1. Ethics
In Computer Science

2. What is Ethics?

3. What is Ethics?
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct. The term comes from the Greek word ethos, which means "character". In philosophy, ethics studies the moral behavior in humans, and how one should act. Some would say it is the study of morals

4. What are morals?

5. What are morals?
Morality (from the Latin moralitas "manner, character, proper behavior") is the differentiation of intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are "good" (or right) and those that are "bad" (or wrong). The philosophy of morality is ethics. A moral code is a system of morality (according to a particular philosophy, religion, culture, etc.) and a moral is any one practice or teaching within a moral code. Morality may also be specifically synonymous with "goodness" or "rightness." Immorality is the active opposition to morality (i.e. opposition to that which is good or right), while amorality is variously defined as an unawareness of, indifference toward, or disbelief in any set of moral standards or principles. An example of a moral code is the Golden Rule which states that, "One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself."
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6. Morals vs. Ethics
Morals are generally seen as conforming to established or accepted ideas of right and wrong, according to society – there is a feeling of “black or white” about them. Ethics, on the other hand, are where the shades of gray come in. Ethics add the notions of fairness and equity to our decisions.

7. What Would You Do?
You find a copy of your upcoming test that your professor has left on the copier.

8. What Would You Do?
You find a copy of your upcoming test that your professor has left on the copier. Do you:
Give it back without looking at it?
Give it to all your friends?
Sell it to all your friends?
Give it to a friend who is struggling in the class and in danger of losing their scholarship?
Keep it as a “study aid” for yourself?

9. What Would You Do?
Depending on who you talk to, some people could answer the above question in any of the suggested ways. How does THAT happen, if we live in an ethical and moral society? Well, because everyone doesn’t follow the same system of ethics. There are five major systems of ethics.

10. Systems of Ethics Relativism Divine Command Theory Utilitarianism
Virtue Ethics
Deontology

11. Relativism There is no universal moral truth
Moral principles are dictated by cultural tastes and customs
EXAMPLE: Topless sun-bathing – fine in Europe, frowned on in US

12. Divine Command Theory God is all knowing and sets moral standards
Conforming to God’s law is right, breaking it is wrong
EXAMPLE: Ten Commandments should be followed

13. Ten Commandments
New Living Translation Then God gave the people all these instructions:
I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
1. You must not have any other god but me.
2. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
3. You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
4. Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
5. Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

14. Ten Commandments
New Living Translation Then God gave the people all these instructions:
6. You must not murder.
7. You must not commit adultery.
8. You must not steal.
9. You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
10. You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.

15. Utilitarionism Actions are judged solely by consequences
Actions that generate greater happiness are judged to be better than actions that lead to unhappiness
Individual happiness is not important – consider the greater good
EXAMPLE: Using weapons of mass destruction ends a war sooner and saves more lives than conventional fighting

16. Virtue Ethics Morals are internal
Strive to be a person who behaves well spontaneously
EXAMPLE: Volunteers are better people than those forced to do a job or duty

17. Deontology (Duty Based)
Focus on adherence to moral duties and rights
Morals should apply to everyone equally
EXAMPLE: Human rights should be respected for all people; applied universally

18. Scenario
A classmate steals a copy of the mid-term. He’s giving it out to the class. You’re currently averaging a C, but need at least a B to keep your financial aid. You take a copy but haven’t looked at it yet. How would each ethical system that we just discussed respond to this situation?
Relativism
Divine Command
Utilitarianism
Virtue Ethics
Deontology
Relativism: Everybody cheats – what’s the big deal? There’s so much security around the test, it’s like the professor expects it. It’s normal.
Divine Command: Thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not bear false witness (lie)
Utilitarianism: The end justifies the means. I need a college degree and to stay here, I need my financial aid. I’ll be better off. Also, if I turn them in, all my friends will be angry with me.
Virtue Ethics: What do I think, deep down inside? Is it wrong because I think it’s wrong or because others have told me so? Would I be doing the right thing to call attention to myself (another wrong) or because that’s what I should do?
Deontology: How does my decision here affect future people in my same situation? What are the moral rules I should follow?

19. What about the Law?
Laws are formal written standards designed to apply to everyone and enforced by government agencies and interpreted by the courts. Can we pass laws that cover every behavior? Of course not! So ethics give us unwritten guidelines to follow.

20. Unethical vs Illegal
Some people feel the death penalty is unethical, but it is legal in several states. Meanwhile, civil disobedience (refusal to obey certain laws) is a form of protest used to affect change – while illegal, it is usually not unethical.

21. Amoral Behavior
Unethical behavior – breaking the rules that are accepted as standard behavior
Amoral behavior – has no sense of right and wrong and show no interest in moral consequences of one’s actions

22. Which System is Best?
No one will agree! However, our ethical decisions are influenced most by our personal ethics – a set of formal or informal ethical principles you use to make decisions in your life. Some people have a clear path; others are inconsistent. People are also influenced by what the result may be – if they could be poor, people tend to talk themselves into questionable decisions.

23. Personal Ethics
Family greatly influences our ethical behavior and the values you cherish yourself. Religious affiliation and teachers also play a part. Finally, as we mature, our personal experiences affect our ethics – seeing behavior around us, punishment for wrong, etc.

24. How do You Determine Your Personal Ethics?
Describe yourself – how you see yourself and how others see you.
List the key principles you believe in.
Identify external influences.
Consider “why” you believe what you do.
Prepare a statement of values – refer to it when you feel you don’t know what to do.
Psychological studies have shown that when we live in a way that is consistent with our ethical compass, we are happier, less likely to get depressed.

25. Professional Ethics
Once we enter the work place, our ethics come back into play.
Do your personal ethics change when you go to work? For example, if you were a police officer that does not believe in the fairness of a particular law, would you enforce it when you saw others violating it?
If you see people behaving unethically at work, do you turn them in? Some people do – they are called “whistle-blowers.”
How you behave can get you fired! If you post things your employer doesn’t like online, they can fire you for your behavior. Should your employer have control over your behavior outside of the workplace?
Most people, therefore, are respect the ethical requirements of their business, but are ultimately guided by their own personal ethics.

26. Technology and Ethics Topic Ethical Discussion Debate Issue
Social Justice
Does the deployment of technology to alter the human brain blur the lines between human and machine?
Will brain technology make some humans superior to others?
Intellectual Property
Do entire countries support software piracy?
Can we impose our values and intellectual property laws on the world?
Privacy
Can employers peer into your personal profiles on social media sites?
Should personal privacy be protected?
E-commerce
Do geolocation devices and applications threaten privacy?
Do the benefits of geolocation devices and applications outweigh the risks?
Electronic Communication
When does big business limit free speech?
Should companies allow the Chinese government to dictate when to curtail free speech?
Computer Abuse
Whose responsibility is it to monitor cyberbullying?
Should parents bear all the responsibility of monitoring cyberbullying or should it be in the hands of public officials?

27. Technology and the Brain
The human brain and neurological tissue have a limited ability to heal themselves; this means that after injury, a person can be left with a severe handicap. There are also diseases that attack the central nervous system (Parkinson’s) Research to help these folks are in three areas:
Brain-computer interfaces (BCI’s)
Neurostimulation
Neural Stem Cells
The human brain and neurological tissue have a limited ability to heal themselves; this means that after injury, a person can be left with a severe handicap. There are also diseases that attack the central nervous system (Parkinson’s) Research to help these folks are in three areas:
Brain-computer interfaces (BCI’s) – work to provide a direct communication between the brain and external devices, like robotic limbs, computers, and wheelchairs, allowing thought to direct or control the device.
Neurostimulation – Techniques such as deep brain stimulation involve the transplantation of devices that transmit electrical impulses to the brain for treating movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease as well as chronic pain. rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) is a noninvasive technique for changing the brain activity by exposing it to magnetic fields (treats migraines, strokes, Parkinson’s).
Neural Stem Cells – research is underway to determine how neural stem cells respond during strokes, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders. The goal is to develop effective therapies by producing or enhancing neural stem cells to make them more effective in resisting adverse events.

28. Technology and the Brain
These are focused on medical disorders. However,
The Military is interested in BCI’s to control fighter aircraft, drones, and other weapons systems.
Gaming industry is also interested in BCI, since it could provide the capability for thought-controlled video games.
And neurostimulation and neural stem cell research hold the potential for not just treating illnesses but possibly enhancing human brain function to allow humans to progress beyond their normal brain potential.
How should technology be allowed to affect brain function? If we can create a smarter or more atheletic human, should we do it? Where is the line?
If a smart bomb is guided by computer technology and destroys its target, it’s the machine’s responsibility – if that same bomb is guided by a human through BCI, who’s responsibility is it?
Where do we separate the person from the machine?
These are focused on medical disorders. However, the military is interested in BCI’s to control fighter aircraft, drones, and other weapons systems. Gaming industry is also interested in BCI, since it could provide the capability for thought-controlled video games. And neurostimulation and neural stem cell research hold the potential for not just treating illnesses but possibly enhancing human brain function to allow humans to progress beyond their normal brain potential.
How should technology be allowed to affect brain function? If we can create a smarter or more atheletic human, should we do it? Where is the line? If a smart bomb is guided by computer technology and destroys its target, it’s the machine’s responsibility – if that same bomb is guided by a human through BCI, who’s responsibility is it? Where do we separate the person from the machine?

29. Technology and the Brain
Questions to consider:
Who is responsible for controlling the direction and outcomes of brain technology research?
When do the benefits of medical research outweigh the risks of the technology being used in illegal, evil, or immoral ways?
Does enhancing our brain capabilities with technology make us less human?

30. Intellectual Property
Intellectual property is protected by copyright law; however, the standards of the US are not met in other countries.
Intellectual property is protected by copyright law; however, the standards of the US are not met in other countries. For example, in 2011, it was estimated that 82% of China’s computers ran on pirated software. Levels in the US are estimated at about 20% and Sweden about 25%. This means that businesses in China don’t have to budget for operating systems, systems software, or productivity software. Many small software companies have pulled out of China for that reason; Microsoft and other large companies, while still doing business there, have lobbied the US to put pressure on China to crack down on illegal copying. However, though the Chinese government has made promises, their actions seem to be ineffective. China is not the only one – also included are Armenia, Bangladesh, Yemen, Libya, and Vietnam. This costs an average of $63 billion worldwide.

31. Intellectual Property
Questions to Ponder:
Should a government be penalized for failing to actively enforce the laws it has enacted within its own country? If so, what should the penalties be, and how should they be enforced?
Does each government have the right to make its own decision on a stand against piracy?
How can other countries respond to international priracy?
Does individual piracy have any connection to the enforcement of copyright laws on an international level?

32. Privacy
Privacy is about not being required to explain your behavior to others; but social media sites (Facebook) are all about sharing information with others – so, in today’s society, is there such a thing as personal privacy?
Some employers and even the government are asking for your password to Facebook or similar sites before hiring you – is this ok?
In May, 2012, legislators proposed the password protection act to prevent employers from demanding passwords on private sites from employees.
Currently, employers are prohibited from asking employees information relating to their gender, race, religion, age, and sexual orientation, but this information is available on your Facebook profile.
Should you “friend” your company or employers on Facebook? What are the consequences (potentially)?
Privacy is about not being required to explain your behavior to others; but social media sites (Facebook) are all about sharing information with others – so, in today’s society, is there such a thing as personal privacy?
While social media sites allow you to set up privacy filters (for everyone, just friends, or just you) on your login, some employers and government agencies are asking job seekers for access to their accounts in order to evaluate the private information as well, asking for personal passwords and then looking into your information.
In May, 2012, legislators proposed the password protection act to prevent employers from demanding passwords on private sites from employees. Currently, employers are prohibited from asking employees information relating to their gender, race, religion, age, and sexual orientation, but this information is available on your Facebook profile.
Instead of the blatent demand, what about a more subtle approach? Employers encourage employees to “friend” them on Facebook. Once the employer or company is “friended,” company representatives can see information about that employee (more than what is visible to the public)

33. Privacy Questions to ponder:
Should you be able to decide exactly what information on a social networking site you share with others? Would you be willing to pay for the privilege?
Do you know what your privacy settings are on the social media sites you use? Is there any information being shared publicly that you weren’t aware was being shared?
Should employers be allowed to ask prospective employees for their passwords to social media sites? Is this practice still legal in the US?
Is there any information on sites you use that you want to restrict potential employers from seeing? Do these sites allow you to restrict the information you wish to protect?

34. E-Commerce
Where are you? If you let the GPS in your phone do the talking and “check-in” at Foursquare or some similar business, businesses can promote their products, offer rewards, etc. when you “check-in” at their location.
When you sign up, you can choose what information to share publically; it’s supposed to make it convenient for you to find your friends and who might be near you when you “check-in”.
What if another app you know nothing about is using your information in a way never intended by the social media sites you joined?
Question – when you leave home and publically announce on Facebook, Foursquare, or Tweets your location and constant whereabouts, do you lose your privacy in exchange for “fun” and “convenience”? No matter your personal settings, hackers can still follow your updates. And do you understand how much of this information is getting grabbed by other apps? What if you’re a stalker – want your location information used against you in court? Should it be?
Not long ago, people wouldn’t even use their real name online – now we’re shouting all our private information. Society has accepted open sharing of private information – has technology moved too fast?
Where are you? If you let the GPS in your phone do the talking and “check-in” at Foursquare or some similar business, businesses can promote their products, offer rewards, etc. when you “check-in” at their location.
When you sign up, you can choose what information to share publically; it’s supposed to make it convenient for you to find your friends and who might be near you when you “check-in”. What if another app you know nothing about is using your information in a way never intended by the social media sites you joined?
Consider the iPhone app “Girls Around Me” – used data from Foursquare to create a local map that showed how many individuals logged into Foursquare in geographic locations near you; allowed you to view Facebook profiles of the people “around you” if they had their profiles linked to Foursquare. Critics said “You gave stalkers a tool” – Promoters saw it as “showing you where the hot spots were”. Meanwhile, Foursquare changed its access so that the “Girls around me” app had to be removed.
Question – when you leave home and publically announce on Facebook, Foursquare, or Tweets your location and constant whereabouts, do you lose your privacy in exchange for “fun” and “convenience”? No matter your personal settings, hackers can still follow your updates. And do you understand how much of this information is getting grabbed by other apps? What if you’re a stalker – want your location information used against you in court? Should it be?
Not long ago, people wouldn’t even use their real name online – now we’re shouting all our private information. Society has accepted open sharing of private information – has technology moved too fast?

35. E-Commerce Questions to Ponder:
Do the benefits of geolocation outweigh the risks?
What other devices besides cell phones trak and record our movements/locations as digital records?
How have social networks increased the risks of geolocation?
What risks do geolocation pose for college students? How can users mitigate those risks?

36. Electronic Communication
Does free speech have a price? In 2006, Google went to China and agreed to censor results of searches according to Chinese law. However, in 2010, after Google discovered a cyberattack they believed was done to gather information on Chinese human rights activists, Google announced they would no longer censor searches and moved to Hong Kong, where they hoped for less censorship. They had 35% of the market share. Now, they have only 18%. Microsoft partnered with Baidu.com (the Chinese leading search engine), to provide filtered English results of searches. They now have 78% of the market share. Is the financial result worth the cost?

37. Electronic Communication
Questions to Ponder:
Is there anything else that Google could do that would have a major impact on Chinese censorship laws?
Has Microsoft’s compliance with censorship laws furthered the Chinese government’s cooperation in combating software piracy in China? Are Microsoft’s financial incentives even deeper than Internet marketshare?
Can the US Government compel technology companies to take a firmer stance on free speech in China and elsewhere by instituting criminal charges if US Companies do not take responsible steps to protect human rights?

38. Computer Abuse - Cyberbullying
What is cyberbullying? It’s bullying using technology; using the Internet, cell phones, or video to hurt, harass, or humiliate another person. Some examples are:
Many harassing texts or IM’s
Stealing a password to the victim’s account to embarrass them by sending lewd, threatening, or harassing messages while pretending to be them
Spreading rumors or lies on social networking sites
Posting embarrassing pictures or videos on the web
Infecting the victim’s computer with malware, usually to spy on them.

39. Computer Abuse - Cyberbullying
How do you know if someone is being cyberbullied? Similar signs as depression: 
Loss of interest in normal activities
Reluctant to go to school/work
Loss of appetite
Trouble sleeping
Appear upset after Internet use
Unusual mood swings

40. Computer Abuse - Cyberbullying
How do you know if someone is a cyberbully?
Using the Internet excessively
Sending large volumes of text messages
Clearing the screen when others enter the room
Refusing to tell what they are doing online

41. Computer Abuse - Cyberbullying
Questions to Ponder:
Who’s responsible for protecting the victim? The parent? The school?
What level of responsibility should school employees have for protecting children from cyberbullying?
Should there be federal laws that make cyberbullying a crime? If so, how do we enforce these?
What types of education for children would be beneficial in preventing cyberbullying? When should these programs begin, and how often should children be required to participate?

42. Technology and Ethics
Many charitable organizations use the Internet and other technology tools for fundraising.
The Internet is also a tool for organizing aid to areas in crisis.
The level of personal interaction the Web supports and the speed at which information can be exchanged is allowing computer technology to support ethical conduct in powerful new ways.
Many charitable organizations use the Internet and other technology tools for fundraising. When the earthquake and tsunami struck Japan in 2011, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and other charities received many pledges via text message from donors’ phones. Many people also made donations through charities’ Web sites.
The Internet is also a tool for organizing aid to areas in crisis. When a major earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, Ushahidi allowed organizations and individuals conducting relief efforts to collect and disseminate the latest information on victims and aid efforts.
More recently, after the devastating tornado hit Joplin, Missouri, in May 2011, folks used the Red Cross Web site and Facebook to locate friends and family members. The level of personal interaction the Web supports and the speed at which information can be exchanged is allowing computer technology to support ethical conduct in powerful new ways.