Computer and Web Ethics free essay sample

With the freedom of the computer has come a multitude of new ethical issues. Computer ethics is a set of moral principles that systematize the use of computers and supervise the behavior of a group or individual. This essay will tell how computer ethics came about. We will discuss the â€Å"Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics. † Having the use of a computer for business, academic, or just for social reasons entitles you to know and follow these ethics. Do you apply computer ethics when spending time on the internet? At the end of this essay ask yourself this question again and give an honest answer. If your answer is no then correct the issue and apply them now. Ethics in computing are social-justice issues, commerce, computer abuse, speech issues, intellectual property, basics, privacy, and risks. We will discuss each of these issues in this essay. By the end of this essay you will have the knowledge of computer and web ethics to apply to your daily use of a computer. The Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics were created in 1992 by the Computer Ethics Institute. The commandments were introduced in the paper In Pursuit of a Ten Commandments for Computer Ethics by Ramon C. Barquin as a means to create a set of standards to guide and instruct people in the ethical use of computers (Fitzpatrick, Carolyn Bronstein 2006). The Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics 1. Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people. 2. Thou shalt not interfere with other peoples computer work. 3. Thou shalt not snoop around in other peoples computer files. 4. Thou shalt not use a computer to steal. 5. Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness. . Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary software for which you have not paid. 7. Thou shalt not use other peoples computer resources without authorization or proper compensation. 8. Thou shalt not appropriate other peoples intellectual output. 9. Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you are writing or the system you are designing. 10. Thou shalt always use a computer in ways that ensure co nsideration and respect for your fellow humans. The â€Å"Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics† cover many concerns of ethics in the technology world today. It covers plagiarism, hacking, identity theft, and social standards. These issues are in the work place, academic areas, and the social network. If people would follow the â€Å"Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics† it would be a start in the fight against ethical problems in the world of computer technology. Computer ethics begin long ago with the invention of computers. MIT professor Norbert Wiener, during WWII in the early 1940s, recognized the consideration of computer ethics. Wiener helped to develop an anti-aircraft cannon with the capability of shooting down fast warplanes. Cybernetics, the science of information feedback systems, was soon created by Wiener and his colleagues. In 1950, Wiener published The Human Use of Human Beings, which described a comprehensive foundation that is still the basis for computer ethics research and analysis (Rebecca Harold, 2006). Donn B. Parker published â€Å"Rules of Ethics in Information Processing† in Communications of the ACM in 1968. Parker headed the first code of Professional Conduct for the Association for Computing Machinery which was adopted by the ACM in 1973 (Rebecca Harold, 2006). In 1978, Maner published the Starter Kit in Computer Ethics, which contained curriculum materials and advice for developing computer ethics courses. Many university courses were put in place because of Maners work (Rebecca Harold, 2006). These were just the beginning of the concept of computer ethics. Today the field has grown in different ways and has developed over time. Growing up parents taught their children at a young age morals and ethics at the top of this list is manors. Manors consist of being polite to others and using appropriate language. Ethics were taught as the children got older. Ethics consist of the dos and don’ts of life do the right things stay clear of the wrong things. Morals and ethics should be involved in all that we do in life. Morals and ethics are important in the computer world as we know it today. Computer and web ethics are the same as the ethics we were taught as children but applied when we are on the computer. Use proper computer and web ethics to make your time on the internet fun and safe for all. Computer ethics covers many fields and areas of the web. Below is a site map of computer ethics. By: Dr. Edward F. Gehringer ([emailprotected] edu). Let’s begin with commerce. Commerce covers many areas like anticompetitive practices, fraud, free trade, and gambling. With gambling, individuals are losing money over the internet when playing some games. The games are getting people hooked and giving them the option to purchase more chips or other gaming items. Social-justice issues covered in the map are downsides of computer age, work place issues, and equity of access. In the work place people need to be professional at all times, this includes computer access. Emails and business letters must be ethical. Some employees have been known to have unauthorized access to business computers during work hours or hacking them after hours. One of the most common problems in computer ethics is computer abuse. Computer abuse is hacking, worms, viruses, Trojan horses, and spamming. Intellectual properties are software privacy, patent and copyright law, electronic copyright. Speech issues covers chain letters, free speech, and netiquette. There is a freedom of speech on most social sites; however, some people take it to an extreme. Foul language is an issue on Facebook which needs to be addressed. People can express themselves without the use of foul language. Privacy covers email privacy, anonymity, encryption, privacy on the web, and database privacy. The basics are principles, whistle blowing, and code of ethics. Risks are taken each time someone logs onto a computer. The risks are computer models, software reliability, artificial intelligence, network security, and software safety (Rebecca Harold, 2006). The theft of computer software is a serious issue. This issue is common in the academic area. Computer ethics are important in the academic world. Students plagiarize papers thinking it is an easy out and that they will not be caught. In some cases students do get away with this but in most cases they are not so lucky. Copying someone else’s work and passing it on as your own is unethical and immoral. If you feel the need to use someone else’s work word for word be sure to cite it properly and reference the work. This will protect you from plagiarism and also give credit to the author as well. Students who are caught plagiarizing or cheating are punished. Punishment can consist of failing grade for the paper, failing the course and having to retake it, the loss of funding, or in some cases being expelled from school and having the issue documented on your personal record. The price for unethical conduct in the academic world is not always worth the short cut. It is better to budget your time wisely or turn the assignment in late, losing a few points would be better than the alternative. The use of the internet is different for many people as shown in the graph below (Susan Wilson, 2011). Computer UsagePercentage Browsing 79% Online Banking 47% Get Product Info 46% Social Networking 46% Playing Games 39% Download/View Videos 39% Download/Listen to Music 38% Listen to Online Radio 38% Pay Bills 22% These usages leave people venerable to hackers and identity theft, two computer ethic issues. However, these usages have also brought a convenience to the public. Online banking and bill pay are convenient and hassle free; however, it can provide information to a hacker and cause the individual financial problems later on. The purchase and download of a secure anti-virus which prevents hacking will be most helpful in these situations. Computer ethics is a set of moral principles that systematize the use of computers and supervise the behavior of a group or individual. Now that you know more about computer and web ethics ask yourself the question again. Do you apply computer ethics when spending time on the internet? What is your answer now? Do you follow the â€Å"Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics? † If your answer is yes, then you conduct proper ethics in computing which are social-justice issues, commerce, computer abuse, speech issues, intellectual property, basics, privacy, and risks. If your answer is yes, then you know and follow the â€Å"Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics. † If you are a student and your education is important to you then take the time to do your own work and to properly cite and reference your papers. The knowledge of computer and web ethics is the first step in defeating the fight against computer neglect and safe internet use for all. So take the time to learn proper computer and web ethics and apply them to your use of the computer and enjoy your computer and web adventures.