Computers, Ethics and Society

Part I Computers in an ethical framework: the ethical context of computing; ethical issues in computing - work, privacy, justice; information technologies could threaten privacy, freedom, and democracy; technology is a tool of the powerful; ethical theories we all use; the best action is the one with the best consequences; the best action is the one in accord with universal rules; is our intuitive moral sense a reliable guide?; fundamental tendencies underlying the human moral system; "design errors" in the human moral system. Part II Computers and personal life: privacy concerns in computerized society; why privacy is important; are hacker break-ins ethical?; your "private" information may be public property; solving the problems of electronic cash; effects of computerization on personal fulfilment; information and our interactive future; will there be a place for me in the information age?; informing ourselves to death; how computers affect interpersonal relationships; social relations and personal identity in a computerized society; gender differences in online communication. Part III Computers and the just society: work in the computerized society; computers transform the work setting; computerization, work, and less-developed countries; computing in small, energetic countries; whatever happened to the information revolution in the workplace?; computer law in the just society; the constitution in cyberspace; the World Wide Web and copyright law; copyright battles on the Web - from Elvis to Wittgenstein; the GNU manifesto; the role of government in computerized society; legislation to protect privacy; digital communication must not weaken law enforcement; wiretap laws must not weaken digital communication. Part IV Computing professionals and their ethical responsibilities: what people do matters; the morality of whistle-blowing; lotus marketplace - how the good guys finally won; why good people do bad things - the case of collective violence; people are responsible - computers are not; professional codes; computer ethics institute - the ten commandments of computer ethics; association for computing machinery - ACM code of ethics and professional conduct; using the ACM code; can we find a single ethical code?