1.1 WHAT IS ETHICS?

Ethics is a branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions. Ethics may apply to various areas such as Computer Ethics, Medical Ethics, Business Ethics, etc.

1.2 WHAT IS COMPUTER ETHICS?

Computer Ethics is a part of practical philosophy which deals with how computing professionals should make decisions regarding professional and social conduct.

Computers and the Internet represent many people, governments, and organizations. Each of these entities have different goals in regard to ethical and moral policy. They each desire to maximize the benefits they can derive from the Internet and computer technology, whether it be for financial profit or personal entertainment. In a goal driven environment it is often easy to lose sight of common goals and interests of society in front of individual goals and interest. Today, profit has taken over moral values. So, people should understand that what is right and what is wrong while working with computer. Each technical area presents new ethical challenges that need to be seriously considered. Through good cooperation and a common desire to achieve a healthier computing environment a general ethical policy can be established. And this ethical policy determines what should be done and what should not be done using computers. Hence, computer ethics are needed.

Computer has become crucial part of today’s day-to-day life. It is being used in almost all areas. It is being used for both personal and professional purposes Some of major areas where Computers are used are:

• Computers are used in schools for teaching.

• Computers are used for mathematical calculations.

• Computers are used for knowledge gathering.

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• Computers are used to type and print documents, letters, etc.

• Computers help in sending e-mails.

• Computers help in tracking information about client systems.

2.6 HOSPITALS

• Computers help in keeping records of all the patients in a hospital.

• Computers help doctors in controlling operation theatre machines.

• Computer help in doing a number of medical tests.

2.7 DEFENSE

• Computers help in keeping records of criminals.

• Computers help in establishing communication links between the soldiers and their commanders through satellites.

• Computers help in constructing weapons and controlling their functions.

2.8 BUSINESS

• Computers help in accounting purposes.

• Computers help in sending business e-mails.

2.9 SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES

• Computers help in storing information about users of social networking sites.

• Computers help in communicating between users of social networking sites.

• Computers help in viewing or share images or videos in social networking sites.

2.10 DESIGNING

• Computers help in designing magazines, newspapers, books, advertisement.

• Computers help in designing buildings, houses.

• Computers help in designing machinery, electronic devices, etc.

• It is unethical to use a computer to harm another user.

• It includes harming or corrupting other users' data or files.

• It is wrong to use a computer to steal someone's personal information.

• Manipulating or destroying files of other users is ethically wrong.

• It is unethical to write programs, which on execution lead to stealing, copying or gaining unauthorized access to other users' data.

• Being involved in practices like hacking, spamming or phishing does not conform to computer ethics.

• Viruses are programs meant to harm useful computer programs or interfere with the normal functioning of a computer. Malicious software can disrupt the functioning of computers in more ways than one. It may overload computer memory through excessive consumption of computer resources, thus slowing its functioning. It may cause a computer to function wrongly or even stop working. Using malicious software to attack a computer is unethical.

• Stealing sensitive information or leaking confidential information is as good as robbery. It is wrong to acquire information that is meant to be confidential. For example, breaking into a bank account to collect information about the account or account holder is wrong. Illegal electronic transfer of funds is a type of crimal offense.

• Spread of information has become viral today, because of the Internet.

• This also means that false news or rumours can spread speedily through social networking sites or emails. For example, some people make fake profile of other people on social networking sites only to spread misinformation about them.

• Being involved in the circulation of incorrect information is unethical.

• Mails and pop-ups are commonly used to spread the wrong information or give false alerts with the only intent of selling products.

• Mails from untrusted sources advertising certain products or spreading some hard-to-believe information, are common.

• Many frauds happens due to ignorance of people about this misinformation’s. For example, Many fraud online shopping website advertises the products at very cheap rate. And then people pay online for that product but they do not receive that product. And as these fraud product sellers are not present locally as they can be operating their website from anywhere in the world. To reach them is difficult task.

• Like any other artistic or literary work, software is copyrighted.

• A piece of code is the original work of the individual who created it.

• It is copyrighted in his name.

 In case of a developer writing software for the organization he works for, the organization holds the copyright for it.

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• Obtaining illegal copies of copyrighted software is unethical.

• Copying any person's or organisation work and propagating them in one's own name is unethical. This applies to any creative work, program or design. Establishing ownership on a work which is not yours is ethically wrong.

• Piracy is not only limited to copying software.

• It also involves downloading copyrighted songs, videos and movies unless it is provided by creator.

• Piracy is not only unethical but also illegal.

• Looking at the social consequences that a program can have, describes a broader perspective of looking at technology.

• Software like video games and animations or educational software can have a social impact on their users.

• Suppose, when working on animation films or designing video games, it is the programmer's responsibility to understand his target audience or users and the effect it may have on them.

• For example, a computer game for kids should not have content that can influence them negatively. Like if a game is about fighting against terrorist may influence the kid to become counter terrorist in future. And likewise if a game is about becoming a gangster than it may influence the kid to do participate in illegal activities. Therefore, it is very crucial point to anticipate impacts software can have before developing it.

• The communication etiquette we follow in the real world applies to communication over computers as well.

• While communicating over the Internet, one should treat others with respect.

• One should not intrude others' private space, use abusive language, make false statements or pass irresponsible remarks about others.

considerate with a novice computer user.

4.6 DO NOT USE COMPUTERS FOR VIEWING/SPREADING EXPLICIT/DEFAMING MATERIALS.

• There are many explicit content materials available on Internet like Pornographic Videos.

• Viewing/Spreading these are immoral to society. And are considered unethical.

• One should also not spread any sort of image or video which can damage other person's reputation and respect. But there are exceptions to this. For example, it is not unethical if any person spread video which shows any Government Officer or Minister taking bribe.

• If a person is using computer to damage the reputation of other person it comes under act of cyber-bullying. It is illegal as it may affect the person who is being bullied psychologically. And may lead to some serious damage.

5.1 CONFERENCES AND ASSOCIATIONS

A number of international conferences and symposia, many of which are affiliated with and sponsored by one or more professional associations, will be of interest to philosophers eager to learn more about computer ethics. Several such conferences are held either annually or at regularly scheduled intervals as part of an ongoing series. Although there are now several conference series worthy of consideration, Some of particular interest are :

Computer Ethics: Philosophical Enquiry (CEPE) 18 Months http://www.dartmouth.edu/~phil/ International Conference on the Social and Ethical Impacts of Information and Communications Technologies (ETHICOMP) 18 Months http://www.ccsr.cse.dmu.ac.uk/conferences/ccsrconf/ International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS) conducted by IEEE SSIT 1 Year http://www.ieeessit.org/conferences.asp

5.2 JOURNALS

Although several journals and periodicals include articles on, and in some cases devote entire issues to, concerns associated with computer ethics, I believe that the following publications described in this section are particularly useful.

Ethics and Information Technology published by Kluwer Academic Publishers in the Netherlands 4 Months www.wkap.nl/journalhome.htm/1388-1957 EEE Technology and Society Magazine published by IEEE-SSIT 4 Months http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentIssue.jsp?punumber=44 The Information Society: An International Journal published by Taylor and Francis 4 Months http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/utis20#.U0ma_CgufpU

information and news items about its affiliated professional association, as well as announcements of upcoming computer ethics conferences and events.

5.3 TEXTBOOKS

There are several computer ethics textbooks available to those interested in learning or teaching a course or course component on computer ethics. Although people can now choose from a wide range of computer ethics textbooks, many of which are also authored by non-philosophers (e.g., computer scientists and social scientists). Philosophers will likely find Deborah Johnson’s Computer Ethics (Pearson Education) to be at the top of their list. Another popular textbooks are Computer Ethics and Professional Responsibilty by Terrell Ward Bynum and Simon Rogerson (Wiley) and Computer Ethics : A Global Perspective by Stamatellos (Jones and Bartlett Learning).

Computer Ethics is very sensitive topic and it is of utmost importance to have knowledge about it. People should understand cultural, social, legal and ethical issues related to computing. They should hold to highest possible ethical standards. They should use their internal sense of ethics. They should not make the wrong ethical choice because of focusing on short-term self-interest. People should understand that Ethical behaviour is way of life, best learned through experience. Moreover, living ethically requires strong and sincere motivation. Many of unethical activities are also criminal offense. And it may lead to trouble. In June 2013, six people in UK and twelve in USA were arrested by FBI for cyber credit card data fraud. (cyber-crime-stories-of, 2012) So, people should understand the difference between ethical and unethical. Otherwise, they could suffer harsh consequences. At last, I would like to highlight the point that, it would be much better to concentrate on making sure computer technology improves human life over how it can make people rich. Use of computer technology to improve quality of life and health should be given more priority over using it for becoming rich.

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I thank and acknowledge each and every ones efforts that helped us in some or the other way for small and significant things.

"Journals and Periodicals on Computers, Ethics, and Society," [2012] Computers and Society, (published in two parts) Vol. 27,(2,3), pp 20–26, pp. 39–43. Bynum, Terrell Ward [2010]. "The Development of Computer Ethics as a Philosophical Field of Study," The Australian Journal of Professional and Applied Ethics, Vol. 1(1), pp. 1-29. Bynum, Terrell, and Simon Rogerson. [2012] "Introduction and Overview: Global Information Ethics". Science and Engineering Ethics, Vol. 2 (2), pp. 131-136. Deborah Johnson’s [2007] Textbook on "Computer Ethics". Pearson Education, Third Edition. Edgar, Stacey L. [2012]. "Morality and Machines: Perspectives on Computer Ethics". Sudburry, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Vol. 5(3), pp. 13-20. Floridi, Luciano [2007]. "Information Ethics: On the Philosophical Foundation of Computer Ethics". Ethics and Information Technology, Vol. 1(1), pp. 37–56. Gert, Bernard. [2003]. "Common Morality and Computing". Ethics and Information Technology, Vol. 1(1), pp. 57–64. Gotterbarn, Don [2006]. "Computer Ethics: Responsibility Regained". National Forum: The Phi Kappa Phi Journal, Vol. 71(3), pp. 26–31. Herman T. Tawani (May, 2013) "Computer Ethics : Current Perspectives and Resources". National Information Center of Revire Vol. 3(1), pp. 5-7. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ethics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_ethics. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Commandments_of_Computer_Ethics http://www.slideshare.net/swatikakade/computer-uses-in-different-areas James H. Moore [2013] "Reason Relativity and Responsibity in Computer Ethics". Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA. Vol. 1(1), pp. 1-3. Jason A. Wood [2014] "Computer Ethics". Science and Engineering Ethics, Vol. 1(2), pp. 1-3. Jewett, Tom. [1997] "Open Location," Computers and Society, Vol. 26(4), pp. 36–38. Lucas D. Introna, Deborah G. Johnson, and Helen Nissenbaum [1999]. "Editorial, Ethics and Information Technology", Vol. 1(1), pp. 1–3. Maner, Walter. [2010] "Unique Ethical Problems in Information Technology". Science and Engineering Ethics, Vol. 2 (2), pp. 137-154. Moor, James. [2006] "What is Computer Ethics?". Met philosopher, Vol. 16 (4), pp. 266-275. Moor, James. [2008] "Ethics of Privacy Protection". Library Trend, Vol. 39 (1 & 2), pp. 69-82. Seminar Presentation on Computer Ethics by Computer Engineering Department at King Fahd Univerity of Petroleum and Minerals.

Terrell Ward Bynum [2012] A Very Short History of Computer Ethics. American Philosophical Association's Newsletter on Philosophy and Computing, Vol. 5(3), pp. 1-5 . Walter Maner (2005), "Starter Kit on Teaching Computer Ethics", Self-published in 2003. Republished in 2005 by Helvetia Press in cooperation with the National Information and Resource Center for Teaching Philosophy, Vol. 3(5), pp. 23-28.