1 / 11

Computers and Society: The Power and Challenges of Technology

Explore the impact of computer technology on society, including issues of privacy, computer crime, and constitutional rights. Discuss the benefits and risks of using computers, as well as the need for regulations and ownership of data. Discover the importance of communication issues such as encryption and wiretapping.

theodoresantiago
Download Presentation

Computers and Society: The Power and Challenges of Technology

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Chapter 14 Social and Legal Issues

  2. Chapter Outline • A gift of fire • Here, there, everywhere • Privacy • The Computer said so • Computer crime • Constitutional and civil liberties issues • Communication issues: encryption and wiretapping

  3. A Gift of Fire • Computer technology, most people agree, is the most significant new technology since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. • Can do many goods. • But like fire, the power of computers has introduced serious problems: million-dollar thefts, potential loss of privacy, breakdowns of large, complex systems such as communication networks and banking systems.

  4. Level 6 • Examine relationships between the use of computers and law, work, public policy, ethics, responsibility, science, freedom of action, and quality of life.

  5. Benefits • Information services • Consumer services • Communications • Education • Entertainment • Medical equipment and research … • Bring changes…

  6. Privacy • Government databases • Unauthorized use by insiders • Inadvertent leakage of information through negligence or carelessness • Propagation of errors and the harm caused by them • Intentional uses that some people find objectionable. • Big Brother’s Files • Fifty little brothers

  7. How to Protect Privacy • Using trusted 3rd party • Audit trail • Encryption • Informed consent • Issues • Regulation • Ownership of data • Contracts

  8. The Computer Said So • Many people still think the computer is always right. • Major failures do occur. • How much should we rely on computers? Consider risks and benefits • Case study on evaluating computer models: crashing cars and global warming

  9. Computer Crime • Fraud, embezzlement, and theft • Stealing data • Hacking or cracking • Viruses and worms

  10. Constitutional and civil liberties issues • Censorship versus Freedom of speech: Communications Decency ACT (CDA), 1996 • Search and seizure and freedom of the electronic “press” • More freedom-of-speech issues on the Internet

  11. Communication Issues • Use of encryption • The wiretapping law

More Related