[comp.society] Ethics in Computer Science

ACSJEC@SEMASSU.BITNET (Jim Cusson) (02/23/90)

It seems that everybody responding to this topic is overly concerned
with students cheating on programs.  While this is definitely an ethical
concern, I feel the main point is a bit broader.  Where is the student
exposed to the effects, or possible effects, his/her software may have?
How much thought is given to the idea of 'spitting out missile code', as
on professor here puts it?

And of course, there's always the effects of VIRUS's, especially on
systems that are vital to our well being.  What happens if the hospital
database gets infected, and the fact that the patient is allergic to
penicillin is no longer evident?  If that patient gets treated with
penicillin it could have disasterous effects.  And what about TRW's
credit database?  What happens to our credit if this 'comprehensive
consumer credit' database gets infected and all the data is lost?  Or
how about the simple question of whether or not I should have access 
to the data they have on me.  Shouldn't I be able to tell them their
information is wrong?  The system probably isn't even set up for quick
and easy modifications.

However, maybe these question should be addressed to the ETHICS-L list
as suggested by Ken Mueller.  But the answers to these question have a
significant impact on society, and isn't that what *this* list is about
too?  It seems to me that the code we generate, or the systems we design
once we graduate can have a very large effect on society, and ethical
issues raised in this respect should be examined, discussed and students
exposed to them.

Jim Cusson

gunnar@cs.uit.no (Gunnar Hartvigsen) (10/13/90)

Dear colleagues, 

As the chairman of the committee for "Ethics in Computer Science" at the 
Department of Computer Science at the University of Tromsoe, Norway, I 
would like to receive information concerning ethical rules and statements 
of ethics (related to the use of computers) at other universities and 
institutions around the world.  

Our committee is currently working on ethical guidelines for undergraduate 
and graduate students' use of the Department's UNIX workstations.  

In addition, we are in the process of writing a report on ethical issues 
in computer science. The report discusses:  

 o      Ethics (general) 
 o      Ethics in computer science 
 o      Ethics in 
        -       teaching 
        -       exercises 
        -       international communication 
 o      Ethics in system administration 
 o      Ethics in research (computer science) 

The result of this discussion will (hopefully) be 

 o      Ethical guidelines for undergraduate and graduate students' use of 
        the Department's computers. (Mainly UNIX workstations) 
 o      Reactions to unethical/unacceptable use.  

I will be grateful to receive information concerning what's going on 
at other universities/institutions around the world related to these
issues. 

I will post a summary of the received materials.  

Thanks, 

Gunnar Hartvigsen                       E-mail: gunnar@cs.uit.no
Department of Computer Science 
University of Tromsoe                   Phone:  +47 83 44049
N-9000 Tromsoe, NORWAY                  Telefax: +47 83 44580