Beth SandersonUniversity of Washington Libraries, Bothell

© Lawrence Snyder 2004

Computer / Information / Internet Ethics

Recalling the “digitization lecture,” there was steady computing progress in last ½ of 20th C

There are probably computer people who dream of the lost “online paradise” of the time A few hundred computers Internet had little traffic No security … everyone saw all Collegial respect controlled behavior

A time of Peace and Harmony04/21/23 © 2010 Larry Snyder, CSE 2

That “paradise” came to an end in either November 1988, with the “Morris Worm,” the

first Internet virus March 1994, with the first SPAM sent by a

lawyer trying to sell “green cards”

Since then “paradise” has gotten a lot better, but now we have risks and frustrations

Today, we discuss privacy and the social sphere

04/21/23 © 2010 Larry Snyder, CSE 3

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Why are we talking about this at the library?

You call it digital/computer literacy, I call it information literacy:The information literate student

understands many of the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the

use of information and accesses and uses information ethically and legally.

The Association of College and Research Libraries Information Literacy Standards, Standard Five: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency.cfm#stan

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ethics  1. the moral principles governing

or influencing conduct.

"ethics pl. n."  The Concise Oxford English Dictionary, Twelfth edition . Ed. Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson. Oxford University Press, 2008. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press.  University of Washington.  10 October 2011  <http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t23.e18963>

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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.

Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary software for which you have not paid. Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources without authorization

or proper compensation.

Thou shalt not appropriate other people's intellectual output. Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you are

writing or the system you are designing.

Thou shalt always use a computer in ways that ensure consideration and respect for your fellow humans.

"Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics of the Computer Ethics Institute." Encyclopedia of Science, Technology, and Ethics. Ed. Carl Mitcham. Vol. 4. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. 2175. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 10 Oct. 2011.

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1. Privacy AND Ethics AND Internet 2. Digital Rights Management (DRM)

AND Ethics AND Internet3. Intellectual Property AND Ethics

AND Internet 4. Digital Divide AND Ethics AND

Internet5. Net Neutrality AND Ethics AND

Internet6. Censorship/Freedom of Speech AND

Ethics AND Internet8

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1. What is your topic? Summarize the issue(s) to the class. You may use the board or the overhead computer if you would like (5ish minutes per group)

2. Look at the sources you used to find the above information. Choose a “good” source and explain why you feel it is a “good” source. (3ish minutes per group)

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