102 chapter 4 pt 2

INFORMATION SYSTEMS @ XINFORMATION SYSTEMS @ X

INFO135: Management Information SystemsINFO135: Management Information Systems

Chapter 5:Chapter 5:

SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES IN THE ETHICAL ISSUES IN THE

INFORMATION AGE INFORMATION AGE

Part 2Part 2



Moral Dimensions of IS: 1. Moral Dimensions of IS: 1. Information RightsInformation Rights

PRIVACY: The claim of individuals to be left alone, free from PRIVACY: The claim of individuals to be left alone, free from surveillance or interference from other individuals, surveillance or interference from other individuals, organizations, or government.organizations, or government.



Internet Challenges to PrivacyInternet Challenges to Privacy

Data TransmissionData Transmission Data passes through many servers – might be interceptedData passes through many servers – might be intercepted

CookiesCookies A file on a user’s hard drive that identifies user’s browser A file on a user’s hard drive that identifies user’s browser

and sites visitedand sites visited

SpammingSpamming Sending unsolicited e-mailSending unsolicited e-mail

PopupsPopups Similar to spammingSimilar to spamming



1. Information Rights (continued)1. Information Rights (continued)

Fair information practices (FIP):Fair information practices (FIP):1.1. No secret personal recordsNo secret personal records2.2. Individuals can access, amend information about themIndividuals can access, amend information about them3.3. No use of personal information for other uses without No use of personal information for other uses without

prior consentprior consent4.4. Managers accountable & liable for damage done by Managers accountable & liable for damage done by

systemssystems5.5. Governments can interveneGovernments can intervene



Moral Dimensions of IS: Moral Dimensions of IS: 2. Intellectual Property Rights2. Intellectual Property Rights

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: intangible INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: intangible property created by individuals or property created by individuals or organizations, protected under trade organizations, protected under trade secret, copyright and patent lawsecret, copyright and patent law

IdeasIdeas MusicMusic MoviesMovies



2. Intellectual Property (IP) (continued)2. Intellectual Property (IP) (continued)

TRADE SECRET: TRADE SECRET: Intellectual work or product used for a Intellectual work or product used for a

business purpose, not based on information in business purpose, not based on information in public domainpublic domain

Employees asked to sign nondisclosure Employees asked to sign nondisclosure agreementsagreements

May include software with unique elements May include software with unique elements (continued . . .)(continued . . .)



2. Intellectual Property (IP) 2. Intellectual Property (IP) (continued)(continued)

COPYRIGHT: COPYRIGHT: Statutory grant that protects creators of intellectual Statutory grant that protects creators of intellectual

property against copying by others for at least 50 yearsproperty against copying by others for at least 50 years Copyright Office registers and enforces lawCopyright Office registers and enforces law Protects books, periodicals, lectures, dramas, musical Protects books, periodicals, lectures, dramas, musical

compositions, maps, drawings, artwork, motion compositions, maps, drawings, artwork, motion picturespictures

Protects software as a “literary work”Protects software as a “literary work”

(continued . . .)(continued . . .)



2. Intellectual Property (IP) (continued)2. Intellectual Property (IP) (continued)

PATENTS: PATENTS: A legal document that grants the owner an A legal document that grants the owner an

exclusive monopoly on ideas behind an invention exclusive monopoly on ideas behind an invention for 17-20 yearsfor 17-20 years

Ensure inventors of new machines, devices and Ensure inventors of new machines, devices and methods receive financial and other rewardsmethods receive financial and other rewards



Challenges to IP RightsChallenges to IP Rights

Easy to:Easy to: ReplicateReplicate TransmitTransmit AlterAlter StealSteal

And difficult to:And difficult to: TraceTrace Establish Establish

uniquenessuniqueness

DIGITAL MEDIA IS



Moral Dimensions of IS: Moral Dimensions of IS: 3. Accountability, Liability & Control3. Accountability, Liability & Control

ETHICAL ISSUES: ETHICAL ISSUES: Who is morally responsible for consequences of the use of Who is morally responsible for consequences of the use of

Information Technologies?Information Technologies? What liability should be assumed by user? Provider? What liability should be assumed by user? Provider?

SOCIAL ISSUES: SOCIAL ISSUES: What should society expect and allow?What should society expect and allow?

POLITICAL ISSUES: POLITICAL ISSUES: To what extent should government intervene, protect?To what extent should government intervene, protect?



Moral Dimensions of IS: Moral Dimensions of IS: 4. System Quality4. System Quality

ETHICAL ISSUES: When is software or service ready for ETHICAL ISSUES: When is software or service ready for release?release?

SOCIAL ISSUES: Can people trust quality of software, services, SOCIAL ISSUES: Can people trust quality of software, services, data?data?

POLITICAL ISSUES: Should industry associations develop POLITICAL ISSUES: Should industry associations develop standards for software, hardware, data quality? standards for software, hardware, data quality?

What is an acceptable, technologically feasible level of system quality?



Moral Dimensions of IS: Moral Dimensions of IS: 5. Quality of Life5. Quality of Life

Balancing Power Centre vs. PeripheryBalancing Power Centre vs. Periphery Rapidity of ChangeRapidity of Change Maintaining Boundaries :Family, work, and leisureMaintaining Boundaries :Family, work, and leisure Dependence and vulnerabilityDependence and vulnerability Computer crime & abuse Computer crime & abuse

Social Consequences of Information Systems



Computer Crime & AbuseComputer Crime & Abuse

Computer Crime & AbuseComputer Crime & Abuse Crime : Illegal acts through use of computer system or Crime : Illegal acts through use of computer system or

against a computer systemagainst a computer system Abuse: Acts involving a computer that may not be illegal, Abuse: Acts involving a computer that may not be illegal,

but are unethicalbut are unethical Hackers/crackersHackers/crackers Jamming, sniffing, spoofingJamming, sniffing, spoofing Malicious softwareMalicious software



Challenges to Quality of LifeChallenges to Quality of Life

Employment Employment Trickle-down technology & re-engineering job lossTrickle-down technology & re-engineering job loss

Equity and AccessEquity and Access Increasing racial and social class cleavagesIncreasing racial and social class cleavages

Health RisksHealth Risks RSI, CVS, and TechnostressRSI, CVS, and Technostress



Management Action: A Corporate Code Management Action: A Corporate Code of Ethicsof Ethics

An IS-specific set of ethical standards for each of the five An IS-specific set of ethical standards for each of the five moral dimensionsmoral dimensions

Information rights (e.g. workplace monitoring, email privacy, Information rights (e.g. workplace monitoring, email privacy, customer info policy)customer info policy)

Property Rights (e.g. software licenses)Property Rights (e.g. software licenses) Accountability & Control (e.g. specify individual who is Accountability & Control (e.g. specify individual who is

responsible for aspects of i.s.)responsible for aspects of i.s.) Systems quality (e.g. levels of data and system quality allowed)Systems quality (e.g. levels of data and system quality allowed) Quality of life (e.g. specify that systems should improve quality Quality of life (e.g. specify that systems should improve quality

of life of stakeholders)of life of stakeholders)

102 chapter 4 pt 2

Education

social issues

intellectual work

information rights privacy

information agepart

political issues

moral dimensions

system quality ethical

computer system abuse