chapter 4 ethical and social issues in information systems
TRANSCRIPT
CHAPTER 4
E T HI C
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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)