lecture 3:understanding ethical issue in networking

lecture 3:understanding ethical issue in networking

• 1.
  CISB 412 Social andProfessional Issues Understanding Ethical Issues in Networking
• 2.
  Reference • Materials usedin this presentation are extracted mainly from the following texts, unless stated otherwise. Michael J. Quinn “Ethics for the Information Age”, 3rd edition. Pearson 2009
• 3.
  Learning Outcomes • Atthe end of this lesson you should be able to – Identify issues that come with networking especially the use of world wide web. – Apply the ethical principles on the issues to establish morality of the action
• 4.
  Networking • Description • Whatcomes with the territory? – Email SPAM – Pornography – Children and the web • Web Filters – Identity theft – Online Predators – Internet Addiction
• 5.
  Issues in Networking •Work in your team • Refer to the handouts and prepare for a brief presentation to address the question(s) asked
• 6.
  Email Spam • Emailspam, 3 important attributes – anonymity: the sender’s identity and address are concealed – mass mailing: spam email is sent to a large number of recipients and in high quantities – unsolicited: the individuals receiving spam would otherwise not have opted to receive it • Amount of email that is spam has increased – 8% in 2001, 40% in 2003, More than 50% in 2004 • Spam is effective – More than 100 times cheaper than “junk mail” – Profitable even if only 1 in 100,000 buys product
• 7.
  Email Spam • Howfirms get email addresses – Opt-in lists – Dictionary attacks • Spammers seek anonymity – Change email and IP addresses to disguise sending machine – Hijack another system as a spam launch pad • Spam blockers – Attempt to screen out spam – Have led to more picture-based spam
• 8.
  CAN SPAM Actof 2003 • Took effect January 1, 2004 • The law divides emails sent by business into three categories – Transactional email messages related to a commercial transaction or ongoing business that have already been established – Commercial email messages to which recipients have presumably consented (by explicitly request or by not opting out) – Unsolicited commercial email messages
• 9.
  CAN SPAM Actof 2003 Emails Categories Must meet these requirements Transactional email messages • message header, sender, related to a commercial organization and information transaction or ongoing must be correct business that have already •Must not disguise the been established identity of the computer from which the message was sent
• 10.
  CAN SPAM Actof 2003 Emails Categories Must meet these requirements Commercial email messages •must meet all the above to which recipients have requirement presumably consented (by •must inform recipient can explicitly request or by not opt out from the mailing list opting out) •Must provide internet based mechanism to opt out •Must contain postal address of the sender
• 11.
  CAN SPAM Actof 2003 Emails Categories Must meet these requirements Unsolicited commercial email • must meet all the above messages requirement • must include clear notice that it is an advertisement • if it contains explicit materialism must include in the subject line
• 12.
  CAN SPAM Actof 2003 • Critics call it “You CAN Spam Act” – Spam still legal, as long as regulations followed – Opting out can have harmful consequences – it confirms your email is valid – Spammers can avoid prosecution by locating outside United States
• 13.
  World Wide Web Howwe use it? • Shopping • Promoting business • Learning • Exploring our roots • Playing games • Entering virtual worlds • Paying taxes • Gambling • Blogging • Lots more!
• 14.
  Apparent issues withWWW Pornography • Description - Printed or visual material containing the explicit description or display of sexual organs or activity. • Different opinions – Pornography is immoral (How do you explain that from Kantianism viewpoints?) – Adult pornography is moral (How do you explain that from Utilitarianism viewpoints?)
• 15.
  Apparent issues withWWW • Censorship : An attempt to suppress or regulate public access to material considered offensive or harmful. • Direct censorship – Government monopolization – Pre-publication review – Licensing and registration • Self-censorship — A group deciding for itself not to publish material • What are the benefits and harms of Internet censorship?
• 16.
  Apparent issues withWWW Children and the Web • Many parents believe they ought to protect their children from exposure to pornographic and violent materials on the Web – Web Filters – Child Internet Protection Act • Libraries receiving federal networking funds must filter pages containing obscenity or child pornography • How do you see this Act from act utilitarianism viewpoints?
• 17.
  Apparent issues withWWW Breaking Trust • Identity Theft • Chat Room Predator • False Information
• 18.
  Apparent issues withWWW Internet Addiction • Is it real? • Factors contributing to addictive behavior • Some liken compulsive computer use to pathological gambling • Traditional definition of addiction: – Compulsive use of harmful substance or drug – Knowledge of its long-term harm
• 19.
  Questions?