Chapter 5

Ethical Implications of IT
Socially Conscionable Citizens
• Moral

• Ethical

• Legal
 Laws Lag Behind
• In 1966, a programmer used computer code
to keep his checking account from being
flagged as overdrawn. When the bank
discovered the crime the programmer could
not be charged with a computer crime
because no computer crime law existed. He
was charged with making false bank records.
 Ethics and Information Services
• Computer ethics
• Importance of computer ethics
– Logical malleability
– The transformation factor
– The invisibility factor
• Invisible programming
• Invisible complex calculations
• Invisible abuse
 Codes of Ethics
• ACM Code of Professional Conduct

• DPMA Code of Ethics

• ICCP Code of Ethics

• ITTA Code of Ethics

ACM Code of Professional Conduct
• As an ACM computing professional person
will..
1 Strive to achieve the highest quality,
effectiveness and dignity in both the process
and products of professional work.
2 Acquire and maintain professional
competence.
3 Know & respect existing laws pertaining to
professional work.
4 Accept & provide appropriate professional
review.
ACM Code of Professional Conduct
• 5 Give comprehensive and thorough
evaluations of computer systems and their
impacts including analysis of possible risks.
6 Honor contracts, agreements, and assigned
responsibilities.
7 Improve public understanding of computing
and its consequences.
8 Access computing and Communication
resources only when authorized to do so.
 Codes of Ethics
DPMA Code of Ethics
Person have an obligation to :
1. management, and shall promote the
understanding of information processing
methods and procedures.
2. my fellow members, and shall treat them
with honesty and respect at all times.
3. society and will participate to the best of my
ability in the dissemination of knowledge.
Further, I shall not use knowledge of a
confidential nature.
 Codes of Ethics
DPMA Code of Ethics
4. my employer whose trust I hold and shall
endeavor to discharge this obligation to the
best of my ability, to guard my employer’s
interests.
5. my country, therefore, in my personal
business and social contacts, I shall uphold
my nation and shall honor the chosen way
of life of my fellow citizens.