chapter 4 ethical and social issues in information systems

CHAPTER 4

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ETHICAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES RELATED TO SYSTEMS

Ethics – Principles of right and wrong individuals use to make choices that guide their behavior

Information systems raise new ethical questions

Opportunities for intense social change, new kinds of crime, etc.

FIVE MORAL DIMENSIONS OF THE INFORMATION AGE

TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

Doubling of computer powerMore organizations depend on computer systems for critical operations

Rapidly declining data storage costsOrganizations can easily maintain detailed databases on individuals

Networking advances and the InternetCopying data from one location to another and accessing personal data from remote locations is much easier

TECHNOLOGY TRENDS (CONT)

Advantages in data analysis techniquesCompanies can analyze vast quantities of

data gathered on individuals for:Profiling

Combining data from multiple sources to create collections of detailed information on individualsNonobvious relationship awareness (NORA)

Combine data from multiple sources/find connections to identify criminals or terrorists

ETHICS IN AN INFORMATION SOCIETY Responsibility:

Accepting the potential costs, duties, and obligations for decisions Accountability:

Mechanisms for identifying responsible parties Liability:

Permits individuals (and firms) to recover damages done to them Due process:

Laws are well known and understood, with an ability to appeal to higher authorities

Review Pages 129-130 for Ethical analysis and page 130 for ethical principles

Professional codes of conduct

Real-world ethical dilemmas

European directive • Informed consent• Safe harbor

Internet challenges• Cookies•Web beacons• Spyware• Opt in• Opt out

P3P

TrustE

INFORMATION RIGHTS

PRIVACY LAWS

PROPERTY RIGHTS: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Intellectual property

Protection of Intellectual Property:

• Trade Secrets (company owned; business purposes)

• Copyright (70 yrs after death individual; 95 for corporate-owned)

• Patents (ideas behind invention for 20 years)

Digital Millennium Copyright Act (protection from selling intellectual

property online)

ACCOUNTABILITY, LIABILITY, AND CONTROLComputer - related liability problems

Who is responsible if software not used as it should be?

Who is responsible if offensive content is on a website?

SYSTEM QUALITY: DATA QUALITY AND SYSTEM ERRORS

• GIGO

• Data quality is more often a source of business system failure

QUALITY OF LIFE: EQUITY, ACCESS, AND BOUNDARIES

• Balancing Power• Rapidity of Change• Maintaining

Boundaries• Dependence and

vulnerability

• Computer Crime and Abuse

• Employment• Equity and Access

(and digital divide) One laptop

• Health Risks (RSI, CVS, Technostress)