Ethics and Legal
The primary purpose of ethics is to eliminate the difference between rich and poor people. Ethics promote equality and pyramid is used to show how ethics work. At the first layer of pyramid, moral judgement is present. While in the middle of it is the legal rules and the last layer is for ethical system.
The standards that are set aligned with the government laws is called Legal standards. Government laws are set of rules that we obey every day. Legal standards are useful because it helps people to be aware of the things that they can do and cannot do. Authorities can take an action or impose rules if someone violate the legal standards. If there are legal standards there are also called ethical standards. Ethical standards do not necessarily have legal basis. These standards are based on human principles of right and wrong.
Computer Ethics. Computer ethics is associated with standards of conduct of computers. Ethical and unethical actions are discussed and prioritized here. In addition, computer ethics helps computing professionals to make right decisions when it comes to professional and social conduct.
Areas of Computer Ethics
Copyright Intellectual Property
Netiquette
Day-to-day Ethics
The creations of the intellect, invention, literary and artistic works, symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce are all part of Intellectual Property. Intellectual property is divided into two branches; industrial property and copyright. Industrial property focuses on protecting inventions, trademarks, industrial design, commercial names, designations and geographic indications. On the other hand, copyright protects literary works like novels, poems, play, films, musical works, and artistic works like paintings, photography, sculptures and architectural designs. So basically, internet do not have a copyright law because according to copyright law, ideas, procedures, systems or methods or operation are excluded in copyright. Online works which were exposed in public is not covered by copyright laws. Hence, developing another work or program based from existing ideas, concept or principles is acceptable.
Netiquette. Netiquette is about the different risk connected with the used of internet. In short it refer of proper ways of using networks and determining if the information in the internet is reliable or not.
Day-to-day Ethics
Software piracy. Reproducing a copy of software and then sell it to gain profit or distributes it without giving proper credit to the owner.
Creation of computer viruses. Bad if the purpose is stealing information or destroying data of others. This can be good if it is used to cure or prevent another virus from attacking the system.
Plagiarism. Copying someone else work and then claiming it as yours. This kind of action is morally bad because basically it is stealing and stealing is not right.
Hacking. Illegally accessing on other’s computers system.
File Privacy. Authorized personnel or the owner are the only one who can open the documents.
Programming Ethics
Contribute to society and human well-being
Avoid harm to others
Be honest and trustworthy
Give proper credit for intellectual property
Respect and privacy of others
Honor Confidentiality
10 commandments of Computer Ethics
Thou shalt not use a computer to harm people.
Thou shalt not interfere other people’s computer work.
Thou shalt not snoop around in other people’s computer files.
Thou shalt not use a computer to steal.
Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness.
Thou shalt not copy or use inappropriate software for which you have not paid (without permission).
Thou shalt not use other people’s computer resources without authorization or proper compensation.
Thou shalt not appropriate other’s people intellectual output.
Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you are writing or the system you are designing.
Thou shalt use computer in ways that ensure consideration and respect for other humans.
Computer crime refers to criminal activity that involves information technology infrastructure including illegal access, illegal interception, data interference, system interference, misuse of devices, forgery, and electronic fraud.
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