Professional Practices: Concepts, Methodologies, and Codes of Cyber Ethics
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Phases of Cyber Ethics
3. Uniqueness Issue
4. Cyber Ethics as a Branch of Applied Ethics
5. Two Broad Frameworks of Cyber Ethics
6. Three-Step Strategy for Approaching Cyber Ethics Issues
What Is Cyber Ethics?
Cyber ethics is the study of moral, legal, and social issues related to cyber
technology. It looks at how technology affects our laws, morals, and society, and
examines the policies created to address these issues.
What Is Cyber Technology?
Cyber technology includes all computing and communication devices, such as:
• Smartphones (e.g., iPhones)
• Computers (desktops, laptops, mainframes)
• The Internet and private networks (LANs, WANs)
These devices can be connected directly to the Internet or to other private
networks.
Why the Term "Cyber Ethics"?
• Computer ethics is too narrow (only about computers).
• Internet ethics is also limited (only about networks).
• Cyber ethics covers all ethical issues related to digital technology.
Summary of Four Phases of Cyber Ethics
(Note: The phases themselves are not listed in the file, but the uniqueness issue is
discussed.)
Uniqueness Issue: Are Cyber Crimes New or Different?
Two viewpoints:
1. Traditionalists
o Believe cyber crimes are just old crimes in a new form (e.g., theft is
theft, whether online or offline).
2. Uniqueness Proponents
o Argue cyber technology creates new ethical issues (e.g.,
cyberstalking multiple victims globally from home).
Conclusion:
• Traditionalists underestimate how technology scales (affects many people)
and extends globally.
• Uniqueness proponents sometimes confuse unique technology with unique
ethics.
• Truth: Cyber technology doesn’t create new ethics but complicates old
ones.
Cyber Ethics as a Branch of Applied Ethics
Applied ethics focuses on real-world moral problems rather than abstract theories.
Cyber ethics has three perspectives:
1. Professional Ethics
o Focuses on ethical responsibilities of computer professionals (e.g., a
programmer finding bugs in software—should they report it?).
o Criticism: Too narrow; cyber ethics affects everyone, not just
professionals.
2. Philosophical Ethics
o Examines how technology impacts society and policies.
o Unlike cars or planes, cyber technology changes laws and morals
fundamentally.
3. Descriptive Ethics
o Reports facts (e.g., "This technology replaced 8,000 jobs").
o Normative ethics evaluates what should be done (e.g., "Companies
should protect user privacy").
Two Broad Ethical Frameworks
1. Teleological (Consequence-Based)
o Judges actions by their outcomes (e.g., lying might be okay if it saves
lives).
o Example: "The good of the many outweighs the good of the few."
2. Deontological (Duty-Based)
o Judges actions by rules or duties (e.g., never harm the innocent).
o Example: "Respect individual rights, no matter the consequences."
Three-Step Strategy for Approaching Cyber Ethics Issues
Step 1: Identify the Issue
• Find a controversial tech-related practice.
• Check if it’s a descriptive (fact-based) or normative (ethics-based) issue.
• If it’s a professional issue, refer to ethics codes (e.g., for programmers).
Step 2: Analyze the Issue
• Clarify confusing terms.
• If there’s a policy vacuum (no clear rules), define the problem clearly.
Step 3: Deliberate on the Issue
• Apply ethical theories (e.g., teleological or deontological).
• Justify your conclusion using logic and critical thinking.