Identifying ethical issues as they arise, as well as defining how to deal with them, has traditionally been problematic in computer ethics. Some have argued against the idea of computer ethics as a whole. However, Collins and Miller proposed a method of identifying issues in computer ethics in their Paramedic Ethics model. The model is a data-centered view of judging ethical issues, involving the gathering, analysis, negotiation, and judging of data about the issue.
In solving problems relating to ethical issues, Michael Davis proposed a unique problem-solving method. In Davis's model, the ethical problem is stated, facts are checked, and a list of options are generated by considering relevant factors relating to the problem. The actual action taken is influenced by specific ethical standards.
One of the most definitive sets of ethical standards is the Association for Computing Machinery Code of Ethics. The code is a four-point standard governing ethical behavior among computing professionals. It covers the core set of computer ethics from professional responsibility to the consequences of technology in society.
Another computer ethics body is the British Computer Society, which has published a code of conduct and code of practice for computer professionals in the UK.
The Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA) defines ethical behavior from the standpoint of legality, specifically during the contracting process of computing. It defines how valid computing contracts are formed, and how issues such as breach of contract are defined and settled. However, legality does not completely encompass computer ethics. It is just one facet of the constantly expanding field of computer ethics.
This keeps getting inserted. Unless one of the editors concerned owns the copyright, or has permisision to use the material, or can point to a waiver of copyright, or something of the sort (in which case, the evidence needs to be placed on the Talk page), including this material in Wikipedia isn't acceptable. I've removed it twice now; please don't make me remove it again. Mel Etitis (Μελ Ετητης) 17:20, 21 Mar 2005 (UTC)
At the bottom of the article where I got the 10 commandments it reads " permission to duplicate or distribute this document is granted with the provision the document remains intact, or that the original document source be referenced" Both was done. I don't see the problem?
Please sign comments (and it's best to sign in).
The problem is that, whoever you are, you didn't mention any of this either in an edit summary or on the Talk page (even when the text was removed, and you were asked to supply details). Moreover, you didn't give a reference to the source, you only reproduced the copyright message.
If you could supply the url for the source, it would probably be best to add a link in the external links section. Mel Etitis (Μελ Ετητης) 18:57, 21 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Ignoring copyright questions, the 10 commandments are an NPOV violation anyway. It's not appropriate for an encyclopedia article to make recommendations and ethical judgments. I think it would be a good external link, with a suitable neutral description. Rhobite 19:10, Mar 21, 2005 (UTC)
The "Ten Commandments" are from the Computer Ethics Institute of the Brookings Institution. See http://www.brook.edu/its/cei/overview/Ten_Commanments_of_Computer_Ethics.htm . It seems pretty clear from that page that they not only allow, but also encourage reproduction of them, though they retain copyright, and request attribution. So I don't see a copyright issue. I do not know how influential they have been -- Brookings is a reputable organization, and they claim that they've been "effective", but I don't know. If they are in fact widely used and accepted, then it would seem to make sense to at least link to them, with some context. It may even make sense to include them in the article, but with appropriate contextualization, e.g. "The Computer Ethics Institute, a project of the Brookings Institution, promotes the following 'Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics', which have been widely adopted <<
Since everyone (including me, sorry i didn't read the history page before i did it) keeps inserting the 10 commandments, doesn't that mean that the common conception is that they are a big part of computer ethics? These are one of the few standards out there, and they are short enough to include. As for the copyright: CEI says "If Duplicated, Please Cite the Computer Ethics Institute" which is why I used the sentence: "The CEI defines them as". If you are worried about copyright, I would prefer the link method, but I do think they are a vital addition to computer ethics. -- Maxberger 29 Jun 2005
The Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics were created in 1992 by the Computer Ethics Institute. The commandments were introduced in the paper "In Pursuit of a 'Ten Commandments' for Computer Ethics" by Ramon C. Barquin as a means to create "a set of standards to guide and instruct people in the ethical use of computers." The Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics copies the style of the Ten Commandments from The Bible and uses the archaic "thou shalt" and "thou shalt not" found in the King James version.
The commandments have been widely quoted in computer ethics literature but also have been criticized by both the hacker community and some in academia. For instance, Dr. Ben Fairweather of the Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility has described them as "simplistic" and overly restrictive.
The CISSP — an organization of computer security professionals — has used the commandments as a foundation for its own ethics rules.
The Commandments
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 files.
Thou shalt not use a computer to steal.
Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness.
Thou shalt not use or copy software for which you have not paid.
Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources without authorization.
Thou shalt not appropriate other people's intellectual output.
Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you write.
Thou shalt use a computer in ways that show consideration and respect
