Social and Ethical Issues in Computing:Social and Ethical Issues in Computing:Doing the Right ThingDoing the Right Thing

CIS 105CIS 105

Revised March 2006

ObjectivesObjectives

Identify the social issues and ethics in computingIdentify the social issues and ethics in computing Understand the digital divide social issue and its Understand the digital divide social issue and its

effect in societyeffect in society List and describe the workplace issuesList and describe the workplace issues Describe the international and national legal issuesDescribe the international and national legal issues List different methods that are already available for List different methods that are already available for

protecting children on the Internetprotecting children on the Internet Explain the significance of the ethics in computingExplain the significance of the ethics in computing Explain the significance of intellectual property rightsExplain the significance of intellectual property rights

The Digital DivideThe Digital Divide Separates the computing haves from the have-notsSeparates the computing haves from the have-nots

Those with access to computers and the Internet take Those with access to computers and the Internet take advantage of personal and economic opportunitiesadvantage of personal and economic opportunities

Those without access fall farther behind Those without access fall farther behind Major divisions Major divisions

among nations and within countriesamong nations and within countries between urban areas and rural onesbetween urban areas and rural ones between rich and poorbetween rich and poor

Several initiatives exist to narrow the divideSeveral initiatives exist to narrow the divide Within the U.S.Within the U.S.

Universal Service Fund helps service providers to provide Universal Service Fund helps service providers to provide telecommunications services to rural areastelecommunications services to rural areas

E-Rate program provides rate subsidies for Internet access for E-Rate program provides rate subsidies for Internet access for schools and librariesschools and libraries

WorldwideWorldwide Africa ONE is creating a fiber optic network to connect the nations Africa ONE is creating a fiber optic network to connect the nations

of Africaof Africa What are some other options?What are some other options?

Workplace IssuesWorkplace Issues

Healthy computingHealthy computing ErgonomicsErgonomics: human factors related to the use : human factors related to the use

of computersof computers Employee monitoringEmployee monitoring

ToolsTools PoliciesPolicies

Environmental concernsEnvironmental concerns Power consumptionPower consumption Computer suppliesComputer supplies PC disposalPC disposal

Ergonomic EquipmentErgonomic Equipment

Chair should be Chair should be pneumatically pneumatically adjustableadjustable

Keyboard platform Keyboard platform should be set to should be set to proper heightproper height

Monitor must be Monitor must be adjustableadjustable

Lighting should be Lighting should be adjusted to minimize adjusted to minimize glare on the screenglare on the screen

Ergonomic BehaviorErgonomic Behavior

Ergonomic equipment must be used Ergonomic equipment must be used properlyproperly Turn the screen away from the window to Turn the screen away from the window to

reduce glarereduce glare Cover your screen with a glare protectorCover your screen with a glare protector Place keyboard to avoid arm and wrist fatiguePlace keyboard to avoid arm and wrist fatigue Use a raised rest for your wristUse a raised rest for your wrist Position your seat back so back is supportedPosition your seat back so back is supported Sit with your feet firmly on the floorSit with your feet firmly on the floor Enlarge fonts so they are easier to seeEnlarge fonts so they are easier to see Take frequent breaksTake frequent breaks

Employee MonitoringEmployee Monitoring

Various tools allow an employer to monitor Various tools allow an employer to monitor an employee’s performancean employee’s performance Keystroke monitors measure keystrokes per Keystroke monitors measure keystrokes per

secondsecond Other software tools monitor how long an Other software tools monitor how long an

employee is away from the computeremployee is away from the computer Monitor the files stored on the hard driveMonitor the files stored on the hard drive Monitor the sites visited on the InternetMonitor the sites visited on the Internet

Many companies have policies that notify Many companies have policies that notify employees about monitoring practicesemployees about monitoring practices

Information PrivacyInformation Privacy

UnauthorizUnauthorized ed collection & collection & use of use of informationinformation

Employee Employee MonitoringMonitoring

Helpful LinksFederal Trade CommissionHow Identify Theft WorksAnnual Credit Report

Jurisdictional IssuesJurisdictional Issues

International issuesInternational issues Applying national laws to a world-wide Applying national laws to a world-wide

medium is a difficult process. Why?medium is a difficult process. Why? Issues exist over which country’s court Issues exist over which country’s court

has jurisdictionhas jurisdiction National issuesNational issues

Issues exist over which locality’s court Issues exist over which locality’s court has jurisdictionhas jurisdiction

Imposition of sales taxes on Internet Imposition of sales taxes on Internet transactionstransactions

Protecting Children on the InternetProtecting Children on the Internet

The Internet offers many opportunities The Internet offers many opportunities for children, as well as dangersfor children, as well as dangers

Ways to protect childrenWays to protect children Blocking softwareBlocking software Child monitoringChild monitoring

Place the child’s computer in a public area Place the child’s computer in a public area instead of his or her bedroominstead of his or her bedroom

Restrict usage when parents are not presentRestrict usage when parents are not present Laws to protect childrenLaws to protect children

Blocking SoftwareBlocking Software Used to prevent children Used to prevent children

from accessing sites on from accessing sites on its updatable list of its updatable list of objectionable sitesobjectionable sites Blocks pornographic sites Blocks pornographic sites

and sites with foul and sites with foul language language

Blocks sites requesting Blocks sites requesting names, phone numbers, names, phone numbers, and credit card numbersand credit card numbers

Sometimes criticized for Sometimes criticized for being overzealousbeing overzealous

Laws to Protect ChildrenLaws to Protect Children

Children’s Online Privacy Protection ActChildren’s Online Privacy Protection Act Requires Web sites that target children under Requires Web sites that target children under

13 to post a privacy policy and obtain parental 13 to post a privacy policy and obtain parental consent before collecting dataconsent before collecting data

Children’s Internet Protection ActChildren’s Internet Protection Act Requires libraries receiving federal funding to Requires libraries receiving federal funding to

implement blocking technologyimplement blocking technology Neighborhood Children’s Internet Neighborhood Children’s Internet

Protection ActProtection Act Requires libraries receiving the E-Rate discount Requires libraries receiving the E-Rate discount

to establish an Internet safety policyto establish an Internet safety policy

Ethics in ComputingEthics in Computing

Ethics – standards of moral conductEthics – standards of moral conduct Used to help determine the proper Used to help determine the proper

course of action in difficult situationscourse of action in difficult situations Computing IssuesComputing Issues

Computer ethics Computer ethics (9-270)(9-270) Professional ethicsProfessional ethics Programmer responsibilityProgrammer responsibility Ethical use of computersEthical use of computers

Professional EthicsProfessional Ethics

Relates to ethics of those whose work Relates to ethics of those whose work focuses on computer systems focuses on computer systems (9-271)(9-271)

Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct developed by the Association for developed by the Association for Computing MachineryComputing Machinery

Divided into sectionsDivided into sections General principlesGeneral principles Professional responsibilitiesProfessional responsibilities Guidelines for organizational systemsGuidelines for organizational systems

Programmer ResponsibilityProgrammer Responsibility

Bug-free software does not existBug-free software does not exist Testing can only show the presence of Testing can only show the presence of

bugs, not their absencebugs, not their absence Issues related to software qualityIssues related to software quality

How much testing is enough?How much testing is enough? How many minor bugs are acceptable in How many minor bugs are acceptable in

software about to be released?software about to be released?

Ethical Use of ComputersEthical Use of Computers

Data qualityData quality Users are responsible for the quality of data Users are responsible for the quality of data

entered into the systementered into the system Procedures must be in place to detect and Procedures must be in place to detect and

correct inaccurate informationcorrect inaccurate information Protecting customers’ personal dataProtecting customers’ personal data

Doing business over the InternetDoing business over the Internet Develop privacy policies stating how data will Develop privacy policies stating how data will

be used (opt-in vs opt-out)be used (opt-in vs opt-out) Digitally altering dataDigitally altering data

Altering RealityAltering Reality

Computers can alter Computers can alter photographsphotographs How much alteration is How much alteration is

ethical?ethical? E-mail messages can E-mail messages can

be destroyedbe destroyed In a legal action, is this In a legal action, is this

altering evidence?altering evidence?

Intellectual Property RightsIntellectual Property Rights

Refers to results of intellectual Refers to results of intellectual activity in the industrial, scientific, activity in the industrial, scientific, literary, or artistic fieldsliterary, or artistic fields

U.S. Copyright Act provides U.S. Copyright Act provides protection in three areasprotection in three areas CopyrightsCopyrights PatentsPatents TrademarksTrademarks

CopyrightsCopyrights

Provides the creator of a literary or artistic Provides the creator of a literary or artistic work with control over its use and distributionwork with control over its use and distribution Widespread distribution of music and video over Widespread distribution of music and video over

the Internet has created quite a controversythe Internet has created quite a controversy Defining fair use has been difficultDefining fair use has been difficult

Under fair use, you may use copyrighted works for Under fair use, you may use copyrighted works for limited purposeslimited purposes

Digital issuesDigital issues More Info? Go to: More Info? Go to:

http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d07/cis105/copyrightposter.http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d07/cis105/copyrightposter.htmhtm

Digital Fair Use IssuesDigital Fair Use Issues Copy-protection schemes make it Copy-protection schemes make it

impossible to copy CDs and DVDsimpossible to copy CDs and DVDs Users claim that violates their fair use rightsUsers claim that violates their fair use rights

SoftwareSoftware Users may not modify copyrighted softwareUsers may not modify copyrighted software

Digital imagesDigital images Images on the Web may be downloaded and Images on the Web may be downloaded and

used as screen savers, but they may not be used as screen savers, but they may not be distributed or altereddistributed or altered

PlagiarismPlagiarism Work taken from the Internet must be cited if it Work taken from the Internet must be cited if it

is used in a paper or other presentation is used in a paper or other presentation

PatentsPatents

Designed to protect inventions and Designed to protect inventions and encourage inventorsencourage inventors Grant patent holder exclusive rights to Grant patent holder exclusive rights to

the inventionthe invention Patent Office will grant patent Patent Office will grant patent

protection to software algorithms protection to software algorithms and techniquesand techniques Will also grant patents for business Will also grant patents for business

methods implemented in softwaremethods implemented in software

TrademarksTrademarks

A word, name, symbol, or device used A word, name, symbol, or device used to distinguish one company and its to distinguish one company and its products from anotherproducts from another

Two issues in the digital arenaTwo issues in the digital arena Unauthorized use of one company’s Unauthorized use of one company’s

trademarks on another’s Web sitetrademarks on another’s Web site Cybersquatting – obtaining a domain Cybersquatting – obtaining a domain

name that includes another company’s name that includes another company’s trademark, then selling that domain name trademark, then selling that domain name at a profitat a profit

If asked, can you….If asked, can you…. Identify the social issues and ethics in computingIdentify the social issues and ethics in computing Understand the digital divide social issue and its Understand the digital divide social issue and its

effect in societyeffect in society List and describe the workplace issuesList and describe the workplace issues Describe the international and national legal Describe the international and national legal

issuesissues List different methods that are already available List different methods that are already available

for protecting children on the Internetfor protecting children on the Internet Explain the significance of the ethics in computingExplain the significance of the ethics in computing Explain the significance of intellectual property Explain the significance of intellectual property

rightsrights

SourcesSources

Capron; Computers: Tools for An Capron; Computers: Tools for An Information Age, 8Information Age, 8thth Ed. 2003 Ed. 2003

Pfaffenberger; Computers in Your Pfaffenberger; Computers in Your Future 2003Future 2003

Microsoft ClipartMicrosoft Clipart How Stuff Works: Identify TheftHow Stuff Works: Identify Theft FTCFTC