Computer Ethics

A Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics (see Appendix A) was first presented by Dr. Ramon C. Barquin’s in his paper for the Computer Ethics Institute of the Brookings Institution entitled, “In Pursuit of a ‘Ten Commandments’ for Computer Ethics” in May of 1992. 

Computer ethics is about principles related to behavior and decisions made by computer professionals and users, including software engineers, operators, managers, policy makers, as well as educators and students. This means all these people involved should be supported with some “policies for ethical conduct” i.e. policies that guide their actions and increase adequacy of the decisions they make. (Szejko par. 1) With the rapid infusion of computers, software and related technologies into homes, schools and businesses, we initially focused our energies on learning about the technologies and how to use them. We now need to focus our attention on the ethical issues surrounding technology to insure that we and our children  understand and practice values important to all of us; respect for others, their property, ownership, and the right to privacy.

There are various interpretations of the term “computer ethics.” Computer ethics might be understood in one sense as the efforts of professional philosophers to apply traditional ethical theories and concepts to issues regarding the use of computer technology. However, it is possible to construe computer ethics in another sense to include standards of professional practice, codes of conduct, and aspects of computer law, public policy, and corporate ethics.
Information technology has affected our home life, our business life, and our relationships with others. It has also affected us in regards to education, freedom, and democracy. And the way it has affected us has not always been for the better. That is one of the reasons why it is so important to develop a code of ethics for computers and the IT field.

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