Task 2 : Demonstrate two ACM’s code

1. Give proper credit for intellectual property.

2. Respect the privacy of others.

Class Activity : Network and Ethical Issues

What is web filter?

A Web filter is a program that can screen an incoming Web page to determine whether some or all of it should not be displayed to the user. The filter checks the origin or content of a Web page against a set of rules provided by company or person who has installed the Web filter. A Web filter allows an enterprise or individual user to block out pages from Web sites that are likely to include objectionable advertising, pornographic content, spyware, virus and other objectionable content. Vendors of Web filters claim that their products will reduce recreational Internet surfing among employees and secure networks from Web-based threats [1]. 

Some Web filter products also provide reporting so that the installer can see what kind of traffic is being filtered and who has requested it. Some products provide soft blocking (in which a warning page is sent to the user instead of the requested page while still allowing access to the page) and an override capability that allows an administrator to unlock a page [1].

While a Web filter can screen out a certain amount of malware, security experts advise other forms of protection as well, such as the installation of desktop and network antivirus software. A Web filter is often installed as part of a proxy server and firewall [1]. 

Is it working?

The web filter rates the content of websites, and it can block some websites based on the content categories you decide are objectionable. Turning on the web filter should significantly reduce the number of objectionable websites your children might view, but it does not offer absolute protection. Because objectionable content is subjective, the filters might not block all of the content that you want them to block [2].

Many believe Web Filtering to be simply and straightforward. Install it, select what sites you want to block, and be done with it. As with any new technology that concept no longer works. Even with a Web Filter it’s important to understand and manage your system properly, not just throw it in and turn it on. Take time to review requirements and policies, explore currently available products, and learn how to use those products to their full potential.

Child Internet Protection

In 1998 a narrower version of the CDA required commercial Web sites to verify proof of age before giving users access to sexually explicit material considered obscene for minors. COPA was immediately challenged by the ACLU and other civil liberty organizations, and in 1999 a permanent injunction was ordered against its enforcement. On May 13, 2002, in ACLU v. Ashcroft, the Supreme Court directed a lower court to reexamine its ruling that COPA was unconstitutional. On March 7, 2003, the court again found that COPA was unconstitutional. On June 29, 2004 the Supreme Court kept in place the 1999 lower-court ruling against the enforcement of COPA, but ordered the lower court to consider whether recent advancements in filtering technologies could protect children more or less effectively than the criminal sanctions specified in COPA [3].

How do you see The Child Internet Protection Act from act utilitarianism viewpoints?

Argument for: 

•  Libraries do not provide X-rated magazines or movies so they should not be obliged to provide Internet pornography. Damage to children significant unless filtered.

 Argument against:

•  Filters are inaccurate and inconvenient. They restrict freedom of speech from some web publishers

Act utilitarianism evaluation.

1. Enacting the CIPA will result in fewer children being exposed to pornography.
2. Imperfect Web filters cause some legitimate Web sites to be inaccessible, making Web browsers in libraries less useful.
3. Adult patrons who ask for filters to be removed may be stigmatized as people who want to view pornography.
4. Some blocked sites may be associated with minority political views, reducing freedom of thought and expression.
5. Act Utilitarianism, due to the complexity of utilitarian calculus, could support or oppose the CIPA depending each person’s judgment. 

Reference

1. whatis.com – definition web filter
   http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/Web-filter
2. windows – how does web filter work
   http://windows.microsoft.com/en-MY/windows-vista/How-does-the-Parental-Controls-web-filter-work
3. nap.edu – Internet laws  
4. http://www.nap.edu/netsafekids/pp_li_il.html
5. Communication via the web
   http://www.cs.txstate.edu/~hd01/CS2315/Papers/Third%20Edition/PreFall2009/02/SP05/Communication%20via%20the%20Web.ppt

Importance of Ethics among IT Professionals

Introduction

The word ethics comes from the Greek word “ethikos ” ,meaning character. There  is a similar term that prevail in and many times considered synonym of ethics, is  “morality“. But in essence these are quite different concept the word morality has been derived from the Latin root ‘moralist’ which means behavior. Ethico-moral actions thus pertain to set of actions engineered by the characters and expressed through behaviors.

Ethics is a set of standards, or a code, or value system, worked out from human reason and experience, by which free human actions are determined as ultimately right or wrong,good or evil. If acting agrees with these standards, it is ethical, otherwise unethical. Code of value principles that we use in a particular context generally refers to ethics.


To be more specific, ethics among it professionals is the study of good and evil, right and wrong just and unjust action of it professionals.

Importance

Corresponds to basic human needs, it is a human trait that man desires to be ethical not only in his private life bu also in his IT Professional affairs where, being a professional, he/she knows their decisions may affect the live of thousands of programmer or software that they build. Importance of ethics for IT Professional is used to control the behavior of professionals in the form of commands to do so and leave the things that cause offense either in the country legally or status as professional.


Based on Mansueto Ventures LLC (2012),companies with strong ethics programs has found that these efforts can reduce potential costly fines,decrease vulnerability,improve reputation,provide access to capital,favorably influence their bottom line, positively affect their employees' commitment to work and enhance customer loyalty.


According to Thea Mcbride(2012), there are five(5) importances of codes of ethics that encourages IT professionals to behave more ethical and responsible in their jobs.

1. Standards 
A code of ethics document sets the standards for what is expected of the IT Professional. It reinforces what is considered right and wrong by using verbiage such as "always" or "never" to be as clear as possible.

2. Access
A code of ethics reminds IT Professionals that they are not to impede or manipulate pre-authorized access to the information of hardware of which they are in control.

3. Prevention
A code of ethics helps prevent IT Professionals from behaving in a malicious or harmful manner with cmpany information and equipment.

4. Skills
A code of ethics helps motivate an IT Professional to stay current in her chosen skill set in order to be more effective on the job for his/her employer. A motivated IT Professional may also be encouraged to learn new skill sets as technology changes.

5. Types
Code of ethics documents can be tailored with verbiage that specifically affects only certain types of IT Professional such as programmers, networkers or cyber forensics experts.

The following is a rough and general summary of some ethical principals that various code address:

1. Honesty
Strive for honesty in all scientific communications. Honestly report data,results, methods and procedures,and publication status. Do not fabricate,falsify,or misrepresent data.Do not deceive colleagues,granting agencies,or the public.

2. Objectivity
Strive to avoid bias in experimental design, data analysis,data interpretation, peer review,personnel decisions. grant writing, expert testimony, and other aspects of research where objectivity is expected or required. Avoid or minimize bias or self-deception.Disclose personal or financial interest that may affect research.

3. Integrity
Keep your promises and agreements act with sincerity,strive for consistency of thought and action

4. Carefulness
Avoid careless errors and negligence, carefully and critically examine your own work and the work of your peers. Keep good records of research activities,such as data collection,research design,and correspondence with agencies or journals.

5. Openness
Share data,results,ideas,tools,resources. Be open to criticism and new ideas.

6. Respect for intellectual Property
Respect your colleagues and treat them fairly.

7. Social Responsibility
Strive to promote social good and prevent or mitigate social harms through research,public education and advocacy.

8. Non-Discrimination
Avoid discrimination against colleagues or students on the basis of sex,race,ethnicity, or other factors that are not related to their scientific competence and integrity.

9. Competence
Maintain and improve your own professional competence and expertise through lifelong education and learning, take steps to promote competence in science as a whole.

10. Legality
Know and obey relevant laws and institutional and governmental policies.

11. Human Subjects Protection
When conducting research on human subjects,minimize harm and risks and maximize benefits, respect human dignity,privacy, and autonomy, take special precautions with vulnerable populations and strive to distribute the benefits and burdens of research fairly.

Benefits

Based on what Josephson(November 2,2010),the single measure that would most improve corporate governance is the establishment by senior management of an ethical business culture.

         

As that being said, it shows how ethics will influence senior management to operation management within business or corporate governance to improve their business performance in synchronizing the attitude and behavior of IT Professionals is acceptable in community to impress quality of working indirectly will outstand their credibility where as they should have followed the standard and procedures set by the company or organization. Despite the business return, Josephson (2010) also mentioned that “companies should have ethics codes to promote ethical behavior – not to enhance productivity, profits or public relations.  Still, a sound, well-administered code can benefit a company and its stakeholders in a variety of ways” that exactly explain one’s characters and manners are vital so that it will become the first impression out of whole other matters in working environment regardless to the benefit of the company solely.

Besides that, ethics programs are highly recommended in an organization. Some of the potential benefits associated to a successful ethics program towards IT Professionals includes forming and retaining top-quality professionals, developing a more satisfying and productive working environment, structuring and maintaining association’s reputation within the communities in which operate, maintaining the trust of members to ensure continued self-regulation, verifying open discussion of ethical issues, providing ethical regulation and resources for employees prior to making difficult decisions and aligning the work efforts of staff with the association’s broader mission and vision.

Companies should have ethics codes to promote ethical behavior – not to enhance productivity, profits or public relations.  Still, a sound, well-administered code can benefit a company and its stakeholders in a variety of ways.  It can:

1. Guide employees in situations where the ethical course of action is not immediately obvious.
2. Help the company reinforce – and acquaint new employees with – its culture and values.  A code can help create a climate of integrity and excellence.
3. Help the company communicate its expectations to the staff to suppliers, vendors and customers.  Also, by soliciting feedback and questions, a company can use the code to encourage frequent, open and honest communication among employees.
4. Minimize subjective and inconsistent management standards.  A code explicitly outlines the rights and responsibilities of staff members and helps guard against capricious and preferential treatment of employees.
5. Help a company remain in compliance with complex government regulations.  The landmark Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires public companies to have an ethics code for senior financial officers.
6. Build public trust and enhance business reputations.  Also, a code helps demonstrate the company’s values to socially responsible investors.
7. Offer protection in preempting or defending against lawsuits.
8. Enhance morale, employee pride, loyalty and the recruiting of outstanding employees.
9. Help promote constructive social change by raising awareness of the community’s needs and encouraging employees and other stakeholders to help.
10. Promote market efficiency – especially in areas where laws are weak or inefficient – by rewarding the best and most ethical producers of goods and services.

Conclusion

Ethics should be considered as a set of principles that every IT professionals should obey.  Ethics encompasses social mores, usually expressed today as good manners; an ethical IT professional can be work more properly and effectively in their workplace. The IT professional must have the ability to make a correct decision without any bad impact on a cooperate. The world is operates on trust. Trust is a belief that others will act in accordance with ill defined, but generally accepted standards of behavior and respect for others. If trust is absent then very little of what we deem necessary, to allow the free flow of social intercourse and commerce, will occur. All these matters are governed by ethics.

Indeed, part of professional ethics has to do with the fairness with which issues are handled and cases are decided. IT Professionals have a duty to report colleagues’ wrong-doing and disciplinary measure may have to be taken depends on situation. Plus, procedural fairness is part of ethics, and so there must be adequate warnings, notice, a hearing of all sides and an even-handed and consistency in the approval taken. Like cases must be treated alike

References:

1. Ajithsrc, (2010). Module 1 - What is Ethics? Retrieved on Feb 18, 2012 [online] http://www.slideshare.net/ajithsrc/new-1-3685486

2. David B. Resnik, J.D. (2010). What is Ethics in Research & Why is it Important?Retrieved on Feb 20, 2012 [online]http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/bioethics/whatis/ 
3. Kirby J (2009). Australian High Court, Journal Of South Pacific Law, The Importance of Ethics and The Application of Ethical Principles to The Legal Profession, Volume 13 Issue 1. Retrieved on Feb 21, 2012 [online] http://www.paclii.org/journals/fJSPL/vol06/8.shtml

4. Mansueto Ventures LLC (2012).  Inc.com - The importance of Being Ethical. Retrieved on Feb 21, 2012 [online]http://www.inc.com/articles/2000/11/14278.html

5. Josephson M. (November 2, 2010) Business Ethics and Leaderships by Michael Josephson, Ten Benefits Of Having An Ethics Code. Retrieved on 23 Feb, 2012 [online] http://josephsoninstitute.org/business/blog/2010/11/ten-benefits-of-having-an-ethics-code/

6. Winter G (2000) Ethics in the Workplace by Joshua Joseph, Ethics Resource Centre, Inc.Retrieved on 24 Feb 2012 [online]http://www.asaecenter.org/Resources/articledetail.cfm?ItemNumber=13073
7. Resnik, 2011. What is Ethics in Research & Why is it Important? [online]http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/bioethics/whatis/
8. McBride. The Importance of a Code of Ethics for IT Professionals?[online] http://www.ehow.com/facts_6060876_importance-code-ethics-professionals.html
9. Russ Buchanan. Code of Ethics in Information Technology. [Online]http://www.ehow.com/facts_5764997_code-ethics-information-technology.html

 

Video Presentation