An intro to cyberethics

1. AN ABC OF
CYBERETHICS
Yamith José Fandiño Parra

2. Terms
• Cybertechnology: A broad spectrum of technologies that range from stand-
alone computers to the cluster of networked computing, information, and
communication technologies.
• Computer ethics: The field that examines moral issues pertaining to
computing and information technology.
• Information ethics: A cluster of ethical concerns regarding the flow of
information that is either enhanced or restricted by computer technology.
• Cyberethics better captures broad range of ethical issues. It is more
comprehensive as it includes issues related to the Internet as well as issues with
the workplace, professional responsibility, networked communication systems,
and the development and use of cybertechnology.

3. Cyberethics as a Branch of
Applied Ethics
• Cyberethics, as a field of study, can be understood as a branch of applied
ethics. Applied ethics because it examines practical ethical issues.

4. Computer Ethics/Cyberethics
Evolution
Phase 1 (50s &
60’s)
Phase 2 (70’s &
80’s)
Phase 3 (90’s –
present)
Phase 4 (Present –
near future)
Computing
technology.
Thinking machines
and big brother
(privacy and
surveillance)
Convergence of
computer and
communication
technologies.
Personal privacy,
intellectual property,
and computer crime.
Available internet
and web-based
technologies.
Free speech,
anonymity,
jurisdiction, trust,
and lack of
boundaries.
Convergence of
technologies,
bioinformatics and
computational
genomics.
Artificial electronic
agents,
nanocomputing, and
bioinformatics.
Development of the field according to Terrell Bynum

5. Cyberethics : Three Distinct
Perspectives
Perspective 1: Cyberethics as a Field of Professional Ethics.
The field can best be understood as identifying and analyzing issues of
ethical responsibility and obligation for computer and information-
technology (IT) professionals.
The principal focus of analysis of this field is on issues of moral
responsibility that affect individuals as members of IT-related professions.
Professional ethics issues typically involve concerns of responsibility and
obligation affecting individuals as members of a certain profession.

6. Cyberethics: Three Distinct
Perspectives
Perspective 2: Cyberethics as a field of philosophical ethics.
Philosophical ethics issues include broader concerns— social policies as well as
individual behavior—that affect everyone in society.
Moral issues involving privacy, security, property, and free speech can affect everyone,
including individuals who have never even used a computer.
The standard methodology used by philosophical ethicists is:
1. identify a controversial practice as a moral problem,
2. describe and analyze the problem, and
3. apply moral theories in order to reach a position about the moral issue.

7. Cyberethics As A Branch Of
Applied Ethics: Three Distinct
Perspectives
Perspective 3: Cyberethics as a Field of Sociological/Descriptive Ethics.
Normative studies focus on evaluating what ought to be the case (idealistic) whereas
descriptive studies focus on reporting what is the case (realistic). In other words,
these studies focus on how members of groups and cultures view moral issues.
Descriptive cyberethics often describe sociological aspects of a particular moral
issue, such as the social impact of a specific technology on a particular
community or social group.
Instead, normative cyberethics often consider the legal aspects of a particular
moral issue, such as the lack of access to technology for some groups.

8. REFERENCE
Tavani, H. (2013). Ethics And Technology. Controversies, Questions, and
Strategies for Ethical Computing (4th edition). USA: Wiley.