ETHICS in COMPUTER SCIENCES

ETHICS IN ENGINEERING and COMPUTER SCIENCES This course will introduce basic issues in engineering and computer ethics. The course will analyze the impacts of information and communication technologies (ICT) and will look at the connection between ethics and technology, the ethical issues emerged in the information society; to gain an understanding about the ethical principles, professional responsibilites and codes of conduct via surveying the engineer’s obligations to society, employer and client.

COURSE OUTLINE What is Ethics? Basic Concepts: Responsibility, Accountability and Liability Ethical Analysis 2. Society and The Need For ICT Ethics: Two Way Relationship Between Society and Technology The Impacts of ICT; Optimistic, Pessimistic and Contextualist Views Why Computer Ethics The Task Of Computer Ethics

3. Ethics in ICT Societies: Technology As The Instrumentation Of Human Action Features of ICT Configured Activities and Society 4. Dependence, Health Problems, Unemployment, Social Relations 5. Accuracy Virtual Environments, Virtual Community, Virtual Action 6. Security Cyber Crime and Abuse 7. Intellectual Property Rights

8. Privacy 9. Democracy and the Internet Is the Internet a Democratic Technology? 10. Access and the Digital Divide 11. Professional Ethics in Computing and Engineering 12. Professional Ethics in Computing and Engineering 13. Case Studies

Course Book: Computer Ethics; Deborah G. Johnson, 2009, Pearson Education, Inc., Fourth Edition. Further Readings: Quinn, Michael Jay, 2014, Ethics for the information age. Vol. 4. Pearson. Floridi, L. (Ed.). (2010). The Cambridge handbook of information and computer ethics. Cambridge University Press.

Web References: http://www.cpsr.org (Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility) http://www4.uwm.edu/sois/cipr/inseit.html (International Society for Ethics and Information Technology) http://www.ccsr.cse.dmu.ac.uk (Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility) http://www.ia-cap.org/ (International Association for Computer & Philosophy) http://www.naavi.org/pati/pati_cybercrimes_dec03.htm (CYBER CRIME, Partasarathi Pati) http://www.securityfocus.com/columnist/169 “RFID Chips Are Here”, Scott Granneman http://www.bilgitoplumu.gov.tr/btstrateji/BilgiToplumuIstatistikleri.pdf http://ooofline.blogspot.com/2009/08/turkiyede-dijital-ucurum.html

1. WHAT IS ETHICS? PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS BASIC CONCEPTS: RESPONSIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND LIABILITY ETHICAL ANALYSIS ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) are being used in everywhere, in every area; tourism, retealing, manufacturing, banking,… ICT => broad and effective. ICT (Information and Communication Technologies)=> have tremendous impact / effects on society. Societies change. Needs change, demands change. ICT have great effect on social change. If ICT is developed and used in a socially responsible manner, this change might be in a positive way.

Ethics => refers to the principles and values related with right and good which guide the decision/ behavior. Concepts Related With Ethics: Responsibility => accepting the potential consequences, cost, duties and obligations of the behaviour. Accountability => is a mechanism to assess the responsibility. Liability => To recover the damages (if any), which was caused by the behaviour.

Ethics: Starts in thinking and then applied in action. Intrinsic good => has value in itself. For ex: human life, knowledge, art. Instrumental good => is an instrument to something good. A tool for something valuable. Ex: technology is a tool, not purpose. Aims (Should aim) a better life or more easier and better life for all.

ETHICAL ANALYSIS Identify and describe clearly the facts Identify and describe the conflict, the dilemma Identify the stakeholders Identify the options you can reasonably take Identify the potential consequences of your options.

ETHICAL THEORIES Utilitarian: is interested with the consequences of the action, not with the intention. The good behaviour is which brings highest benefit for the greatest number of people (Stuart Mill).

Deontological: is interested with the intention, with the inherent character of the behaviour. If an action is done with a sense of duty and if the principle of an action can be universalized then it is good (Immanuel Kant).

Virtue Ethics: Ancient philosophers Virtue Ethics: Ancient philosophers. What are the excellences / characteristics of a good person ? Virtues – honest, fairness, tolerance, courage, benevolence, generosity,….

Deontological and utilitarian theories are related with action, virtue ethics is related with the character of the human who acts.

Justice Theory: Related with rights. John Rawls theory. In 1970’s. People like to put rules for their own favor/ interest. But rules should be set behind a veil of ignorance (without any interest). We need to keep the balance between our own rights, liberties and the others. If the rules can be set and obeyed properly then a stable society can be possible and daily life can run properly.

Bibliography: Management Information Systems, Kenneth C. Laudon-Jane P. Laudon, Prentice-Hall Inc., 1996 p. 139, 143, 144 Computer Ethics, Deborah G. Johnson, Pearson Education, 2009 (4th edtn.) p. 25-27, 35-51