Ethics In The Age Of Information Essay, Research Paper
The information age is the age we live in today, and with the
information age comes an age of ethics. When we deal with the new
technologies introduced every day, we need to decide what we must
consider ethical and unethical. We must consider all factors so that
the use of the information readily available to many persons is not
abused. “Information technology will be the most fundamental area of
ethical concern for business in the next decade” (Houston 2). The most
widely used tool of the information age is the computer, whether it be
a PC or a network of computer systems. As we enter the information age
the newness and power of information technologies tests the ethics of
the average person, not just the criminal and causes thousands of
computer crimes to be committed daily. The most common computer crime
committed daily, some aware and many not, is the illegal sharing of
computer software. Software is any of the programs used in operating a
digital computer, as input and output programs, as defined by Funk and
Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary. When you purchase computer
software, you purchase it with the understanding that it will be for
use on a single computer, once installed on that system, it is not to
be loaded on any other computer. However many people are not aware of
this understanding, and many load a program on a couple of computers
or on a whole network of computer systems not aware that they are
committing a crime. Even though you probably will not be prosecuted
for loading a program on a friends computer, this is where your ethics
come in. Do you consider anything when you share a program with
others? If not then consider the programmers of the software who are
denied compensation for their developments every time you distribute a
piece of software. “Why is it that people who wouldn’t think of
stealing pack of gum will copy a $500 piece of software” (Houston 3)?
A popular form off illegal software distribution is throughout the
online world. Whether it be the Internet, America Online, CompuServe,
Prodigy, or a BBS (Bulletin Board System), software “pirates” thrive
freely online. These so called “pirates” operate by uploading pieces
of software, commonly referred to as “warez”, into an online service’s
database then sending through e-mail the rights to download them. “The
Information Superhighway has opened the door to a new kind of highway
robbery – the home shoplifting network” (Mattia 43). When you access a
online service, you are identified through an account which most
commonly consists of a user ID and password. The password is so you
only can access the online service with your user ID. Many people
online use their own accounts to access their service, but many steal
and use the accounts of others or make fake accounts. When online,
these account “pirates” many times trick other users into giving their
passwords to them by impersonating an employee of the online service.
Others can hack into the online services mainframe computer and steal
thousands of accounts. Probably the most common method of getting
online without paying is the use of fake or fraudulent accounts. These
are made by giving false information when attempting to gain access to
an online service. Name, address, phone number, and billing
information, such as checking account or credit card number, are all
falsified in obtaining an online account. With these stolen and fake
accounts, software “pirates” have virtually unlimited time to download
their “warez” without any charge to them. Many people don’t consider
the people behind the creation of software when they illegally
distribute it. The developers of software are not properly compensated
for their work because of the extent of software piracy. No one can
argue with a software company’s desire, and right, to make sure
everyone using their products has paid for it (Furger 73). The numbers
add up, it is estimated that in 1994 alone that software companies
lost $15 billion from illegal software copying (Maremont 65). It is
not only illegal, but clearly unethical to distribute software knowing
that the people behind the software are experiencing the downfalls of
it.
Every time software companies cannot compensate their
programmers for their work, more people are out of a job. Consider
this, you enter a store and purchase an item, during this transaction
you give your name and phone number. The person you have given this
information to then enters it into a computerized database. After this
person has collected a sufficient amount of names, they then sell it
to a telemarketing firm for a profit. This action is legal, but is it
ethical. Do you want your name sold without your consent? Most people
don’t because they don’t want to be bothered by sales persons on the
telephone. Also, your address could be sold and you put on a mailing
list. Then its an issue of do you want your mailbox filled with junk
mail. This action is unethical for the simple reason of consent. If
the person had just gained consent to enter the names into his/her
database then he would not have committed and unethical act. One
conclusion from studies sponsored by the National Institute of Justice
is that persons involved in computer crimes get form skills and
interests at an early age. Usually they are introduced to computers at
home or in school and usually start their “career path” with illegally
copying software (McEwen 2). As young people interact with hackers,
they incorporate the beliefs of the hackers into their own. Many of
these unconventional beliefs of young hackers about information and
computers leads them to a career in computer crime. Many times it is
the lack of education by parents and schools that helps to make these
beliefs all the more true to a young person. Computer criminals have
their own set of beliefs about information and computers. Their
beliefs are based on obvious unethical reasoning. For example, hackers
believe that computerized data are free and should be accessible to
anyone. They also believe that passwords and other security features
are simply obstacles to be overcome in obtaining data that should
already be available and while data should never be destroyed, there
is nothing wrong with viewing and transferring data for one’s own use
(McEwen 2). One member of the Legion of Doom, a nationwide group of
hackers who exchange information about computer systems and techniques
to break into them, has said, “Hackers will do just about anything to
break into a computer except crashing a system, that’s the only taboo”
(McEwen 2). The key to stop computer criminals from forming is
education. It is often times the case that people commit computer
crimes without even know they are doing so and the reason for this is
the lack of education. Few schools teach computer ethics, and parents
of arrested hackers are usually unaware that their children have been
illegally accessing computer systems (McEwen 2).Colleges and
universities do not usually include computer use and abuse in their
courses, arguing that it is the responsibility of the schools. On the
other hand, many secondary school educators are not sure about what
should be taught and are reluctant or unable to add ethical computer
education to many subjects in the curriculum. Textbooks on computer
literacy rarely mention computer abuses and individual
responsibilities. Educators and software developers have worked
together to prevent software piracy in educational institutions. In
1987, the Software Copyright Committee of the International Council
for Computers in Education (ICCE) developed a policy to guide
educators. The policy call on school districts to teach staff the
provisions of the copyright law and both staff and students the
ethical and practical implications of software piracy. This policy has
been adopted by many school districts across the country (McEwen 3).
In recognition of the problems arising with the illegal and unethical
use of computers, criminal justice forces have begun to crack down on
computer criminals. In 1989, three computer crime studies were
sponsored by the National Institute of Justice. One of these studies
examined different organizational approaches for computer crime
investigation and prosecution, another documented the experiences of
several dedicated computer crime units, and the third developed a
computer crime investigation handbook (McEwen 2). Computers are a
permanent fact of life in work places and classrooms across the
country. More businesses are likely to incorporate policies on
information access and confidentiality in their employee orientation
and training programs. Many schools and universities, responding from
pressure around them, are beginning to incorporate computer ethics
into their courses. For the criminal justice community, computer
crime, which poses special challenges in detection and prosecution
will require more and more attention. In order to prevent computer
crimes in the future, criminal and juvenile justice agencies must look
for ways to help parents, teachers, and employers educate the
computer-using community to the importance of ethical computer
behavior (McEwen 4).