recipe for disaster: it without ethics dr. c. dianne martin professor and chair computer science...

Recipe for Disaster:Recipe for Disaster:IT without EthicsIT without Ethics

Dr. C. Dianne MartinDr. C. Dianne Martin

Professor and ChairProfessor and ChairComputer Science DepartmentComputer Science Department

Cyber Security Policy and Research InstituteCyber Security Policy and Research Institute

The George Washington UniversityThe George Washington University

Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004

Welcome to the Welcome to the Moral High Ground!Moral High Ground!


The Chernobyl LessonThe Chernobyl Lesson The Chernobyl LessonThe Chernobyl Lesson

This was no accident!This was no accident!Modern disaster lessonModern disaster lesson::• Highly intelligent engineers Highly intelligent engineers

and scientistsand scientists

• Advanced technologiesAdvanced technologies

• Unethical decisionsUnethical decisions


Why Ethics in IT?Why Ethics in IT?


Unique Aspects of Information Unique Aspects of Information Technology with Ethical IssuesTechnology with Ethical Issues

Intangible nature of electronic informationIntangible nature of electronic information Increasing dependency of societyIncreasing dependency of society Separation of information from the mediumSeparation of information from the medium Mixture of information on same mediaMixture of information on same media Plunging costs: value is on data, not mediaPlunging costs: value is on data, not media Huge volume: hard to monitor, audit pathHuge volume: hard to monitor, audit path Speed: point of irretrievability is soonerSpeed: point of irretrievability is sooner Complexity: approaching chaos?Complexity: approaching chaos? Impact of a single electronic transactionImpact of a single electronic transaction


Ethics DefinedEthics Defined Ethics DefinedEthics Defined

Study of human moralityStudy of human morality Determining values in human conductDetermining values in human conduct Deciding the “right thing to do” - based Deciding the “right thing to do” - based

upon a set of normsupon a set of norms In IT:In IT:• dealing with colleaguesdealing with colleagues• dealing with clientsdealing with clients• dealing with employeesdealing with employees• dealing with “users’dealing with “users’• dealing with publicdealing with public


Raise awareness - ethics radarRaise awareness - ethics radar Make decisions – make the right choiceMake decisions – make the right choice Take action – do the right thingTake action – do the right thing Personal integrity and self-respectPersonal integrity and self-respect # 1 element of professional reputation# 1 element of professional reputation Good Ethics -> Good Business!Good Ethics -> Good Business!

Why Focus on Ethics?Why Focus on Ethics?


Is IT a Profession?Is IT a Profession?

Examples of professionals: Examples of professionals: doctors, nurses, teachers, doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers, engineers, lawyers, engineers, accountants, professors! accountants, professors!

What about plumbers, actors, What about plumbers, actors, writers, artists, bricklayers, writers, artists, bricklayers, builders?builders?

What is the difference?What is the difference?


IT as an Ethical ProfessionIT as an Ethical ProfessionIT as an Ethical ProfessionIT as an Ethical Profession

What is a Profession?What is a Profession?

• Special expertiseSpecial expertise• Shared moral valuesShared moral values• Dependent publicDependent public• Self-regulationSelf-regulation• Promote, protect right actionsPromote, protect right actions

The responsibility to be ethical The responsibility to be ethical The right to be ethical The right to be ethical Values embedded in technologyValues embedded in technology


ACM Code of Ethics and ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (1992)Professional Conduct (1992)

1.1. General Moral ImperativesGeneral Moral Imperatives

2. Specific Professional 2. Specific Professional ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

3. Organizational Leadership 3. Organizational Leadership ImperativesImperatives

4. Compliance with Code4. Compliance with Code


1.1. General Moral ImperativesGeneral Moral Imperatives

1.1 Contribute to society1.1 Contribute to society1.2 Avoid harm to others1.2 Avoid harm to others1.3 Be honest and trustworthy1.3 Be honest and trustworthy1.4 Be fair and not discriminate1.4 Be fair and not discriminate1.5 Honor property rights1.5 Honor property rights1.6 Credit intellectual property1.6 Credit intellectual property1.7 Respect privacy of others1.7 Respect privacy of others1.8 Honor confidentiality1.8 Honor confidentiality


2. Specific Professional 2. Specific Professional ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

2.1 Strive for quality in work2.1 Strive for quality in work

2.2 Maintain professional competence2.2 Maintain professional competence

2.3 Respect for laws on professional work2.3 Respect for laws on professional work

2.4 Facilitate professional review2.4 Facilitate professional review

2.5 Evaluate impacts and risks2.5 Evaluate impacts and risks

2.6 Honor contracts and agreements2.6 Honor contracts and agreements

2.7 Improve public understanding of IT2.7 Improve public understanding of IT

2.8 Access data only when authorized2.8 Access data only when authorized


3. Organizational 3. Organizational Leadership ImperativesLeadership Imperatives

3.1 Encourage social responsibility3.1 Encourage social responsibility

3.2 Manage personnel and resources to 3.2 Manage personnel and resources to enhance quality of lifeenhance quality of life

3.3 Support proper computer uses3.3 Support proper computer uses

3.4 Ensure user input in design of systems3.4 Ensure user input in design of systems

3.5 Protect dignity of users3.5 Protect dignity of users

3.6 Create learning opportunities3.6 Create learning opportunities


4. Compliance with Code4. Compliance with Code

4.1 Uphold and promote principles 4.1 Uphold and promote principles of this Codeof this Code

4.2 Treat violations of this Code as 4.2 Treat violations of this Code as inconsistent with membership in inconsistent with membership in ACMACM


Functions of an Ethics CodeFunctions of an Ethics Code

Enabling documentEnabling document Source of public evaluationSource of public evaluation Professional socializationProfessional socialization Enhance reputation of professionEnhance reputation of profession Deterrent to unethical behaviorDeterrent to unethical behavior Support system to membersSupport system to members Adjudication of controversiesAdjudication of controversies


You as an “ethical” being:You as an “ethical” being:The six stages of moral reasoning The six stages of moral reasoning development (Kohlberg)development (Kohlberg)

Stage 1) Punishment and obedience orientation Stage 1) Punishment and obedience orientation Stage 2) Instrumental relativist orientation Stage 2) Instrumental relativist orientation Stage 3) Interpersonal concordance of good/bad Stage 3) Interpersonal concordance of good/bad

orientation orientation Stage 4) Law and order orientation Stage 4) Law and order orientation Stage 5) Social-contract legalistic orientationStage 5) Social-contract legalistic orientation Stage 6) Universal ethical principle orientation Stage 6) Universal ethical principle orientation

DEVELOPING YOUR ETHICS RADARDEVELOPING YOUR ETHICS RADAR


3 Ethical “What’s”3 Ethical “What’s”(Keith Miller, 1996)(Keith Miller, 1996)

What? AwareWhat? AwareSo What? AnalyzeSo What? Analyze

Now What? ActNow What? Act


The Ethics Trail….The Ethics Trail….

OpportunityOpportunity IntentionIntentionRelationshipsRelationshipsActionsActionsConsequencesConsequencesSliding down the slippery slope Sliding down the slippery slope

occurs one step at a time….occurs one step at a time….


Prepare to Be Assimilated!Prepare to Be Assimilated!

From the “Lone Stranger”…

To Join a New Collective – The Cyber “Knights” Corps!


So Why Bother With Ethics?So Why Bother With Ethics? So Why Bother With Ethics?So Why Bother With Ethics?

Special knowledgeSpecial knowledgeInvolved in decision-makingInvolved in decision-makingComputing pervades societyComputing pervades society

BOTTOM LINE: Practicing IT professionals BOTTOM LINE: Practicing IT professionals are more apt to get into trouble as a result are more apt to get into trouble as a result of a failure to properly anticipate and handle of a failure to properly anticipate and handle ethical problems rather than as a result of ethical problems rather than as a result of technical mistakes!technical mistakes!


Results of the Ethics EquationResults of the Ethics EquationResults of the Ethics EquationResults of the Ethics Equation

Quality productsQuality products Conservation of Conservation of

resourcesresources Pride in workPride in work Public safetyPublic safety TimelinessTimeliness Good businessGood business National SecurityNational Security

Shoddy productsShoddy products Waste, fraud, greedWaste, fraud, greed Abuse of expertiseAbuse of expertise Guilt, fearGuilt, fear Lack of safetyLack of safety Cutting cornersCutting corners• poor designpoor design• rushed testingrushed testing

DISASTERS!DISASTERS!

ETHICAL BEHAVIOR UNETHICAL BEHAVIORETHICAL BEHAVIOR UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR


Ethics will be THE issue Ethics will be THE issue of the 21st Centuryof the 21st CenturyEthics will be THE issue Ethics will be THE issue of the 21st Centuryof the 21st Century

Modern recipe for disaster:Modern recipe for disaster:• Highly intelligent IT professionalsHighly intelligent IT professionals• Advanced technologiesAdvanced technologies• Unethical decisionsUnethical decisions

Remember Chernobyl, Challenger, Remember Chernobyl, Challenger, Pinto, Robert Morris computer virus, Pinto, Robert Morris computer virus, Mars lander.....Mars lander.....


Copyright StatementCopyright Statement

Copyright C. Dianne Martin, 2004.This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the author.

recipe for disaster: it without ethics dr. c. dianne martin professor and chair computer science...

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