1. Information Technology Ethical Challenges
Sherri Shade

2. Ethics
eth•ic Pronunciation: (eth'ik), [key] —n. 1. the body of moral principles or values governing or distinctive of a particular culture or group: the Christian ethic; the tribal ethic of the Zuni. 2. a complex of moral precepts held or rules of conduct followed by an individual: a personal ethic.
Webster’s Dictionary

3. IT and Ethics Who is responsible? Who is affected?
Should IT Professionals be in the ethics business?
Training
Refer ethical issues to HR
Development
Implementation
Application

4. Ethical Behaviors? Is your 80 gigabyte hard drive full?
Music and videos
That sure is a great music where did you get it?
Downloading of music from the web
Have you given a friend a copy of your Microsoft Project software?
Software Piracy
Did you read the confidential company file that was accidentally attached to your ?
Computer abuse
Did you gain access to the network and invade other workers s and files?
You formatted your hard drive prior to leaving your company because you were angry about leaving.
Destruction of property

5. Information Technology Ethics
Deal with proper use of technology devices, data, services, and software.
Prior to Technology it may have been easier to know whether the activity was right or wrong
Virtual World
Judging behaviors is no longer straight forward
Ethical or Unethical?
A student downloads a sexually explicit picture from the Internet on a computer in the school library. Other students are able to see the picture
A student finds the teacher’s password to the school’s information system and uses it to change his grades and vi the grades of other students.
A student uses the copy and paste commands to place large parts of an electronic article into an assigned paper. She turns the paper in as her own work
A student makes a copy of a software program borrowed from another student to use on his computer at home.
A student downloads a graphic file from the web to place on his own webpage. However, he does provide a link to the author’s site.
A student uses another student’s project website as a guideline.
A student copies a previous published story in his own handwriting and submits it as his own work.
For many of us this is not difficult to figure out that these are not ethical decisions
Perhaps even without technology the same or similar activity may have occurred. Because of the implementation of technology these activities are easier execute perhaps don’t seem as bad.
Technology is actual the catalyst or the enabler to clouding our understanding and choices

6. Information Technology Ethics
New ethical considerations may be required with technology capabilities
spamming
Does the fact that the financial burden of unsolicited ads etc. now falls on the recipient not the sender create new rules?
Digital photography
What obligations does a anyone have to present an undoctored photo, even if the message is not as good as the digitally enhanced photo?
Pornography access
What security measures need to be put in place by schools, parents, companies and libraries to keep individuals from seeing inappropriate materials?
Intellectual property
Do we need better/clearer definitions of property?
Globalization of the organization
What do we need to better understand cultures, language, and behaviors?

7. Information Technology Ethics
Some users view their computing actions as less serious than their actions in the “real world”
Examples:
Stealing software from a store – no way! ….
However, SW piracy costs businesses billions of dollars per year
Most of us would not pick a lock to someone’s house
However, guessing passwords to gain access to a website, information, or programs is a common
Sometimes the technology is not well understood…romance and fear may accompany a new technologies.
Movies, books, TV capitalize on this fear and romance and make unethical or illegal actions seem heroic, or necessary

8. The Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics
Computer Ethics Institute

9. Challenges: Code of Ethics
No Form of licensing for computer professionals
Results in no real way to enforce ethical standards within the computing field
There is movement within the industry to create a licensing process but there are many issues to be resolved
What will be included on the exam?
How often will an IT professional be required to renew the license?
Developed by several organizations
Adoption
Implementation
Monitoring
Example:

10. Challenges: Web Design
Implementation of features
Pop ups
Blocking/filters
Aliases and redirecting
Cookies
Privacy policies
Security policies
Spyware
Use of other design features
Javascript
Graphics - pictures, buttons, logos, icons
Content
Design layout
Accountability/responsibility
Outdated material, inaccurate material

11. Challenges: Commerce Fraud Taxation Free Trade Gambling Auctions
Spamming
Who were Canter and Siegel?
Spamming cell phones?
Term papers for sale
Atlanta Journal Constitution aritcle

12. Challenges: Workplace
Accessibility
Ergonomics
Outsourcing
Telecommuting
Customer relationships – Vendor relationships
Should IT professionals be in the ethics business or should other areas of the business handle these issues?
Monitoring
Should your employer have the right to monitor private messages?
What are the two most popular Web sites for American workers? Playboy and ESPN
Playboy and ESPN

13. Challenges:Workplace
62% of employers monitor employees' and Internet use.
68% cite legal liability as the primary reason to monitor.
87% of companies that monitor have a written Policy,
83.1% an Internet Policy,
68% a Software Policy.
51% of employers have disciplined or terminated employees for violating ePolicy.
35% of organizations have retention & deletion policies in place.
10% of companies have been ordered by courts to turn over employee related to workplace lawsuits.
8.3% of organizations have battled sexual harassment and/or sexual discrimination claims stemming from employee and/or Internet use.
Source: The 2001 Electronic Policies & Practices Survey from The American Management Association, US News & World Report, and The ePolicy Institute-Click Here for Survey Results.

14. Music Downloads Risk of getting caught
Studies have shown that a majority of the people who share music on the Internet are aware that their actions are illegal, said Michael McGuire, a analyst with the Gartner Group. ``But they also know that the chances of getting caught are pretty remote''
Why is “getting caught remote”?
There are an estimated 60 million peer-to-peer network subscribers in the United States alone, with tens of millions more in other countries
The RIAA is seeking out people who make their music files available for others to download.
The networks have features that allow users to block others from downloading their files but allow them to continue to download files

15. Challenges: Speech Net Etiquette Email privacy Free Speech
privacy policy
“Flaming” – insulting, argumentative or chastising replies to messages
Free Speech
Accountability and responsibility for web content
Abortion sites
Outdated information
Accurate information
Privacy and security policies
Porn
Professors pc – filled with porn, found by pc maintenance workers
Visa – won’t give permission to be used on offensive or pornographic sites
Hate
MACHADO CASE
Internet Filters
Should filters be in schools or libraries, and /or should they be mandated by law?
Filters can also be set up to filter out other subjects, would this be an ethical violation?
Chain Letters

16. Challenges: Computing Resource Abuse
Computers in the Workplace and the Classroom
Use or Abuse
Internet Access
Instant Messenger
Laptop use in the classroom
Legal document
Can be modified
Flaming
Access
Computer Usage policy
policy

17. Challenges: Computing Resource Abuse
Computer Crime
Viruses
Hackers
Theft
“These cyber swindles and dot-cons present new challenges to law enforcement” said John Ashcroft
US Charges 135 With Net Crimes

18. Challenges: Privacy
Privacy issues are at the top of the list in regards to ethical use of information.
Loss of control
Misuse of information
Risk to physical privacy
Risk of identity theft (video)
Unwanted intrusions into daily life
USA Patriot Act (post 9/11)
Efforts to detect and deter terrorist activity
Datamining corporate data
Loss of business and risk of lawsuits due customers being outraged at their loss of data privacy
Cookies
Privacy policies

19. Challenges: Intellectual Property
Electronic Copyright
Licensing
Interoperability
Cyberlicenses
Shrinkwrap
Shareware
Freeware
MP3
RIAA court case against college students
University Internet Usage policies
Internet Downloads
Files
Graphics
Text

20. Challenges: Intellectual Property
Patent, trade secrets, and copyright law
Who owns the program
Who owns the algorithm
Software Piracy
Why shouldn't I use pirated software? Who am I hurting by doing so?
Piracy exists in everywhere.
Loss of revenue hurts everyone.
All software piracy is illegal and Software piracy is unethical.
Various studies have found that the software industry loses approximately $12 billion every year .
State Industry Study
CD-RW

21. Challenges: Other Decision making using Expert Systems
Network Security
Software accuracy and reliability who is ethically responsible?
Therac-25 Accidents
Killer Robots
The Hughes Whistleblowing Case

22. Conclusion: Some Ideas to Ponder
Computer ethics today is now a global effort
The gap among the rich and poor nations, rich and poor citizens exists. How can it be eliminated or reduced eithically and morally to provide information and services that will move them to into the world of cyberspace?
Will the poor be cut off from job opportunities, education, entertainment, medical care, shopping, voting - because they cannot afford a connection to the global information network?
Whose laws will apply in cyberspace when hundreds of countries are incorporated into the global network?
What happened? Where did our knowing right from wrong go too?
Are we missing an opportunity to introduce ethics at an early age in children by not integrating these thoughts and practices in video games?
Should more controls and regulations be introduced into the system? Will they actually help to improve our moral and ethical behavior?
Unethical behavior continues to permeate industry, what measures, policies, codes of conduct be changed to change this behavior?

23. Works Cited: