Module 6: Computer Ethics

Three Precepts on Computer Use
1. Thou shalt not use computer to harm other people.According to the utilitarian point of view, happiness is the yardstick of morality.If actions bring unhappiness to people, then it is morally wrong.
2. Thou shalt not use or copy software for which you have not paid.Natural law's precepts include righteousness, justice, fairness and equity. Copying a software or piracy and plagiarism are human actions that violate fair play. Therefore, such actions are morally incorrect.
3. Thou shalt use a computer in ways that show consideration and respect.This commandment express a duty of each computer user. In Kant's Categorical Imperatives, duty out of good will determines the moral worth of an action.

Two Ethical Issues
1. Moral Obligations Most of us do not play a sinlge role in life. We have different responsibilities in various organization or social structure that we belong to. Sometimes, there will be an instance when we are torn between the decisions that we have to make based on the roles that we take. These choices may not always be in unison but conflicting. This is ethical in nature because leads to a decision of what is right and wrong in different points of view.
2. Software Piracy Software piracy is now a widespread social disease not only in the Philippines but all over the world. This is ethical in nature because it leads the people to choose not "what is right or not" but "what is acceptable or not." Because most people are doing piracy, this becomes to some level an acceptable act.

Legislations Governing Computer Use
1. Source: California Legislative Information Published: September 28, 2004 An anti-piracy bill signed last week by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger makes it a crime for people to share copyrighted music or movies online without providing a valid e-mail address.

2. POLICY DIRECTIONS TO REGULATE HARMFUL INTERNET CONTENT: THE PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE
A Paper Presented at the Forum on ICTs and Gender
20-23 August 2003
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Cielo Monte-Medina
Member, Legal Cluster,
Information Technology and E-Commerce Council
(ITECC) Philippines

Legal Counsel, ePLDT, Inc.

Module 5: Moral Problems

A. Problem of Moral Obligation is illustrated below:
You became the chief of the police in your place after successufully going after the big time computer hackers and a syndicate engagedin the production and sale of pirated software. One day, you find out that your son is an active hacker. When you confront your son, he promised not to do it anymore. You are now faced with the problem of whether to report your son or protect your son.

B. Most Pervasive is the problem of freedom.

Most people believe that they are born to be free. They can do whatever their hearts desire. These mean that they have infinite possibilities. The problem is that this freedom is bounded by standards of morality. Freedom which allows for limitlessness is limited by rules and regulations.

Module 4: Finalist Theories

Three finalist theories:

1. John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism
2. Kant's Categorical Imperatives
3. Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

Which is most appealing to me?
For me, the most appealing is Kant's Categorical Imperatives. Only good will is considered good without any qualification. The value of my actions is not dependent on any conditions, but on will alone. This is regardless what is the outcome of my actions.
For example, Mary created an applet that will get for her the passwords of people logging into her site. She wants to test it and see if her act would be a universal law when it gets completed. However this is against privacy of individuals and therefore contradicts with computer ethics. Therefore her actions cannot operate as a universal law in computing.

Which is currently predominant in the world of computing?
John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism is I think the predominant of the three finalist theories in the computing world today. Computer users seem to be mostly concerned on the happiness that is brought by their computing activities.