ETHICS IN INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
Overview of the course
• “An Overview of Ethics
• “Ethics for IT Workers and IT Users
• “Computer and Internet Crime
• “Privacy,”
• “Freedom of Expression,”
• “Intellectual Property,”
• “The Impact of Information Technology on Productivity and the Quality of
Life,”
• “Social Networking
• “Ethics of IT Organizations,” c
What is Ethics
• Moral Code
o A moral code is a set of rules that defines socially accepted behavior.
o Societies form moral codes—rules defining acceptable behavior.
o Established boundaries of generally accepted behavior
o Expressed through statements about how people should behave.
o Different rules often have contradictions
o These rules often conflict or lack clarity in new situations.
o Example: Loyalty to a friend vs. honesty when witnessing cheating.
o Some situations are not clearly addressed by existing rules.
o Example: Privacy vs. workplace monitoring.
• What is Morality?
• Morality = widely shared beliefs about right and wrong in society.
Example: Lying is generally considered wrong.
• Age Example:
A teenager may see file-sharing music online as harmless, while
an older adult may view it as theft.
• Cultural Group Example:
In some cultures, arranged marriages are considered moral and
respectful; in others, they may be seen as limiting personal
freedom.
• Ethnic Background Example:
Some ethnic groups may prioritize communal decision-making as
moral, while others emphasize individual autonomy.
• Religion Example:
A religious person may oppose abortion based on faith
teachings, while a secular person may support it as a personal
right.
• Life Experiences Example:
Someone who grew up in poverty may see stealing food to
survive as morally acceptable, while others may not.
• Education Example:
A person educated in environmental science may view littering
as deeply immoral, while someone unaware of its impact may
not.
• Gender Example:
Women may be more likely to view certain workplace behaviors
as harassment, while some men might see them as harmless
jokes.
• Example 1: Confidentiality vs. Safety
• You learn that a coworker is struggling with substance abuse but hasn’t told
anyone. You want to respect their privacy but also worry about workplace safety.
Do you keep the information confidential or report it to protect others?
• Example 2: Environmental vs. Economic Ethics
• Your company plans to build a factory that will create jobs but may harm the
local environment. You believe in economic growth but also value environmental
protection. How do you balance these conflicting “rights”?
• Example 3: Reporting a Friend’s Mistake
• You notice a close friend at work made a costly error that no one else has found
yet. Loyalty urges you to stay silent, but honesty demands you report the
mistake to your supervisor.
• Example 4: Using Company Resources
• You’re asked to use company software for personal projects during work hours.
You know it’s against company policy, but it won’t cause harm. Do you follow the
rules or take advantage of the situation?
• Example:
• Lying is wrong (even if lega
• Don’t plagiarize code
• Copyright law
Introduction to Professional Ethics in IS
• Professional Ethics: The principles that govern behavior in the workplace,
especially in technical and decision-making roles.
• Why it matters in IS:
• IS professionals handle sensitive data, critical systems, and user trust.
• Poor ethical decisions can lead to security breaches, legal issues, and
public mistrust
• It guides professional and personal decision-making.
• In IS, ethics help navigate dilemmas such as:
• Data privacy
• Intellectual property
• System misuse
• Algorithmic fairness
Ethical Theories Overview
• Ethical theories help guide decision-making in complex situations.
• Three Major Types:
• Deontology – Duty-based ethics
• Utilitarianism – Consequence-based ethics
• Virtue Ethics – Character-based ethics
Deontology (Duty-Based Ethics)
• Essentially, it's about doing what's right, regardless of the outcome.
• Focuses on rules and obligations,
• Example:
• Never hack into a system, even if it could stop a cyberattack.
• Scenario: A developer is told to build spyware for employer use.
• Deontological View: It’s wrong to violate users' privacy, no matter the
reason.
• Scenario: Your manager asks you to lie to a client.
• Deontological View: Lying is inherently wrong—refuse, even if it costs the
deal.
Utilitarianism (Consequence-Based Ethics)
• Utilitarianism, a form of consequentialist ethics, dictates that the morality
of an action is determined solely by its consequences, specifically the
overall well-being or happiness produced
• The right action is the one that produces the greatest good for the
greatest number.
• Example:
• Sharing user data to improve a system, if it benefits most users—even if a
few lose privacy.
• A utilitarian perspective might favor open-source software because it
allows for wider access and potential for community-driven improvements,
leading to greater overall benefit than proprietary software, despite
potential loss of revenue for the original developers.
Virtue Ethics (Character-Based Ethics)
• Focuses on developing moral character rather than following rules or outcomes.
• A virtuous person will naturally make the right decision.
• Virtues: Honesty, courage, fairness
• Example:
• A developer refuses to exaggerate skills on a résumé, even if it means losing a job
opportunity.
• Scenario: You're offered a promotion if you stay silent about a faulty medical
software system.
• Virtuous Choice: Speak up, valuing honesty and responsibility over personal gain.
• Scenario: Your team exaggerates project progress. You refuse to join.
• Virtuous Choice: Demonstrate integrity and accountability.
Role of Ethics in IS & Software Development
• Critical responsibilities:
• Protecting user data
• Avoiding biased algorithms
• Ensuring system reliability
• Respecting intellectual property
• Why it matters:
• One unethical line of code can affect millions of users.
• Ethics builds trust, security, and social responsibility in tech.
Why Ethics Is Crucial in IS
• IS professionals handle:
• Confidential data (e.g., health, finance)
• Decision-making systems (e.g., in healthcare, law enforcement)
• Technologies with long-term social impact (e.g., AI, automation)
• Example:
A programmer creates facial recognition software. It works poorly on
certain ethnicities. Should they release it, knowing the bias?
Real-World IS Ethical Dilemmas
• Cambridge Analytica Scandal
• Facebook user data harvested without consent
• Used to influence elections
• Issue: Data privacy & manipulation
• Volkswagen Emission Software
• Software programmed to cheat emissions tests
• Issue: Integrity vs. profit
• Uber's Greyball Tool
• Tricked regulators to avoid being caught operating illegally
• Issue: Deception vs. business expansion
Ethics in Daily IS Practices
• Software Development:
• Write clean, maintainable, and secure code.
• Avoid inserting spyware or adware.
• Data Analysis:
• Report results honestly.
• Do not manipulate data to please stakeholders.
• AI/ML:
• Test for bias in training data.
• Be transparent about algorithm limitations.
INCLUDING ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN
DECISION MAKING •Recognize the Ethical Issue:
Continuous location tracking may violate users’ privacy.
•Gather the Facts:
•The app can potentially save lives by locating patients during
emergencies.
•Continuous tracking could lead to misuse of personal data or
surveillance concerns.
•Evaluate Alternatives (Use Ethical Theories):
•Utilitarianism: Does the benefit (saving lives) outweigh the
harm (privacy loss)?
•Deontology: Is it morally right to track someone without their
ongoing consent, even for a good cause?
•Virtue Ethics: What would a responsible and trustworthy
developer do?
•Make a Decision:
Modify the app to ask for explicit consent and allow users to
opt-in for emergency location tracking. Also, ensure data is
encrypted and not used for any other purpose.
•Test the Decision:
Would you be comfortable if your own family member were
being tracked this way?
•Act and Reflect:
Deploy the update, monitor user feedback, and continue
improving transparency and control options for users.