Computer Ethics – Code of Ethics in Computing

Source:

Ganguly, Poushali. (2007). Computer ethics – code of ethics in computing. Retrieved July 7, 2009, from Buzzle.com : Website: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/computer-ethics-code-of-ethics-in-computing.html.

Abstract:

The article defines and discusses computer ethics and some concerns. As computer ethics is explained, it refers to the “standards and rules that should be followed… and states how users of World Wide Web (WWW) should make decisions regarding their conduct.” The knowledge on computer ethics help individual or group of individual solves the legal issues that come everyday in using the WWW. It identifies and solves problems that are not defined by the older laws thus it aims to form new laws, rather than to form an organizational structure of laws to govern the world of Internet. With the advent of Computer Age, almost everyone knows and uses the Internet to communicate, interact and even use it for information-seeking and research which creates issues on computer ethics such as copyright, privacy and censorship. With the increasing violations, many experts on the field are trying to deal with cyber laws to have a more defined structure of cyber policies for the people to be guided on and have knowledge on the code of ethics in the cyber community.

Three (3) things I have learned:

1. Sometimes people forget to realize that they must be concerned on their conduct in using the Internet and there is such thing as code of ethics.
2. Copyright, privacy and censorship are the most evident issues that we need to be aware of in these present times.
3. The information we get from the Internet should be treated as written and spoken word that every words that has to come out in the Internet should be kept clean and honored.

Application and Implication:

While I was reading the article, I discovered the computer code of ethics which reminded me of many things. I also learned that this topic is very relevant to our students in the Ateneo High School (AHS) and can be incorporated in our Information Literacy Program (ILP) of the library for the second year. I can introduce the computer ethics while discussing the copyright issues and plagiarism.

The topic is very important to us now due to a fact that information technology is fast changing and every thing is being searchable and can be found in the Internet as well as it is considered as one of the broad spectrums for communication that one has to learn the right conduct when it comes to computer and the Internet.

Nowadays, many of us feel that there is nothing wrong with the copied information and sharing them to others but we do not know that along the way we are crossing the wrong lane anymore. We bypass some laws concerning the cyber world.