IT Ethics: Theories and Issues

• Ethics involves studying the moral principles that govern behavior.
• In IT, ethics provides a framework for the responsible development, use, and regulation of technology.

Importance of Ethics in IT

• It ensures technology is used responsibly.
• Ethics protects user rights, security, and privacy.
• It prevents unethical business practices and misuse of data.

Key Ethical Theories in IT

• Utilitarianism seeks to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
• Deontology places importance on following rules and duties, regardless of the consequences.
• Virtue ethics places emphasis on ethical character and moral integrity.

Common Ethical Issues in IT

• Privacy violations occur through unauthorized data collection and surveillance.
• Hacking and cybercrime involve security breaches; there are ethical and unethical kinds of hacking.
• AI bias results in algorithms that make unfair decisions.
• Intellectual property theft involves the unauthorized use of digital content.

Case Study: Facebook & Cambridge Analytica

• Facebook allowed Cambridge Analytica to gain access to millions of user profiles without user permission.
• Political campaigns used the data, leading to privacy concerns.
• This case raises ethical questions about whether companies should sell user data and whether social media platforms should do more to protect user privacy.

IT Professional Codes of Ethics

• Professional Codes of Ethics involves a set of guidelines that IT professionals follow to act ethically.
• It helps in decision-making when facing moral dilemmas in the tech industry.
• It maintains trust between businesses and users.
• It prevents unethical practices like data misuse.
• It ensures compliance with laws and regulations.

ACM Code of Ethics

• It prioritizes public interest, honesty, and fairness.
• It respects user privacy and confidentiality.

IEEE Code of Ethics

• It protects public welfare.
• It avoids conflicts of interest.
• It requires honesty about technical capabilities.

Ethical Decision-Making Framework

• First, identify the ethical issue.
• Then, gather the facts, considering who is affected and any legal considerations.
• Next, consider ethical theories, like utilitarianism and deontology.
• Evaluate the potential consequences.
• Finally, make a decision based on ethical principles.

Key IT Professional Codes of Ethics

• ACM Code of Ethics focuses on public interest and privacy.
• IEEE Code of Ethics emphasizes honesty, security, and public welfare.
• CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) Code of Ethics ensures integrity and confidentiality in cybersecurity.

Real-World Applications of IT Ethics

• Data Breaches: Should companies disclose security breaches immediately?
• AI Decision-Making: Should AI be allowed to make life-altering decisions like job hiring or criminal sentencing?
• Social Media Responsibility: Should platforms moderate harmful content?

Privacy in the Digital World

• Data privacy protects against unauthorized data collection.
• Communications privacy ensures private messages and emails remain confidential.
• Personal privacy is control over your personal data.
• Google collects data about user habits through search queries, raising the question of whether users should have the right to opt out.

The Rise of Digital Surveillance

• Surveillance involves monitoring, collecting, and analyzing data, often without consent.
• Governments use surveillance for national security and crime prevention.
• Corporations use surveillance for targeted advertising and AI training.
• Hackers and individuals use surveillance for cyberstalking and unauthorized data access.
• China’s Social Credit System tracks citizens’ behaviors, affecting job eligibility, loans, and travel.
• A key ethical question is whether governments should have access to all online activities for security reasons.

Government Surveillance

• Surveillance can benefit national security but at the cost of individual privacy.
• It is debated whether it is ethical for governments to track all online activities.

Corporate Data Collection

• Companies collect vast amounts of personal data for profit, a practice known as "surveillance capitalism."
• It is debated whether companies should inform users about the data they collect.

Legal Protections for Privacy

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) protects user privacy in the EU.
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants U.S. citizens more control over their data.
• Philippine Data Privacy Act ensures data security and privacy rights.

Ethical Debates on Privacy & Surveillance

• Should governments prioritize national security over personal privacy?
• Is it ethical for companies to profit from personal data?
• Should individuals have the right to control all their digital information?