Ethics

1. Ethics Ethical Issues

2. Modern Problems • Change in cost of duplication of information • before xerox & computer disks vs. after • Change in cost of data collection & data analysis • manual techniques vs. automatic Results Ethical questions arise that could not have been a problem before. Ethical Issues

3. Privacy Issues Since information is the essence of the modern Industrial Revolution, privacy is an easy victim. • Social Security Number • Driver License • Medical Records • Arrest (& Conviction) Records Ethical Issues

4. Privacy & the Soc. Sec. Nmbr. • The Social Security Number was originally set up as a part of a national retirement system, it is now extensively used as a “human identification” number. • It can be (and has been) used in “identity theft” by creating records that allow a criminal to purchase items against the credit of another person. Ethical Issues

5. Privacy & the Driver License • Designed to control access to the “permission to drive”. • Since it is required that a driver keep the address current, and since its existence is a public record, the tape of these records has been easily available for sale from many states. • This rule is changing as we watch. Ethical Issues

6. Privacy & Medical Records • Nearly universally linked via the Social Security Number, these records can and have been used to deny employment to people who have difficult-to-treat illnesses. Ethical Issues

7. Privacy & Videotape Rentals • The Bork Law is an example of one way to solve the problem of Privacy in the Information Age. • When Judge Bork was being considered for the US Supreme Court, his videotape rental data was introduced as evidence. Congress was so incensed at this that a special law was passed .… enough said about that. Ethical Issues

8. What is Ethics Ethics is usually considered a personal thing. • Professional Groups often set up codes of ethics. • These codes are, perhaps, half way between personal ethics and legal requirement. Ethical Issues