourprofessionalcapacity,irrespectiveofwhethertheyaredirectlyawareorinvolvedinthoseactivities.

• RelevantAuthority-Theterm“RelevantAuthority”inthisdocumentisusedtoidentifytheperson(s)ororganisation(s)whichhas/haveauthorityovertheactivityofindividualsintheirprofessionalcapacity.ForpractisingBCSmembersthisisnormallyanemployerorclient.Forstudentmembers,thisisnormallyanacademicinstitution.

• SeealsoIEEECodeofEthicshttp://www.ieee.org/about/corporate/governance/p7-8.html!

• 1.toacceptresponsibilityinmakingdecisionsconsistentwiththesafety,health,andwelfareofthepublic,andtodisclosepromptlyfactorsthatmightendangerthepublicortheenvironment;

• 2.toavoidrealorperceivedconflictsofinterestwheneverpossible,andtodisclosethemtoaffectedpartieswhentheydoexist;

• 3.tobehonestandrealisticinstatingclaimsorestimatesbasedonavailabledata;

4.torejectbriberyinallitsforms;• 5.toimprovetheunderstandingoftechnology;itsappropriateapplication,and

potentialconsequences;• 6.tomaintainandimproveourtechnicalcompetenceandtoundertake

technologicaltasksforothersonlyifqualifiedbytrainingorexperience,orafterfulldisclosureofpertinentlimitations;

• 7.toseek,accept,andofferhonestcriticismoftechnicalwork,toacknowledgeandcorrecterrors,andtocreditproperlythecontributionsofothers;

• 8.totreatfairlyallpersonsregardlessofsuchfactorsasrace,religion,gender,disability,age,ornationalorigin;

• 9.toavoidinjuringothers,theirproperty,reputation,oremploymentbyfalseormaliciousaction;

• 10.toassistcolleaguesandco-workersintheirprofessionaldevelopmentandtosupporttheminfollowingthiscodeofethics.

• PaulisafreelanceprogrammerandtechnicalauthorwhoseexperienceisprimarilyinthedevelopmentofPCdatabasesystemsforsmallcompanies.Forthepast6monthshehasbeenworking,onacontractbasis,forasmallsoftwarehousewhohaveoftensenthimouttoworkfortheirclients.

• NowthesoftwarehousehasbeenaskedbyoneofitsregularclientstosetuptheirE-commercewebsite.Unfortunatelyallthestaffthatnormallydothiskindofworkareoccupiedwithexistingprojects.Neverthelessthesoftwarehouseagreestodothework,andPaulisaskedtogoonsiteandsetsomethingup.WhenPaulpointsoutthathehasneversetupanE-commercewebsitebeforethemanagertellshimnottoworry,givenhisknowledgeheshouldbefine,andifanyproblemsarisehecangetintouchwithoneofthesoftwarehouse’sE-commerceexperts.

• Pauliskeentodotheworksinceitwillbroadenhisexperience.Whenheaskswhethertheclientknowshehasneverdonethiskindofworkbefore,heisassuredthathedoesn’tneedtoworryaboutthat.Heshouldjustdohisbest,butnotletonthathehasneverdonesimilarwork.

• WhatshouldPauldo?Heissurethattheclienthasbeenmisledabouthislevelofexpertise.Ontheotherhand,thesoftwarehouseisquitesurethatthereisnoproblem.Hedoesn’twanttoupsetthemsincetheygivehimalotofwork,andtheassignmentisagoodopportunitytobroadenhislevelofexpertise.

• Theexampleillustratesthedifficultproblemsthatcanarise:– Professionalhasdutytocomplywithemployer’sinstructions

– Professionalalsohasdutytowardsclient– Andtowardstheirownjudgementaboutactivities.– Sometimesemployerorclientmightasktheprofessionaltoundertakeillegalactivity!

• Volkswagendieselemissionsscandal• InUStheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyfoundmanyVWcarshadbeingsoldinAmericahada"defeatdevice"-orsoftware-indieselenginesthatcoulddetectwhentheywerebeingtested,changingtheperformanceaccordinglytoimproveresults.

• Whennotintestmode,enginesemittednitrogenoxidepollutantsupto40timesabovelegallimitinUS

• whoisaffected?whoistoblame?29

• Whatcouldacomputerprofessionaldoifaskedtotakepartinillegalactivity?

• Whatcouldacomputerprofessionaldoifaskedtotakepartinillegalactivity?!– Maketheirobjectionsknown– Seekcolleagues’advice,orprofessionalbody’sadvice.

– Quitthejob?

• NeitherBCSnorACMcodehassucceededinbecomingacentralpointofreferenceforcomputerprofessionals.!

• Whynot?

4.1Limitationtoaspecificgroupofprofessionals!BoththeACMandBCScodesmakeclearthattheyapplyonlytotheirmembers.!!So,either(i) onlymembersoftheACMorBCSareconsidered

computingprofessionals,or(ii)otherprofessionalscanpracticewithadifferent

ethicalcode.

4.2Lackofattentiontotherightsofprofessionals!

• NeithertheACMorBCScodesplacesanyemphasisontherightsofitsmembers.Forexample,whatifamemberdisagreeswithatermintheethicalcode?

4.3Justificationofthecode!BoththeACMandBCSfailtoindicatewhatthebasicsourceofjustificationis.Forexample,allbutonetermintheBCScodeofconductisoftheform‘Youshalldosomething'.!

Q.Isthisaproblem?

!Manycomputingprofessionalsreportthattheyfindthecodesunhelpful.Onereasonforthisistheambiguityofsomeoftheterms.Forexampleoneitemofthecodeisd)actwithintegrityandrespectinyourprofessionalrelationshipswithallmembersofBCSandwithmembersofotherprofessionswithwhomyouworkinaprofessionalcapacity....!Isthisuseful?!!·MuchoftheACMandBCScodesareopentopersonalinterpretation.

4.4Prioritising!

• Neithercodeestablishesprioritiesamongitsdifferentobligations.Foraparticularethicalproblem,morethanoneprincipleofthecodeislikelytoapply.

!• Thiscouldleadtocontradictoryadvicewhenapplyingthecodestoa

concreteproblem.!

• Forexample,itisnothardtoimaginethefollowingitemsoftheBCScodebeingplacedincompetition.!

• d)NOTdiscloseorauthorisetobedisclosed,oruseforpersonalgainortobenefitathirdparty,confidentialinformationexceptwiththepermissionofyourRelevantAuthority,orasrequiredbyLegislation

• e)NOTmisrepresentorwithholdinformationontheperformanceofproducts,systemsorservices(unlesslawfullyboundbyadutyofconfidentialitynottodisclosesuchinformation),ortakeadvantageofthelackofrelevantknowledgeorinexperienceofothers.

5.ForandAgainstEthicalCodes

• Advantages:!

• Defineacommonstandardofbehaviour,soclientsknowwhattoexpect;!!

• Codescansupportarefusaltobehaveunethically,soeven'obvious'ruleshavetheiruses;

5:ForandAgainstEthicalCodes·Disadvantages:!Codescangivecontradictoryadvice;!Maygiverisetocomplacency-practitionersthinkthatsolongastheyareobeyingthecode,theyneednotconcernthemselveswithethicalissues.!Coulddrawattentionawayfrommajorethicalissues(e.g.,howtechnologyshouldbeintroducedandcontrolled)towardssmallerimmediateissues(thebehaviourofindividuals).!Maysuggestadichotomybetweenethicaldecisionmakinginpersonallifeandinprofessionallife.

6.Arecent(influen[al)ethicaltheory:Thecapabilityapproach

•PioneeredanddevelopedbyAmartyaSen (economistandphilosopher)andMarthaNussbaum(philosopher)

•Insteadoffocusingonmaximisingunlityor happiness,oronjusnce–focusoncapabilines

•Capabilines:whatpeopleareeffecnvely abletobeortodo 40

AmartyaSenMarthaNussbaum

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•CapabilitytheoristsfocusoncapabilinesinsteadofunlityorpreferencesansfacnonbecauseofaphenomenonthatSencalls– “adap[vepreferences”.

•Peopleadjusttocircumstancestomakelifebearable–thosewhoarepersistentlydeprivedmayfindwaysofadjusnngtotheirsituanon,andmaylackcouragetodemandchange.

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• Emphasisoncapabilitybecauseofpersonalchoice

• i.e.Apersonwhoisfasnngisinastateofunder- nutrinon,whichmayseemverysimilartoapersonwhoisstarving.Butintheonecase,thefasnngpersoncouldeatandchoosesnotto;whereasthestarvingpersonwouldeatifshecould.

• Aimistoprovidethepossibilityofadequatefood.

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Nussbaum(unlikeSen)hasdevelopedalistof10capabilines.

• Peopleneedathresholdlevelofallofthesein ordertohavealife“worthyofhumandignity”

• Emphasisonsocialjusnce

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Centralhumancapabili[es(Nussbaum,2006)

1.Life:beingabletolivetotheendofahumanlifeofnormallength2.Bodilyhealth:beingabletohavegoodhealth,tobeadequatelynourished,tohaveadequateshelter3.Bodilyintegrity:beingabletomovefreelyfromplacetoplace,beingsecureagainstviolentassault,

opportuninesforsexualsansfacnon,choiceinmarersofreproducnon4.Senses,imaginanonandthought:beingabletoimagine,thinkandreasonintrulyhuman

way...includesliteracyandmathemancalandsciennfictraining,andfreedomofexpression5.Emonons:beingabletohavearachmentstothingsandpeople-tolove,togrieve,toexperience

longing,grantudeandjusnfiedanger.Requiressupportforformsofhumanassocianonthatenableposinveemononaldevelopmentfreefromfearandanxiety

6.Pracncalreason–beingabletoformaconcepnonofthegood,andtoengageincrincalreflecnonabouttheplanningofone’slife.

7.Affilianon– – a)beingabletolivewithandtowardsothers,torecogniseandshowconcernforothers,tobe

abletoimaginethesituanonofothers,socialinteracnon – b)beingtreatedasdignifiedbeingwhoseworthisequaltothatofothers(requiresguards

againstdiscriminanononmanygrounds)8.Otherspecies–beingabletolivewithconcernforandinrelanontoanimals,plantsandtheworldof

nature9.Play–beingabletolaugh,toplay,toenjoyrecreanonalacnvines10.Controloverone’senvironmenta)Polincalparncipanonb)Material–beingabletoholdproperty,

andhavingtherighttoseekemployment 45

Technology,andcomputersouware,couldincreasethecapabilinesofsomepeople

– e.g.blindpeopleandselfdrivingcars– disabledpeopleandexoskeletons– accesstoeducanon(MOOCs?) – peoplewithdemennaandrobotpets! 46

7.Computerethicsandvaluesensitivedesign

• HelenNissenbaum,(2001)Howcomputersystemsembodyvalues– Informationtechnologycanchangesociety–buttechnologyisalsodevelopedonthebasisofcertainvalues.

• Complexinterplaybetweensystemand“thosewhobuiltit,whattheyhadinmind,itsconditionsofuse,andthenatural,cultural,social,andpoliticalcontextinwhichitisembedded—allthesefactorsmayfeatureinanaccountofthevaluesembodiedinit”

• FriedmanandNissenbaum(1996)Biasincomputersystems.

• Biascantakedifferentforms• (i)Pre-existingbias• (ii)Technicalbias• (iii)Emergentbias

• (i)Pre-existingbias:– e.g.automatedloanadvisorwhichnegativelyweightsapplicantswholivein“undesirable”locations,suchaslow-incomeorhigh-crimeneighbourhoods,asindicatedbytheirhomeaddresses

• (ii)Technicalbias• E.g.Listingofflights:whicharelistedfirst?

– Systemmayhaveabiastowardsplacingcertainairlinesflightsfirst–forinstancethosewithallsegmentsonasinglecarrier.

– MightmissbetteralternativesforsomeoneflyingfromPhoenix,USAtoNewYorkandthenLondon.

• (iii)Emergentbias–emergesasusechanges.– E.g.Flightadvisorthatwasdevelopedfornationalflightsmightbebiasedtowardsflightswithonecarrierwhenextendedtointernationalflights.

– E.g.InUSA,thecomputerisedNationalResidentMedicalMatchprogramisusedtoplacemedicalstudentsintheirfirstjobs.Developedinthe‘70sitassumedonlyonememberofthefamilyneededplacing.Butincreasingnumbersofwomenleadtomoremarriagesbetweenresidents,anditwasbiasedagainstcouples.

• Examplesoftherelationshipbetweenvaluesandtechnologicaldesign– (fromFriedmanandKahn,2003)

• Inuitpeopleweregivensnowmobiles:– alteredtransportationmethodsfromdogsleds,butalsointroducedasymbolofsocialstatusandadependenceonmoneyeconomy.

• Email:– rarelytellsyouanythingaboutthesocialstatusoftheemailer.

Valuesensitivedesign!

Friedman,KahnandBorning(2008)• Valuesensitivedesignis“atheoreticallygroundedapproachtothedesignoftechnologythataccountsforhumanvaluesinaprincipledandcomprehensivemannerthroughoutthedesignprocess”

• Extendthetraditionalcriteriausedtoevaluateasystem(e.g.Reliabilityandcorrectness),andalsoconsideritsrelationshiptocorehumanvalues

• Valuesensitivedesign:concernedwithsharedhumanvaluessuchas– Well-being– Humandignity– Justice– Humanrights

• E.g.Righttoprivacy

• Howtoapplyvaluesensitivedesign– Startwithvalue,technologyorcontextofuse– Identifydirectandindirectstakeholders(indirect–thosewhodon’t

usethesystembutcouldbeaffectedbyitsuse)– Identifypotentialharmsandbenefitsofsystemforstakeholders– Mapharmsandbenefitsontocorrespondingvalues– Conceptuallyinvestigatevalues(philosophicalworkcanbeuseful

here)– Identifyvalueconflicts(e.g.Privacyvssecurity,trustvssecurity,

accountabilityvsprivacy)– Exploreeffectsofdifferenttechnicaldesignsonvalueconflicts,and

ondifferentgroupsofstakeholders– Designforflexibility,andsubsequentmodificationbasedon

feedback.

• Valuesensitivedesigninvolvesaninteractiveprocessthatexaminesconceptual,empiricalandtechnicalissues.

• Conceptual–howarevaluessupportedordiminishedbydesigns

• Empirical–researchingunderstandingsandexperiencesofthoseaffectedbyapplication

• Technical–identifyingvaluesanddevelopingtechnicalmechanismsthatsupportthem.

• Casestudies,applyingconceptual,empiricalandtechnicalinvestigations.

• E.g.toDesignofcookiestechnology• A)Conceptual• Whatvaluesareimplicated?Tradeoffs?Weighting(e.gbetweenmoralvaluessuchasprivacy,andnonmoralvaluese.g.Aestheticpreferences)

• Valueofinformedconsentisinvolved,protectionofotherhumanvaluessuchasprivacy,autonomy,andtrust.

• Dopeopleunderstandwhattheyareagreeingto?

• B)empiricalinvestigations• Observingpeople’suseofandunderstandingofcookiesonwebsites

• C)technicalinvestigations• Designingsystemstosupportthevaluesthatwereidentifiedasrelevant

• Lookingathowthetechnologicalpropertiessupportorhinderhumanvalues.

• Value-sensitivedesign:– Linkedtoparticipatorydesign,butaswellasuser-centreddesign,alsoinvolvestheinclusionofmarginalisedperspectivesinthedesignprocess.

7Summary!

• CodesofConductareameansbywhichprofessionalorganisationscancontroltheirmembershipandavoidexternalregulation.!!

• Theyalsoactasaguidetoprofessionaldecisionmaking.!

• Ethicalproblemsoftenarisebecauseofthespecialnatureofcomputertechnology.

Summary(continued)BoththeBCSandACMhaveestablishedprofessionalcodesofconduct.Bothareflawed,buthavesomemerit.!Undesirable:Computingprofessionalsareboundbyafixedsetofrulesthatdistancethemfromtheirownethicalstandardsandthoseofsocietyingeneral.!Desirable:Professionalethicalcodesactasguidelinesforethicaldecisionmakinginthecontextofprofessionalemployment,notinlifeingeneral.Theguidelinesplaceanemphasisonthepersonalethicsoftheindividualandtheirplacewithintheethicsofsocietyasawhole.

Summary(continued)

• TheCapabilityApproach• canprovideaframeworktohelptheassessmentofcomputersoftwareandtechnology-andthewayinwhichitimproves(orlimits)accesstothecapabilitiesneededforalifeworthyofhumandignity

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Summary(continued)

• Valuesensitivedesign–recentapproach.• Arecentapproachthatemphasisestheideaofvaluesindesign– Conceptual–howarevaluessupportedordiminishedbydesigns

– Empirical–researchingunderstandingsandexperiencesofthoseaffectedbyapplication

– Technical–identifyingvaluesanddevelopingtechnicalmechanismsthatsupportthem

• Takehomemessage• itisimportanttothinkabouttheeffectofwhatyouengineeronhumansociety

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