ethics in cyber space

Ethics in Cyber Space

What are Ethics anyway?

Understanding how your actions affect other people

Knowing right from wrong

Taking personal responsibility for your actions

So , “Ethics is about putting principles into action. Consistency between what we say and … what our actions say… is a matter of integrity.”

Unethical vs. Illegal

What is unethical is not necessarily illegal. For example, the issue of a company legally monitoring Employee’s

E-mail is very controversial issues.

Employees have limited protection against employer’s electronic surveillance.

The law appears to support employer’s rights to read electronic mail and other electronic documents of their employees.

Here, The definitions of “Right” and “Wrong” are not clear. Also, the distinction between what is illegal and what is unethical is not always obvious

What do we mean by CYBERETHICS ? Cyberethics is the philosophic study of ethics pertaining to

computer networks, encompassing user behaviour.

what networked computers are programmed to do, and how this affects individuals and society.

Cyber-Ethics is the Ethics applied to the online environment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_networks

Why should we be Concerned about Cyber Ethics ?

Anonymous posting to blogs, websites and social media can encourage bad behaviour anytime.

Information in cyberspace can be accessed globally.

what is right and wrong for Internet users can do,

what are the social impacts of Information Technology (IT).

understand security, privacy issues, and major negative impacts of IT on cyberspace

Computer Networks can be threatened by many internal and external hazards internationally,

Why Cyber Ethics ?

Cyber Ethics underpin actions that must be taken not only to harness the power of the IT itself, but also to survive its revolution so it should be the concern of everyone.

Three main types of Ethical issues

Privacy IT enables exchange of information on a large scale enables increased potential for disclosing information and violating the privacy

Access Right The topic of computer security and access right has moved quickly from being a low priority for corporations to high priority for government agencies.

Harmful Actions Harm to any of users, the general public, employees, and employers . Harmful actions include intentional destruction or modification of files and programs leading to serious loss of resources or unnecessary expenditure of human resources.

Let’s review and discuss some common cyber-ethicalconcerns…

Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) Violations

Disregard for technology or

network rules and policies. This

could be willful or unintended

disregard.

Piracy

Unauthorized duplication and distribution of

items such as games, software, DVDs, music,

etc.

End User License Agreement Violation : When

you purchase a game or CD, you are

purchasing a license to USE them; you do not

OWN them.

Plagiarism

Using another person’s ideas,

words, images, or original

works as your own without

acknowledging the source.

Cyber-bullying

"Cyber-bullying" is when a child or

teen is tormented, threatened,

harassed, humiliated,

embarrassed, or otherwise

targeted by another child or teen

using the Internet, interactive and

digital technologies, or cell

phones.

Cyber-libel

Deliberate misrepresentation of

people or events.

False statements that harm

another’s reputation.

Worms and Viruses

Malicious programs shared

with the intent of shutting down

a computer or computer system.

Violating Privacy

Willfully using another

person’s password to access

his or her email or documents

online, distributing private

information of or about

another.

Cyber-stalking

The use of the Internet, email,

or other electronic

communications devices

to stalk another

person.

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Illegal Information on Internet

Call into Questions…

Is it ok to display personal information about other on the Internet ?

Who owns digital data ( such as music, movies, books, webpages etc.) and what should users be allowed to do with it ?

Who is allowed to access the data and information?

How can we safeguards to ensure that the information can be accessed only by the right person or organizations?

Who should be Concerned about Cyber Ethics ?

businesses and governments rely on technical measures to protect themselves from false information, stealing, deny access, or even destroy valuable information.

Self-protection is not sufficient to make cyberspace a safe place to conduct business. The rule of law must also be enforced.

Cyber ethics must be taught and reinforced at every level of computer use

From the novice user just learning to navigate a computer and the internet, to an information technology professional

Those who use the internet in any mode must be taught ethical practices in every aspect of its use

The Rules of Ethical Cyber Activity

Basic Rule – Do not do something in cyber space that you would consider wrong or illegal in everyday life

Do not use rude or offensive language

Do not be a bully on the Internet. Do not call peoples name, lie about them, send embarrassing pictures of them, or anything else to try to heart them.

Don’t encourage the cyberbullies. Do report cyberbullying.

Do use internet for research and information but don’t use copyrighted information as your own.

The Rules of Ethical Cyber Activity

Do not break into someone else’s computer.

Do not attempt to infect or in any way try to make someone else’s computer unusable.

Don’t share personal information too easily.

Do use the internet to expand your social and business network but don’t hamper other in doing so.

Internet Safety

Guard your privacy : What people know about you is up to you.

Protect your reputation: Self-reflect before you self-reveal. What’s funny or edgy today could cost you tomorrow.

Nothing is private online: Anything you say or do can be copied, pasted and sent to billions of people without your permission.

Assume everyone is watching: There is huge vast audience out there. Someone you don’t know also has access to your information.

Apply the golden rule: If you don’t want it done to you, then don’t do it with someone else.

Watch the clock : A virtual hug never matches a real one. Balance your life.

Internet Safety

Choose wisely: Not all the content is appropriate. You know what we mean.

Don’t hide: Using anonymity to cloak your actions doen’t turn you into a trustworthy, responsible human being.

Think about what you see: Just because you find it over internet doesn’t make it true.

Be smart, be safe: Not everyone is who they say they are. Be smart while sitting online and interacting with people.

ACM Commitments on Ethics

1. Contribute to society and human being.

2. Avoid harm to others.

3. Be honest and trustworthy.

4. Be fair and take action not to discriminate.

5. Honor property rights including copyrights and patents.

6. Give proper credit for intellectual property.

7. Respect the privacy of others.

8. Honor confidentiality.

9. Contribute to society and human being.

CONCLUSION

The new world of information society with global networks and cyberspace will inevitably generate a wide variety of social, political, and ethical problems.

Basic issues have been solved partially using technological approaches and legal laws in cyberspace.

Guidelines and strategies should be implemented so that global information can be exploited in a socially and ethically sensitive way for our future benefit and applications.

CASE STUDY 1

Facebook confessions page


It is page on Facebook on which any one can anonymously post a personal information.

Juicy-campus launched in 2007 with the goal of enabling “online anonymous free speech on college campuses”.

College ACB.com in 2007 which peaked with over 900,000 views in a single day

College ACB closed down in October 2011 but anonymous online confession sites didn’t go away

What is it ?


US college students began using a combination of Facebook pages and anonymous forms such as Google Forms or SurveyMonkey to create school based Facebook Confession Pages.

In India it started in IIT-B and just after one day It also started in LNMIIT and various other collages.

These services were controversial as many of the posted confessions hurt the school’s image.

What is it ?


ANONYMITY is the answer to this.

Anonymity is an important and useful tool in many situations.

Most adults have at some time read newspaper advice columns where readers anonymously submit problems and an “Agony Aunt” responds with advice so that others with similar problems benefit.

Voting is usually done anonymously to allow freedom of expression and governments protect anonymous whistleblowers with legislation.

Why do Students use them ?


And police “Tips” phone services assure anonymity as a way of getting people to share others’ misdeeds.

Kids Help Phone encourages teens and children to phone in and share their problems anonymously because this helps teens and children to address problems they can’t in other ways

What no one can deny is that the need to share anonymously is deep-seated.

Why do Students use them ?


Facebook Confession Pages are simply pages that allow students to anonymously submit their deepest secrets.

The moderator of the page posts the confessions on the Facebook page.

Students who ‘like’ the page can see each confession and can ‘like’ each confession and comment.

The moderators of the page are often unknown to the students, as are the contributors.

How do they work ?


The Facebook Confession Page model has caught on and spreading fast.

The pages are free, easy to set up and tap into this deep-seated need teens and young adults have to share what they’re really thinking and feeling without fear of adult sanctions.

How do they work ?


While the original intent of Facebook Confession Pages was to offer a forum for students to share problems, concerns and secrets that isn’t all students are sharing. The online dis-inhibition effect, a loosening of social restrictions and inhibitions that would normally be present in social interactions, means that many students want to also use the confessions pages to share stories of alcohol and drug use or sexual behaviour. In some cases the pages lead to cyberbullying or even slander.

What are the problems ?


Invasion of Privacy

Character Assassination

What is Unethical here ?

Facebook confessions page Experience in other jurisdictions suggests that taking

pages down won’t solve the problem. Pages are easy to set up, and often when one is taken down another pops up right away moderated by a different student.

Teens expressing depression, issues with body image or alcohol and drug use should concern us all and rather than preventing them from posting about it we should be looking at the behavior and trying to address it.

What can educators and parents to do?


Students clearly have a need to post anonymously about their problems, concerns and fears.

Schools should embrace the opportunity and set up their own “Confessions Pages”, moderated by students but with guidelines

Confession Pages and their associated problems also highlight the need for greater education about digital citizenship for students



need to better understand the risks of posting and the permanent and public nature of digital spaces.

This starts at an early age with parents talking to children about social media and modeling good online behavior themselves.


CASE STUDY 2

Napster vs RIAA

The Napster Controversy: RIAA vs. Napster

In the summer of 1999, a website, www.napster.com, was launched in the US. The website made it possible for its users to freely share their music files through the Internet with other users all over the world.

The service became extremely popular within a short span of time. The website attracted 1.6 million simultaneous users during the height of its popularity in February 2000.

Napster's offering of this 'peer-to-peer' technology was strongly condemned by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), a trade group representing the world's biggest record labels, Universal Music, Sony Music, Warner Music, EMI Group and Bertelsmann AG.

Allegation on Napster

RIAA alleged that Napster was engaging in or assisting others in copying copyrighted music without payment or the express permission of the rights owners.

RIAA also claimed that Napster would significantly harm the sales of the recording industry.

In December 1999, the body sued Napster in the Federal District Court for copyright infringements and petitioned the court to shut down the website.

What Happened NEXT.

The legal battle was covered extensively in the global media.

In the beginning of July 2001, Napster had to stop offering its services due to certain technical problems. While the company was working towards setting the problems right and resuming operations, in mid July 2001, a District Court Judge order barred Napster from offering the file-sharing service.

Even as Napster users strongly protested against the order, the company appealed the ruling before the US Court of Appeals in San Francisco. The Appeals Court granted Napster temporary reprieve against injunction until a further review of the injunction request.

Napster was eventually acquired by Roxio. In its second incarnation Napster became an online music store until it was acquired by Rhapsody from Best Buy on 1 December 2011.

Questions Raised

The controversy raised several questions regarding the impact of the emergence of newer technologies like Napster on the traditional modes of conducting business.

Was the recording industry using its financial power to suppress technological innovations in the music business?

Was Napster wrong in allowing people across the globe to access music without paying for it and without the artistes' permission?

The case eventually came to be seen as a struggle by the powerful entertainment industry against a new technology threatening it.

Ethical Point of View

Shared Music For Free But Not FREE MUSIC.

What went wrong ?

Ethical Point of View

Firstly, Because it caused Heavy Loses to the Recording industry; Artists & Recording houses who spent millions in productions.

Secondly, It directly encouraged Piracy of Music and giving birth to Many other similar websites

Why was it Unethical ?

Thank You…

ethics in cyber space

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