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.