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What Is the Role of Privacy in Computer Ethics?

Esther Ejim
Esther Ejim

Privacy in computer ethics refers to the ethical dilemmas that computer users face in some situations that may lead to the violation of another person’s privacy through the use of computers. Ethics is a reference to a sense of what is right and wrong. The concept of ethics with regards to computers was pioneered by Nobert Weiner, a professor at Massachusetts’s Institute of Technology (MIT) in the early part of the 1940 decade. During this period, Weiner was involved in a project that led him to come to the conclusion that the development of computers and their widespread use would open the door to serious ethical and social issues. This gives an idea of the scope of privacy in computer ethics.

An example of the application of privacy in computer ethics is the monitoring of employees' work computers. The question that arises in this instance is whether it is right for employers to surreptitiously monitor the activities of their employees as regards to the manner in which they are using computers while at work. Some people are of the opinion that the employee is on the company’s time, using the company’s computers, and as such, should be engaged only in company-related activities. Others feel that it is an ethical violation of the privacy of the employees for the company to initiate procedures that involve spying on their employees. In this instance, the answer to the dilemma regarding the application of privacy in computer ethics is not as clear-cut as some would like it to be, because there are arguments for and against the monitoring of computers while employees are at work.

Privacy in computer ethics refers to the ethical dilemmas that computer users face in some situations.
Privacy in computer ethics refers to the ethical dilemmas that computer users face in some situations.

Another scenario in which the issue of privacy in computer ethics could arise is in the use of other people’s computers. When someone is using another person’s computer, simple morality demands that the a person should not go through private items on the computer. Such a behavior is firmly a violation of privacy in computer ethics. Looking at items like files saved on the computer that include pictures, documents and music would be a violation of privacy.

A violation of privacy in computer ethics also applies to the sending of tracking cookies, adware and malware to monitor the way someone uses the Internet. Such programs are created to compile a record and analysis of the different Web sites an individual visits online. These types of programs are mainly used by various companies and marketers to track a person’s computer usage for purposes that include collection of data and also to send specific ads to that user.

Discussion Comments

SarahGen

This is a very sensitive and controversial topic. Although respecting computer privacy is important, there are times when this privacy has to be broken. For example, if someone is a suspect of a crime, the government has the means to get into that person's email, online profiles and so forth. And they do.

If computer privacy is protected at all times for ethics, than it might mean letting go of a criminal or losing out on important evidences or clues.

donasmrs

I don't think that 100% computer privacy exists. Of course, ethics demands that people leave other people's things alone. But internet and technology has given people such great access, that it's very easy to breach privacy and snoop on others these days. People even have the ability to access someone's computer from far away and check the files.

Of course, not everyone has the knowledge to do these things, but many people do.

turquoise

I'm not sure what I feel about employers checking on their employees to see what they're doing on their computer.

On one hand, I agree that employees should not be spending time on social networking sites or chatting while at work. But I don't think that employees should be under so much pressure about this issue that they can't even check out the news or the weather.

So I think that employees should have some privacy while on their computer at work. But it might also be necessary to supervise them at times to make sure that they are not wasting their time on completely unrelated sites.

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    • Privacy in computer ethics refers to the ethical dilemmas that computer users face in some situations.
      By: opolja
      Privacy in computer ethics refers to the ethical dilemmas that computer users face in some situations.