ethics in information technology

Electronic Information Systems of ethics:

Electronic Information Systems of ethics By Michele Hall

Ethical questions:

Ethical questions 1. Does new technology create ethical dilemmas? a) By way of speed and efficiency of local and global networks, databases, and programs that process information b) We are made to confront new types of rights and responsibilities in the way we use information c) We have to reconsider standards of conduct 2. What is the importance of Ethics? a) The new developments in information systems have social and political relationships. b) Decisions of ethics come into play on how information can be used. c) All levels of government, workplaces, and private sector are now effected by electronic systems in some fashion. d) Legal and ethical decisions are needed in order to balance the rights of everyone.

Ethical Questions cont’d:

Ethical Questions cont’d 3. Does Ethics help fill in the gaps when legal decisions are not up to par? a) Legal decisions tend to lag behind technical developments. b) Ethics fill the gap as they negotiate how the use of electronic information should go forward. 4. What are some Ethical issues that are specific to Electronic Information Systems? a) Moral choices that are made by individuals that affect the rest of the community, what the standards of behavior are, and the rules that govern members of particular professions. b) Issues include the control of and the access to information, privacy, and the misuse of the data, and considerations of international access. c) This covers the electronic networks, electronic databases, and geographic information systems.

Networking questions:

Networking questions 1. What defines a network? a) A set of computers that communicate with each other. b) They can be within institutions, companies, or organizations. c) They can be a small system that is connected to other organization’s computers. 2. Are networks a source of power? a) Large networks represent a new source of power. b) Networks were designed so that the movement of information would not depend or be controlled by another person or computer. c) So called ordinary people can communicate their ideas and information but it means little unless they are a big network. d) Not even the government can 3 . Can networks be Social Places? a) People make friendships, discuss different issues, may share interests, form groups, meet up, or even play games together. b) Socialization online are being referred to as virtual communities or virtual villages. c) This type of interaction because it can be anonymous does not have any form of commitment. d) People like the online social places because it is not a face-to-face contact, unless they chose to, so physical appearance is hidden.

Networking Questions Cont’d:

Networking Questions Cont’d 4. Can new funding sources cause new Ethical issues? a) Electronic networks have been becoming better known, influential, and persuasive. b) Funding has come from public, private and commercial sources which will change ideas about the networks are used and interacted with. c) They bring up issues such as proper behavior, political power, who has control, equal access, and privacy. 5. Is there reliability and efficiency in communication? a) When designing the networks they structured them in a way so that they can not be controlled by another person or computer. b) Time and money do not have the same control like it did at one time over how information flows. c) Some people would say YES that there is reliability and efficiency in communications because there so many exciting possibilities using the internet for information.

Behavior on the Networks:

Behavior on the Networks 1 . What is Netiquette? a) It is common sense and knowing what good behavior is all about. b) Freedom of speech is tolerated more on the internet however; using good judgment on what you post is all part of netiquette. 2. How do we behave online and on networks? a) Too often people do not care about others on the internet so they post profanity, pornography, and just plain smut. b) Even though bulletin boards try to control what people post there are still those who do not use good judgment and post inappropriate things on them. 3. What activities will cause someone to be offended? a) Sending a spam e-mail, or unsolicited advertisements b) Posting or chatting profanity or smut in a chat room or on a bulletin board.

Behavior on the Networks cont’d :

Behavior on the Networks cont’d 4. What are some guidelines to follow? a) Not to threaten anyone. b) Not to save any huge files to a network. c) Do not use any other person’s files without the proper permission. d) Read all the FAQ’s on a discussion board or in a group prior to joining them. e) Remember your grammar and spelling skills. f) Make sure your emotions are clear by using emoticons or smiley’s to get your point across. g) Do not use all capital letters in messages because people will think you are yelling at them and they will take it offensive. h) Make sure you sign your messages and emails. i) Do not use personal attacks on bulletin boards or in discussion groups. j) A file that automatically erases certain messages from an intolerable person is called a kill file.

Policies:

Policies 1. Is there different policies for different networks? a) Networks have different purposes. b) They allow different types of traffic. c) Each network allows different policies so we need to learn what they are for each. d) Educational sites forbid commercial activities mostly because they are supported by public funds. e) A lot may change some day because the Internet is being supported more by private money. f) Commercial use will be the more prominent feature of the Internet. g) Researchers do not like this idea because they believe it is an intrusion “on the time and attention of people at work.” http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/ethics/ethics_f.html 2 . Do policies outline the permissions and restriction? a) Some networks have written statements that outline what kind of traffic is permitted. b) They may just state what their purpose is and make sure users stick to that purpose. c) Things such as being disruptive, frivolous, illegal, and obscene communications and any type of harassment. 3 . What type of policies are from NSFNET and others? a) Research and education policies. b) It is funded by the federal government. c) It has one of the strictest use policies on the Internet. d) It forbids any for-profit, personal , or private business

Exporting and networks:

Exporting and networks 1. Are the guidelines clear? a) Exporting regulations differ among countries. b) The ones who are transferring files are the ones who are responsible for knowing and applying the correct restrictions. c) The people who send files across national borders are the ones affected by legal guidelines that are not clear. d) Periodicals, books, conferences, libraries, or university courses are considered under a general license policy and can be transferred to other countries without having to get further permission. 2. Some examples of difficulties encountered in exporting: a) Encryption codes - translate data into code that cannot be read without a key. b) The U.S. government claims that these codes need to be controlled for reasons of national security. c) They require special export permission from the Department of State. d) It shows criticism from people who claim that the government is attempting to control access to and privacy of communications.

Copyrights:

Copyrights 1. Laws that are in place are challenged by Electronic Information Systems. a) Some of the laws do not address the peculiarities of the information. b) Some laws are easily twisted when it comes to being copied or transferred. c) Other countries have different copyright laws. d) People differentiate the meaning of the law in order to use information in the manner that they chose. e) The U.S. Copyright Law does give some guidance 2. Does the network protect work that is created on it? a) Sometimes it works in surprising ways. b) E-mail has copyright protection c) Usenet postings can be read and discussed by many people but they cannot be reproduced or distributed that may diminish the author’s ability to make a profit on the work. d) Computer programs that are labeled ideas, procedures, systems and/or devices are eligible to receive copyright protection.

Accessing electronic networks:

Accessing electronic networks 1. Who will have access ? a) Who has access depends upon who you are and what your relationship is with the company that has the electronic network. b) Making the electronic information available to everyone make it a more evenly distributed across all walks of life. From the poor to those who are better off, we should all have the same access. 2. How do we know the principle upon which the access will be guided? a) Some people believe that seeing more people will purchase computer systems and have access to the network services then the prices will come down on the network accesses. b) Some seek universal service that is already provided to the telephone company and the postal system. 3 . How will it be structured? a) The Internet is currently open to everyone, there is no centralized control. b) In the future it may be largely funded by private or corporate companies. c) The telephone and cable companies are already heading down this path in hopes that they can provide access to multimedia and data service through their own national network. 4. What documentation will cross the line on the networks? a) Any information that causes conflict such as religious, political, and cultural. b) Pornography c) Information that crosses the boundaries in other countries. 5. What standards are they trying apply? a) Many conflicts on this subject have become more apparent in community standards of decency. b) It is difficult to restrict a standard when policies have been so null. 6. What are the International issues? a) The community standards remain extremely sensitive. b) The main question for many countries is how to let the internet grow. c) There are many differences across the board starting with politics, religion, family values, sexuality, obscenity, reproduction, and just plain personal values.

Privacy:

Privacy 1. What do others know about you on the Internet? a) Electronic databases and network communications have helped to stop the distribution of what people can find out about other people. b) One can find startling information on people such as their financial, medical, educational, and employee histories to name a few. c) Even with the Electronics Communication privacy Act there is still too much room for abuse. Challenges of privacy: By Individuals By companies By the government on databases By the government on seizure laws.

Electronic Databases:

Electronic Databases 1. What are the Consequences of Data Sharing from databases? a) While trying to protect the security of a database you also have to allow different types of access. b) This may allow inappropriate access. c) Most problems are logistical. d) P2P could be one option to further secure the data because it does not share from a database. 2. What about errors? a) Errors can start in a database in many different ways and can create havoc for the database manager. Example: Customer gets a good credit score but really has a bad one. b) Questions about who is to blame are still open to debate. 3. What are Propensity Profiles? a) A creator of a database can choose certain characteristics of a certain population to use for a marketing strategy.

Conflicting Responsibilities:

Conflicting Responsibilities 1. Is GIS Information public information? a) Sometimes it is because government agencies share a “Geographic Information System” so they can share the costs, in order to prevent redundancy, and to preserve integrity of private records. 2. What type of access to public information vs. private is needed? a) Government agencies are required by the law to give open access to any information they have so they have some public information that is accessible and still has to have some things remain private. b) “Freedom of Information Act of 1966 mandates that public access in order to ensure accountability and prevent corruption.” c) You need both private and public information and it is increasingly difficult to accomplish this as information grows. 3. What is a public record? a) A public record is any record under certain laws makes that record available for public use. b) The FOIA and Open Records Acts was designed to make sure there is governmental accountability. c) Access of public records is increasing becoming harder because of agencies wanting to profit from private information. 4. What are agencies required to provide? a) The agencies are required to make requested information available using reasonable searches. 5. What is a reasonable search? a) A reasonable search is a balance of rights to access public records. 6. Will there be user fees charged? a) There usually is not any user fees because they are a obstacle to access.

International Data:

International Data GIS can use the various kinds of data that American satellites scan for while orbiting the earth. Resulting data can let the researchers know about natural resources located in other countries. Other countries do not like this type of collection to take place. Countries that are poorer send up their own satellites and claim that the U.S. is using the information from these satellites without compensating them for the information. These countries are demanding that any information that is gathered about their country be shared with them. Unfortunately, this information that is gathered is costly to gather and use.

Knowing is Destroying:

Knowing is Destroying The right to access of public records and public agency mandates are creating many problems Collecting detailed records by agencies can harm endangered animals or places. When their habitats are revealed in public records they become vulnerable One of the main problem lies in the right to access of public records

The end:

The end References http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/ethics/ethics_f.html http://emeyes.wordpress.com/2010/10/28/ethical-issues-in-electronic-information-system/ http://www.ehow.com/facts_6965834_security-ethical-issues-information-systems.html Thank you!