Computer Ethics & Social Issues

1. Computer Ethics & Social Issues Ethics for IT Workers & IT Users

2. Why are we here? • Ethics, Morality & Laws • Course emphasizes ETHICS • Ethics as it applies to Information Technology • Scope of IT is broad • Professionalism? • Audit Compliance? • Legal Compliance?

3. Professionalism • Merriam-Webster’s Definition: • “The skill, good judgment, and polite behavior that is expected from a person who is trained to do a job well.” • Go to work, do what is expected of you, play well with others, make educated decisions, go home. • Ethical behavior??

4. U.S. Legal Definition • 5 U.S. CODE CHAPTER 71, SUBCHAPTER I§ 7103 • “Professionals” exhibit the following: • Prolonged, specialized institutional instruction from higher learning or a hospital • Require consistent exercise of discretion and judgment • Predominantly intellectual and varied in character (not manual or mundane work) • Output of produced work cannot be standardized

5. Are IT Workers Professionals? • Not from a legal perspective!! • Why?? • IT workers are not licensed by the state or federal government. • Example of a “legal” professional: • Doctors, Lawyers, etc.

6. IT Professionals • Should IT workers become licensed by the government? • Pros? • Cons?

7. Professional Services Community • IT Workers are “members” • Lack of a legal classification does not remove the need for professionals in an industry • Educated IT professionals respond to the varied needs of society • Customer needs - Modularization • Governance - Globalization • Connectivity - Commoditization • Transparency

8. Professional Relationships • Employers • Step 1 • Arrive at work on time, adhering to code of dress and hygiene, fully prepared to perform tasks consistent with job description and “other tasks as assigned” • Step 2 • …. • Step 3 • Profit!!

9. How To Get Fired

10. Trade Secrets • Confidential information about a business product which is meant to be kept confidential to deter business risk • The Colonel’s secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices • Coke formula • Non-disclosure agreements • Legal contract promising to not reveal secret information to the public… “On my Honor”

11. Whistleblowing • “Is an effort by an employee to attract attention to a negligent, illegal, unethical, abusive, or dangerous act by a company that threatens the public interest.”

13. Edward Snowden • IT Professional formerly employed by the CIA before joining the NSA • “Blew the whistle” upon many NSA programs, revealing the tools, strategies, and relationships of key NSA surveillance operations, both foreign and domestic

14. Whistleblowing – Good or Bad? • Snowden is a Hero to some • NY Times: “Considering the enormous value of the information he has revealed, and the abuses he has exposed, Mr. Snowden deserves better than a life of permanent exile, fear and flight.” • To others, Snowden is a Traitor • Former CIA director James Woolsey: “He should be prosecuted for treason. If convicted by a jury of his peers, he should be hanged by his neck until he is dead.”

15. Professional Relationships • IT Workers & Clients • Quid Pro Quo • Provide hardware, software, or process within a given time frame in exchange for compensation, access, work space, etc. – all under contract • Consulting or third-party association

16. Ethical issues with Clients • Conflict of interest • Working for self-interest • Influence client for employer’s gain • Personal relationships • Fraud • Steal secrets, espionage • Misrepresentation • Breach of contract

17. Professional Relationships • IT Workers & Suppliers • Hardware, software, service • Dell • HP • Microsoft • Oracle

18. Ethical issues with Suppliers • Bribery • Kickback or a Gift?? • Kickback: • Made in secret, ethically or legally questionable, indirectly distributed and encourage favorable action toward donor • Gift: • Made publicly in friendship or goodwill, directly distributed with no expectation of a future favor for the donor • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

19. Ethical issues with Other Professionals • Dishonesty • Lying, exaggerating • Resume inflation • Selling yourself too well • Overeager Conversation • Inappropriate sharing of corporate information • SOCIAL ENGINEERING

20. Ethical issues with Users and Society • Users • Help Desk, Service Desk, *head hits desk* • Understand and care about customer support • Educate users about security and software piracy • Society • Minimize public risk • Green computing • Proper design of nuclear power plant control systems

21. Ethics & Professionalism

22. Professional Code of Ethics • “A statement of the core values and principles that are essential to the work of a particular occupational group.” • Example: • Medical field • Hippocratic Oath … 2000 years old!! IT is relatively very, very new!! • No universal code of ethics for IT workers

23. Professional Organizations • Societies of like-minded IT workers striving to create an ethical environment for the field • No single preeminent organization… take your pick! • ACM – academic • IEEE – engineering • AITP – industrial • SANS – information security

24. Certification • Seal of Approval • Indicates that the possessor of the certification possesses the particular set of skills, knowledge, or abilities per the opinion of the certifying body • Not the same as licensure!!!!!!! • A license applies only to people and is a legal requirement • A license is not voluntary!! • Licenses have a universally-accepted body of knowledge, backed by legal mandate

25. Vendor Certification • Bestowed by the manufacturer of a product or the designer of a service • May be required by potential employers for consideration of hire

26. Industry Association Certifications • Generally require a greater level of experience and a broader perspective than vendor certifications • Typically sought from higher than entry-level job applicants

27. IT Professional Malpractice • Mentioned in the text in Chapter 2, more of a Chapter 3 issue • Emphasis is on the lack of licensure of IT professionals makes for a very difficult legal argument to prosecute IT professional malpractice. • Most legal action is of either contractual breach, trade secret, intellectual property, or criminal behavior • Still… be very, very paranoid!!

28. Common Ethical issues for IT Users • Software Piracy • Why pay when you can torrent? • Inappropriate Use • Is it unethical to use an employer’s computer to view porn? • Inappropriate Sharing of Information • Information is free, right??

29. Chelsea Elizabeth Manning • Formerly known as PFC Bradley Manning • Inappropriately disclosed sensitive military and diplomatic information to Wikileaks • Charged with violating both the Espionage Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, stealing government property and multiple counts of disobeying orders • Sentenced to 35 years confinement, reduction in pay grade to E-1, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and dishonorable discharge

30. Questions • Are you ethical at work? At school? At play? • Have you ever acted unethically without knowing it? Is ignorance of the rules defense against punishment? • Are all professional ethics requirements imposed by an employer necessarily Good? Does morality matter at work?