Information Revolution: What about Ethics?

Presenter: Axel Krings, Professor of Computer Science, University of Idaho

Abstract:

This presentation highlights "Computer an Information Ethics" of the Winter 2008 Edition of the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, which states that "In most countries of the world, the `information revolution' has altered many aspects of life significantly: commerce, employment, medicine, security, transportation, entertainment, and so on. Consequently, information and communication technology (ICT) has affected - in both good ways and bad ways - community life, family life, human relationships, education, careers, freedom, and democracy (to name just a few examples). `Computer and information ethics", in the broadest sense of this phrase, can be understood as that branch of applied ethics which studies and analyzes such social and ethical impacts of ICT."

Topics discussed include historical milestones, computers in the workplace, computer crime, privacy and anonymity, intellectual property, professional responsibility, and the impacts of globalization. Many examples are shown, ranging from threats to democracy to our very existance.