Ethical and Social Issues: IS Security

Question 1

Ethical issues with information systems

Answer 1

Appropriate use of customer information

the protection of personal privacy

protection of intellectual property

establishing accountability for the consequences of information systems

setting standards to safeguard system quality that protects the safety of the individual and society

preserving values and institutions considered essential to the quality of life in an information society

Question 2

The relationship between ethical, social and political issues (five moral dimensions)

Answer 2

1. information rights and obligations
2. property rights and obligations
3. accountability and control
4. system quality
5. quality of life

Question 3

Information rights and obligations (ethical issues with information systems)

Answer 3

privacy - claim of individuals to be left alone, free from surveillance or interference from other individuals, organizations or the state // ability to control information about yourself

Question 4

Models of informed consent (opt-out and opt-in)

Answer 4

opt-out model: business can collect personal information until the customer requests that the data not be collected

opt-in model: a business cannot collect personal information unless the customer approves that the data be collected

Question 5

Property rights: Intellectual Property (ethical issues with information systems)

Answer 5

intellectual property: intangible property of any kind created by individuals or corporations

three ways that intellectual property is protected:

1. trade secret: intellectual work or product belonging to business, not in the public domain
2. copyright: statutory grant protecting intellectual property from being copied for the life of the author, plus 70 years
3. patents: grants creator of invention an exclusive monopoly on ideas behind invention for 20 years

Question 6

Accountability, Liability, Control (ethical issues with information systems)

Answer 6

if software fails – who is responsible?

If seen as part of a machine that injures or harm, the software producer and operator may be liable

If seen as similar to a book, difficult to hold software author/publisher responsible

Question 7

System quality (ethical issues with information systems)

Answer 7

What is an acceptable, technologically feasible level of system quality?

Three principal sources of poor system performance

1. software bugs, errors
2. Hardware or facility failures
3. Poor input data quality (most common source of business system failure)

Question 8

Quality of Life: The Digital Divide (ethical issues with information systems)

Answer 8

Unequal citizen access to information and communication technology

Lack of infrastructure

Question 9

AI & Machine Learning

Answer 9

Can help with predictive analytics, social sentiment analysis, content recommendations

Question 10

Ethical Analysis (5 steps)

Answer 10

1. Identify and describe the facts clearly: who did what to whom and where, when, and how
2. Define the conflict or dilemma and identify the higher-order values involved: Typically, an ethical issue involves a dilemma: two diametrically opposed courses of action that support worthwhile values. For example, the need to make organizations more efficient and cost-effective and the need to respect individual privacy
3. Identify the stakeholders: players in the game who have an interest in the outcome, who have invested in the situation, and usually who have vocal opinions. Find out the identity of these groups and what they want
4. Identify the options that you can reasonably take: sometimes none of the options satisfy all the interests involved but that some options do a better job than others
5. Identify the potential consequences of your options: Some options may be ethically correct but disastrous from other points of view. Other options may work in one instance but not in similar instances. Always ask yourself, “What if I choose this option consistently over time?”