Introduction to Social and Professional Issues

Social & Professional
Issues
Module 1: Introduction to Social and Professional Issues
Subtitle: Ethics and Responsibilities in the Digital Age
Instructor Name: LESTER R. LADERA, MIT, DM

Objectives of the Topic
• Understand the importance of computer ethics and
professional ethics.
• Explore the consequences of ethical failures in professional
settings.
• Learn about the responsibilities of professionals in the
computing field.

Learning Outcomes (TLOs)
 Define computer ethics and professional ethics.
 Explain the professional responsibilities of an individual.

What is Computer Ethics?
 Definition: The study of ethical issues related to the use of computer technology.
 Scope:
o Privacy
o Intellectual property
o Cybersecurity
o Digital rights and responsibilities
 Key Question: How do ethics guide behavior in the digital realm?

Importance of Computer Ethics
 For Individuals:
o Protect personal data and privacy.
o Promote responsible online behavior.
 For Organizations:
o Maintain trust with stakeholders.
o Ensure compliance with legal standards.
 For Society:
o Foster safe and equitable use of technology.
o Address global challenges like cybercrime.

Professions and Professional Ethics
 Definition of a Profession:
o A disciplined group of individuals adhering to specific standards and
practices.
 What are Professional Ethics?
o Moral principles guiding the conduct of individuals within a profession.
 Examples:
o Confidentiality
o Integrity
o Accountability

Characteristics of a Profession
Specialized knowledge and skills.
Formal education and training.
Adherence to a code of ethics.
Commitment to public good and societal welfare.

Why Professional Ethics Matter
Ensures Trust:
oBuilds confidence in professional services.
Protects Stakeholders:
oSafeguards interests of clients, employers, and the public.
Prevents Misconduct:
oEstablishes guidelines for acceptable behavior.

Professional Ethic Failures
Examples:
oData breaches due to negligence.
oPlagiarism and intellectual property theft.
oMisuse of insider knowledge.
Consequences:
oLoss of reputation
oLegal actions
oFinancial penalties

Case Study: Cambridge Analytica
 Scenario:
o Harvesting Facebook data of millions of users without consent for
political campaigns.
 Outcome:
o Breach of privacy laws.
o Global scrutiny and legal actions against involved parties.
 Discussion: What lessons can professionals in computing learn from
this case?

Case Study: Equifax Data Breach
 Scenario:
o Cyberattack exposing personal information of 147 million people.
 Outcome:
o Financial losses exceeding $1 billion.
o Damaged reputation and regulatory fines.
 Discussion: How could better ethical practices and responsibility
have prevented this?

Interactive Scenario: Ethical Dilemma
Scenario:
oYou discover a vulnerability in your company’s software.
Reporting it could delay product launch and cost millions.
Ignoring it risks exposing customers to security breaches.
Questions:
oWhat ethical principles are at stake?
oWhat would you do, and why?

Professional Responsibilities
 Core Responsibilities:
o Integrity: Honesty in all professional dealings.
o Accountability: Taking responsibility for actions.
o Competence: Continuously improving skills and knowledge.
o Respect: Treating colleagues, clients, and users fairly.
 Examples in Computing:
o Writing secure and reliable code.
o Ensuring systems comply with ethical standards.

Balancing Responsibilities
To the Employer:
oProtect organizational interests.
oMaintain confidentiality.
To Society:
oPromote equitable access to technology.
oPrevent harm through unethical practices.

Computer Ethics and Professional Ethics
Comparison
Computer Ethics: Focuses on the ethical use of
technology and digital systems.
Professional Ethics: Encompasses broader
responsibilities within a profession.
Overlap: Both emphasize integrity, accountability,
and societal impact.

Principles of Ethical Decision-Making
Respect for Autonomy: Empower individuals
to make informed choices.
Non-Maleficence: Avoid causing harm.
Beneficence: Promote well-being.
Justice: Ensure fairness and equality.

Charts Comparing Ethical Standards
Across Professions
 Professions:
o Medicine: "Do no harm."
o Law: Advocate within legal boundaries.
o Computing: Ensure secure and reliable systems.
 Chart:
o Compare responsibilities like confidentiality, integrity, and
accountability across these fields.

Codes of Ethics in Computing
 ACM Code of Ethics:
o Contribute to society and human well-being.
o Avoid harm.
o Be honest and trustworthy.
 IEEE Code of Ethics:
o Uphold the highest standards of integrity and ethical behavior.
o Improve the understanding of technology and its impact.

Ethical Challenges in the Digital Era
 Privacy Issues: Data collection and surveillance.
 AI Ethics: Bias in algorithms and decision-making.
 Cybersecurity Threats: Balancing security and user rights.
 Digital Divide: Ensuring equitable access to technology.

Preventing Professional Ethical Failures
 Adhere to codes of conduct.
 Conduct regular training on ethical practices.
 Foster a culture of accountability.
 Implement robust policies and procedures.

Interactive Activity: Ethical Decision-
Making Framework
 Scenario:
o Your company plans to collect user data without explicit consent to
improve AI recommendations.
 Framework Steps:
1.Identify stakeholders and impacts.
2.Analyze ethical principles involved.
3.Propose an ethical course of action.

Illustrations of Professional
Responsibilities in Action
 Example 1: A developer reports a security flaw instead of ignoring it
to meet deadlines.
 Example 2: An IT team encrypts sensitive data to protect user
privacy.
 Example 3: A company discloses a data breach promptly to
stakeholders.

Introduction to Social and Professional Issues

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