Teema 15 - Eetika ja IT

Analytize ACM’s Code of Ethics

The Association for Computing Machinery, or ACM in short, designed a well-documented guideline for ethical conduct which all computing professionals should follow. When violations occur, the code can be used upon a remediation basis. The Code serves as a basis for decision-making when it comes to ethical judgement, it specifies which multiple principles should be taken into account. The professional (enterprise) computing environment as a whole befits from the ethical decision-making process being transparent and accountable to all stakeholders.

The Code of Ethics addresses four sections, this analysis will briefly describe section 1; the fundamental ethical principles. The other three sections address more specific situations as well as leadership and compliance, which means they are not relevant for the scope of this blog; which is describing the fundamental principles of ACM’s Code of Ethics.

The Code describes seven principles all computing professionals should comply with:

1.       Contribute to society and to human well-being, acknowledging that all people are stakeholders in computing;

2.       Avoid harm;

3.       Be honest and trustworthy;

4.       Be fair and take action not to discriminate;

5.       Respect the work required to produce new ideas, inventions, creative works, and computing artifacts;

6.       Respect privacy;

7.       Honor confidentiality.

The ‘contributing to society and human well-being’ principle concerns quality of life, which states computing professionals (locally and globally) are obliged to use their skills for the society’s benefit, both collectively and individually. Negative consequences of computing such as threats to health, safety, privacy and personal security should be minimized at all times. When there’s a conflict of interest between multiple groups, the least advantaged group should receive priority and increased attention to fulfil their needs as best as possible. The result should always be broadly accessible and meet social needs whilst respecting diversity and being used responsively.

Next, the ‘avoid harm’ principle. Within ACM’s Code of Ethics the definition of ‘harm’ consists of negative consequences such as unjustified mental or physical injury, disclosure of sensitive information and damage to property as well as reputation. Harm may occur unintendedly, whilst taking well-intended actions. The ones that bear responsibility for causing such unintended harm carry the obligation of mitigating the harm they caused or even reverting made changes which caused this type of harm. When harm is intentionally caused, to ensure the harm being ethically justified is mandatory. Regardless of harm being intended or not, all harm must be minimized as much as possible.

‘Be honest and trustworthy’, all computing professionals are obliged to provide full disclosure of system limitation, capabilities as well as potential problems when relevant to a specific party. All information must be transparent, and cannot deliberately mislead nor frame the consumer. Furthermore they are obliged to inform their client about their competence to complete a task and legit qualifications.

 

The fourth principle stats all computing professionals should ‘be fair and take action not to discriminate’, which means they should treat one another equally and respectfully at all times, regardless of ethnics. Discrimination if any way as well as harassment may not occur and underrepresented groups should be granted fair participation. All individuals regardless of ethnics etc. must be able to access new technology when available to prevent separation which may oppress the different groups.

The ‘respect the work required to produce new ideas, inventions, creative works, and computing artifacts’ principle is a guideline for recognizing an individual’s idea, creative work as well as inventions and creation of computing artifacts that are of value for society. Always must the creator be credited for their work. However, a creator should not prevent reasonable use cases of their intellectual work, especially when it contributes to benefit the society.

Second to last, the ‘respect privacy’ privacy principle. At all times should computing professionals take responsibility to respect one another’s privacy. All users must be informed about data collection (personal information) and monitoring, and must comply with these terms before acquiring access to the software (called informed consent). Any collection of data must be legitimate and only when necessary, therefore they must create transparent procedures and policies so that the end-user understands which data is being collected, how it is being collected and how to obtain and delete their personal data.

Last, but not least, the ‘honor confidentiality’ principle. Computing professionals must make sure confidential information which is entrusted to them stays private. Such information may conclude trade secrets, patent applications and client data. Unless the law or Code is evidently being violated, they may not disclose any acquired information except to appropriate authorities.

In short, ACM’s Code of Ethics forms the basis of ethnic decision-making within the world of IT and should be followed at all times by all computing professionals to benefit society.