The Ethical Approach to Advancements in Computer Science

Introduction

The advances and increased demand for technology make computer science an exciting field. Computer scientists can be involved in innovative work that will benefit society, but they must also consider concerns and risks such as cybersecurity, data privacy and the protection of intellectual property.

Computer scientists face ethical issues involving many forms of technology, platforms and client relationships. Computer ethics must continually be addressed when working with new technology.

Computer scientists can still work in innovative ways but must always make ethics central to what they do. They must employ ethical reasoning when considering the societal impact of their work. Skilled professionals and safe practices will be key to the future of technology.

Ethics are practices and standards that influence how people live their lives and act as society’s view of what is right or wrong. Computer ethics is the application of moral principles to using computers and the Internet.

It is a set of guidelines to prevent harm and encourage positive behaviors. Computer ethics aim to prevent technology misuse by programmers, computer scientists and others working in this field, while also guiding user behavior when using computer systems, especially the internet.

The Need for Computer Scientists is Growing

The need for computer scientists is growing with the increasing reliance on technology. There is a wealth of job opportunities in this diverse field.

Career advancement can be achieved by studying for an Online Master’s in Computer Science at a reputable institution such as Baylor University.

This program has a software engineering concentration and prepares graduates to get a computer science career.

With 100% online courses, this program enables students to learn more about advanced algorithms, software engineering, data communications, databases and applied artificial intelligence.

Choosing a well-respected institution can boost your credentials and make you more competitive in the job market.

Recent technology advances have included better networks, smarter devices, more 3D printing applications and new energy solutions. These innovations and breakthroughs will transform society and business and are indicative of the work being done in this field.

Despite great innovation in computing, there has been an increase in ethical concerns within information technology and computing, and many of these have related to the growth of social media, the internet, advanced machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence. Some of these concerns include:

Cybercrime

Cyberattacks are a threat that advances as quickly as new technology. Cybercriminals seek to exploit security and human frailties to commit identity theft, fraud and traffic in intellectual property and illegal content and steal money and data.

The most common cyberthreats are hacking, phishing, malicious software and distributed denial of service (DDOS). Hacking involves the unauthorized access to data in a system or computer, including email passwords and social media.

Phishing uses bogus emails asking for personal details and security information. Malicious software includes ransomware used to steal files and hold them for ransom, while DDOS attacks often target websites or other key systems and may involve extortion.

Security and Privacy

Information privacy, digital security, information ethics and anonymity online can be very important to users. There are threats from companies tracking and selling online activity, cyberbullying and doxing.

Hackers can intrude through gaps in network or system security and gain access to other computers, while malware is malicious software used to damage a computer system, such as spyware, trojan horses, worms and viruses. Spyware can collect data from a computer, and viruses can delete files from a hard drive.

Intellectual Property

Stealing or unauthorized distribution of digital content, copyrighted content or intellectual property can occur when digital material is shared illegally online.

Copyright laws give the author usage, publication and distribution rights and cannot be disseminated or provided to others without the author’s permission.

Software licenses designate how digital material can be used, with users being granted a license based on an agreement.

Combining Technology Work with Ethics

People are conducting more of their lives online, including using personal information. It has become even more important for computer scientists to be discreet and responsible.

They must address problems with data security, personal privacy and systemic bias. Computer scientists may enjoy the innovative nature of their work, but combining this with a strong commitment to ethics is imperative. Groundbreaking work will have little value if it allows dangerous practices to develop.

Computer scientists need to address social and ethical risks at the start of any project as it is easier to implement security within technology proactively than to deal with problems arising later.

Brainstorming potential risks, imagining unintended consequences and considering negative outcomes is vital. Reaching out early to stakeholders and experts in ethics, social science and moral reasoning can be beneficial.

Computer experts must also consider how new technologies could be used or misused. The negative impacts of new technologies can be assessed to ensure that the team includes the necessary relevant experience.

The team must perform research in order to establish how to mitigate potential harm and minimize risks. Ethical risk mitigation strategies should be developed as part of the project planning with equal dedication to ethics as there is to innovation, as disregarding ethics results in multiple problems.

In response to the increased importance of computer ethics, universities have incorporated more ethics content in their courses.

They are educating their students to understand more about ethics and to recognize that ethics must be addressed early on and throughout a project. Students learn how ethical issues can arise, and they take this knowledge into their future careers. 

Ethical Compliance

Computer ethics are becoming increasingly important as technology advances and becomes even more ingrained in our lives.

Computer scientists work in a fast-moving and exciting field, but they must embrace computer ethics and ensure their work is safe and fit for purpose.

They must be aware of ethical concerns and recognize that computer ethics need to be embedded in their working practices.

Advances in technology may provide many advantages, but these will count for nothing if they do not consider the safety and security of users.