Ethics while Using Computer Technology - Essay Example

Ethical Policy Research Paper

University of Washington, Tacoma

Chanpreet Kaur

Dr. Jim West

07/13/2020

Ethical Policy in Computer technology

Introduction

Since the advent of time, humanity has always had a structure in its social conduct, guiding its way of life. Through these social conduct, humans get along in harmony, and it was inappropriate to go against the expected social conduct. As civilizations evolved along time, so did their economic practices from the agrarian revolution to the industrial revolution to the present, the digital revolution. The world is now a global village, thanks to computer technology. But still, dealing with these great social inventions, there has to be a set of procedures to go by, as it has always been. A set of rules to create harmony in this contemporary era. How about ethics? The principles of morals to govern computer technology? And just to add a little focus, Ethical issues in computer technology? Everything has to do with computer technology today; financial transactions, entertainment, and socialization, just to mention a few. With computer, knowledge comes some aspects of power over those who lack the same knowledge. This power should not be used to harm or take advantage of computer-unknowledgeable individuals. Instead, computer technology should be used to provide services for the greater good of humanity. Now, the topic of discussion; ethical policy-the the directives for all computer technology companies to do right by customers in order to promote a healthy relationship rooted in trust and transparency ("information web: Ethical and social implications of computer networking," 1989). Computer technology has brought rife in breach of privacy and cyber insecurity, therefore it is empirical to state companies selling computer technology are accomplices in privacy breach policies by the unauthorized acquisition of personal information regarding their customers.

A Brief History of Computer Technology

To get a clear picture of how ethical policies come by in computer technology, knowing a little bit of computer technology’s history is of the essence. It all dates back to the 1600s, a time when computing was mechanical. Mathematicians came up with a system of solving mathematical problems using machines. Still, there's one device that’s probably the most significant at the time, the Difference engine by Charles Babbage, which brought inspiration to the computing realm when George Scheutz, together with his son, made a machine that could process 15-digit number and solve the fourth-order differences. Schuetz got a gold medal in a Paris exhibition for his marvelous work. Later on, he sold his machine (Iqbal, & Beigh, 2017).

From the 1920s, computers went electrical featuring three machines. The first is one by J V Astansoff, a physics professor who, together with a graduate student, built a machine that simultaneously calculated equations with 29 unknowns. Then come the second in the electronic family of computing machines, Colossus, by Alan Turing in 1943. He designed it for the British military. It played a perfect role in breaking the German army codes in World War II. Colossus was kept a secret until the war ended. But it’s the “Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC)” that made a significant mark in computer technology history. “ENIAC” was the first general-purpose programmable electronic computer designed by J Presper and John V Mauchany at Pennsylvania University. However, it was customized to perform calculations for making hydrogen bombs contrary to its originally made purpose (probably the first historical, ethical issue arising in computer technology). Later on, at 11:45 pm of October second, 1955, ENIAC was decommissioned.

Computer technology continued to evolve through the second generation which used integrated circuits and semiconductors and then to the fourth generation that offered the use of large scale integration to construct computing elements followed by the fifth generation featuring parallel processing and finally to the current sixth-generation that is way more sophisticated than the rest with advanced processing speeds and bigger storage capacity. Also, it’s the sixth generation of computers that are networked presenting an array of vulnerability in terms of cyber security therefore an ending ethical issues concerning computer technology ("NATO cooperative cyber defence centre of excellence," 2016).

Historical Ethical Issues in Computer Technology

The above paragraphs briefly outline a chronology of how computers came to be and their evolution in smartness. Computers are smart brains from a few human beings shared out to the world. These ‘brains’ are however, programmed to follow instructions by anyone who knows their language and getting to know how to operate a computer is not that hard. So, anybody can grab a computer and perform which ever task he or she wishes. The ‘brains’ wont judge, after all, they got no conscience (apart from a special AIs that are soon to take over humanity). What if someone commands computers to do harm? They will definitely do it at the strike of a keyboard.

Take the World Wars for example, The Colossus machine was used to decipher high level and secret massages from the Germans. They had this cunning way of communicating using the Lorenz (also a computer technology invention) to pass information between the “German High Command” and the Army Commandos that had occupied an extensive part of Europe. This code is claimed to be have been secure than the famous Enigma itself. But the British intercepted it and used it to dupe the enemy into their destruction. That’s an ethical computer technology issue right there. Morally, it was wrong for the British to steal information from the Germans and use it to their advantage. Yes, this was war, and ethics was unfeasible to the situation. But technically, when you come to think of it, wasn’t it unethical?

The “ENVIAN”. As much as it served the greater good of humanity for instance the wind tunnels design, weather prediction and generation of numbers at random, was twisted to perform calculation that facilitated the making of hydrogen bomb. This evokes grave ethical concerns since it’s an endangerment to human lives. Part of the bombings that we hear of today are from its calculations. This scenario is a first-hand fact on computer technology breaching ethical policies (Richardson, 2018).

Ethical Issues in Computer Technology Today

It’s the 21st century and technology has completely taken over, and if you try to evaluate the degree in which computer technology has grown, it can be described as exponential, and moving at a bullet’s speed. That’s a good thing. Things have become easier from work to transport to schools to hospitals to sports. The list is endless, full of the plus-sides that come with computerization. But the real question is, is it really that good? Is everything with computer technology all good? Absolutely not. Personally, there are a few ethical issues coming up with the internet. Fact is, the internet is one the best things that’s has ever happened to humanity. But, it’s also an illusion in some way, blinding us from its secret destructions. The following few paragraphs cover some of the ethical policies arising from the internet-a product of computer technology.

Social media. The way we connect via websites and online platforms like twitter, Facebook and Instagram sometimes, is used to exploit us. In order for you to join these platforms, you are required to provide personal information like date of birth and email address. This creates a sea of data base in the custody of the companies that provide the social media platforms. What we unaware of is, this information can be sold to survey companies without our knowledge which is a breach of confidentiality. These companies profit from your personal information. There are some allegation that they’ve got to the extent of spying on you using spy soft wares that closely monitor your activity logs and send feedbacks to the company. In 2018, reports came out of how Facebook had sold data to Cambridge Analytica- a firm that consults in politics based in Britain. A according to this report, Facebook had sold data belonging to 87 million people of its users dubbed “thisisyourdidgitallife”. Which is very unethical given that its consumers had entrusted their personal information to them. Note that there are some clauses of declaration by social media companies assuring its customers of confidentiality on their personal data. Apparently, all that declaration is all smoke without fire.

Another thing is, in order for you to install some social media apps in your phone, there is a must “allow…to access your phone”, for the app to be successfully installed. Yes they are informing you in advance they will have access to your phone and if you press the “yes” button then they will be operating within legal grounds of conducts. But already know that you going to accept it anyway, it’s like they’ve set up a trap which is morally wrong. How about just not getting access to your phone at all? That would be ethical.

Internet commercial advertisements. A case in point is in You Tube. A while back, you could watch a You Tube video in peace, without an add interference until these commercials started popping up on a video you click to view saying “you can skip this add in…seconds”. Isn’t that a nuisance? And in those seconds how much internet data bundle have you lost waiting for those seconds to elapse? Maybe they are operating within the law but it’s wrong to ‘force’ your consumers on such issues. All the above goes without mention misrepresentation of products and service. There has been cases of clients’ complaint on product and services not meeting their acceptations. As much as marketing is supposed to make a product look good, it’s wrong to exaggerate it. That’s conning with impunity. Enterprises are supposed to sell what is really advertised. It’s a moral obligation.

Code Principals and Rules Applying To Use of the Internet

Having outlined a few ethical issues regarding the internet from the above paragraphs, Am going to briefly state the code principles and rules that applying to the internet. These principles relate to the topic “Ethical issues in computer technology today”, discussed above.

As per principal 1, rule O, the confidentiality and security of records pertaining professional services provided, scholarly activities, conducted research, and products dispensed must be protected. Only when it is deemed necessary and authorised by the law shall access to the above stated be provided. Principal 1 Rule P says; any information at a personal or professional level that is served to individuals shall be protected by the same individuals and only disclosed when deemed necessary under the legal authorization. Principal III Rule F states; statements to the public by individuals shall comply to the prevailing traditions of professional standards without holding any misrepresentation during advertisements, promotions or announcing of their professional products and services in research results reports. In relation to principle IV rule C, statements of individuals to colleagues regarding professional services, products, and search results shall correspond with the prevailing standards of professionalism and neither shall they contain any misrepresentations. Most of these codes are usually violated everyday regardless of ethical morals being available.

Conclusion

Ethics policy with regards to computer technology has been prevalent since its precedented time. From the World War era when computers were unethically used to create weapons of mass destruction to the 21st century where they are been used in espionage for profit. There is no telling where unethical computer technology practises reach. This feels like an uncharted ground and everyday a new subject comes up. The world right now is sucked knee-deep into unethical computer policies. Some are not clearly addressed and that create a loop hole for more problems (Sugrue & Kelly, 2020). The best way is to continue campaigning foe ethical practises across all the divides so as to reach more people. I believe some of the reasons as to why unethical practises in computer technology have scales up is due to arrogance. Ethics should be advertised like a commercial of a new product. The sooner the better.