What are the codes of ethics for computer professionals?
Computer professionals are expected to conduct themselves in an ethical manner. Codes of ethics exist in this field to help these professionals make good decisions about the manner of their professional work, according to the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
Why do we need a code of ethics for software engineers?
The Code is not simply for adjudicating the nature of questionable acts; it also has an important educational function. As this Code expresses the consensus of the profession on ethical issues, it is a means to educate both the public and aspiring professionals about the ethical obligations of all software engineers.
What are the best practices in computer science ethics?
To minimize the possibility of indirectly or unintentionally harming others, computing professionals should follow generally accepted best practices unless there is a compelling ethical reason to do otherwise. Additionally, the consequences of data aggregation and emergent properties of systems should be carefully analyzed.
What are the ethical issues in Computer Science?
Issues surrounding ethics for computer professional include workplace computer use, computer-related crimes, privacy, intellectual property and professional responsibility. Computer professionals are expected to conduct themselves in an ethical manner.
Why have a professional code of ethics in computing?
Computing professionals have ethical obligations to clients, employers, other professionals, and the public, in fulfilling their professional responsibilities. These obligations are expressed in codes of ethics, which can be used to make decisions about ethical problems.
What is computer ethics in professional ethics?
Ethics is a set of moral principles that govern the behavior of an individual or group of people. Computer ethics is the application of moral principles to the use of computers and the Internet. Examples include intellectual property rights, privacy policies, and online etiquette, or "netiquette".
What are the 5 code of ethics?
It is divided into three sections, and is underpinned by the five fundamental principles of Integrity, Objectivity, Professional competence and due care, Confidentiality, and Professional behaviour.
What is the code of ethics for computer programmers?
Be honest and trustworthy. This principle encourages programmers to be honest and aware of their limitations in knowledge and education when writing computer systems. Also, if a programmer knows there is something wrong with a computer system, he or she should report it immediately to avoid undesirable consequences.
What are the professional responsibilities of computing professionals?
Computing professionals perform a variety of tasks: They write specifications for new computer systems, they design instruction pipelines for superscalar processors, they diag- nose timing anomalies in embedded systems, they test and validate software systems, they restructure the back-end databases of inventory ...
What are the best ethical practices in computing?
The specified 10 commandments of computer ethics.Thou Shalt Not Use A Computer To Harm Other People.Thou Shalt Not Interfere With 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.More items...
What are 4 professional ethics?
Types of Professional Ethics They are followed by each profession, which is being honest in their work and serving the people along with trustworthiness, respecting others, honesty, accountability, abiding by the rules and avoiding harming anyone.
What are the 7 principles of ethics?
This approach – focusing on the application of seven mid-level principles to cases (non-maleficence, beneficence, health maximisation, efficiency, respect for autonomy, justice, proportionality) – is presented in this paper.
What are some examples of code of ethics?
The classic example is the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Other examples of societal ethical behavior include: Respect - Citizens must respect another's property, choices and lives. Loyalty - People put their family and friends' needs before their own.
What is the code of computer science?
As stated previously, in computer science, code refers to the computer program algorithms, made up of symbols from a source alphabet, that represent the set of rules on what actions the program is expected to perform.
What is the Code of Ethics for Computer Professionals?
Computers are devices that have some of the most personal information and useful programs in them. The “Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy” states that ethics for computer professionals are a set of standards that ensure good practices within the profession.
What is professional ethics?
Professional Ethics. Information is power. Computers are devices that have some of the most personal information and useful programs in them. The “Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy” states that ethics for computer professionals are a set of standards that ensure good practices within the profession. Issues surrounding ethics for computer ...
What are the moral imperatives of computer science?
The ACM believes computer professionals should contribute to society and the well-being of others, not harm others through theft or vandalism, discriminate against others, be honest and trustworthy, act fairly, honor property rights, not take credit for other’s ideas and/or work, respect the privacy ...
Why do computer professionals have the responsibility of sharing technical knowledge with the public?
The ICCP states that because computer professionals know specialized information relating to their field, they also have the responsibility of sharing technical knowledge with the public in order to encourage a better understanding of computers.
What should leaders in the computer community do?
Leaders within the community of computer professionals should encourage acceptance of the social responsibilities outlined in the code of ethics among other professionals. The ACM also states that organizational leaders are also to ensure computer systems enhance the quality of a professional’s work life by taking into consideration personal ...
What are the responsibilities of a computer professional?
A computer professional must strive to provide the highest quality of work possible by acquiring and maintaining professional competence. He should be knowledgeable in the laws pertaining to his profession and not violate them.
Can a computer professional have their licenses revoked?
As a result, those in the field who do not uphold the code of ethics for computer professionals can have licenses, memberships and certifications revoked. The ICCP suggests the prevention of non-compliance is best exercised when computer professionals encourage and support one another to uphold and adhere to the code of ethics. References.
Computing professionals execute a variety of tasks
They are engaged in system design and develop specifications for new computer systems and instruction pipelines for superscalar processors, detect timing problems in embedded systems, test and validate software systems, restructure the back-end databases of inventory systems, examine packet traffic in local area networks, and propose security policies for medical information systems..
Why is a code of ethics important for computing professionals?
Professional ethics is a subject that all organizations, regardless of size, must address. Employees and other stakeholders are increasingly expecting technology businesses to be held to a higher responsibility for the public good.
ACM Code of Ethics
The ACM has developed a code of ethics for computing professionals, which serves as a guide for making decisions in the field. The code of ethics covers topics such as responsibilities to clients, employers, other professionals, and the public.
What is the ACM Code of Ethics?
The ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct ("the Code") expresses the conscience of the profession. The Code is designed to inspire and guide the ethical conduct ...
What are the rules of computing?
"Rules" here include local, regional, national, and international laws and regulations, as well as any policies and procedures of the organizations to which the professional belongs . Computing professionals must abide by these rules unless there is a compelling ethical justification to do otherwise. Rules that are judged unethical should be challenged. A rule may be unethical when it has an inadequate moral basis or causes recognizable harm. A computing professional should consider challenging the rule through existing channels before violating the rule. A computing professional who decides to violate a rule because it is unethical, or for any other reason, must consider potential consequences and accept responsibility for that action.
Why are educational opportunities important for computer professionals?
Leaders should ensure that opportunities are available to computing professionals to help them improve their knowledge and skills in professionalism, in the practice of ethics, and in their technical specialties. These opportunities should include experiences that familiarize computing professionals with the consequences and limitations of particular types of systems. Computing professionals should be fully aware of the dangers of oversimplified approaches, the improbability of anticipating every possible operating condition, the inevitability of software errors, the interactions of systems and their contexts, and other issues related to the complexity of their profession—and thus be confident in taking on responsibilities for the work that they do.
What are the violations of the Code of Conduct?
Making deliberately false or misleading claims, fabricating or falsifying data, offering or accepting bribes, and other dishonest conduct are violations of the Code. Computing professionals should be honest about their qualifications, and about any limitations in their competence to complete a task.
What information should a computer professional protect?
Computing professionals are often entrusted with confidential information such as trade secrets, client data, nonpublic business strategies, financial information, research data, pre-publication scholarly articles, and patent applications. Computing professionals should protect confidentiality except in cases where it is evidence of the violation of law, of organizational regulations, or of the Code. In these cases, the nature or contents of that information should not be disclosed except to appropriate authorities. A computing professional should consider thoughtfully whether such disclosures are consistent with the Code.
What is the importance of honesty in computing?
A computing professional should be transparent and provide full disclosure of all pertinent system capabilities, limitations, and potential problems to the appropriate parties. Making deliberately false or misleading claims, fabricating or falsifying data, offering or accepting bribes, and other dishonest conduct are violations of the Code.
Should computing professionals protect confidentiality?
Computing professionals should protect confidentiality except in cases where it is evidence of the violation of law, of organizational regulations, or of the Code. In these cases, the nature or contents of that information should not be disclosed except to appropriate authorities.
1. Introduction
Computing professionals perform a variety of tasks: they write specifications for new computer systems, they design instruction pipelines for superscalar processors, they diagnose timing anomalies in embedded systems, they test and validate software systems, they restructure the back-end database of an inventory system, they analyze packet traffic in a local area network, and they recommend security policies for a medical information system.
2. What Is a Profession?
Computing professionals include hardware designers, software engineers, database administrators, system analysts, and computer scientists.
3. What Is Moral Responsibility in Computing?
In the early 1980s, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) manufactured and sold a cancer radiation treatment machine called the Therac-25, which relied on computer software to control its operation. Between 1985 and 1987, the Therac-25 caused the deaths of three patients and serious injuries to three others (3).
4. What Are the Responsibilities of Computing Professionals?
Whether a computing professional works as a consultant to an individual or as an employee in a large organization, the professional is obligated to perform assigned tasks competently, according to professional standards.
5. Codes of Ethics
For each profession, the professional’s obligations to clients, employers, other professionals, and the public are stated explicitly in the profession’s code of ethics or code of professional conduct.
6. Ethical Decision-Making for Computing Professionals
Every user of e-mail has received unsolicited bulk commercial e-mail messages, known in a general way as spam.
7. Computing and the Study of Ethics: The Ethical Challenges of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Agents
Many ethical issues, such as conflict of interest, are common to different professions.
What is ethical judgment in software engineering?
These situations require the software engineer to use ethical judgment to act in a manner which is most consistent with the spirit of the Code of Ethics and Professional Practice, given the circumstances.
What are the principles of ethical responsibility?
The Principles identify the ethically responsible relationships in which individuals, groups, and organizations participate and the primary obligations within these relationships. The Clauses of each Principle are illustrations of some of the obligations included in these relationships.
What is the role of software engineers?
Software engineers are those who contribute by direct participation or by teaching, to the analysis, specification, design, development, certification, maintenance and testing of software systems.
Is the list of principles and clauses exhaustive?
The list of Principles and Clauses is not exhaustive. The Clauses should not be read as separating the acceptable from the unacceptable in professional conduct in all practical situations. The Code is not a simple ethical algorithm that generates ethical decisions.
What is professional code of ethics?
A professional code of ethics is designed to ensure employees are behaving in a manner that is socially acceptable and respectful of one another. It establishes the rules for behavior and sends a message to every employee that universal compliance is expected. It also provides the groundwork for a preemptive warning if employees break the code.
What is a code of ethics?
In some industries, such as finance or public health, specific laws dictate professional conduct. In other industries, a code of ethics may be voluntarily adopted. For example, a business that doesn’t necessarily focus on climate change might still detail its commitment to sustainability in its official code of ethics.
How to create a code of ethics?
Put someone in charge. Have someone to turn to for help. 1. Set your priorities. The first step to creating a code of ethics is deciding the values that are important to your company. Putting these rules in place early on will help your company grow the way you want it to.
What is the code of ethics for lawyers?
Lawyers. Lawyers are bound to a professional code of ethics that exists independently of their employment. For example, Rule 1.1 in the American Bar Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct reads, “A lawyer shall provide competent representation to a client. Competent representation requires the legal knowledge, skill, ...
Why is it important to have a code of ethics?
Though creating and maintaining a professional code of ethics takes some time, it can help your organization’s employees work honestly and with integrity, which can help create a healthier work environment.
What are the codes of conduct for physicians?
Like lawyers, physicians are held to a universal code of conduct because of their chosen profession. The American Medical Association addresses everything from patient care to relationships with other staff members. For example: 1 A physician shall provide competent medical care, with compassion and respect for human dignity and rights. 2 A physician shall uphold the standards of professionalism, be honest in all professional interactions and strive to report physicians deficient in character or competence, or engaging in fraud or deception, to appropriate entities. 3 A physician shall respect the law and recognize a responsibility to seek changes in those requirements which are contrary to the best interests of the patient.
How many employees can you have to draft a code of ethics?
If you are part of a smaller company in a low-risk, low-liability field, you can typically draft a code of ethics yourself. However, if you have more than 20 employees, you may want to consider consulting with a human resources specialist or an ethicist.
Why is it important to establish a code of ethics for information technology professionals?
Establishing a code of ethics for information technology professionals encourages an IT worker to behave ethically and responsibly with the tools and information of which his employers have put him in control.
What is the purpose of code of ethics?
Prevention. A code of ethics helps prevent IT professionals from behaving in a malicious or harmful manner with company information and equipment.
Ethics
General Moral Imperatives
- The ACM believes computer professionals should contribute to society and the well-being of others, not harm others through theft or vandalism, discriminate against others, be honest and trustworthy, act fairly, honor property rights, not take credit for other’s ideas and/or work, respect the privacy of others and uphold confidentiality. Computer pr...
Professional Responsibilities
- A computer professional must strive to provide the highest quality of work possible by acquiring and maintaining professional competence. He should be knowledgeable in the laws pertaining to his profession and not violate them. The ACM adds that professionals ought to be open to providing and receiving professional peer reviews and critiques, and maintain objectiveness whe…
Leadership Responsibilities
- Leaders within the community of computer professionals should encourage acceptance of the social responsibilities outlined in the code of ethics among other professionals. The ACM also states that organizational leaders are also to ensure computer systems enhance the quality of a professional’s work life by taking into consideration personal and professional development, saf…
Compliance
- The ACM states, “The future of the computing profession depends on both technical and ethical excellence.” As a result, those in the field who do not uphold the code of ethics for computer professionals can have licenses, memberships and certifications revoked. The ICCP suggests the prevention of non-compliance is best exercised when computer professionals encourage and su…
Who Are Computing Professionals?
Association For Computing Machinery
- The ACM is a worldwide scientific and educational computing society formed in 1947. The ACM is a non-profit professional membership organization with approximately 100,000 student and professional members as of 2019. As the world’s largest computing society, ACM strengthens the profession’s collective voice through strong leadership, promotion of the highest standards, and …
Bottom-Line
- The ACM code is aimed at aspiring and practicing computing professionals and expresses the conscience of the profession. The Code as a whole is concerned with how fundamental ethical principles apply to a computing professional’s conduct. The Code is not an algorithm for solving ethical problems; rather it serves as a basis for ethical decision mak...
References
- https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/12247/ecse909.pdf https://www.infoq.com/articles/acm-code-ethics/ https://www.acm.org/code-of-ethics
Introduction
What Is A Profession?
- Computing professionals include hardware designers, software engineers, database administrators, system analysts, and computer scientists. In what ways do these occupations resemble recognized professions such as medicine, law, engineering, counseling, and accounting? In what ways do computing professions resemble occupations that are not traditio…
What Is Moral Responsibility in Computing?
- In the early 1980s, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) manufactured and sold a cancer radiation treatment machine called the Therac-25, which relied on computer software to control its operation. Between 1985 and 1987, the Therac-25 caused the deaths of three patients and serious injuries to three others (3). Who was responsible for the accidents? The operator who ad…
What Are The Responsibilities of Computing Professionals?
- Responsibilities to Clients and Users
Whether a computing professional works as a consultant to an individual or as an employee in a large organization, the professional is obligated to perform assigned tasks competently, according to professional standards. These professional standards include not only attention to …