Communications Technology Ethics - Essay Example

CT Watchdog is a blogg about me, and my opinions of Communications Technology ethics. Me first I am a undergraduate interested incommunications technology. Why Well, it the way of the future, it's exciting and so diverse, and the discipline provides me with many opportunities to be self-employed, work from home, or to be able to travel and work at the same time. Travel is my other big interest!! In 2003 I traveled to Guam with my push-bike. Many of my friends and family thought I was nuts and maybe I was. But the website info said the nation could be traveled in four hours on a bus! So I figured I'd do ok on a bike - and I did. No way was I going to pedal over some of those hills though: o Lucky for me the bus drivers were happy to put my bike on a carrier on the front of the bus and drive me to a destination where I could pedal around exploring. Beautiful country...too bad about the tourism dollars going out of the country - but that's another blogg in itself. In 2004 I spent three weeks in Palau for the 9th Pacific Arts Festival - that was awesome! So many cultures, so little time. I plan on traveling the Eastern Coastline of Australia in 2007 - the web pics are breathtaking, and I want to learn to scuba dive. I am also interested in robotics, and have built myself a little bot I've named Nox (yes I'm a Gater [Stargate fan]). I enjoy building things and I enjoy watching Nox learn things - like how to find his way through a maze (I made one out of cardboard) and how to find his way through my apartment (lots of trial and error and the occasional broken glass). At the moment I am building a little sister for Nox, her name is Major Carter (yep, Stargate again!). But trying to build around my studies can be difficult, as all I seem to do is study (_*) I became interested in communications technology at high school. I firmly believe it is necessary for humans to have effective communications: interpersonally, nationally and globally. I think it important also that each person be able to critically analyze and reflect on information that is communicated to us and that each person have access to information, so that we can make informed decisions, and so that institutions, corporations and individuals can be accountable for their actions. It helps that the CT industry is growing rapidly, as that means I more likely to obtain gainful employment - in a job I enjoy! Also, the dynamic nature of the internet will allow me to be innovative and expressive in a variety of ways that suit my character - color, FUN, interaction, connections with like minded individuals and businesses etc. At this point, web programming is a definite interest. I will be able to design sites for others, as well as develop my own about topics which are important to me. Due to current time constraints ; ) I can begin a soapbox from my blogg, for dissemination on an important CT topic: ethics!!! Ethics brings to mind for many people, including students, including myself - the word boringit conjures up images of dry, drab and complicated documents bound in dusty covers, sectioned away in the far corners of libraries. It is unfortunate that we, and I emphasize the collective "we", do not take more of an interest in our rights as citizens of this globe. For that is what ethics is - guidelines for maintaining our freedoms as a human being, our dignity, our privacy, and our accountability to the global community we are a part of. With a medium such as the internet ethics becomes further complicated and even more important - at least I think so. The internet is an unmediated communication environment. This very blogg that you read now has been created by a person whom you do not know, are likely never to meet, and who is going to say a great (and they will be great : ) many things about people, and government, and business - and maybe even you. How do you feel about that I know that for myself I have several netiquette concerns (etiquette for the www). As I write this blogg I feel a pressing need to abscond to the loo (sorry if that is too much detail for you, but I really need to go!). However, I am using a library lab computer, and my concern at this moment is that I will have to log off to leave my computer, and then log on again when I come back - which will take at least 20 minutes because the uni servers are clogged with students doing assignments! But, if I do not log off, another student could easily start using my computer terminal, with my log details - to send inflammatory emails; download porn; access my email; print documents at my expense. You see my dilemma. AnywaysI've a study buddy with me whom I trust, so I am making a run for it while they guard my integrity. Relief! Returning to the subject at hand - CT ethics in an unmediated environment - you can see that the issue of ethics has entered daily life of the internet user in a very personal way. And the potential for abuse of this technology appears to be increasing, in regards to conduct towards others; gathering research; undertaking a business; political propaganda; education over the internet; legal and social issues; and privacy the rights of a person in regards to communicating over the internet. At present, there is no standardized code of ethics for internet conduct. Many organizations have definable email ethical codes, and most forums, discussion boards and chatrooms have ethical standards that the user must abide by. Even this blogg has a set code of behavior to enable me to write here as I do, but my point is, and it only a point that is forwarded by many others (some more knowledgeable than me , that these ethics vary, are unstandardized, and so increase the likelihood for misconduct to occur on the internet in general. By way of promoting ethical considerations of some sort, these codes reflect the global community we have become, and the need to acknowledge and respect the rights, dignity and differences of others. Arlene Rinaldi's website provides a very comprehensive, yet reader friendly guide to use of the internet: http://www.fau.edu/rinaldi/net/index.html My blogg here allows me to write about people without actually having spoken to them and to check my facts. It is also a medium that allows me to write my unsolicited opinion, which may exaggerate, misinform or just be plain biased. I could present any information that I wish will little fear of repercussions, my privacy is guaranteed! No one knows who CT Watchdog really is, and unless they are extremely hacker savvy they are unlikely to find out. I can write up false information, about politics, or a celebrity, or my neighbor. The increasing ability of people being able to access the internet, and to check out my story, would soon see my false claims revealed. This is not unlike the credibility of Enron's P.R. that maintained a campaign of false information regarding the viability of the company even though these employees were aware of the financial troubles the company was really in. How was such a corporation able to remain in the marketplace for so long Because the company could afford a propaganda machine. It is surprising with the availability of internet technology that their lack of business ethics was not discovered earlier, considering the access to information that the internet can bring. Cosnumers of internet technology are much more able today to do our own research of the "facts" to ascertain if the story we are told by corporations and governments is unbiased and true. In the case of Enron, their PR department may or may not have felt pressured to deliver false information to the public, they may or may not have felt they were in an "ethical dilemma". As no whistleblower stepped forward before Bethany McLean of Fortune let the proverbial cat out of the bag, it is difficult to accept that those Hollywood style commercials were constructed under duress. It has been said that excellent PR can be based on ethics - really, it has been said! (http://www.pieschekpr.com/articles/news_2002_01_28.shtml). Piesheck presents the Kantian categorical imperative: I ought never to act except in such a way that I can also will that my maxim [action] should become a universal law. In light of this, users of the internet could be encouraged to ask themselves: Would it be ok if everybody provided false information over the net What is the harm if all people behave negatively towards others during their internet conduct What if everybody send inflammatory emails form another person's email account And on that those thoughtful notes, I'll take leave for today References Ornatowski, C. M. 2001, "Rhetoric, writing, culture", Retrieved May 8th, 2006, from http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/drwswebb/lore/2_2/ornat_internet.html I can't leave my soapbox just yet! I really think we as users of the internet and other unmediated mediums need to take the time to consider the ethical implications of these tools. Many of us live within democratic societies - and yet we tend to ignore the thought that our rights and dignity are at the mercy of another keyboard. The internet offers such potential for communication, between each other, for access to news and politics, for information about products and companies and services. Despite the drawbacks of a lack of body language (unless one has an internet video-cam or video-conferencing equipment), the internet can still provide a well of sociability for people. Elderly people who may have mobility issues, or people who experience a disability, can access public services, read the news, catch up with family and friends, and pursue personal interests. Businesses can organize meetings, order stock, advertise for staff and train employees. The ordinary person can start a blogg and journal their way to a publication deal with a major publishing company. University students can carry out up-to-date, cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary research all from their office/spare room chair. However, for each of us to have an opportunity to carry out actives safely, and maintain our rights to privacy and access to "factual" information, our use of the internet needs to depend on set rules of behavior. As highlighted earlier, deliberately misinforming the public is just one risk that the internet can present, and it is unethical and illegal activity. And in the case of Enron - plain stupid! Other unethical and illegal activates that may occur with the internet are: the stealing of copyright; taking credit for another's intellectual property; reading another's private email; misuse of research; stealing another's credit information; identify theft; and commercial/personal misuse of the www (Yang, 1995). Here is a list of links to articles about some of the ways the internet has been used unethically: Flood. M. 2005 "Enron Internet's ex-PR director testifies on releases" http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/special/enron/broadband/3210630.html Piper, S. 2000, "Better read that again" http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/sep00/piper.htm also lists websites dedicated to tracking down internet hoaxes Konrad, R. & Hu, J. 2001, "Spam, misinformation in the wake of tragedy" http://news.com.com/2100-1023-272986.html Ribble, S. 2004, "Implementing digital citizenship in schools" http://coe.ksu.edu/ribble/MRProposal.pdf Rumbough, T. B. 2001, "Controversial uses of the internet by college students", http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/CSD1618.pdf The Associated Press 2006, "Click fraud hounds Google" http://www.entmag.com/news/article.aspEditorialsID=7411 TMC.Net.com 2006, "Botmaster gets five years in prison" http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/05/09/1644846.htm It is evident that the use of abuse of internet communications, such as Enron's internet press releases about higher than actual stock prices, is of serious concern for the use of the internet as a global communication tools. As such, it is in the best interest of all users to familiarize themselves with their rights and obligations, especially as many of us utilize the internet on a daily basis, and for a variety of communication tasks. I'll leave you today with a quote from Albert Schweitzer (1949): Ethics, too, are nothing but reverence for life. This is what gives me the fundamental principle of morality, namely, that good consists in maintaining, promoting, and enhancing life, and that destroying, injuring, and limiting life are evil. References Schweitzer, A. 1949, Civilizaiton and ethics, Retrieved May 8th, 2006 from Wisdom Quotes Website: http://www.wisdomquotes.com/001221.html Yang, 1995, "Ethics on the web", Retrieved May 8th, 2006 from http://www.echonyc.com/ysue/ethics.html Read More