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Lecture 5 Cyberethics By Dr. Saqib Iqbal What Is Cyberethics? • Cyberethics is the study of moral, legal, and social issues involving cybertechnology. • It examines the impact that cybertechnology has for our social, legal, and moral systems. • It also evaluates the social policies and laws that have been framed in response to issues generated by the development and use of cybertechnology. • Hence, there is a reciprocal relationship here. What Is Cybertechnology? • Cybertechnology refers to a wide range of computing and communications devices – from standalone computers, to "connected" or networked computing and communications technologies, to the Internet istself. • Cybertechnologies include: hand-held devices (such as Palm Pilots), personal computers (desktops and laptops), mainframe computers, and so forth. Cybertechnology (Continued) • Networked devices can be connected directly to the Internet. • They also can be connected to other devices through one or more privately owned computer networks. • Privately owned networks include both Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs). Why the term cyberethics? • Cyberethics is a more accurate label than computer ethics, which might suggest the study of ethical issues limited to computing machines, or to computing professionals. • It is more accurate than Internet ethics, which is limited only to ethical issues affecting computer networks. Table 1-1: Summary of Four Phases of Cyberethics Phase Time Period Technological Features Associated Issues 1 1950s-1960s Stand-alone machines (large mainframe computers) Artificial intelligence (AI), database privacy ("Big Brother") 2 1970s-1980s Minicomputers and PCs interconnected via privately owned networks Issues from Phase 1 plus concerns involving intellectual property and software piracy, computer crime, privacy and the exchange of records. 3 1990s-Present Internet and World Wide Web Issues from Phases 1 and 2 plus concerns about free speech, anonymity, legal jurisdiction, virtual communities, etc. 4 Present to Near Future Convergence of information and communication technologies with nanotechnology research and genetic and genomic research, etc. Issues from Phases 1-3 plus concerns about artificial electronic agents ("bots") with decision-making capabilities, bionic chip implants, nanocomputing research, etc. Are Cyberethics Issues Unique? • Consider the Amy Boyer case of cyberstalking in light of issues raised. • Is there anything new or unique about this case from an ethical point of view? • Boyer was stalked in ways that were not possible before cybertechnology. • But do new ethical issues arise? Uniqueness Issue (Continued) • Two points of view: • Traditionalists argue that nothing is new – crime is crime, and murder is murder. • Uniqueness Proponents argue that cybertechnology has introduced (at least some) new and unique ethical issues that could not have existed before computers. Uniqueness Issue (Continued) • Both sides seem correct on some claims, and both seem to be wrong on others. • Traditionalists underestimate the role that issues of scale and scope that apply because of the impact of computer technology. • Cyberstalkers can stalk multiple victims simultaneously (scale) and globally (because of the scope or reach of the Internet). • They also can operate without ever having to leave the comfort of their homes. Summary • • • • What is cyberethics? What are cybertechnologies? What is the history of cyberetchics? Uniquesness of cyberethics.