This document discusses four main ethical issues related to cyberethics: privacy, property, accuracy, and access. It provides examples of how each can present challenges on the internet. Privacy is threatened as technology increases our data collection. Accuracy is difficult to determine online as information quality varies. Property issues arise around intellectual property rights for online content. Widespread access enables controversial issues to become more prominent online. The document also outlines elements of Malaysian cyber law and provides guidance on computer ethics for professionals and users.

1. LAW 483
CYBERETHICS
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2. What is Ethics?
If we are going to examine ethical issues on the Internet, it is
first necessary to define ethics.
Today, we regard ethics as a “rational process founded on
certain principles.”
However, definition that is more applicable is the ethical
theory that existed in ancient Greece.
There, ethics was the study of what was good for both the
individual and the society.
Here, we will look at some online issues and how they may be
good and/ or bad for society.
Cyberethics is the study of ethics on the Internet.
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3. PRIVACY PROPERTY
FOUR MAIN
ETHICAL ISSUES
ACCURACY ACCESS
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4. PRIVACY The technology
around us increase
so does the threat
A few years ago, Florida lawmakers to our privacy.
gave the go ahead to have monitors
stationed in bathrooms at
Tallahassee Community College to
determine if the facilities were
being underutilized.
Students and faculties strongly
protested that the monitors
violated their privacy.
State officials said that the value of
information gained through the
study was more important than the
threat to the privacy.
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5. ACCURACY
•Information educates.
•Misinformation effaces.
•A wealth of information resides on the Net.
•However, sometimes it is difficult to discern/distinguish the
truth from the trash, the nugget of valuable information from
the hearsay, supposition, inference and opinion.
•A poignant illustration of this is the Drudge Report.
Matt Drudge often reports on rumors and speculation and
rarely reinforces his stories with specific sources.
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6. PROPERTY
•WHO has the rights to intellectual property on the internet?
Issue : When one is constructing his Web page, whether
it is ethical to lift an image from someone’s homepage
and use it on his webpage without crediting the source.
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7. Access
•One reason that topics such as online gambling and
pornography have become such firestorms of controversy in
cyberspace is the simple fact that so many people have access to
the Web sites.
•Obviously, pervasive societal issues warrant more attention
surreptitious issues.
•Simply put, if no one had access to online pornography no one
would care.
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8. Identify the Elements of Malaysian Cyber Law
i. Computer Ethics
ii. Code of Ethics
iii. Intellectual Property
Ethics is the branch of philosophy concerned
with:
a. what is right.
b. What is wrong.
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9. Computer Ethics for Computer
Professionals
• The field of computer ethics specifies ethical codes for
computing professionals.
• The core of a computer professional’s code of ethics is
to preserve and protect human life from harm.
Computer causes new ethical problems and issues:
Computer ethics also deals with the ethical principles associated with those
problems.
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10. What is code of ethics?
code of ethics
A group of ethical Developed by
behavior rules organizations or by a
professional society
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11. Code of Ethics
 Act with integrity, competence, diligence, respect and on an
ethical manner with the public, clients, employers, employees
and colleagues.
 Interest in profession and clients above personal interest.
 Practice and encourage others to practice in an ethical manner.
 Promote integrity of ethical markets.
 Improve professional competence.
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12. Computer Ethics for Computer Users
Respect yourself Respect others
When using the
college’s computers
Respect academic
integrity
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13. Respect yourself
If you obtain an account and password to use the
campus computer system, don’t give your password
to others. They could do something that gets you in
trouble.
In addition, don’t say or do anything on the internet
that could reflect poorly on you, even if you think no
one will ever found out.
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14. Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics
1. Don’t use a computer to harm other people.
2. Don’t interfere with other people’s computer work.
3. Don’t snoop around in other people’s files.
4. Don’t use a computer to steal.
5. Don’t use a computer to bear false witness.
6. Don’t copy or use proprietary software for which you have
not paid.
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15. 7. Don’t use other people’s computer resources without
authorization or proper compensation.
8. Don’t appropriate other people’s intellectual output.
9. Do think about the social consequences of the program
you write or the system you design.
10. Do use a computer in ways that show consideration and
respect for your fellow humans.
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16. Respect Others
You shouldn’t use a computer to threaten or
harass anyone.
Avoid using more than your share of
computing resources, such as disk space.
If you publish a Web page on your college’s
computers, remember that your page’s
content affects the college’s public image.
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17. Respect academic integrity
Always give credit for text you’ve copied from
the internet.
Obtain permission before you copy pictures.
Don’t copy or distribute software unless the
license specifically says you can.
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