2. Recipe for Disaster: IT without Ethics Dr. C. Dianne Martin Professor and Chair Computer Science Department Cyber Security Policy and Research Institute The George Washington University

3. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 Welcome to the Moral High Ground!

4. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 The Chernobyl Lesson b This was no accident! b Modern disaster lesson : Highly intelligent engineers and scientistsHighly intelligent engineers and scientists Advanced technologiesAdvanced technologies Unethical decisionsUnethical decisions

5. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 Why Ethics in IT?

6. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 Unique Aspects of Information Technology with Ethical Issues b Intangible nature of electronic information b Increasing dependency of society b Separation of information from the medium b Mixture of information on same media b Plunging costs: value is on data, not media b Huge volume: hard to monitor, audit path b Speed: point of irretrievability is sooner b Complexity: approaching chaos? b Impact of a single electronic transaction

7. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 Ethics Defined Ethics Defined b Study of human morality b Determining values in human conduct b Deciding the “right thing to do” - based upon a set of norms b In IT: dealing with colleaguesdealing with colleagues dealing with clientsdealing with clients dealing with employeesdealing with employees dealing with “users’dealing with “users’ dealing with publicdealing with public

8. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004  Raise awareness - ethics radar  Make decisions – make the right choice  Take action – do the right thing  Personal integrity and self-respect  # 1 element of professional reputation  Good Ethics -> Good Business! Why Focus on Ethics?

9. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 Is IT a Profession? Is IT a Profession? b Examples of professionals: doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers, engineers, accountants, professors! b What about plumbers, actors, writers, artists, bricklayers, builders? b What is the difference?

10. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 IT as an Ethical Profession b What is a Profession? Special expertiseSpecial expertise Shared moral valuesShared moral values Dependent publicDependent public Self-regulationSelf-regulation Promote, protect right actionsPromote, protect right actions b The responsibility to be ethical b The right to be ethical b Values embedded in technology

11. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (1992) 1. General Moral Imperatives 2. Specific Professional Responsibilities 3. Organizational Leadership Imperatives 4. Compliance with Code

12. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 1. General Moral Imperatives 1.1 Contribute to society 1.2 Avoid harm to others 1.3 Be honest and trustworthy 1.4 Be fair and not discriminate 1.5 Honor property rights 1.6 Credit intellectual property 1.7 Respect privacy of others 1.8 Honor confidentiality

13. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 2. Specific Professional Responsibilities 2.1 Strive for quality in work 2.2 Maintain professional competence 2.3 Respect for laws on professional work 2.4 Facilitate professional review 2.5 Evaluate impacts and risks 2.6 Honor contracts and agreements 2.7 Improve public understanding of IT 2.8 Access data only when authorized

14. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 3. Organizational Leadership Imperatives 3.1 Encourage social responsibility 3.2 Manage personnel and resources to enhance quality of life 3.3 Support proper computer uses 3.4 Ensure user input in design of systems 3.5 Protect dignity of users 3.6 Create learning opportunities

15. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 4. Compliance with Code 4. Compliance with Code 4.1 Uphold and promote principles of this Code 4.2 Treat violations of this Code as inconsistent with membership in ACM

16. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 Functions of an Ethics Code b Enabling document b Source of public evaluation b Professional socialization b Enhance reputation of profession b Deterrent to unethical behavior b Support system to members b Adjudication of controversies

17. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 You as an “ethical” being: The six stages of moral reasoning development (Kohlberg) b Stage 1) Punishment and obedience orientation b Stage 2) Instrumental relativist orientation b Stage 3) Interpersonal concordance of good/bad orientation b Stage 4) Law and order orientation b Stage 5) Social-contract legalistic orientation b Stage 6) Universal ethical principle orientation DEVELOPING YOUR ETHICS RADAR DEVELOPING YOUR ETHICS RADAR

18. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 3 Ethical “What’s” (Keith Miller, 1996) b What? Aware b So What? Analyze b Now What? Act

19. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 The Ethics Trail…. The Ethics Trail…. b Opportunity b Intention b Relationships b Actions b Consequences Sliding down the slippery slope occurs one step at a time….

20. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 Prepare to Be Assimilated! From the “Lone Stranger”… To Join a New Collective – The Cyber “Knights” Corps!

21. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 So Why Bother With Ethics? So Why Bother With Ethics? b Special knowledge b Involved in decision-making b Computing pervades society BOTTOM LINE: Practicing IT professionals are more apt to get into trouble as a result of a failure to properly anticipate and handle ethical problems rather than as a result of technical mistakes!

22. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 Results of the Ethics Equation b Quality products b Conservation of resources b Pride in work b Public safety b Timeliness b Good business b National Security b Shoddy products b Waste, fraud, greed b Abuse of expertise b Guilt, fear b Lack of safety b Cutting corners poor design rushed testing b DISASTERS! ETHICAL BEHAVIOR UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR

23. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 Ethics will be THE issue of the 21st Century b Modern recipe for disaster: Highly intelligent IT professionalsHighly intelligent IT professionals Advanced technologiesAdvanced technologies Unethical decisionsUnethical decisions b Remember Chernobyl, Challenger, Pinto, Robert Morris computer virus, Mars lander.....

24. Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004 Copyright Statement Copyright Statement Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004. This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the author.