VJC Chapter 25 Ethics and Impact of Computing

VJC/H2Computing/9569 Chapter 25 Ethics and Impact of Computing Content 1 Ethics 2 The Professionalism of Computing Professionals 3 Ethical Issues 4 Legal Issues 5 Social Issues 6 Economic Issues 7 AI Ethics & Governance 8 Conclusion Annex 1 – CODE OF CONDUCT Syllabus Learning Outcomes 3.4 Social, Ethical, Legal and Economic Issues Understand the importance of ethics in the conduct of Computing professionals and the impact of Computing in different real-life situations. 3.4.1 Understand the code of ethics (conduct) of a Computing professional. 3.4.2 Describe the impact of computing on lifestyle and workplace for social and economic developments. 3.4.3 Discuss the social, ethical, legal and economic issues of computing and technology.

1 VJC/H2Computing/9569 1 Ethics Ethics is a set of rules of behaviour based on ideas of what is morally good and bad and what is morally right and wrong. Every society has its rules about whether certain issues are ethical or not. As the use of computers becomes more widespread in every aspect of our lives, discussions in computer ethics have reached a somewhat common consensus. The consensus can be represented in the Ten Commandments of Computing Ethics: 1) Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people. 2) Thou shalt not interfere with other people’s computer work 3) Thou shalt not snoop around in other people’s files 4) Thou shalt not use a computer to steal 5) Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness 6) Thou shalt not use or copy software for which you have not paid 7) Thou shalt not use other people’s computer resources without authorization 8) Thou shalt not appropriate other people’s intellectual output 9) Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you write 10) Thou shall use a computer in ways that show consideration and respect For a more detailed explanation of each of the ten commandments, please visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Commandments_of_Computer_Ethics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASm-2t31Ptg 2 The Professionalism of Computing Professionals Computing professionals includes hardware designers, software engineers, database administrators, system analysts, and computer scientists. Today, with more adaptations of technology into our daily life, the scope of computing professionals also increase. No matter

what their particular specialisation is, any professional person is expected to act ethically. In Singapore, the Singapore Computing Society (SCS) has a code of conduct that gives guidance under four rules: ● act at all times with integrity ● accept full responsibility for their work ● always aim to increase their competence ● act with professionalism to enhance the prestige of the profession and the Society For more details, refer to Annex 1 2 VJC/H2Computing/9569 3 Ethical Issues Ethical issues involve examining the moral dilemmas and ethical considerations arising from the use of computing and technology such as data privacy and security, surveillance, intellectual property rights (e.g., copyright, patents), digital rights management, ethical considerations in artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, and the ethical implications of emerging technologies like biometrics and autonomous systems. Example: Use of Facial Recognition Technology for Surveillance Facial recognition technology has advanced significantly in recent years and is increasingly being deployed for various purposes, including surveillance by governments, law enforcement agencies, and private companies. While facial recognition offers potential benefits such as enhanced security and convenience, its widespread use raises serious ethical concerns regarding privacy and civil liberties. There are fears that unchecked surveillance through facial recognition systems could erode individuals' right to privacy and lead to too much surveillance. Moreover, there are concerns about the accuracy and bias of facial recognition algorithms, particularly regarding their disproportionate misidentification of individuals from minority groups. Ethical considerations must be carefully weighed against the potential benefits of facial recognition technology, and robust regulatory frameworks are needed to ensure its responsible and ethical use. 4 Legal Issues Legal issues are issues where a law has been passed by a government. While you are not expected to learn the details of all the Acts listed, you may be asked to consider the issues in the legal context.

One thing to note is that as technology develops rapidly, laws often become outdated rapidly. Many acts are introduced/amended in response to current events. For example, the Electronic Transactions Act was recently amended in 2021. The new Copyright Act which was passed in Parliament in September 2021, came into force on 21 November 2021. You may find the summary of regulations on the IMDA’s website: https://www.imda.gov.sg/Regulations-and-Licences/Regulations ● Personal Data Protection Act This has been discussed in Chapter 24 Data Management. ● Copyright Act The Copyright Act strengthens creators' and performers' rights by granting default ownership of certain commissioned works to creators and performers, unless stated otherwise in the contract. Additionally, it mandates clear identification of creators or performers when using or distributing their works in public, including on online platforms. The Act also introduces exceptions to copyright owners' rights, allowing lawful use of copyrighted works for computational data analysis and educational purposes without seeking explicit permission, as long as proper attribution is 3 VJC/H2Computing/9569 provided. These changes aim to balance the interests of creators and the public, fostering innovation, education, and recognition in the digital age. More details can be found at https://www.ipos.gov.sg/news/press-releases/ViewDetails/commencement-of-the-copyright-act / ● Computer Misuse Act The Computer Misuse Act aims to protect computer material against unauthorized access or modification and prevent abuse of the national digital identity service. It defines various terms related to computer usage, such as "computer," "damage," "data," and "program," and outlines what constitutes unauthorized access or modification of computer material. The Act prohibits unauthorized interception of computer functions and provides penalties for such offenses. Additionally, it establishes provisions for