Wikipedia describes cyberethics as “the philosophic study of ethics pertaining to computers, encompassing user behavior and what computers are programmed to do, and how this affects individuals and society.” To learn more about cyberethics in business, please watch my recent video entitled “CyberEthics: A Growing Business Challenge.” The video interview by Financial Management Network (& parent SmartPros Ltd.) is part of a series of educational videos provided for accounting, finance, and IT professionals.
Cyberethics are very old news as the “Ten Commandment of CyberEthics” were created in 1992 by Computer Ethics Institute (according to Wikipedia):
- Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people.
- Thou shalt not interfere with other people’s computer work.
- Thou shalt not snoop around in other people’s computer files.
- Thou shalt not use a computer to steal.
- Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness.
- Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary software for which you have not paid.
- Thou shalt not use other people’s computer resources without authorization or proper compensation.
- Thou shalt not appropriate other people’s intellectual output.
- Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you are writing or the system you are designing.
- Thou shalt always use a computer in ways that ensure consideration and respect for your fellow humans.
More updated to the Internet, Wikipedia lists these examples of cyberethical questions:
- Is it OK to display personal information about others on the Internet (such as their online status or their present location via GPS)?
- Should users be protected from false information?
- Who owns digital data (such as music, movies, books, web pages, etc.) and what should users be allowed to do with it?
- How much access should there be to gambling and pornography online?
- Is access to the Internet a basic right that everyone should have?
No doubt Cyberethics will continue be a challenge for all businesses.