This document provides an overview of computer ethics by examining three key areas: copyright and licensing issues, censorship on the internet, and information privacy issues. It traces the history of the field back to Norbert Wiener in the 1940s and discusses how computer technology has evolved rapidly, requiring re-examination of ethics. Ensuring privacy and developing policies to guide ethical computer use are important aspects of the emerging field of computer ethics.

1. Computer Ethics Revised Prepared by: Ieschecia Allen INST 701-05A Fall 2008 October 1, 2008

2. Wow! Let me tell you about a new type of ethics that has emerged. Since the introduction of the World Wide Web, the definition of ethics has evolved. Computer ethics is concerned with examining the social and ethical impacts of information technology. Since 1985, the field of computer ethics has grown rapidly and Goriak (1996) points out computer technology has ethically become revolutionize, requiring human beings to re-examine the foundations of ethics as it is applied to every day life. Introduction

3. Computer technology is the most powerful and flexible technology ever devised. This presentation will give you an overview of the three(3) areas of computer ethics: Copyright and Licensing Issues Censorship and the Internet Information Privacy Issues. Technology should be explored in a social and ethical way to reveal strategies that could be implement to help ensure privacy.

4. History

5. History Computer ethics as a field of study was founded by MIT Professor Norbert Wiener during World War two (early 1940’s) while helping to develop an antiaircraft cannon capable of shooting down fast warplanes. (Bynum, 2000). Ethics, in the classical sense, refers to the rules and the states governing the conduct of an individual with others. As information technology accelerates, so does the human appetite acquire more knowledge.

6. History (con’t) In 1950 Wiener published the computer ethics book, “The Human Use of Human Beings”, which not only established him as the founder of computer ethics, but far more important, laid down a comprehensive computer ethics foundation which remains today (Bynum, 1985). In 1960’s computers help make it possible for “big-brother” government agencies to invade others privacy. This became a public worry and led to book, articles, government studies, and proposed privacy legislation.

7. History (con’t) In 1976’s Walter Maner noticed that there is need for a separate branch of applied ethics, which he dubbed “computer ethics”. In 1985 Deborah Johnson gave created a major textbook on the Computer Ethics and the Ethical Issues that established itself as the standard textbook for university courses.

8. Copyright and Licensing Issues

9. Copyright Issues Computer professionals who design and create new information systems and devices are concern with copyright laws. Copyright is a form of protection provided by laws to the authors of original works, otherwise know as the owners of intellectual property. The copyright protects original authorship. This, of course, applies only to those who wish to obtain the copyright.

10. Copyright Issues The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) authorizes the owner to: Reproduce it; Prepare derivate works based upon it; Distribute copies of it to the public; Perform the work publicly; and Display the work publicly. Only the owner of the copyright itself enjoys the exclusive right of authorizing the making available to the public of copies of the computer program. It is unlawful to distribute copies of computer games / software.

11. Copyright Issues Caching simply means the copying and storing of web pages, current laws do not clearly enough define what should be done in cases of caching. Increasing popularity of computer and the growth of the Internet, copyright laws are more complex. Traditional copyright laws often seem outdated in the ever-changing technological world.

12. Licensing Issues Copying is defined as the use of someone else’s intellectual property, and it is therefore illegal. Ethics will using the internet raises a number of questions about matters like privacy, the security and confidentiality of data, copyright and intellectual property law, pornography, hate sites, the dissemination of character assassination under the quise of news. Some cases you may request from the author(s) permission to reproduce their work. Many authors and publisher have agreement with organizations such as universities and school systems regarding printing and copying materials.

13. Licensing Issues It is risky to use anybody else’s work without explicit permission from the owner. Courts have not fully elucidated the relationship between copyright laws and computer. Responsible users can minimize the chances of lawsuits by always taking care, and ask before using.

14. Censorship and the Internet

15. Censorship Information is now the life and blood of society, its helps to organizations our daily lives. With the advancement of global information and multimedia we are more dependant than ever. To censor something is to look at it more closely, in order to determine whether or not it is obscene, or to ban it if it is obscene. Items such as e-mails, blogs, and spam mail. The First Amendment makes the possibilities of censorship difficulty. Schools and Universities have specific rules and guidelines regarding sending unwanted e-mails, to minors, and spam mail. It is imperative that the new technological process and advancements give the opportunity to block and protect your information while surfing the internet.

16. The Internet The internet has brought information to those who never could have accessed it before. By using computers, the user sometimes loses site of what it appropriate behavior. People all over the world can communicate in a matter of minutes, and families can research their heritage from the comfort of home. When trying to determine if the server you are using for your e-mailing process is correct, just research to make sure that carrier allows for spasm blocking. In receiving and sending e-mails make sure that your are no obscene information passing. Please report any spasm or unwanted information to your carrier.

17. The Internet The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) is the heaviest regulated communications medium in the USA. Several organizations try to maintain the privacy of minors, the most important factor is to those unwanted users off the web. In Technological aspects using computers there are many regulations and rules govern in the school and university system. It users must abide by the rules and if they are broken than the user may lose the privileges of there web site and e-mail carrier.

18. Information Privacy Issues

19. Information Privacy Issues Over the past 223- years the Supreme court has granted privacy protections under, the Fifth and Fourth Amendment. There are no specific laws regarding ethics. Individuals maintain the right to know and see what data is being collected from them, data collection should be limited, specific, and that data collectors will be responsible. There are two aspects of privacy online dealing with computer ethics. Need for protection for yourself. Need to protect your data from strangers.

20. Information Privacy Issues Online staling has been a problem, with people harassing each other, threatening them, or confronting them in person. The CDA state that telecommunications, meaning the internet, e-mail, chat and chat programs, should not be used to purposely harass or intimidate. There are three levels of online privacy provided by systems administrators: Complete Privacy: The administrators agrees not to read any of your e-mail or keep track of where you go on the web. Almost Complete Privacy: The administrators will look at your e-mails and chats if they suspect any sort of illegal activity. No Privacy: here administrators are allowed to look at any email you send.

21. Summary Computers have become one the most powerful technology devices in our world today. The newly emerging field of information technology demonstrates that ethics will be a key factor. Computers provide us with new capabilities and these in turn give us new choices for action. A central task of computer ethics is to determine what we should do in such case to formulate policies to guide our actions. Of course, some ethical situations confront us as individuals and some as a society. Computer ethics includes consideration of both personal and social policies for the ethical use of computer technology. By monitoring the three(3) concepts: a. Copyright and Licensing Issues, b. Censorship and the Internet, and c. Information Privacy. Factors about computer ethics must be address and solved to ensure our constitutional right to privacy.

22. References Bynum, T. (2000). A Very Short History of Computer Ethics. The Research center on Computer Ethics . Retrieved September 9, 2008, from http://www.southernct.edu/organizations/rcs/text- only/resources_t/reserach_t/introducation Bynum, T. & Rogerson, S.(1995). Cyberspace: the ethical frontier. Retrieved September 7, 2008, from http://www.ccsr.cse.dmu.ac.uk/resources./professionalism/developme/theart. html . Copyright: Guardian of Intellectual Property. (n.d). Retrieved September 8, 2008, from http://library.thinkquest.org/26658/cgi- bin/e-1.cgi Goriak, G. (1996). The Computer Revolution and the Problem of Global Ethics in Terrell Ward Bynum and Simon Rogers , eds. Retrieved September 9, 2008, from http://www.southernct.edu/organizations/rcs/text only/resources_t/reserach_t/introducation

23. References Johnson, D. (1999). Computer Ethics in the 21st Century . Retrieved September 9, 2008, from http://www.southernct.edu/organizations/rcs/text- only/resources_t/reserach_t/introducation Johnson, D. (1985). Computer Ethics (2nd Ed). Upper Saddle Rive, NJ: Prentice Hall. Maner, W. (1978). Starter Kit on Teaching Computer Ethics . Retrieved September 9, 2008, from h ttp://www.southernct.edu/organizations/rcs/text- only/resources_t/reserach_t/introducation

24. References The Intersection of Copyright and Computers . (n.d.). Retrieved September 8, 2008, from http://library.thinkquest.org/26658/cgi- bin/e-1.cgi