Ethics for the information age

In an era where IT changes constantly, a thoughtful response to these rapid changes requires a basic understanding of IT history, an awareness of current issues, and a familiarity with ethics. This book provides an overview of ethical theories and problems encountered by computer professionals in today's environment.

• Preface
• Chapter 1 Catalysts for Change
• 1.1 Introduction
• 1.2 Milestones in Computing
• 1.3 Milestones in Networking
• 1.4 Milestones in Information Storage and Retrieval
• 1.5 Information Technology Issues
• Chapter 2 Introduction to Ethics
• 2.1 Introduction
• 2.2 Subjective Relativism
• 2.3 Cultural Relativism
• 2.4 Divine Command Theory
• 2.5 Kantianism
• 2.6 Act Utilitarianism
• 2.7 Rule Utilitarianism
• 2.8 Social Contract Theory
• 2.9 Comparing Workable Ethical Theories
• 2.10 Morality of Breaking the Law
• Chapter 3 Networking
• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Email and Spam
• 3.3 Fighting Spam
• 3.4 The World Wide Web
• 3.5 Ethical Perspectives on Pornography
• 3.6 Censorship
• 3.7 Freedom of Expression
• 3.8 Children and the Web
• 3.9 Breaking Trust on the Internet
• 3.10 Internet Addiction
• Chapter 4 Intellectual Property
• 4.1 Introduction
• 4.2 Intellectual Property Rights
• 4.3 Protecting Intellectual Property
• 4.4 Fair Use
• 4.5 New Restrictions on Use
• 4.6 Peer-to-Peer Networks
• 4.7 Protections for Software
• 4.8 Open-Source Software
• 4.9 Legitimacy of Intellectual Property Protection for Software
• 4.10 Creative Commons
• Chapter 5 Privacy
• 5.1 Introduction
• 5.2 Perspectives on Privacy
• 5.3 Disclosing Information
• 5.4 Public Information
• 5.5 U.S. Legislation
• 5.6 Public Records
• 5.7 Covert Government Surveillance
• 5.8 U.S. Legislation Authorizing Wiretapping
• 5.9 Data Mining
• 5.10 Identity Theft
• 5.11 Encryption
• Chapter 6 Computer and Network Security
• 6.1 Introduction
• 6.2 Viruses, Worms, and Trojan Horses
• 6.3 Phreaks and Hackers
• 6.4 Denial-of-Service Attacks
• 6.5 Online Voting
• Chapter 7 Computer Reliability
• 7.1 Introduction
• 7.2 Data-Entry or Data-Retrieval Errors
• 7.3 Software and Billing Errors
• 7.4 Notable Software System Failures
• 7.5 Therac-25
• 7.6 Computer Simulations
• 7.7 Software Engineering
• 7.8 Software Warranties
• Chapter 8 Professional Ethics 
• 8.1 Introduction
• 8.2 Is Software Engineering a Profession?
• 8.3 Software Engineering Code of Ethics
• 8.4 Analysis of the Code
• 8.5 Case Studies
• 8.6 Whistleblowing
• Chapter 9 Work and Wealth
• 9.1 Introduction
• 9.2 Automation and Unemployment
• 9.3 Workplace Changes
• 9.4 Globalization
• 9.5 The Digital Divide
• 9.6 The "Winner-Take-All Society"
• 9.7 Access to Public Colleges
• Appendix A Plagiarism