Computer Ethics

 

What are Ethics?

Ethics is a set of principles and practices that guide how individuals live their lives. Following these standards is not rigidly enforced, but it is primarily for the benefit of everyone involved.

Ethics differ from laws in that they do not state what is right or bad. Ethics exemplifies society's ideas on what is right and wrong.

Computer Ethics:

A set of moral rules that regulate the use of computers is known as computer ethics. It's about how people feel about computers, both hardware, and software. Some of the most common issues in computer ethics are privacy concerns, intellectual property rights, and societal repercussions.

Privacy Concern

• Hacking - is unauthorized access to a computer or network. A hacker can get unauthorized access to other computers by breaking through the security levels of a computer system or network.
• Malware - is malicious software designed to cause harm to a computer system. Viruses, spyware, worms, and trojan horses are examples of common malware. A virus can delete files from a computer's hard disc, whereas spyware can collect data.
• Data protection - also known as information privacy or data privacy, is the act of securing data with the goal of achieving a balance between individual privacy rights and data use for commercial purposes.
• Anonymity - is a technique for masking a user's identity across many applications.

Intellectual Property Rights

• Copyright - is a type of intellectual property that grants the author exclusive publishing, distribution, and usage rights. This means that the author's original concept cannot be used or spread by anybody else without the author's permission.
• Plagiarism - is when someone copies and publishes another person's work without giving proper credit. It's the equivalent of taking someone else's work and passing it off as your own.
• Cracking - is a method of breaking into a system by bypassing the system's security mechanisms. When installing software, it's a way to skip the registration and authentication stages.
• Software License - a license agreement that authorizes the usage of digital information. Users are only granted licenses to use the work based on the agreement; ownership remains with the original copyright owner.

Effects on Society

• Jobs - As computers have taken over corporations and enterprises, certain jobs have been eliminated while others have grown simpler. Things may now be done with only one click when previously, completing a task required numerous steps. This adjustment may be immoral because it limits the employees' abilities.
•         There are also ethical worries about employees being ill as a result of continual sitting, gazing at computer screens, and typing or clicking on the mouse.
• Environmental Impact - Computers and the internet have had an impact on the environment since spending so much time on them increases energy consumption, which increases greenhouse gas emissions.
•         When not in use, we may conserve energy by limiting computer usage, shutting off the computer, or putting it on sleep mode. Purchasing PCs that are Energy Star certified can also benefit the environment.
• Social Impact - People may keep in touch with family and friends via computers and the internet. Nowadays, social media is quite prevalent.
•        Computer gaming has had a beneficial and harmful impact on society. Improved hand-eye coordination, stress alleviation, and strategic thinking are all positive outcomes. Gamers' addiction, separation from the real world, and exposure to violence are all negative consequences.
•       Computer technology aids the government in providing better services to the public. The government's vast data collection and analysis may be stored in an advanced database.
•       Businesses benefit from computer technology because it automates operations, reporting, and analysis.

References: (Computer Ethics | Ethics, Laws, Definition & Privacy, 2022) 

Teach Computer Science. 2022. Computer Ethics | Ethics, Laws, Definition & Privacy. [online] Available at: <https://teachcomputerscience.com/computer-ethics/> [Accessed 11 May 2022].